olbear
Loves all things POOH!
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2002
- Messages
- 1,183
I wrote a letter including my post on board. I changed some wording for her benefit. You can e-mail the MGM Event Director, Debbie Carlos at:
wdw.event registrations@disney.com
Just put it to her attn: in subject line
Here is my letter:
Hi Debbie,
Much of what you are about to read I have posted on the 3 pin boards I visit. "Dizpins", "Dizneypins" and "the disboard". I have changed some of the wording for the benefit of your reading. You might take the time to visit these boards and see what others have said about this past weekends MGM Pin event. I thank you ahead of time for taking the time to read, as it is long. I did have a good time and look forward to it getting even better. Thank you!
The MGM event in my humble opinion:
Over all I had a wonderful time. Ed, a pin friend of mine, has made a statement that I agree with. An event is what you make it. So therefore, I had a great time. Could things have been better?? Yes.
Let me start by saying I did not spend the entire day at the event. Hubby was on Navy Duty and meeting me at our hotel in the afternoon. Its just as well, or things might have gotten a bit boring. Since there was not a lot of event things done or planned. Heres how my day went.
I got to MGM at about 11AM, went to Sound Stage 1 and there was a LIIIINNNNNEEEEE. It was a very long line, and I was in it for a little over an hour and a half. Fortunately I was meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. And half of the time I was under shade. Thank goodness. I got to meet many new faces of only names I had seen on the boards. Hi Peggy!! She was one. Whew! I got through with registration, picked up product and headed back to hotel to wait for Fred to arrive from NAS Jax. So here is my suggestion: In the past we have picked up product the day before. Why cant we do this for all major pin events such as this?? I paid $65 to attend event and do stuff, be entertained etc. Not stand in line to pick up stuff I paid good money for on top of event fee. Can we do that from now on .Please ! Thank you!
Hubby arrived and we headed back to event. We got there at 3PM. Walked in on red carpet and were given a small envelope. Inside we found Dopey pin that was an AP, and the Halloween Goofy 2003 LE that was also an AP. This was nice touch, thank you. Many received some very nice pins.
Hubby and I then got in a line that was for pin trading board. Then something wonderful happened! We got to chatting with 3 CM managers, and one of them Micheal from England award us a CTT pin right then and there! We were so surprised. I thanked him for the magic and gave him one of my CM award pins I designed that says, Thanks for the Magic. He was just as happy to get it as we were to get our CTT. It was a great moment. We had him sign it and do a photo op.
So, we stood in line for at least an hour for the board. At least we were with friends we knew and again, had the chance to make new friends and chat. Always nice!! When we got closer we noticed all the boards were hidden from view before hand unlike they were at the September event. Then when we got to the board it was so over-loaded with pins, it was hard to eye ball them and take notice of anything special that you collected or wanted.
So here is my suggestion. Please go back to the way you did it for the September event. It worked great!! Everyone in line could eyeball the board as they waited in line, so by the time they got up to the board they pretty much knew what they wanted. And..there were far less pins on the board and they were in nice neat rows, and this made it so much easier to view. In my opinion, a lot of time would have been saved if this has been done. I did the one line and said forget it. I didnt want to spend the entire day waiting in line for 2 minutes to get 2 pins .maybe. Can we do this from now on? Thank you.
At one point Fred said he wanted a snack so I volunteered to go get us something. As I got outside and started walking, I noticed all the nearest snack carts were closed. Bummer! So I kept walking and finally found one open. My suggestion: Can we please make snacks and refreshments available at the event. This was done for the 2001 August pin event. It was great! They had hotdogs, pretzels, pop corn, cookies, sodas , water, etc. You had to purchase them. But they were readily available without having to leave the building and event. Oh and by the away, if you did manage to get a soda and snack, after it processed you had to once again leave to go find a bathroom. Another inconvenience.
So can we please address this as well? Thank you.
And then we read on DOPT site that there would be games. Well, I dont consider the boards, games. And the only thing that came close was when they did the Disney Trivia. It was fun, "for some". That is for the few that actually got to participate. Ive enjoyed the games weve had in the past that everyone had the opportunity to play. So please Disney, when you say youre gonna offer games, make it something that every attendee can take advantage of and have fun with. Thank you.
