Obi-Wan Pinobi
<font color=red>Jedi moderator who likes to live o
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2001
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- 9,424
I'm sure Lauri will talk about the GPA2 herself, but I wanted to add my voice to those that have commented about the Epcot Pin Celebration. I know that Disney personnel lurk on these boards, so please consider the following an open letter to WDW, and direct e-mail and snail mail letters will follow.
I've had the past few days to think about what to say, so these comments aren't completely off the cuff. Like Ed in another thread, I don't intend for this to be just a random rant. I do plan to inject constructive criticism and suggestions of how future events can be better.
Even before we left for the Event, I think a negative pall had been cast. Originally, the Event was to be held entirely in the World Showplace pavilion as it was last August. Unfortunately, the pavilion was double booked and the Pin Celebration was bumped and alternative arrangements had to be made. Already there was a sense that the pin collecting community is second-class or afterthoughts to Disney.
This sense was reinforced with the placement of the preregistration area. Preregistration was an outstanding idea that was poorly executed. The tent was set up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out in the back part of the Epcot parking lot. I'm talking about an area that usually sees cars parked there on the 4th of July or NYE. We had a car and could make it out there fairly easy, but those who relied on WDW transportation during their stay had about a 1/2 mile walk (or more) from the Future World entrance. Not only that, but the way out there for those driving could have been better marked. I admit I missed the sign that was set up after entering the parking lot, but the print was not easily readable or noticeable while driving. Instead of a fancy sign with the logo, a plain sign reading "PIN EVENT REGISTRATION" in big block letters would have been much better. Simple, to the point, and something that can be used for future events.
The setup for breakfast, with the buffet lines at the entrance so we can get our food before going to the tables, was not bad -- great to efficiently get 1000 people fed in the fastest time, but not great for pin collectors loaded down with various pin books and bags. The food was okay ... nothing to write home about, but (according to Lauri) better than last years.
In our preregistration package we received a voucher for a special gift for breakfast attendees. This turned out to be a box with three pins -- including Pinpics #53 the AP torch pin from 1999. This one was a decent trader, but now that 1000 have been flooded onto the market, the tradability value of that pin just plummeted.
After breakfast, the crowd flowed toward Innoventions West. This is where everything gets ugly. Let me paint everyone this picture. The registers at the counter for the old Pasta Piazza were used for the event. The line went from there, queued around through the dining area, through the middle of the Pin Trading Lounge, and then out the doors leading toward Imagination. When Jeff, Trina, Lauri, and I arrived, the line was already coming out Innoventions and stretching toward Imagination. We saw a list (but no pictures) of the pins being released. Most were LE 3500, but there were some LE 2000 pins, only one of which I wanted (the Donald/Chip & Dale double pin). So I got in line, armed with a bottle of water, around 9:30.
To say there was mass confusion and frustration would be an understatement. I'll let Lauri tell about the misinformation she received concerning the map, but I can tell you there were not a lot of happy people in the very slow-moving line. Stories were flying about people who were in line early not leaving the building but getting back in line with friends (and with the line going through the middle of the Trading Lounge, this is very believable) and that people who had not paid to attend the breakfast were in line and bought pins during the breakfast-attendee time. If only the 1000 breakfast attendees were in the line and pins were limited to 2 per person, there should be no problem for the breakfast attendees to get their pins, even the LE 2000 ones. Instead, I got worried that the one I wanted would be sold out by the time I made it to the registers.
After being in line for about 2 hours and not yet even inside the building, I seriously considered abandoning the line. If it wasn't for the fact that I was also picking up pins for other people, I would have, since I only wanted one. Instead, I stayed. Once inside, I was only tired and grumpy instead of being hot, sweaty, tired, and grumpy. I eventually became a man with a mission, and that was to get through the line. I finally reached the register around 3:00 -- over 5 hours later. Thankfully, the pins I wanted were not sold out.
The next day, things improved. Instead of only 12 registers with no runners that were not manned 100% of the time (I swear, I saw registers with no CMs taking orders. It's not that they were getting the pins for guests -- there were no guests at the register to get pins for), Saturday and Sunday saw 26 registers with runners filling orders. The time in line on Saturday and Sunday -- one hour. The real kick in the teeth -- the pins I stood in line for 5+ hours to buy were still available.
