Thinking back on the past week...

[MeanLaureen]

Now that we are all home (except for a few lucky dogs that are still there ) I was wondering...

What was the highlight of the trip for you? What made the whole thing worthwhile? Was it the pins you got? Was it because you traded for your holy grail? Was it the people you met? Inquiring minds want to know!!

 

[wvrevy]

Hmmm...Tough question, 'cause there were so many great "moments". Running into Robyn at the Millionaire show after getting into the hot seat was awfully cool.

Having to scale and crabwalk along the railing that runs along the bridge at Le Cellier in Canada (in order to avoid the roughly 8 inches of water that was standing on the bridge) during one of the worst downpours I've seen in YEARS, just to dash around the corner in time to buy the pins for the day isn't something I'll forget anytime soon...lol

Running into Lauri, Matt, Jeff, and the rest of the crew almost as soon as we walked into the park for the first time on Thursday...Meeting Figgy, Pintrader, and everyone just outside the pin palace Hearing a set of pins auctioned off at well over $6,000 !!!

Let's just say, that even though we had more trouble with travel plans/reservations/etc than we'd EVER had on any three trips, this one certainly won't be forgotten anytime soon

 

[NHMickey]

I would say the best part of our trip was the time spent with good friends during our "Trip Around the World"... While we did get soaked we had a blast... And Cheese Soup

 

[perndwler]

Other than finally meeting everyone, I'd have to say 2 things stick out in my mind as special. One was being able to get a pin for everone in the Cheerleaders Drawing (thanks Shirley!!!!) and the other was getting my Holy Grail! The DL PTP! Again thanks JamesD!!!

 

[Parkhopper]

Spending time with friends was definitely the best!! Pictures are being developed of our around the world journey in the rain!

 

[DVCBob]

Our highlights would have to be seeing our son win the children's division happy pin dance. We could not believe that he even got in line. The smile on his face while he was dancing and when he won will be a very special memory for us. A special thanks to Jeff who consoled our daughter when she did not win (It's always hard to be beaten by your brother). He gave her a pin which brought a smile to her face.

Also when a CM at OKW saw that our daughter was interested in pins and called her over to make a trade with her. He traded an American Express Package pin with her for a rack pin. I do not know much about this pin except he said that it was only available to quests booking a package with their AM EX card. She is so proud on this pin, I don't think she will ever trade it.

The funniest thing that we saw on our trip was a friend's son walking around in the Florida heat doing his Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz impersonation. I'M MELTIIIINNNNNGGGG! I could not have agreed more.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Trading for the Food & Wine plate pin and the totally unexpected Israel CM pin was outstanding.

But, looking back, I realize that I mostly keep thinking about meeting DIS members.

* Hearing the Millionaire announcer say, "Eric from West Virginia!" {WVRevy}
* Someone is calling for Darlene Arnold (my pintrading godmother), and when I look around to see who answers . . . Darlene is right behind me in the RSP submission line. {bipacc}
* A woman sits down at our table in the pintrading lounge. When asked if she posts on DIS, she says her name is Chip and Dale! (Didn't I just talk to you on the phone?)
* I notice that I am talking to a trader from California and I ask if they know Barbara Bird. She is sitting right behind me at the next table! {MdStrawbery}
* I hear someone across the table calling "Robyn." As I answer, a woman standing just beside me is answering too! RobIn! {Perndwlr}
* And there's all the people we met in the "B" line . . .

Pardon me, where do we sign up for the next pin adventure?

 

[Zayne & Xavier's DAD]

I enjoyed being able to go out and enjoy everyone's company without the kids...don't get me wrong, i love them, but it was nice to have a night out where i could talk to everyone and not worry about where they were running off to. I enjoyed seeing what i got steve started into.

 

[Parkhopper]

It is always delightful to see you, Rebecca! (with or without the adorable boys)

Suzi

 

[NHMickey]

Even when you bring Steve

 

[JamesD]

It was such a short, but wonderful trip; it is hard to pick out a favorite event.
Outside of the pin event, I would have to say making it into the hotseat again at Who Wants to Be a Millonaire: Play It! was the highlight. I wish there had been other DIS members in the audience besides Linda to witness it. I made it all the way to the 64,000 point question, so it was nice winning the pins, lanyard, hat and shirt. I was essentially the first player to fall under a new "30-day rule," whereby a hotseat contestant cannot successfully play again for 30 days. Oh well, at least we didn't waste any more time going back to the Studios!
The highlight(s) of the big pin event was trading with other DIS members, some of which we had never met before, but felt as though we were long lost friends! I enjoyed trading with Kathryn (pintrader), Robin (perndwler), Lisa (Tiggersmom), Jeanie (Fantasmickey) and all of the kids we enjoyed trading with. I especially enjoyed trading with Susan (tennisnut.) Our trade dragged out over three days; something always seemed to come up! I wanted to trade with her so much she made me drag out out my extra Fastpass pin. Here's hoping you continued success in your quest for more BAP's! You'll have to ask Susan for a translation.
All in all, it was a great four days of trading, waiting in line, spending too much, waiting in line, going to pin events, waiting in line, eating, waiting in line, but it went by way too fast. Did I mention we had to wait in line!!
When's the next pin trip?

