Lucky you!
We arrived at Coronado Springs around 2:30. The start and pick up time was 11 a.m. The setting was in the same room as last year. But even the layout was better.
Last year the participant's seating tables were round, did not seat many, and took up a lot of room.
This year they used long rectangular tables. Much better layout of a floor plan with plenty of seating.
We did not see near as many table traders this event as usual. I never partook anyway. But there were noticeably fewer.
We checked in and picked up our merchandise. It was not flawless. But not major issues either.
I had (well Disney had) system problems when I did my on-line RSPs. And that tied into multiple system problems was my credit card number. I was told my cc info was blank, although I did type it in.
Why no one contacted me via e-mail or phone they could not explain. And I think I may be short one (duplicate) pin I ordered. Not sure and did not really care anyway.
Last year's pin board games lines were terribly long. Some going into hours I was told yesterday.
This time I would say they ran 30 - 45 minutes. After having all my pins signed by the artists, I did three lines. (DH is such a pin event sweetie. He prepares and watches my pins -- and sits -- while I go through the pin boards.)
The first line was a complete waste. I put on the board better than what I pulled off. I am low on traders, so I almost put surprise pins on the board. I am glad I did not bother with that. I really would have felt cheated.
The second line, I put on that board what I was stuck with from the last pin board.
I got better pins. Nothing I was WILD about, or would have bought or traded for on-line. But at least better than very common rack pins.
The third line was the last of the day for me. (We split a nacho snack at the Pepper Market in between.) I did get two other pins like I traded for before. One was a lanyard pin. And one was even a LE DA pin. (Belle drawing) But nothing that really interested me, to be honest. Just traded a trader for a trader.
So the lines were shorter this year. But I heard many saying the boards were not being replenished enough. And there could easily have been at least one to two more pin trading boards. There were four or five.
At the Spectacle of Pins event (my favorite so far) there were constantly CMs going through the crowd playing pin games.
I saw this twice at this event, and I was in one. I did have an older lanyard pin given to me. I can't gripe. It was free. I already have it, but will trade it onto a CM lanyard.
They had some nice big prizes. But of course just a handful of people win those.
Then we did a quick errand to Epcot. From there we drove to AK and waited to be allowed entrance to the second portion.
Last year's food was better. But this year's was better organized. They did run out of seating like last year. But only for a short period, and guests were finding places to sit out of the ordinary and away from the area. Seating was very difficult last year.
This time it was all outdoor seating outside Donald's breakfastsaurus.
Afterwards we played games in Dinoland. Each attendee was given two coupons to play the arcade type games. At each game each player was given a pin. We each received a LE pin each time.
I think I already had all the pins we were given. But again just for traders, that is fine when it is a gift!
And of course we had fun playing.
Guests could pay to play more games, but not be gifted any more pins. I would gladly have paid to play IF we had received more pins. I was hoping the prizes would be pins. But they were plushes.
Then each attendee received a free Dino Dig coupon. (Dig for a free pin) It was just two baskets with plastic Easter eggs and each person reached in a got whatever pin was in the egg. But hey -- free is free.
We each got a lanyard pin.
We rode the Dinoland rides multiple times. All was walk on and we even stayed on to ride again.
We wandered a bit.
And Lucky the Dinosaur made an appearance with his two new CM cohorts -- Chester and Hester. Now at least Dinoland makes some sense!!
Lucky is VERY cool!!! If you happen to be there when he is out -- be sure to see him.
Then as a time filler they had audience participation with a DJ music. (Dancing and singing songs -- like the Time Warp, etc.)
There was the music and DJ the entire AK portion.
And LOTSSSSS or CMs and characters EVERYWHERE!!
Even LUCKY signed a guest's book by drawing a four leaf clover with a marker in his mouth!
Then the GRAND PRIZE drawing of 50 PINS was awarded to a guest from Ohio. I was glad to see someone who had to pay to attend from out of state win. I do not remember the woman's name.
After that we headed home, after picking up our Good Bye gifts.
Worth a mention was the event was being taped throughout. While leaving Disney had already edited some footage and was playing the video onto the tree of Life. (The ToL was acting as the projection screen.) Very cool. And I wonder what else they will do with their film footage.
Overall an enjoyable event. Not my favorite. But at least I walked away feeling like we had an enjoyable time for our $$$.
And good to see the new Everest ride is coming along nicely!!
