NHMickey
<font color=red>I'm A Disneyana Collector!<font co
- Joined
- Dec 24, 1999
- Messages
- 7,285
It started as a lark and has turned in to a Tradition. In the fall off 1999 my wife and I where planning a trip to Walt Disney World and she had been reading the internet boards to help plan our trip and find things to do that we had not already done (not an easy task for a 15th or so trip) She looked and found one that had just a little more personal style and real information on it. The site was wdwinfo.com and it helped to change how we did Disney. For on this site we had read about a New Disney idea it was called Pin Trading.
We have been going to WDW since 1986 and had been doing a trip about every 6 to 8 months since then. That was till we made a little trip to the Disney Store in Nashua NH. You see that is where we bought our first pin. Not just any pin either. It was Pin # 101 of 101. A series of pins the Disney Store was doing to celebrate the 2000 Millennium Celebration Disney was doing world wide. That pin was the first in a series to be released every week for a little over a year. Each pin was highlighting a moment of Disney History and the first pin was Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse. In my opinion a classic pin and a must have to this day.
Well from a small idea a few marketing executives had to be like the Olympics where the practice of Olympic athletes is to trade national pins and how they saw it had become really big with the public during the Atlanta games. They decided to have a Pin Trading experience for the guests to help with the Millennium celebration Disney had planed. It has since taken off in a way I am sure no one ever thought of. It has been so successful it has been renamed a Disney Tradition and that is no easy task. But in the five years since it has started what has it really done to deserve that honor? Well first it had to start and to quote a Disney press release on how they hoped to start it all.
To help "celebrate the future hand in hand" during Walt Disney World Resort's 15-month Millennium Celebration, millions of Disney collectible pins will be sold and traded throughout the Vacation Kingdom.
At interactive millennium "pin stations" located throughout the four Disney theme parks, Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, Downtown Disney and Disney's Boardwalk, guests will be able to purchase hundreds of colorful pins, trade pins with other guests, and even trade with designated Disney cast members who will be wearing pins on special lanyards.
"Pin collecting has become a phenomenon," says Linda Conrad, general manager of Epcot Merchandise. "During the millennium, we will be adding Disney magic, taking the pin craze to a new level."
Wow did they ever take it to a new level. A level that has reached almost every corner of the world and has reached every corner Disney touches. But as I said what has it really done to be a tradition? Well these are just my observations and by no means should they be taken for anymore than that.
First it has made friends of people from not just across the street or from the within the local area. It has made close friends of people worldwide. I have weekly and monthly interaction with people not just here in the United States but in Europe and Asia as well. I have met with friends not just in a Disney setting but have spent nights over their house and have had them to my home. What is going on in our daily lives has replaced what pin is hot or a Must Have. Vacations are now planed around the world so that we might spend time together and share not just our love for Disney but our need to be with friends. We in fact plan our Thanksgiving trip every year to be with Larry and his family in his home a great tradition started by our mutual love of Disney. When we leave the hobby or lose track of the pins we will always have the friends. And what friends we have made from Florida, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and just about every other State and the Countries of Germany, England, France and Japan and all the lands between.
The Second thing is the memories it has made. I could describe in detail a few of them but I wont bore you too much with the details of mine but I will share a brief timeline of them. The weekend releases of the first 8 Artist Choice pins. In 2000 most of us could not make the trip here every few weeks for these releases so an Internet community was born for pin traders. The DIS (wdwinfo.com) was one of the first for pins on its collectors board. Plans where made for people to get the pins for others on the weekends they could be there and trade them for the pins others would get when they went. It was the start of bonds that take me back to my first reason.
Another great memories and one of my favorites is the release of a mystery pin. That being a pin of low edition size that is or was released with no notice or very short notice. The pin I am referring to was released during an Artist Choice Weekend and the pin was called Flubber. It was not a fantastic looking pin or for that matter it was not even a good looking pin but it turned out to be one on those pins that had to be had by all. I know why and so does everyone that was there. It is a special pin and while it has become a Holy Grail it will really only have a special meaning to the few hundred of us that where there for its release. You see it all started with a line that was not a line and involved a man who conducted a fountain in a rainstorm and ended with the return of a pager to a friend from two states away. You see you had to be there to know the truth behind the magic of this pin. Everyone wants it for the mythology of the day but only those there that day can know its real meaning. But that is one of many pins that have a story and what we are really collecting is the stories. Ask any collector how they got a Keeper pin and they can relate a story to it.
I could tell you a few that involved trips to the parks from my home in NH to get a pin of the month and how it took such trips to trade for just one pin. And how a fellow collectors joined me from MD to do it. And then how a Collector was relating a story to me from one of her trips to WDW from VA and how a CM on the main street of MGM told here about these two nuts from NH and MD who flew in and out in a one day turn to get a pin. You see it was 3 people from 3 states sharing one great memory. It was all about a pin but it turned out to be a magical memory. And as I said these are just a few of the stories of the pins I have. I have dozens of Keepers and that means Dozens of stories. I am thankful daily for everyone.
