NHMickey
<font color=red>I'm A Disneyana Collector!<font co
- Joined
- Dec 24, 1999
- Messages
- 7,285
We made it home... Had a great time seeing all of you.
Just a few thoughts on what I saw this week. First I want to say I had a great time and really loved the rest from work. Even though I love my job it is great to get a way and spend some time with family and friends.
As for the event well let me say. I would like to thank Jim Matthews for all he and his crew did to try and fix the mistakes that happened. I know he was not the one calling the shots and he did try his best to make sure all were happy and taken care of. I wish all the managers felt like this man does for pin trading. I know that the money is tight and LE pins that most of want doesnt bring in the big money that core pins do (as these appeal to all traders and non-traders so the base is bigger) But next time you are in the parks... Take of your lanyard and see how much better you are treated. It will amaze you... It did me. So if you read this Jim I just want to say Thank You for being there.
That said. There is no excuse for how this event was handled. I cant believe that in a place that handles a few dozen conventions a year they could not figure out how to handle a few thousand-pin traders. I know Bank One is coming in and they wanted the World Showcase Pavilion but you mean to tell me that is the only place to do this... I hope that next year they look at a place that handles conventions weekly... The Contemporary would make a fantastic meeting place. Easy to get to the parks and having a few dozen meeting rooms and food as well as ROOMS! So instead of handling this as an event for one park why not make it a world wide celebration and do it right... The parks still have there own little events during the year.
It all started when we got to the event on Thursday... That is right when we went in to pre register I should have seen it coming. Not only was stuff not in yet but half the stuff that was framed was damaged. Hello... No one checks this stuff out? I can understand a few things getting damaged or broken but to have 7 out of 10 framed sets be what I would call seriously flawed. The fix... Take the sets with you and bring them back the next day for repair... Why in gods name would or should we have to do this. They should have been ready for us or taken off the shelf till they were. It was only getting better. As we were leaving the line I asked "could I return any of this if I want too?"... Answer was... Only if I did it NOW. Say what? You mean as soon as I leave its mine? Okay what about the damaged goods? By the way mine were not damaged but a friends were. I was then told that all sales are final. Well after a long search for a better answer all was resolved and the damaged goods could be returned if they were not fixed to his satisfaction. Then we find out the statue is not even in and wont be till sometime later and they would be mailed to us. Okay can I return that? Nope. You need to let them know the next day when you see a sample one sent to them for the event... Okay so I dont even get to see the one I bought. Nope. Okay no statue for me. Now I am not sure how the end of this one came out but at this point I was done and ready to go back to the room.
So Friday rolls around and we get up and head to Epcot... All ready registered and ready for breakfast and the logo store... We got in line at 7:45... Big Mistake! We waited till 8:40 till we got in the park... Yea that is right 10 minutes after the park opened to the public. I was not a happy camper. As I saw Ed and Donna in the public line it was to late to switch so we just stayed there. Well we get up to the gate. TWO guards. That is all that was there. There was a few more on the other side but they where just watching... Oh well so it took a bit to get in. I wish I had known then that that was the best part. We walk to the world showplace to eat breakfast. Now I know Im not a rocket scientist but I think if I had 1000 plus people (there had to be 1500 of us) coming in to a PIN TRADING EVENT with pin bags of all sizes. I think I would have put the tables before the food so we could find a place to put our stuff... But no they make it so as you walk in you are in line to get your food. Then you have to try and find a place to sit in a room full of people ... Not a big thing but a little thought here would have been good. Oh and if you ever wonder where the rest of the 2000 AP Torch Pins went... Wonder no more. We all got them.
Well after we had to separate our party we all ate and met up to go the logo store. Now remember they knew we were coming. SO you have 1500 people coming to a store that has 12 registers. All the stuff you want is behind the counter. You fill out a sheet and they go and pick it for you. Following me so far? Well to be on the safe side lets say you spend 6 minutes at the register... You take 1500 people times 6 minutes... You get 9000 minutes. You divide that by the 12 registers... That is 750 minutes at each register. Divide that by 60 minutes... You get 12.5 HOURS. They opened at 9:30 and closed at 4:30 now I said I am not the smartest person but that is not 12.5 hours. That is 7 hours. Now you have two lines.... They had the LEs at one place and the Open Edition stuff in the Logo Store. Oh and did I say that they opened to the public at noontime. Again Talk about not knowing what you are doing. Now as for the line... I can and do blame Disney for this but I also blame us. 6 hours for a LE of 3500. So after walking up to the front of the line to see if there was an area for just trading we were let in past all those waiting to find a table to sit at. Well after showing my book to a few people I walked around in the AC for a bit and was able to just walk in to the logo store as everyone was still in line for the LEs. Imagine my surprise when I found people that had not even paid for the event in there buying stuff... Thank god we had those lanyards on. SO at 10:30 Sandy and I left to go swimming and enjoy the other parks. Oh we bought no pins that day... We did however have a trade working for the Artist Choice. We came back around 4 to meet up with some friends for Diner at Ohanas. It was Fantastic. It was told to me that the lines were taking up to 6 hours and most people just left with out getting anything.