The Street entertainment was fun. It got the blood pumping after sitting for so long and trading. Then it was time to eat. This was kinda funny actually. As we started toward New York street, and our gang was toward the front, it seemed the closer we got, the faster people walked. And some even started running!! I guess they were really hungry! LOL!! I have no idea what to suggest in regards to that. In reading other attendees reports on the pin boards, some were not able to sit at a table, and were forced to sit on side walk. And if you were waiting to do 3rd RSP as some were, it was even worse. One family did not get done with that process until 8:30PM, and were rushed and at one point asked to leave as they had just gotten their food. Not good. So I guess the way the 3rd RSP was handled was not the best way to do it as far as getting done in time for all attendees to have ample time to eat and enjoy dinner. Which I'm sure was one of the main things the $65 fee was for. I here some were not able to get food at all because of this. Not only because we were ushered out at 8:30PM, but also because food had run out and would not be replenished. It was our understanding from info given online that event ended at 9PM. So why the rush? I mean I was fine. But I feel badly for those who missed out or could not truely enjoy it.
I am the foodservice Manager for First Baptist Daytona Beach. Whenever I host and prepare for a Banquet, we do not "rush" people dining, and we always are sure to have "more then enough food" for everyone. I believe this needs to be addressed as it is one of the primary things being paid for. And since my husband works for US Fooservice (almost 20 years) And I've worked in foodservice management for over 17 years, I know the actual cost per person for what was served was not that costly. (Insert grin here)
The food was very good I must say. I enjoyed the chicken and had a bit of the Beef LoMein. It had a very nice flavor. And the grilled veggies were yummy as well. The only suggestion I would like to make is to serve a nicer dessert selection. Cookies is cookies, know what I mean? Again, since hubby and I both work in the food service industry, I know of some items that are cost friendly and pleasing to the eye and palette. Such as but not limited to: fruit turnovers, tarts, Petite fours, and even fresh fruit. These are nice and tasty as well
The parting gift was fantastic. Box was beautiful and pins are great! Very nice. Thank you so much Disney. The best part of these events is getting together with old friends. I know I have missed my gang immensely and it was just so good to get caught up. And getting to put faces with board names is always wonderful. I did more of that this weekend.
So overall, it was wonderful. It was not a bad event in my opinion. But yes, it could have been better. I would give it a 7 on a scale of 1-10. I hope everyone else had as good a time as I did! The CM's and managers present were at their absolute BEST!! Kudos for that!
I am planning on attending the AK event. I did not go last year based on my previous experience with AK event of 2002. Not so great. But I heard so many wonderful accolades in regards to the "This Is Love" Event. I only hope it lives up to those standards. I did not get to attend, but heard nothing but wonderful comments about it.
I welcome your thoughts on my suggestions Debbie. And look forward to possibly hearing from you. Just in case you want it, my phone number is ************. Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Blessings,
Winnie Crockrell
wdw.event registrations@disney.com
Just put it to her attn: in subject line
Here is my letter:
Hi Debbie,
Much of what you are about to read I have posted on the 3 pin boards I visit. "Dizpins", "Dizneypins" and "the disboard". I have changed some of the wording for the benefit of your reading. You might take the time to visit these boards and see what others have said about this past weekends MGM Pin event. I thank you ahead of time for taking the time to read, as it is long. I did have a good time and look forward to it getting even better. Thank you!
The MGM event in my humble opinion:
Over all I had a wonderful time. Ed, a pin friend of mine, has made a statement that I agree with. An event is what you make it. So therefore, I had a great time. Could things have been better?? Yes.
Let me start by saying I did not spend the entire day at the event. Hubby was on Navy Duty and meeting me at our hotel in the afternoon. Its just as well, or things might have gotten a bit boring. Since there was not a lot of event things done or planned. Heres how my day went.
I got to MGM at about 11AM, went to Sound Stage 1 and there was a LIIIINNNNNEEEEE. It was a very long line, and I was in it for a little over an hour and a half. Fortunately I was meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. And half of the time I was under shade. Thank goodness. I got to meet many new faces of only names I had seen on the boards. Hi Peggy!! She was one. Whew! I got through with registration, picked up product and headed back to hotel to wait for Fred to arrive from NAS Jax. So here is my suggestion: In the past we have picked up product the day before. Why cant we do this for all major pin events such as this?? I paid $65 to attend event and do stuff, be entertained etc. Not stand in line to pick up stuff I paid good money for on top of event fee. Can we do that from now on .Please ! Thank you!
Hubby arrived and we headed back to event. We got there at 3PM. Walked in on red carpet and were given a small envelope. Inside we found Dopey pin that was an AP, and the Halloween Goofy 2003 LE that was also an AP. This was nice touch, thank you. Many received some very nice pins.
Hubby and I then got in a line that was for pin trading board. Then something wonderful happened! We got to chatting with 3 CM managers, and one of them Micheal from England award us a CTT pin right then and there! We were so surprised. I thanked him for the magic and gave him one of my CM award pins I designed that says, Thanks for the Magic. He was just as happy to get it as we were to get our CTT. It was a great moment. We had him sign it and do a photo op.