The 3rd and maybe the most important thing that has made this a Tradition is the people at Disney who have made it work and those who still keep it alive. For those that have been in it since the start in 1999 we remember the Super Traders. A group of young adults who spent hours a day walking around Epcot and the pin events making sure the Cast Member lanyards where fresh and good pins where placed on them. These young folks where the first real pin ambassadors for Disney and I have great memories of all of them. I offer a special thanks to Amy, Darren, David, Brian and Mike for all the hard work they did to make sure we had a great time.
We know all the effort they put in but did you know or do you know Jim Matthews? If not he is the man. He has put more in to this than anyone I know. The hours he has worked to make sure the events where done right and the pins where good cant be measured. He has worked and still does work daily behind the scenes to make sure Pin Trading is kept fun for everyone of all ages. If not for the Work of Jim I dont think Disney pin trading would be here today. Take a moment the next time you see him to just say thank you
Then there is Scoop Sanderson. He is a reporter for the Main St Gazette and can be found on the Main St in the Magic Kingdom. He has a daily talk and he calls it The One Oclock Pin Talk where you can learn how pins are made and how to trade. You can see first hand the step-by-step manufacturing process for each different type of pin. If you have a moment stop by and see him. It has been 5 years of pin trading at Disney and this man has kept the fun alive and well in the Magic Kingdom and beyond. I will tell you that if you get the chance to talk with or just to listen to Scoop you will never forget it and it will be a Magical Disney Experience. Oh and make sure you say hi to his dogs, Butterscotch and Liquorice.
These are just a few of those people who have made Pin trading special for me. There are dozens more form the CMs who wear the lanyards to the fantastic artists who design them.
Well that is some of why I think it has become a Disney Tradition. The memories it makes, the magical moments it has created and mostly the people who have turned what was originally scheduled to last for just the 1999-2000 year and turned it in to a huge hit at Disney Resorts all over the world and even on the World Wide Web.
The World Wide Web has played a part that no one can put in to words. If not for the hard work of the Pin Sites like the DIS, Dizneypins.com, Dizpins.com and Pinpics.com (a site that should be viewed by all pin collectors) it would be hard to keep the magic rolling after I left the parks. The interaction between pin traders on the net is unreal. And that takes me back to the first reason. What has made this past 5 years so much fun?
Why it is all of you. Everyone I have met in person to those I have only talked with in cyberspace. I cant wait for the next 5 years. For this is no longer just a hobby
It is a Family Tradition!
We have been going to WDW since 1986 and had been doing a trip about every 6 to 8 months since then. That was till we made a little trip to the Disney Store in Nashua NH. You see that is where we bought our first pin. Not just any pin either. It was Pin # 101 of 101. A series of pins the Disney Store was doing to celebrate the 2000 Millennium Celebration Disney was doing world wide. That pin was the first in a series to be released every week for a little over a year. Each pin was highlighting a moment of Disney History and the first pin was Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse. In my opinion a classic pin and a must have to this day.
Well from a small idea a few marketing executives had to be like the Olympics where the practice of Olympic athletes is to trade national pins and how they saw it had become really big with the public during the Atlanta games. They decided to have a Pin Trading experience for the guests to help with the Millennium celebration Disney had planed. It has since taken off in a way I am sure no one ever thought of. It has been so successful it has been renamed a Disney Tradition and that is no easy task. But in the five years since it has started what has it really done to deserve that honor? Well first it had to start and to quote a Disney press release on how they hoped to start it all.
To help "celebrate the future hand in hand" during Walt Disney World Resort's 15-month Millennium Celebration, millions of Disney collectible pins will be sold and traded throughout the Vacation Kingdom.
At interactive millennium "pin stations" located throughout the four Disney theme parks, Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, Downtown Disney and Disney's Boardwalk, guests will be able to purchase hundreds of colorful pins, trade pins with other guests, and even trade with designated Disney cast members who will be wearing pins on special lanyards.
"Pin collecting has become a phenomenon," says Linda Conrad, general manager of Epcot Merchandise. "During the millennium, we will be adding Disney magic, taking the pin craze to a new level."
Wow did they ever take it to a new level. A level that has reached almost every corner of the world and has reached every corner Disney touches. But as I said what has it really done to be a tradition? Well these are just my observations and by no means should they be taken for anymore than that.
First it has made friends of people from not just across the street or from the within the local area. It has made close friends of people worldwide. I have weekly and monthly interaction with people not just here in the United States but in Europe and Asia as well. I have met with friends not just in a Disney setting but have spent nights over their house and have had them to my home. What is going on in our daily lives has replaced what pin is hot or a Must Have. Vacations are now planed around the world so that we might spend time together and share not just our love for Disney but our need to be with friends. We in fact plan our Thanksgiving trip every year to be with Larry and his family in his home a great tradition started by our mutual love of Disney. When we leave the hobby or lose track of the pins we will always have the friends. And what friends we have made from Florida, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and just about every other State and the Countries of Germany, England, France and Japan and all the lands between.