Disney may have taken steps to make sure that the next two days would be an improvement, but the damage was already done.
Now, how best to improve things for the future. First, the random selection process (RSP) was the best thing to come out of last August's pin celebration. It worked great at past events. Why wasn't the RSP used for the daily LEs during this event? I still don't understand why it was never used for this one.
Second, take steps to insure that those who pay $50 for a breakfast that kicks off a weekend event get priority for the entire event. Yes, we got breakfast and we got the Epcot globe and the Walt with Figment pin, but there are other things that would cost little to no extra money that would make the $50 more than worth it. Disney could go low-tech and supply special wristbands for each day that the attendees have to wear to be in line and are removed either just before they approach the register or after they pay would work great. There were at least 2 checkpoint I can remember from being in line where the CMs can check for wristbands. If someone doesn't have a wristband at the checkpoint, remove them from line. Disney could also go high-tech with the Fastpass machines. How difficult would it be to program several of the Fastpass machines to accept someone's park pass once a day and issue a pass that allows that person to return at a certain time to buy pins?
Other things -- In their packet, give the registrants the maps for all three days instead of just the first day. That way they are assured of having the map instead of having to fight the crowds for one. Also, reserving the morning of the first day for the breakfast attendees is great, but have it in a controlled environment. The World Showcase, which does not open until 11:00 AM anyway, and the World Showplace pavilion are great and controllable. Future World, obviously, is not.
Third, the Pin Trading Lounge last year had people "setting up shop" on tables with books and boxes and bags of pins displayed. This year was just the same, except it was a smaller area. It felt like I was in a flea market, and the atmosphere for socializing wasn't present. I traded with someone there, but it was with some friends whom I ran into at Pin Central and we went into the air conditioning to trade. Honestly, I don't know what can be done about this, but thankfully there are other venues for trading.
Fourth, don't spread everything out. Most everything was in the old Pasta Piazza, but it was also merchandise-related. I never did make it to any of the seminars or anything. After Friday, I was too disgusted with the event and wanted to have fun around the parks. Having the auction about as far into the World Showcase as you can get from Innoventions didn't help either. The map should have been the only thing we should have had to go around the park for. That was part of the fun with the other maps. We did the "I Conquered the World" map, and despite our fatigue we were still able to joke that it conquered us as well. Last August, thanks to the map, we saw inside some of the WS pavilions we had never been in before.
Fifth, don't assume that the pin collectors will take all of this quietly. This experience has left a sour taste in everyone's mouths that won't go away anytime soon. I heard from many who are strong Disney fans and die-hard collectors that said they will not do this again. Personally, about 1:00 or 2:00 on Friday afternoon, I was ready to go home, upload pictures of most of my pins, and start selling on eBay or DIS Auctions. I always thought that I would be collecting Disney pins until it had not become fun, and that that moment had arrived. Thing is, I never thought that WDW would be the one that would rob the fun from the hobby.
Later that weekend, I did rediscover some of what makes pin collecting fun, and that is the people. I spent time with friends, saw people I hadn't seen since the previous Epcot event, made new friends, and traded some pins. Unfortunately, some of the thrill in pin trading and especially in Disney pin events is gone.
As for the pins themselves --- some were really nice looking, but overall I think the "Search for Imagination" continues. The themes for the three maps was a great idea, but overall the pins were just so-so. There were nice ones in all of the LEs for each day and some that didn't do anything for me. Lauri and I aren't really heavy into Figment, the villains, or the princesses, so we mostly got the AC pins and a few other LEs. A lot of the open edition map pins were nice but nothing spectacular, especially the Fab 5 on the last day. After seeing how great the SSE open edition pins looked, I expected something more than just the characters with the WDW logo. I heard at the SSE that we would see pins of some different characters at this event. There were villains we hadn't seen in a while (such as Madame Mim), but we still saw the same princesses and the same Fab 5. Yes, they're popular and yes, they're going to sell, but how about something really different and let's see what happens?
Overall, I had fun. The high points far outweighed the lows. Lauri and I got to see a lot of old friends and met new friends, the GPA2 was great and everyone had a blast with that. I may attend another pin event, but not until I see that Disney is going to make major improvements on how the event is operated and how the pin collectors are treated.