Saturday we woke up and headed off to MK for a day of fun. We (Sandy and I) spent most of the day there. We went over to the event around 2 to have lunch and imagine my surprise... All the pins from the first day... Were still on sale. And in large quantity. Well after a little trading in what I would best discribe as a large hallway we went to lunch and had a little Cheese Soup. Hey the day was not a total loss. We then went to the auction and watched a few good deals as well as some people spend way too much. But hey... It was fun. As for the Event I have no idea as I skiped most of the day.
Sunday we decided to head over to MGM and eat breakfast. They have a buffet at Hollywood and Vine that is wicked good. And they let you sit first then get your food. Hmm how novel an idea. Well after a few rides we went to the event to see the Artists speak. That was one of the best if not the best one of these that I have been to. They were very informative and even gave out a cool pin. Well after that we headed over to Japan for dinner and just beat the rain. We ate at the little take out place, as we wanted to get tot he auctions at 5. Well I ate a little faster than Sandy and it was POURING so I went on alone and left her with a few friends at dinner. Good thing too as she would have killed me for winning one of the auctions. But I did find out that if you spend a stupid amount on pins they would give you a free poncho for you and all your friends....
Well after I went and paid for my pins I was surprised to see they were not as sold to me. So after a long talk with a manager and basically getting told too bad... I went up front and was surprised at how I was treated. After days of hearing sorry there is nothing we can do and oh well to bad all sales are final... It took less than a minute for the Manager at Guest Relations (after he got there as he was out in the park) to resolve the whole issue to my satisfaction. I was very grateful and will make sure I pass on his name for all the help he gave me. I will also pass along the name of the Manager who said Oh well...
So when asked on my thoughts of the event by another DISer... Its easy. I will never pay to do this again. Not till I see vast improvement and Disney starts to treat us like they do all the other COLLECTORS out there. Could you imagine if Disneyana was done this way or WDCC? I know they have problems as well but they also have WAY more people. Just because most of our stuff does not cost hundreds or thousands of dollars like WDCC and Disneyana stuff does please dont treat us like second class guests. I dont mean that in a bad way all I ask is that you make Disney Pins an Official Collectable and treat those that spend MILLIONS on them as Collectors. So that is just a little of what I have to say. The really good stuff I will email to the appropriate people and I would suggest you do as well.
Just a few thoughts on what I saw this week. First I want to say I had a great time and really loved the rest from work. Even though I love my job it is great to get a way and spend some time with family and friends.
As for the event well let me say. I would like to thank Jim Matthews for all he and his crew did to try and fix the mistakes that happened. I know he was not the one calling the shots and he did try his best to make sure all were happy and taken care of. I wish all the managers felt like this man does for pin trading. I know that the money is tight and LE pins that most of want doesnt bring in the big money that core pins do (as these appeal to all traders and non-traders so the base is bigger) But next time you are in the parks... Take of your lanyard and see how much better you are treated. It will amaze you... It did me. So if you read this Jim I just want to say Thank You for being there.
That said. There is no excuse for how this event was handled. I cant believe that in a place that handles a few dozen conventions a year they could not figure out how to handle a few thousand-pin traders. I know Bank One is coming in and they wanted the World Showcase Pavilion but you mean to tell me that is the only place to do this... I hope that next year they look at a place that handles conventions weekly... The Contemporary would make a fantastic meeting place. Easy to get to the parks and having a few dozen meeting rooms and food as well as ROOMS! So instead of handling this as an event for one park why not make it a world wide celebration and do it right... The parks still have there own little events during the year.
It all started when we got to the event on Thursday... That is right when we went in to pre register I should have seen it coming. Not only was stuff not in yet but half the stuff that was framed was damaged. Hello... No one checks this stuff out? I can understand a few things getting damaged or broken but to have 7 out of 10 framed sets be what I would call seriously flawed. The fix... Take the sets with you and bring them back the next day for repair... Why in gods name would or should we have to do this. They should have been ready for us or taken off the shelf till they were. It was only getting better. As we were leaving the line I asked "could I return any of this if I want too?"... Answer was... Only if I did it NOW. Say what? You mean as soon as I leave its mine? Okay what about the damaged goods? By the way mine were not damaged but a friends were. I was then told that all sales are final. Well after a long search for a better answer all was resolved and the damaged goods could be returned if they were not fixed to his satisfaction. Then we find out the statue is not even in and wont be till sometime later and they would be mailed to us. Okay can I return that? Nope. You need to let them know the next day when you see a sample one sent to them for the event... Okay so I dont even get to see the one I bought. Nope. Okay no statue for me. Now I am not sure how the end of this one came out but at this point I was done and ready to go back to the room.