The Second thing is the memories it has made. I could describe in detail a few of them but I wont bore you too much with the details of mine but I will share a brief timeline of them. The weekend releases of the first 8 Artist Choice pins. In 2000 most of us could not make the trip here every few weeks for these releases so an Internet community was born for pin traders. The DIS (wdwinfo.com) was one of the first for pins on its collectors board. Plans where made for people to get the pins for others on the weekends they could be there and trade them for the pins others would get when they went. It was the start of bonds that take me back to my first reason.
Another great memories and one of my favorites is the release of a mystery pin. That being a pin of low edition size that is or was released with no notice or very short notice. The pin I am referring to was released during an Artist Choice Weekend and the pin was called Flubber. It was not a fantastic looking pin or for that matter it was not even a good looking pin but it turned out to be one on those pins that had to be had by all. I know why and so does everyone that was there. It is a special pin and while it has become a Holy Grail it will really only have a special meaning to the few hundred of us that where there for its release. You see it all started with a line that was not a line and involved a man who conducted a fountain in a rainstorm and ended with the return of a pager to a friend from two states away. You see you had to be there to know the truth behind the magic of this pin. Everyone wants it for the mythology of the day but only those there that day can know its real meaning. But that is one of many pins that have a story and what we are really collecting is the stories. Ask any collector how they got a Keeper pin and they can relate a story to it.
I could tell you a few that involved trips to the parks from my home in NH to get a pin of the month and how it took such trips to trade for just one pin. And how a fellow collectors joined me from MD to do it. And then how a Collector was relating a story to me from one of her trips to WDW from VA and how a CM on the main street of MGM told here about these two nuts from NH and MD who flew in and out in a one day turn to get a pin. You see it was 3 people from 3 states sharing one great memory. It was all about a pin but it turned out to be a magical memory. And as I said these are just a few of the stories of the pins I have. I have dozens of Keepers and that means Dozens of stories. I am thankful daily for everyone.
The 3rd and maybe the most important thing that has made this a Tradition is the people at Disney who have made it work and those who still keep it alive. For those that have been in it since the start in 1999 we remember the Super Traders. A group of young adults who spent hours a day walking around Epcot and the pin events making sure the Cast Member lanyards where fresh and good pins where placed on them. These young folks where the first real pin ambassadors for Disney and I have great memories of all of them. I offer a special thanks to Amy, Darren, David, Brian and Mike for all the hard work they did to make sure we had a great time.
We know all the effort they put in but did you know or do you know Jim Matthews? If not he is the man. He has put more in to this than anyone I know. The hours he has worked to make sure the events where done right and the pins where good cant be measured. He has worked and still does work daily behind the scenes to make sure Pin Trading is kept fun for everyone of all ages. If not for the Work of Jim I dont think Disney pin trading would be here today. Take a moment the next time you see him to just say thank you
Then there is Scoop Sanderson. He is a reporter for the Main St Gazette and can be found on the Main St in the Magic Kingdom. He has a daily talk and he calls it The One Oclock Pin Talk where you can learn how pins are made and how to trade. You can see first hand the step-by-step manufacturing process for each different type of pin. If you have a moment stop by and see him. It has been 5 years of pin trading at Disney and this man has kept the fun alive and well in the Magic Kingdom and beyond. I will tell you that if you get the chance to talk with or just to listen to Scoop you will never forget it and it will be a Magical Disney Experience. Oh and make sure you say hi to his dogs, Butterscotch and Liquorice.
These are just a few of those people who have made Pin trading special for me. There are dozens more form the CMs who wear the lanyards to the fantastic artists who design them.
Well that is some of why I think it has become a Disney Tradition. The memories it makes, the magical moments it has created and mostly the people who have turned what was originally scheduled to last for just the 1999-2000 year and turned it in to a huge hit at Disney Resorts all over the world and even on the World Wide Web.
The World Wide Web has played a part that no one can put in to words. If not for the hard work of the Pin Sites like the DIS, Dizneypins.com, Dizpins.com and Pinpics.com (a site that should be viewed by all pin collectors) it would be hard to keep the magic rolling after I left the parks. The interaction between pin traders on the net is unreal. And that takes me back to the first reason. What has made this past 5 years so much fun?
Why it is all of you. Everyone I have met in person to those I have only talked with in cyberspace. I cant wait for the next 5 years. For this is no longer just a hobby
It is a Family Tradition!
While I may be more of a lurker about here. I couldn't agree more. Every pin does have a story behind it. I'll never forget how I got my first pin and how I still look at it and smile. I don't think i'll ever stop loving that pin. Being able to trade with the CM's for pins not only from WDW but all over the world is one of the biggest highlights of my trips. Pin trading and collecting have really added to the fun I have at the World and after. I look forward to the next five years being even better. 
