So what did everyone think

[NHMickey]

of the pin event?

I am working on my trip report but I wanted to say I was very happy with the way it went.

There may have been a shortage of tables as the bigger traders took up some space but over all it was a great time.

I loved the themeing inside the pavillion. The lnes for pick up went quick and the staff seemed very nice.

So what did you think?

 

[NJBlackBerry]

My only complaint was that it got very warm in the trading area. I agree that they were way short on table space, but that's the way it was.

I agree completely with your comments about theming and merchandise pickup.

The lines for the pin boards seemed longer than last year, but I didn't wait in any of them.

I was disappointed that Figment didn't come by for his event

 

[JnK]

It was very warm in the building! Still had a blast, pin trading was great, met a lot of wonderful people. The lines were a bit long, just gave more time for individual trading. DW did most of the line waiting while I worked the tables for hard to find pins. Figment is DW favorite and was a little disappointed about not seeing Figment at the event, but she got her picture with Figment next to the ride!!!

Overall had a great time! Can't wait til next year, not real sure about the theming of PTU?

 

[BeautyLLM]

Hey Nat,

It was good to see you at the event! On Monday, I get to order that most "beauty"ful pin we were admiring!

This was my sixth Epcot pin event, and I had a great time. My positives and negatives:

Positives

1. I loved the theming of the event pins. They were cute and creative and funny and I think there was something for everyone.
2. The merchandise pick up at The Yacht Club was quick and efficient. CM's were cheerful and friendly both at pick up area and returns area.
3. Theming at World Showplace was cool.
4. Everyone enjoyed the games.
5. Going through the Pin Partners line and seeing all the upcoming releases is lots of fun.
6. The two $15 gift cards are very generous and a great improvement over the meal coupons they used to give us.
7. The gift pins were very nice.

Negatives

1. The pin trading was great, but the pin trading area was too small to accomodate the 1200 or so traders who attended the event
2. There weren't enough pin boards to accomodate the traders so the lines were always VERY long.
3. Lastly, one of the items we received in our registration packet was a card with a letter on it. Depending on what letter you got, you were able to redeem it for a common lanyard pin, or the chance to visit a pin board with exclusive jumbo pins on it (I think there was also the chance to get two new lanyard pins? not sure). It appeared that many FL locals and people well known within the pin trading community got the jumbos, while others got the common pin. I hope this was nothing more than a strange coincidence, it would be very disappointing to think that there was some sort of favoritism. I don't begrudge anyone winning a prize, but it is only fair to expect that every participant be treated equally in regards to giveaways.

Suggestions for next year

1. At the "Search for Imagination" event (I think this was the one that turned alot of people off to the events due to lots of problems but that's another story) they gave us three boards that fit together which we could use to display the pins from the event. I would love to see something like that for next year
2. Either limit the number of participants or rearrange the venue to provide more space for trading
3. Bring back event merchandise. A pinbag with the event logo on it would be cool!

Overall, I thought the event was great. Between the gifts and the $30 in gift cards, it was a great value. It is always good to see old friends and make new ones. That is the heart and soul of pin trading.

Looking forward to the AK event!!

 

[Love2Tvl1]

Was GREAT! I would like to agree with the previous posters on just about everything. The themeing of the decorations in the pavillion were outstanding! They must have picked the friendliest CMs for the jobs because I never met an unhappy or snotty one anywhere. Everyone was so helpful to a newbie! I made so many new friends and met so many wonderful people! I can't wait to go again!
I thought that the trading area was hot, too, and didn't enjoy the long lines very much, though that's where I got to know some fellow traders best.
The gifts and the cash cards were very nice, and I do hope that the better 'perks' were not given to 'certain' folks, instead of a true luck of the draw.
I have some mixed feelings about the PTU theme also.
All in all, it was a fantasmic experience!

PS: All the Figment and Dreamfinder references made me remember with fondness and regret about how much I loved the original Journey Into Imagination ride, and how much I miss it compared to what replaced it.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Lastly, one of the items we received in our registration packet was a card with a letter on it. Depending on what letter you got, you were able to redeem it for a common lanyard pin, or the chance to visit a pin board with exclusive jumbo pins on it (I think there was also the chance to get two new lanyard pins? not sure). It appeared that many FL locals and people well known within the pin trading community got the jumbos, while others got the common pin. I hope this was nothing more than a strange coincidence, it would be very disappointing to think that there was some sort of favoritism. I don't begrudge anyone winning a prize, but it is only fair to expect that every participant be treated equally in regards to giveaways.

I guess we were lucky - from New Jersey; not known down there at all. My wife got an "A" (jumbo) and I got a "C" (complete set up lanyard pins)....