So, we stood in line for at least an hour for the board. At least we were with friends we knew and again, had the chance to make new friends and chat. Always nice!! When we got closer we noticed all the boards were hidden from view before hand unlike they were at the September event. Then when we got to the board it was so over-loaded with pins, it was hard to eye ball them and take notice of anything special that you collected or wanted.
So here is my suggestion. Please go back to the way you did it for the September event. It worked great!! Everyone in line could eyeball the board as they waited in line, so by the time they got up to the board they pretty much knew what they wanted. And..there were far less pins on the board and they were in nice neat rows, and this made it so much easier to view. In my opinion, a lot of time would have been saved if this has been done. I did the one line and said forget it. I didnt want to spend the entire day waiting in line for 2 minutes to get 2 pins .maybe. Can we do this from now on? Thank you.
At one point Fred said he wanted a snack so I volunteered to go get us something. As I got outside and started walking, I noticed all the nearest snack carts were closed. Bummer! So I kept walking and finally found one open. My suggestion: Can we please make snacks and refreshments available at the event. This was done for the 2001 August pin event. It was great! They had hotdogs, pretzels, pop corn, cookies, sodas , water, etc. You had to purchase them. But they were readily available without having to leave the building and event. Oh and by the away, if you did manage to get a soda and snack, after it processed you had to once again leave to go find a bathroom. Another inconvenience.
So can we please address this as well? Thank you.
And then we read on DOPT site that there would be games. Well, I dont consider the boards, games. And the only thing that came close was when they did the Disney Trivia. It was fun, "for some". That is for the few that actually got to participate. Ive enjoyed the games weve had in the past that everyone had the opportunity to play. So please Disney, when you say youre gonna offer games, make it something that every attendee can take advantage of and have fun with. Thank you.
The Street entertainment was fun. It got the blood pumping after sitting for so long and trading. Then it was time to eat. This was kinda funny actually. As we started toward New York street, and our gang was toward the front, it seemed the closer we got, the faster people walked. And some even started running!! I guess they were really hungry! LOL!! I have no idea what to suggest in regards to that. In reading other attendees reports on the pin boards, some were not able to sit at a table, and were forced to sit on side walk. And if you were waiting to do 3rd RSP as some were, it was even worse. One family did not get done with that process until 8:30PM, and were rushed and at one point asked to leave as they had just gotten their food. Not good. So I guess the way the 3rd RSP was handled was not the best way to do it as far as getting done in time for all attendees to have ample time to eat and enjoy dinner. Which I'm sure was one of the main things the $65 fee was for. I here some were not able to get food at all because of this. Not only because we were ushered out at 8:30PM, but also because food had run out and would not be replenished. It was our understanding from info given online that event ended at 9PM. So why the rush? I mean I was fine. But I feel badly for those who missed out or could not truely enjoy it.
I am the foodservice Manager for First Baptist Daytona Beach. Whenever I host and prepare for a Banquet, we do not "rush" people dining, and we always are sure to have "more then enough food" for everyone. I believe this needs to be addressed as it is one of the primary things being paid for. And since my husband works for US Fooservice (almost 20 years) And I've worked in foodservice management for over 17 years, I know the actual cost per person for what was served was not that costly. (Insert grin here)
The food was very good I must say. I enjoyed the chicken and had a bit of the Beef LoMein. It had a very nice flavor. And the grilled veggies were yummy as well. The only suggestion I would like to make is to serve a nicer dessert selection. Cookies is cookies, know what I mean? Again, since hubby and I both work in the food service industry, I know of some items that are cost friendly and pleasing to the eye and palette. Such as but not limited to: fruit turnovers, tarts, Petite fours, and even fresh fruit. These are nice and tasty as well
The parting gift was fantastic. Box was beautiful and pins are great! Very nice. Thank you so much Disney. The best part of these events is getting together with old friends. I know I have missed my gang immensely and it was just so good to get caught up. And getting to put faces with board names is always wonderful. I did more of that this weekend.
So overall, it was wonderful. It was not a bad event in my opinion. But yes, it could have been better. I would give it a 7 on a scale of 1-10. I hope everyone else had as good a time as I did! The CM's and managers present were at their absolute BEST!! Kudos for that!
I am planning on attending the AK event. I did not go last year based on my previous experience with AK event of 2002. Not so great. But I heard so many wonderful accolades in regards to the "This Is Love" Event. I only hope it lives up to those standards. I did not get to attend, but heard nothing but wonderful comments about it.
I welcome your thoughts on my suggestions Debbie. And look forward to possibly hearing from you. Just in case you want it, my phone number is ************. Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Blessings,
Winnie Crockrell