So Friday rolls around and we get up and head to Epcot... All ready registered and ready for breakfast and the logo store... We got in line at 7:45... Big Mistake! We waited till 8:40 till we got in the park... Yea that is right 10 minutes after the park opened to the public. I was not a happy camper. As I saw Ed and Donna in the public line it was to late to switch so we just stayed there. Well we get up to the gate. TWO guards. That is all that was there. There was a few more on the other side but they where just watching... Oh well so it took a bit to get in. I wish I had known then that that was the best part. We walk to the world showplace to eat breakfast. Now I know Im not a rocket scientist but I think if I had 1000 plus people (there had to be 1500 of us) coming in to a PIN TRADING EVENT with pin bags of all sizes. I think I would have put the tables before the food so we could find a place to put our stuff... But no they make it so as you walk in you are in line to get your food. Then you have to try and find a place to sit in a room full of people ... Not a big thing but a little thought here would have been good. Oh and if you ever wonder where the rest of the 2000 AP Torch Pins went... Wonder no more. We all got them.
Well after we had to separate our party we all ate and met up to go the logo store. Now remember they knew we were coming. SO you have 1500 people coming to a store that has 12 registers. All the stuff you want is behind the counter. You fill out a sheet and they go and pick it for you. Following me so far? Well to be on the safe side lets say you spend 6 minutes at the register... You take 1500 people times 6 minutes... You get 9000 minutes. You divide that by the 12 registers... That is 750 minutes at each register. Divide that by 60 minutes... You get 12.5 HOURS. They opened at 9:30 and closed at 4:30 now I said I am not the smartest person but that is not 12.5 hours. That is 7 hours. Now you have two lines.... They had the LEs at one place and the Open Edition stuff in the Logo Store. Oh and did I say that they opened to the public at noontime. Again Talk about not knowing what you are doing. Now as for the line... I can and do blame Disney for this but I also blame us. 6 hours for a LE of 3500. So after walking up to the front of the line to see if there was an area for just trading we were let in past all those waiting to find a table to sit at. Well after showing my book to a few people I walked around in the AC for a bit and was able to just walk in to the logo store as everyone was still in line for the LEs. Imagine my surprise when I found people that had not even paid for the event in there buying stuff... Thank god we had those lanyards on. SO at 10:30 Sandy and I left to go swimming and enjoy the other parks. Oh we bought no pins that day... We did however have a trade working for the Artist Choice. We came back around 4 to meet up with some friends for Diner at Ohanas. It was Fantastic. It was told to me that the lines were taking up to 6 hours and most people just left with out getting anything.
Saturday we woke up and headed off to MK for a day of fun. We (Sandy and I) spent most of the day there. We went over to the event around 2 to have lunch and imagine my surprise... All the pins from the first day... Were still on sale. And in large quantity. Well after a little trading in what I would best discribe as a large hallway we went to lunch and had a little Cheese Soup. Hey the day was not a total loss. We then went to the auction and watched a few good deals as well as some people spend way too much. But hey... It was fun. As for the Event I have no idea as I skiped most of the day.
Sunday we decided to head over to MGM and eat breakfast. They have a buffet at Hollywood and Vine that is wicked good. And they let you sit first then get your food. Hmm how novel an idea. Well after a few rides we went to the event to see the Artists speak. That was one of the best if not the best one of these that I have been to. They were very informative and even gave out a cool pin. Well after that we headed over to Japan for dinner and just beat the rain. We ate at the little take out place, as we wanted to get tot he auctions at 5. Well I ate a little faster than Sandy and it was POURING so I went on alone and left her with a few friends at dinner. Good thing too as she would have killed me for winning one of the auctions. But I did find out that if you spend a stupid amount on pins they would give you a free poncho for you and all your friends....
Well after I went and paid for my pins I was surprised to see they were not as sold to me. So after a long talk with a manager and basically getting told too bad... I went up front and was surprised at how I was treated. After days of hearing sorry there is nothing we can do and oh well to bad all sales are final... It took less than a minute for the Manager at Guest Relations (after he got there as he was out in the park) to resolve the whole issue to my satisfaction. I was very grateful and will make sure I pass on his name for all the help he gave me. I will also pass along the name of the Manager who said Oh well... So when asked on my thoughts of the event by another DISer... Its easy. I will never pay to do this again. Not till I see vast improvement and Disney starts to treat us like they do all the other COLLECTORS out there. Could you imagine if Disneyana was done this way or WDCC? I know they have problems as well but they also have WAY more people. Just because most of our stuff does not cost hundreds or thousands of dollars like WDCC and Disneyana stuff does please dont treat us like second class guests. I dont mean that in a bad way all I ask is that you make Disney Pins an Official Collectable and treat those that spend MILLIONS on them as Collectors. So that is just a little of what I have to say. The really good stuff I will email to the appropriate people and I would suggest you do as well.
They knew it all, they didn't need anyone's inpit or help. By the sounds of the Pin Event, they still think they know it all.
