Shirley,
I agree with you. However, to pick up my pins at 8:45 meant that I could not watch Illuminations, which I really love! I just felt like the pins took away from the vacation feeling I love at Disney. I realize that I am a minority here and that is OK.
I think I would like this event a lot better in the fall or winter! It is TOO hot in August! Since I don't have kids I normally do not go to Disney between June and August. Now I remember why! Yesterday, I actually went to a water park. I have NEVER done a water park solo before and I can't believe I paid that much money just to float in a river, but I just was miserable at the parks and I had nowhere to go between checkout and flight home, so... Acutally it was pretty fun!