Experienced Pin Event People

[RweTHEREyet]

Since I have not been to one of these before, I would be interested in hearing from you pros about what to expect. Anyone care to share comments and/or experiences from past events?

 

[Engr-Chas]

Wear comfortable shoes. Be prepared to stand in many lines for many hours. Be patient and have fun.

Engr-Chas
Lord of the I did it again (STOP HELPING PEOPLE)

 

[RweTHEREyet]

ok, ok, ok, said like in Lethal Weapon by that short little guy----

Before you get the big head here----

I always wear comfortable shoes. I expected lines. Have prozac ready for the patience and have never failed to have fun at WDW, so that wasn't a whole lot of help.

What else ya got??

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Originally posted by RweTHEREyet
Since I have not been to one of these before, I would be interested in hearing from you pros about what to expect. Anyone care to share comments and/or experiences from past events?

I will be the first to admit that I am in no way a pro at pin events as I have only been to one (that being the August Epcot pin event) but I am more than willing to provide my experiences/observations.

First off, plan on spending a tremendous amount of time with your pin bags and lanyards. Although I went to WDW thinking I would trade a few pins, I did not realize how much pin trading there is at one of these. There were people everywhere wanting to trade. Whenever two people stopped, there seemed to be a meet. By all means, plan to do the map. That was some of the most fun we had last year running around Epcot with a map in one hand and a lanyard in the other hand answering questions and looking for clues on the next question. Another great way to meet traders and friends. We happened to run into Nat and Vince during our map quest. It was great to watch these two at work trading. I learned more just following them and watching how they trade than I ever could on my own. The World ShowPlace is the hub of all things with tons of traders going in and out at all times. There were pins I had never seen before. Please be forewarned, the trading can become intense and I soon felt as if I were in over my head (nothing new). The RSP process went very well. Of course there are always lines but I thought Disney did well with it. I learned that time didn't really matter when you turned in your RSP as long as it was before the deadline. People tended to get in line early causing long lines but then later on there was hardly anyone in line so plan accordingly. With regards to the picking up of pins, they were supposed to have them set aside or at least not oversell the pins. This worked great except for the Tinkerbell pin which had a high breakage rate where if you waited to pick up your pins you might not get them. Overall though even the people who did not get the Tinkerbell pin were offered alternatives. There were also a ton of meets, mini-meets, and informal get togethers that went on throughout the event. At times it seemed overwhelming but I had a blast and would definitely recommend getting involved in everything that your schedule will allow. In summary, I would say it was a most excellent adventure.

Jeff

 

[MadStrawberry]

The guy I had to force a trade on. Guess I will need to find another BIRD to give you Jeff !!!!!! LOL
Barbara

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I have a feeling I am going to feel a little intimidated by all the "big" traders. I am sure I will enjoy observing, though.

 

[NHMickey]

The most important thing... Take it at your speed and have a blast...

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Find some of your DIS buddies, and glue your self to their sides.

You will find that they will be happy to hold your hand through a couple of trades with perfect strangers.

And if you venture forth on your own....jump in with both feet....but don't hesitate to say "no" if the trade does not feel right, and you can't find a trusted buddy to validate your feeling.

The one sure thing in a group of pintraders this size: Someone else will have that pin for trade.

 

[Disney*All-Stars*]

I just wanted to collect and wear my pins on a lanyard and found that trading was a bit fun. A few pins I have collected are too special to trade (and some rare). I now have too many pins to wear and need a book! I was approached by a woman in Disneyland who wanted a pin I had, but told her it was too special to trade. I asked her if there was anything else she would like to trade. Later, I found out she was a serious trader and while I was asking a question of another pin trader, she interrupted and was a bit snippy and arrogant. It was meant to make me feel dumb over my lack of knowledge with regards to the pin trading rules and regulations. I asked to see her pin trading book since she talked so much about it and was quick to "suggest" that she will see me later in the hotel where we could trade. I got the hint, and was not blind to her blowing me off. I lost interest in the whole pin trading thing because I saw that the only interest in this "serious" trader was snatching that one rare pin off my lanyard and not giving me a chance to learn it and have fun doing it. I really got a sour taste after I met this woman. I did, however, meet a wonderful pin trader with a book at the VWL pin station and found trading with her comfortable and fun! I will be sure to go back again.

 

[NHMickey]

It's all about "Pin Karma" You will find that some people like to trade just to trade and make new friends and others do it as a serious hobbie while others do it for profit... But what I have seen over the last 3 years those that last do it for a bit of the first two... I love the hobbie but would not trade the friends and fun I have made for any pins...

 

[RweTHEREyet]

All Stars, I am sure this was very unsettling, especially to someone fairly new to trading. Just remember though, that when you place a pin a lanyard, it "usually" means you are willing to trade it. Next time, place that special one on your collar or shirt, and then no one will mistake your intentions or try and talk you out of it. Don't let this one incident keep you from trading. Pin trading can be a lot of fun.

 

[Chip and Dale]

We did the big event last year and found that it didn't pay to wait in the long lines for the afternoon RSP forms. The pins had already been assigned to you and you had quite a bit of time to pick them up, so you might take advantage of the down time and do some trading or take in some attractions,especially if you're with non-pin people. Hope this helps!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Do you have until the end of each day to pick up your RSP pins?

Do pin event people get first crack at the RSP pins after the first day or is it open to everyone at that point?

 

[jojo_ct]

The people who got the breakfast tickets get first crack at other pins, and special pins just for them. They get no special consideration for RSP pins on any day. Everybody has the same chance to get those.

 

[n2mm]

Last August all of the extra pins were sold at the end of the EVENT, not each day. Things change and we'll have to wait and see.

MY TIP: don't try to make this a pin trip and a family trip /vacation. It just won't work. I tried last year by bringing some family (non-pin people) with us. After turning in our RSPs each day we would have to run off to meet them, then back to EPCOT to do the map or pick up the pins. Try to meet the family for a ressie dinner. By the end of the trip, we were so tired and regretted not being able to trade when we wanted to. Always having to leave to meet someone or be somewhere. So you have to decide which would be more important. This year, it's just the 2 of us....no family with us on this trip.

ALSO: last year the sharks would show up with suitcases full of pins. they would grab tables and set up shop, which ressembled a flea market. That disgusted me so much, I barely went into the "millennium village" to trade (besides having to chase after the family to make it to specific locations).

ONE MORE: We did poor planning last year and were to leave on the last day of the event. We barely made it to the airport on time and got lots of grey hairs worrying. Never had the opportunity to trade at the end as we ran out of the "village" (to go pick up the family members who were waiting for us). This year we are not scheduled to leave until Tuesday...allowing enough time to have a day to ourselves before departing.

Last year they had plenty of water coolers around, so am hoping for that perk again this year. The map pursuit was lots of fun and look forward to that.

One more:::When we had to fill out our RSP forms last year, we had to put our names and addresses on them. I printed out labels to use because it would be difficult standing in line with a clipboard trying to fill out the forms. The labels made it simple.

 

[jojo_ct]

I LOVE the idea of preprinting labels. You're a genious!

 

[jojo_ct]

I LOVE the idea of preprinting labels. You're a genius!