 

[Love2Tvl1]

That's good to know, NJB. Thanks! (BTW I had a K)

 

[Roxane]

It was our first event, and I thought it was great. I totally loved the decorations. I didn't go back into the trading room, but spent most of my time in line at the pin boards. I found some awesome pins. I got to meet Scoop for the first time (He's great!) We met and traded with a lot of the people in lines and over all had a wonderful time. I have to say it was the best pin trading days we have ever had

We aren't known but are FL locals, We both got the HKDL pin tickets. I'm sure they were random, I can't inagine WDW playing favorites.

 

[Parkhopper_Vince]

Great theming, great fun, great Special Events Staff and great trading!!

 

[diznycrazed]

We had a great time as well. It was our first event in 3 years so loved the fact of a gift card rather than food card. The theme was just gorgeous. The event gifts were quite nice as well. I really stuck to the boards which are in need of BIG improvements. The board lighting was terrible and the lines were way too long. It truly took 45 minutes with the board lines. If they want to open it up to a larger crowd than they need to include more pin trading venues.

I loved sticking around for the auction, that was pretty wild to see the prices people were willing to pay!

The most fun of all were the many, many nice people you meet at these things. The standing in line was made bearable by that fact. I even made a few trades while standing there. I loved the ladies who were going around with their DLR lanyard corkboard and allowing you to trade your lanyard pins for theirs, that was pretty cool. I got some DLR sets I would have never gotten otherwise.

I'm looking forward to May! I've never done an AK event and everyone was raving about past ones.

Terry O

 

[ScottakaMickey]

We had a great time at the event. Catching up with good friends, and I even traded a few pins this time.

I will have to say that the merchandise wasn't that great.

I did like the random gift thing they did, and it would've been neat to do that each day of the event.

 

[megaelch]

i think the place does not provide enough space for 1400 people and traders .
The 1200 people from the last years were stretching it .. but now .. no place to be found to trade pins so the pins stayed in the trunk.
Theming was nice, but honestly i think 95 % percent of the people do not even take notice there is a theming at all.
Pin lines were extremly long so i did pass after two rounds with 45 minutes each and traded for the pins i wanted later off-site.
What was really bothering me was the smell of fish & chips all over the place .. seems people were bringing in tons of this stuff... it is bearable in fresh air, but not in there with an AC having a hard time without the food smells ..
I would vote for not bringing in hot food at from outside ..

 

[BeautyLLM]

I'm with you on the fish and chips smell, it reeked!

Maybe our credentials should be air fresheners next year

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I agree with most of the comments above.

The theming was wonderful.
The gift cards and pin gifts were a great value.
The activities were better than last year.
There were more water stations than last year, so that was a plus.
Spent time with lots of pinpals and traded loads of pins.

It was hot in the pintrading area on Friday, but it was better on Saturday and Sunday. I had spoken to a CM late on Friday and they told me that they had placed numerous service calls throughout the day. I had also complained about the lighting in the far corners, and lights were added (or repointed) for Saturday/Sunday.

The pintrading table situation was not good. I spoke with Debbie (Event Svcs CM) on Sunday, and she said they got the message loud and clear. So I think we can hope for an improvement next year.

The letter tickets: We were told on Thursday that the prize for the letter changed every half hour -- thus the purpose of the appointments. That would have been way more fun, because the suspense would have continued through Saturday. I heard all sorts of speculation about how the letters were "assigned," but from observation of outcome, I saw no consistency that indicated it was "fixed" as opposed to truly random.

 

[Parkhopper_Vince]

There are goods and bads with every event and it is hard to get everything perfect. I think the space for actual pin trading could have been larger. Since this was the only pin event at the parks this year it really brings the traders. In the old days when there were multiple events at multiple parks throughout the year there were more occasions to get major pin trading done. (I am thrilled to be hearing that they will be bringing back the Animal Kingdom Event next year!!) Also, with time there has been an accumulation of pins so there are more pins being brought to the trading.

Pickup this year was great! I waited a very minimal amount of time and believe me I know from past experience that there were times when pickup meant an unbelievable amount of time standing in line.

Lines for the pin trading boards were long, but I didn't stand in any so that didn't really bother me.

Getting the opportunity to get together with so many pin trader friends who we have met over the years and spend some time....that is always the best part about this hobby by far. I treasure the friends I have met through pin trading from all over the country and the world!! Got to see and enjoy spending time with a bunch of them at the event.

Traded quite a few pins while we were there. Haven't had the opportunity to go back through those trades and they are still sitting in bags, but I look forward to doing so soon. Trading was good at this event. I traded more than I have in recent times.

I had fun! Hope you did too.

 

[NHMickey]

I agree with the No Fish & Chips. It did stink.