I've had the past few days to think about what to say, so these comments aren't completely off the cuff. Like Ed in another thread, I don't intend for this to be just a random rant. I do plan to inject constructive criticism and suggestions of how future events can be better.
Even before we left for the Event, I think a negative pall had been cast. Originally, the Event was to be held entirely in the World Showplace pavilion as it was last August. Unfortunately, the pavilion was double booked and the Pin Celebration was bumped and alternative arrangements had to be made. Already there was a sense that the pin collecting community is second-class or afterthoughts to Disney.
This sense was reinforced with the placement of the preregistration area. Preregistration was an outstanding idea that was poorly executed. The tent was set up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out in the back part of the Epcot parking lot. I'm talking about an area that usually sees cars parked there on the 4th of July or NYE. We had a car and could make it out there fairly easy, but those who relied on WDW transportation during their stay had about a 1/2 mile walk (or more) from the Future World entrance. Not only that, but the way out there for those driving could have been better marked. I admit I missed the sign that was set up after entering the parking lot, but the print was not easily readable or noticeable while driving. Instead of a fancy sign with the logo, a plain sign reading "PIN EVENT REGISTRATION" in big block letters would have been much better. Simple, to the point, and something that can be used for future events.
The setup for breakfast, with the buffet lines at the entrance so we can get our food before going to the tables, was not bad -- great to efficiently get 1000 people fed in the fastest time, but not great for pin collectors loaded down with various pin books and bags. The food was okay ... nothing to write home about, but (according to Lauri) better than last years.
In our preregistration package we received a voucher for a special gift for breakfast attendees. This turned out to be a box with three pins -- including Pinpics #53 the AP torch pin from 1999. This one was a decent trader, but now that 1000 have been flooded onto the market, the tradability value of that pin just plummeted.
After breakfast, the crowd flowed toward Innoventions West. This is where everything gets ugly. Let me paint everyone this picture. The registers at the counter for the old Pasta Piazza were used for the event. The line went from there, queued around through the dining area, through the middle of the Pin Trading Lounge, and then out the doors leading toward Imagination. When Jeff, Trina, Lauri, and I arrived, the line was already coming out Innoventions and stretching toward Imagination. We saw a list (but no pictures) of the pins being released. Most were LE 3500, but there were some LE 2000 pins, only one of which I wanted (the Donald/Chip & Dale double pin). So I got in line, armed with a bottle of water, around 9:30.
To say there was mass confusion and frustration would be an understatement. I'll let Lauri tell about the misinformation she received concerning the map, but I can tell you there were not a lot of happy people in the very slow-moving line. Stories were flying about people who were in line early not leaving the building but getting back in line with friends (and with the line going through the middle of the Trading Lounge, this is very believable) and that people who had not paid to attend the breakfast were in line and bought pins during the breakfast-attendee time. If only the 1000 breakfast attendees were in the line and pins were limited to 2 per person, there should be no problem for the breakfast attendees to get their pins, even the LE 2000 ones. Instead, I got worried that the one I wanted would be sold out by the time I made it to the registers.
After being in line for about 2 hours and not yet even inside the building, I seriously considered abandoning the line. If it wasn't for the fact that I was also picking up pins for other people, I would have, since I only wanted one. Instead, I stayed. Once inside, I was only tired and grumpy instead of being hot, sweaty, tired, and grumpy. I eventually became a man with a mission, and that was to get through the line. I finally reached the register around 3:00 -- over 5 hours later. Thankfully, the pins I wanted were not sold out.
The next day, things improved. Instead of only 12 registers with no runners that were not manned 100% of the time (I swear, I saw registers with no CMs taking orders. It's not that they were getting the pins for guests -- there were no guests at the register to get pins for), Saturday and Sunday saw 26 registers with runners filling orders. The time in line on Saturday and Sunday -- one hour. The real kick in the teeth -- the pins I stood in line for 5+ hours to buy were still available.
Disney may have taken steps to make sure that the next two days would be an improvement, but the damage was already done.
