Please tell me about the Pin Trading Event in Epcot in September 2015

[ReneeQ]

My nephew really wants to go to this. He has been trading pins for about 10 years, goes to Disney with me about once a year, and has maybe 400 or so pins in his collection. He is 17, so can go off on his own to trade. He REALLY wants to go to this event this year. We/he have never been to this event. Is it worth the price? I see it was $140 last year. Is that for both days, or each day? If you have gone before, would you go again? I went ahead and snagged a 4 night stay at the Boardwalk (we are DVC), just in case I decide to go.
Thanks!

 

[ReneeQ]

Did anyone go to this in September 2014? Another question I thought of - does the pin event ticket give you access into Epcot? Or would we need Epcot park tickets AND pin event tickets?

 

[cherilyninwonderland]

Are you talking about the Gala event?

 

[starry_solo]

Did anyone go to this in September 2014? Another question I thought of - does the pin event ticket give you access into Epcot? Or would we need Epcot park tickets AND pin event tickets?

I did not go in September 2014 but sponsored someone to attend as I wanted a few of the pins at cost. The price for the event DOES NOT include admission into the park, so you would need to purchase Epcot tickets and pin event tickets.

These types of pin events (I went to one at DLR) are usually full of old-time pin collectors/traders and many grail-type pins ($250+) are traded at these events between the private collectors. They are friendlier out in FL than CA but a lot of CA traders go there and don't have great attitudes towards people who don't have "grail" type pins.

The September 2015 event is going to be slightly limited, in that they will provide you a voucher which limits how many times you can go up to a trading board to trade for pins that WDW provides. WDW provides 3-5 boards to choose from (you don't get to see what's on the board until you've chosen which board to choose from) and then you are timed (45 seconds to 1 minute) to decide which two pins you want to trade for. Previously, you could go unlimited times (but you were usually waiting at least an hour to get to your turn to pick).

 

[ReneeQ]

THANK YOU for the replies! Yes, the Gala event, I think it's being called GenEARation D Pin Trading Event this September. Oh my, we will need park tickets AND event tickets? Sheesh! The event is from 9-6 each day, so the park ticket will essentially get you 3 hours in the park (from 6-9 PM). That seems crazy.
Thanks!