Star Spangled Event. Shortcomings!!!

[Mickey527]

I just got home from a family trip to the parks. We had a great time. I went to Uni for a few days and rode everything at least once. Hulk and Spiderman 6 times each. I love those rides.

We went to the pin event as a family. Yes I tried to get them to think of it as a family event, they thought of it as pay back for taking them on the trip.
We arrived at the TTC at 9 am. Hopped on a monorail and got to the Contemporary at 10:30. The monorails were not working right and they had to remove a car from the tracks.
The line for registration was from one end of the room to the other so I told the boys they could go to the game room and to return in 45 minutes. Of course they were not there when I got to the front so I got some of the stuff but they had to wait in the line again to get the rest.
Then another line, to get the pins that were pre-paid.
Then we picked up the maps. I got into a line after asking if that was the one to get the map stamped. I got to the front of the line after at least 30 minutes and they told me that I had to do the map in order they wouldn't give me any of the Contemporary stamps until I had the other two resorts done. I knew I had to come back for the completer, I just wanted the other one, but they wouldn't do it. So on to the next line.
I wanted to buy some of the map pins so I asked a CM if this line was the one to buy the pins. She said yes, so in I go. I got to the front and it was the line to have them sign the maps etc. I didn't want anything signed, I am not into that, so I got into another line after asking. This one went to the store so it must be the pin line. Nope, that was the line to turn in your broken pins. Well, only one line left, this must be it. The lady in front of me bought 50..... yes, I said 50... of each of the map pins. My turn finally!!!! "Sorry we are all sold out of the map pins here" ANGER, SEETHING, "I am not doing this ever again" I am really not enjoying this pin trading anymore......
Next on to the Poly. answered the questions, got the stamps, got in the line for buying the pins. "Opps, sorry we are sold out"
Ok, one more time, on to the Grand Floridian. Gave the answers, got the stamps, got in line. This looks more promising, the line is shorter. There is Donna and Michelle. Michelle bought one of them, then "oops, sorry we are sold out"
I got NOT one of the map pins. I was so angry. This event was not well planned out. Why did they let someone buy 50 of each pin. And how many of those pins does she now have on e-bay? I hope they make more, they are supposed to be rack pins, but they are very patriotic, I don't think they will return.
Ok, got the maps done, got all the pins and stuff we are supposed to get, only one of my Mickey and Minnie pins was broken, time to get food and get out of there. It is 3 pm, and we have done nothing but hope to the resorts and back to the Contemporary. The family is angry. Go down to the palce to get our food. the wait for food is over 1 hour. Over one hour for a hot dog????? Unorganized is not even going to cover that one.
Well I grab two more maps so I can help my friends out (your welcome Judith lol) and take the family to the dock. I paid for them to go on the water mice or sprites or whatever they are calling them now for one hour. 7 boats for an hour each, but it is a small price to pay, they are angry and this stuff should have been over with by noon or 1 at the latest. I do the two maps and meet them at the dock. We go to get food , the wait was about 1/2 hour by then, but they said on the ticket that food will be served only until 5 pm. It is now 4:45. We got some dry chicken nuggets and a soda and chew on them for a few minutes while they tell me about the fun they had on the boats. My feet hurt.
We left the Contemporary at 6 pm, and go directly to our condo. No Mini golf, no go carts, and of course it is raining so they cant even go to the pool. And no one wants to walk around the malls so we turn on tv. What a day.
I spent from Sat to Friday at the parks, found only one lanyard pin and tons of those Dopey head pins (but that is another post). I never even brought my pin bag this trip because I knew I would not do any trading other than for lanyard pins so I only brought my lanyard traders. Well I still have them all, anyone need a pin from the DTD event last year??? lol
I made sure to tell them how great the Beach Club villas were and laid on the guilt so they did the 4th of July park hunt for me. I got a few sets of each of the pins for my nearest and dearest buddies who could not go to the event, and then I was done with pins for the week. They sat in a bag on the floor of the car until I took them out today when I unpacked.
I hope things are planned better for the September event. between that and the little "soap operas" that go on between groups I am really seeing the black side of trading. I feel the way I did after the August event last year, I need to step back and re-think why I am doing this. I so enjoy the friends I have made, why does one or two bad apples spoil the fun? Peggie

 

[JudithM]

Peggie, first let me publically THANK YOU for picking up an extra map - I appreciate it. Privately, Peggie & I are emailing each other .