 

[Duckfan]

also had a great week on the dis while many of you were off toasting yourself in the Florida sun.
During the week I managed to do some virtual trades and got a mickey for pres, an inaugural pin, and a cinderella dangle. I just had trouble getting people to trade with me. The virtual thing seemed to scare them.

I got to one real trade with a new friend snowgooseltd

I made really good friends among the whiners and onliners left behind and I quessed several of the answers for the first three games.

I posted a lot and spent way to much time visiting.

All and all a great week and the best part was getting to be friends with some new fellow small fish (hi ramva, epcotkilterfan, mickey7811, karinmac, snowgooseltd, kathie, and dvcreg)

 

[holycow]

first it was reading all of the board reports of what was going on.
I traded with you too Duckfan!!!
But then it was actually going to the event on Saturday...I stood in that
huge line knowing there were so many others who were wishing they were there. I couldn't believe that I was really there.
I just had to keep pinching myself!

Then being able to go to the Great Pin Adventure on Sat. Night...we didn't stay
the whole time...DH had business to attend to the next day...but everyone was so nice
It was nice meeting at the small fish table!!! I liked that table!!!!!!!!!
And putting names to faces...I can't believe all of the work that
went into making this event so memorable. And I am so glad I was
able to be a part of it.

And then to the wonderful gentleman who traded my holygrail! Thank you thank you!!

Holycow

 

[karinmac]

Hi Duckfan,
Boy us small fish had fun and held the fort for those in steamy Florida!

Chatting and typing our little fingers to the bone.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

I loved the pins - they were fun.

BUT I would have to say - the people, the people the people. This was the highlight.
Seeing friends I have made over this year again - friendships I treasure. And meeting and making new friends. I had such a good time with all and if I tried to list them I think my brain would overload!!

Trading with Eric and his wonderful wife(who needs to start posting - right!), JamesD, Scottand of course the Threee Caballeros....and Dom. Meeting Jeff, Laureen, Matt who did more than an outstanding job an everything. Finally finding out that Raul and pinboy really do exist.

And of course eating cheese soup with Nat and Sandy, trading with Vince and Suzi(the pins are enroute) and getting my grail from Scottakamickey. I had a wonderful time with all and can't wait to do it again - but hopefully in March or November or February - not August!!!

 

[shirley 38]

It wasn't the trading. I did very little of that. In fact I only had my bag with me twice the whole time I was down there.

IT WAS SEEING ARIZONIA JEFF AND HIS EVER LOVELY WIFE
AND SEEING EVERYONE SMILE.

And seeing my true blue friends some that I had not seen for a long time.

Seeing Lauri and Matt having such a blast. I got news trading takes second place to seeing you friends again.

Remember Pins are only a piece a metal.

 

[Dar20]

For us, it was the Discovery shuttle launch. That beat everything.

Dar

 

[MeanLaureen]

Okay.. time for my answer

There were a lot of highlights for me during the pin event... I traded for my Holy Grail, I was awarded a CTT pin by the coolest pin guy of all, Scoop Sanderson. I bought some pretty cool pins and got everything I signed up for. (stressed for nothin'!!) I saw a lot of familiar faces and old friends (Heck, I even ran into a friend from work down there, and no, we didn't know we were both going down or that we both were obsessed pin heads) I got to see my evil twin Sister Mean Kathleen again (and I'm pretty sure she will be swearing off air travel after this trip..lol) and I finally got to meet a ton of people with whom I have had the pleasure of talking to on the boards and in chat (hey, now I know who I'm dancing with!!)

But...

I think the highlight of the trip was finally, after months of talking through IM's for hours at night planning this meet (and we are talking late hours.. this time zone thing is whacked).. I finally got to not only meet Jeff (I had to prove that someone that crazy exists ) but got to spend 6 days at WDW with him and Trina. It was a trip I will never forget.

Thank you to everyone that came to the meet, came to the WIWI's or just came by to say hi. It was wonderful spending time with you!

 

[KathiWithAnI]

Most definitely the PEOPLE!!
It was so fun seeing people I already knew-- especially my twin!
And I got to put faces to Jeff and Trina, Shirley38 and John59, Nat and Sandy, Tiggersmom, Figgy, Perdita, the CT gang, Tink129, oh gosh and so many more!

I actually traded more than I usually do-- I am glad you guys liked the small fish trader table-- it WAS fun! ( next time I'll remember to bring a plush FLounder to put on the table!)

I got the figment nametag ( THANK YOU THANK YOU!!) to name just one special pin....

My stuffed Eeyore traded with about 10-12 kids-- it was so much fun

ANd you're right sis, I am not thrilled with airtravel at this moment! However, getting to see Lauri, Matthew, Jeff and Trina for a few more hours was cool!! ( they were kind enough to let us crash in their room after our flight was cancelled!)

Had a great chat with JamesD at WOD and learned alot about DVC_- wouldn't have had that chat if our flight hadn't been cancelled-- so maybe it wasn't sooooooo bad

Rick ( my DH) is now a true pin lover-- I think he thought I was just a little weird until this past week-end-( he still thinks I'm weird, but at least he understands the pin thing now !)-- He even got to purchase the Framed set and was waaaayyyyy tooo happy!!!


It was all wonderful and I would MOST DEFINITELY do it again--

Eeyore64
aka Mean Kathleen
aka Kathi