Pin trading update, Buzz scoring broken again + park report

[WonkaKid]

No one will be surprised that I was at the park yesterday. As can be seen in one of the pics below, crowds were thick, once again. At least at rope drop. Later in the morning it didn’t feel cramped or overburdened. But it always makes my friends and I nervous when we see such crowds.

As many of you know, there are new pin-trading rules, which are being enforced diligently. Pin traders are restricted to one book of pins (at a time) on a single table. A few people commented that they liked the table as opposed to the benches because it’s above waist-level and they don’t have to lean over to examine pins. At around 10:45, a CM stopped by and asked how things were going. Apparently pin trading is halted in FL at 3:00 to prevent congestion during the parade. The CM said that she’d explore the possibility of a post-3:00 trading area.

As an aside, traders are allowed more than one book with them but they can only display one at a time. All of these feel like reasonable rules to me.

Buzz scoring was (is?) broken once again. There was no leader board yesterday and all of the kiosks were out of order. I spoke with the nice Buzz family I met about two months ago and they agreed that we were only doing the ride for “target practice” ;-).

I have park maps for anyone who’d like a set. Send me a DM with your mailing address and I’ll send one your way.

Pics.


Yup. Looks like it's almost done ;-).

 

[Tinkaboo]

Holy moly that’s a LOT of people! Yikes. Hope itsall the Thanksgiving crowd come early…

Rob, thanks again for the bakery treat shots…I was so disappointe that there is NOTHING like this at WDW..if we ever lose our wonderful bakery/candy people, it will be such a loss. It’s an art form unto itself and so aesthetically pleasing.

Sorry about Buzz…I just hope they don’t “fix” it like WDW…that’s the stupidest ride there when you are just pulling a trigger and aiming a general direction…more action at the hotel arcade

 

[Love Tink]

Holy moly that’s a LOT of people! Yikes. Hope itsall the Thanksgiving crowd come early…

Rob, thanks again for the bakery treat shots…I was so disappointe that there is NOTHING like this at WDW..if we ever lose our wonderful bakery/candy people, it will be such a loss. It’s an art form unto itself and so aesthetically pleasing.

Sorry about Buzz…I just hope they don’t “fix” it like WDW…that’s the stupidest ride there when you are just pulling a trigger and aiming a general direction…more action at the hotel arcade

What Disney World did you go to?

 

[BrianL]

What Disney World did you go to?

Yeah, I was thinking that too. They have bakeries/confectioneries at WDW in several locations.

 

[Lisa24jks]

Rob, I love that you take pictures of the sweet treats even though you don't even eat sugary stuff! It's appreciated by those of us that do indulge!

 

[Pluto468]

Your pictures of the bakery case always want me to get to the parks asap lol. That rope drop crowd looked enormous.

 

[Tinkaboo]

What Disney World did you go

Florida. Goofy’s Candy in Disney Springs, the Candy store on Main Street in MK.
After looking all over HS, was told by CM, no there was no sweet shop there. Trolley Car Cafe (Starbucks) had the best gingerbread. Everywhere I went, selections were identical, just like most of the merchandise, which is mostly same stuff on ShopDisney except at least on there, you can find stuff on sale. The same current spirit jersey at the parks for approx. $80 was on sale before I left for $55 ( I know because I paid full price for mine the day they came out).

While I did see country-related sweets in World Showcase, again, there was not a store like Candy Palace, Marceline’s, etc. Not the beautifully decorated cake pops, apples, Tigger Tails. Sorry if you don’t believe me…

 

[Diana ZP]

Wow that was a lot of folks...I sure hope the crowds are a bit less when we go. Looking at the lovely decorations is getting me into the Christmas spirit! And making me try to figure how to get some of the goodies home to my co-workers!

 

[DnA2010]

Holy moly!
What time are you getting to the parks to be in the front of the RD crowd?

 

[BrianL]

Florida. Goofy’s Candy in Disney Springs, the Candy store on Main Street in MK.
After looking all over HS, was told by CM, no there was no sweet shop there. Trolley Car Cafe (Starbucks) had the best gingerbread. Everywhere I went, selections were identical, just like most of the merchandise, which is mostly same stuff on ShopDisney except at least on there, you can find stuff on sale. The same current spirit jersey at the parks for approx. $80 was on sale before I left for $55 ( I know because I paid full price for mine the day they came out).

While I did see country-related sweets in World Showcase, again, there was not a store like Candy Palace, Marceline’s, etc. Not the beautifully decorated cake pops, apples, Tigger Tails. Sorry if you don’t believe me…

They do have that stuff, ckae pops, etc. though. Candy Cauldron at Disney Springs is one you missed, and they have people making stuff in the window. Also, AK has Zuri's, which is the same type of place - they definitely have cake pops. Selection may vary and I'm not sure what MK is offering these days (though MK has the Main street Confectionary and Big Top Treats). They did remove the sweet shop from HS, but there was one on Sunset Blvd. previously. It is now the Villains themed gift shop.

 

[WonkaKid]

Holy moly!
What time are you getting to the parks to be in the front of the RD crowd?

It’s not that bad, really. I get to the parking structure at around 6:35 and it opens at 7:00. I rush to the park gates but sometimes I still miss the opening by just a few seconds. When that happens, it’s usually due to circumstances beyond my control such as cars being particularly slow ahead of me at the structure, security being slow, etc. On Sundays friends get here super early and are nearly always at the front of the line at the gates. If I make it before they open, I can run up and join them (which I usually do). On the few occasions when I miss the opening, I have to wait in the long and usually slow-moving line ;-). But I’m still able to meet them at the rope and it doesn’t make any real difference to my park plans.