As for lines ... this has to be one of the worst parts of the pin events . We took an adult first timer to WDW last August. She spent her first two days at WDW standing in line with us at the pin event . We waited in longer lines for the pin event than we did for rides! Welcome to WDW! She doesn't have a good sense of direction, so we couldn't send her off on her own! I had her repeat over & over where we were staying in case she did get lost ! Why can't Disney organize it so you get your registration form & pins you paid for at the same time?

I realize the rack pins are not limited edition pins, but Disney should have done more so that guests who paid for the event were able to get the map pins. 50 pins is excessive. What is ironic to me is one DIS pin friend was able to get me a set of rack pins for the map, but the map was gone. And here Peggie got an extra map or two, but no rack pins.

Ironically on 4th of July we went to see fireworks. No two city or county police personnel had the same answer. No two transit company people knew what was going on. After the unorganized fiasco, I said the city should take a lesson from Disney on how to organize an event. Peggie, may tell me differently .

 

[RamVA]

..........and will Disney ever get it right???

Peggie, sweetie, I am so sorry it was so frustrating for you, but I am glad you were registering this morning for September!!!! Since I have never been to an event, I still have my rose-colored glasses on--well, not really, because after 30 years of working in retail, I know that management NEVER has a clue what the customer wants or needs, or what is frustrating them, or the right way to run an event, and they don't really seem to want to listen or learn, even though our mucho money is going straight to their bottom line!

You are doing this because you're addicted and you can't stop, and you love the friends you've made, and it's hard to separate the two. I ask myself this same question every-single-day; well, maybe, once a week!

Hugs and Pixie Dust

 

[lovingthemouse]

Peggie - i am so sorry that you went to some much trouble to try and get pins that you , as an event participant, were entitled to. Where were the Disney people when that lady got 50 pins??? What's even sadder is that there is really no one to complain to! So, people like this make events not so much fun to attend. After all is said and done, i am so glad you did enjoy yourself after the pin event was over. I have to say that the Princess Ball event in Feb was well organized - in spite of the day long downpour, it was fun and most everyone had a great time. Maybe the organizers could take some hints from February!!! I, too, will say thanks for all of us your family made the attempts for.
Caroline

 

[cathy1140]

Peggie

The Star Spangle Event was our first and we were a little over whelm. First we didn't know what to do.... Had some friends with us that were pro's and we just told them to go on their merry way.. Or else they would be still waiting for us.

We go on the line to buy extra pins for our friends at leat 1 1/2 hours and when got to the counter NO PINS only Trash cans LE's I told the CM that they better make an anoucement because there was at least 30 people on line.

While on line may people had broken pins and missing pins... So we went to get our pins and sure enough we were missing a set and had a broken pin. We didn't open the bags yet because the person behind us was missing a pin and the CM told them it was their word vs Disney.

The bags felt the same but one should of had an extra set. So we kinda knew that some pins were missing not 6 of them!! The Cm told us to look for her and she would get us our pins...


Another line for the trading board that was another 1 1/2 and then the line for the artist to sign the pins and getting the pins ready... So much STRESS...

Finally it's 2pm were were there at 8:30 5 1/2 hours on line!!!

Felt like home Waiting to get on the train for work on line for the elevators line for breakfast, lunch. etc.

Monarail went fast... CM were telling us the Ans... wanted us out of the hotels fast.. We lucked out got our 4 sets of pins...

The last set she gave us 8 of the same by mistake As a New Yorker never trust anyone I checked my bags.. Went right back and got the last 4.. How lucky was that. but we did see people buying 25 pins... of each... they should have a limite not everyone lives in FL. and if they become stock pins how would we get them...

And like Peggie says finally finish all the crazieness and it's now 4:30 no one has lunch at 4:30 WRONG another hour to get a hot dog...

By the time we were ready to leave RAIN came and we just walked around.... looking for extra maps for my friends and no maps to be seen....


Although it was hectic we are going again in Sept.