Now, how best to improve things for the future. First, the random selection process (RSP) was the best thing to come out of last August's pin celebration. It worked great at past events. Why wasn't the RSP used for the daily LEs during this event? I still don't understand why it was never used for this one.
Second, take steps to insure that those who pay $50 for a breakfast that kicks off a weekend event get priority for the entire event. Yes, we got breakfast and we got the Epcot globe and the Walt with Figment pin, but there are other things that would cost little to no extra money that would make the $50 more than worth it. Disney could go low-tech and supply special wristbands for each day that the attendees have to wear to be in line and are removed either just before they approach the register or after they pay would work great. There were at least 2 checkpoint I can remember from being in line where the CMs can check for wristbands. If someone doesn't have a wristband at the checkpoint, remove them from line. Disney could also go high-tech with the Fastpass machines. How difficult would it be to program several of the Fastpass machines to accept someone's park pass once a day and issue a pass that allows that person to return at a certain time to buy pins?
Other things -- In their packet, give the registrants the maps for all three days instead of just the first day. That way they are assured of having the map instead of having to fight the crowds for one. Also, reserving the morning of the first day for the breakfast attendees is great, but have it in a controlled environment. The World Showcase, which does not open until 11:00 AM anyway, and the World Showplace pavilion are great and controllable. Future World, obviously, is not.
Third, the Pin Trading Lounge last year had people "setting up shop" on tables with books and boxes and bags of pins displayed. This year was just the same, except it was a smaller area. It felt like I was in a flea market, and the atmosphere for socializing wasn't present. I traded with someone there, but it was with some friends whom I ran into at Pin Central and we went into the air conditioning to trade. Honestly, I don't know what can be done about this, but thankfully there are other venues for trading.
Fourth, don't spread everything out. Most everything was in the old Pasta Piazza, but it was also merchandise-related. I never did make it to any of the seminars or anything. After Friday, I was too disgusted with the event and wanted to have fun around the parks. Having the auction about as far into the World Showcase as you can get from Innoventions didn't help either. The map should have been the only thing we should have had to go around the park for. That was part of the fun with the other maps. We did the "I Conquered the World" map, and despite our fatigue we were still able to joke that it conquered us as well. Last August, thanks to the map, we saw inside some of the WS pavilions we had never been in before.
Fifth, don't assume that the pin collectors will take all of this quietly. This experience has left a sour taste in everyone's mouths that won't go away anytime soon. I heard from many who are strong Disney fans and die-hard collectors that said they will not do this again. Personally, about 1:00 or 2:00 on Friday afternoon, I was ready to go home, upload pictures of most of my pins, and start selling on eBay or DIS Auctions. I always thought that I would be collecting Disney pins until it had not become fun, and that that moment had arrived. Thing is, I never thought that WDW would be the one that would rob the fun from the hobby.
Later that weekend, I did rediscover some of what makes pin collecting fun, and that is the people. I spent time with friends, saw people I hadn't seen since the previous Epcot event, made new friends, and traded some pins. Unfortunately, some of the thrill in pin trading and especially in Disney pin events is gone.
As for the pins themselves --- some were really nice looking, but overall I think the "Search for Imagination" continues. The themes for the three maps was a great idea, but overall the pins were just so-so. There were nice ones in all of the LEs for each day and some that didn't do anything for me. Lauri and I aren't really heavy into Figment, the villains, or the princesses, so we mostly got the AC pins and a few other LEs. A lot of the open edition map pins were nice but nothing spectacular, especially the Fab 5 on the last day. After seeing how great the SSE open edition pins looked, I expected something more than just the characters with the WDW logo. I heard at the SSE that we would see pins of some different characters at this event. There were villains we hadn't seen in a while (such as Madame Mim), but we still saw the same princesses and the same Fab 5. Yes, they're popular and yes, they're going to sell, but how about something really different and let's see what happens?
Overall, I had fun. The high points far outweighed the lows. Lauri and I got to see a lot of old friends and met new friends, the GPA2 was great and everyone had a blast with that. I may attend another pin event, but not until I see that Disney is going to make major improvements on how the event is operated and how the pin collectors are treated.
! I thought we stood in lines last year at EPCOT - guess not! That was nothing compared to what you all did this year - no way for me!