Cathy

 

[n2mm]

Well I have to say, my day went a little better than most. We arrived at the Concourse Steakhouse at 7:20 AM for a 7:30 AM priority seating. Finished breakfast around 8:00 and went to the line. Not a bad position on the wall. The line began and took about 15 minutes. Went to the pick up line and took about 5 minutes to get our bag of pins. Half went to trading board, the others to extra pin line. Had 2 way radios to radio as we got closer to the front. My grandson got some great LE Plutos from the board. The extra pin line was about 30 minutes, and we picked up a couple of extras. Inspected bags and took one Mickey/Minnie pin back for scratch. Headed to the monorail, but line was too long. Jumped into car (parked in the lot because of priority seating). Parked at GF and got stamps and pins (no wait)(2 extra sets). Took monorail to Poly (aobut 15 minute wait for pins). Grabbed car and headed back to Cont. Resort. Went to the food line and then turned around and said forget it. One of the biggest problems I saw. It would have been easier if we could've eaten at any of the resorts. Got home the next day and found that my grandson had 2 pins (Artiist Choice) missing in his bag. In our hurry, we were more concerned about damaged light up pins, and each of us thought the other had checked for missing pins. We never told our grandson they were missing, we replaced them with ours. Ironically we could've bought more while in the extra pin line, but we didn't know we had missing pins. SEPTEMBER, I will remember to count my pins. lesson learned. Overall, I think the event went well. I've only been to the August event, so only have that to compare it to . The CMs were in good spirit and I enjoyed looking at the pins yet to be released. It was interesting to watch the sharks in action and alerted the CM to some sharks circling the cashier to buy extra pins and not waiting in line like the rest of us. It was great to see the CM tap a "school" of them on the shoulders and told them to get into the line if they want to buy pins. It was a highlight to my day.

 

[3kids4me]

Peggie,

I'm so sorry you had a tough time at the event. At least you have some beautiful pins now! Hopefully the September event will go more smoothly! I'm hoping that I can buy pins and trade pins, and also ride some rides!! Since it will be my first event, it will be nice to have the pros with me.

 

[LynniethePooh]

Peggie.......so sorry you and our fellow pin pals had such a tough time at this pin event. It seems I have heard more horror stories than good stories anymore!
I am trying to figure out what the 'fun' part is, other than getting some cool pins. Frankly, I am a bit frightened to even consider registering for a Pin Event. Due to my mental problems and my physical limitations I could not tolerate a long line wait.
I would probably consider being AT the parks when all my pin pals would be there, but as for the event itself.....sounds icky.

I don't mean to sound negative......you all know I LOVE Disney....but geez.....come on Disney....you can do this much better!

 

[lindamg]

I am sorry for the people who had less than a good time at the Pin Event, but after reading the negatives I had to post that it worked well for my family. I brought my mother (in her late 60s and s-l-o-w moving!) to her first event and we met up with my sister-in-law, brother and 4-year old niece, who all just tagged along! I knew the others couldn't get a pin pursuit map until noon, so we didn't even bother arriving until after 11. Perhaps that is what made my experience different.

Registration was a walk right up to the desk. The line to pick up our pins took 10 minutes tops. Yes, we had to exchange some broken pins, but there was no line for that, went right to the CM and got new pins. Got our pins signed by the artists (they had all our pins signed by the time I exchanged the two broken pins!) Then we took my niece to the kids area for her very first pin trading experience. (Hah! I've got another convert!) We decided to skip the meal coupon, since the whole family was together, so we hopped on the monorail, without a wait, and headed over to the Poly for a leisurely lunch at the Kona Cafe. We finished lunch about 2:00. After that, we started to get our maps stamped, headed to the GF, and then back to the Contemporary.

Got our completer pin with about a 5 minute wait, and a very long, very funny, interlude with Ms. Minnie herself. Bet you didn't know that Minnie had a crush on the Rock, did you? Or that she is holding out for a major BIG ring from Mickey!! (If anyone out there knows who Minnie was that day, let her know she absolutely made our day!)

We were wrapping up our day, as they were cleaning up in the Cont. The only thing I didn't do, that I wanted, and just plain forgot to do, was get a look at the new pins coming out. I've learned my lesson. I'm not waiting in lines at a god-awful-early hour anymore. I'm going late from now on. It seems to work well!