Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

[Moonbear]

Can I live under your deck with the stray cat?

You'll have to ask the cat.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, so I'm starting on the slippery slope of Disney pin collection mania, mostly those you can find at the Walt Disney World resort.

Today, June 14th, is the release of the latest "jumbo" pin. This time it is "It's A Small World" jumbo pin. There is only 750 of such pins being released, and only at Walt Disney World.

My "agents" working at Disney World have been instructed to get two of them today. :)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Oh no, oh no, oh no...

Remember what I said last time about Mission Space? OK, now read this...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050614/ap_on_re_us/disney_world_death

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Oh no, oh no, oh no...

Remember what I said last time about Mission Space? OK, now read this...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050614/ap_on_re_us/disney_world_death

Zz.

Why would you take a 4-year old on a ride like that in the first place? Something tells me that ride will soon be replaced with something else. That one doesn't even sound fun, it sounds painful!

 

[ZapperZ]

Why would you take a 4-year old on a ride like that in the first place? Something tells me that ride will soon be replaced with something else. That one doesn't even sound fun, it sounds painful!

It is actually a fun ride, Moonbie... at least that one time that I rode it. I wish, wish, wish I could go on it again, but I know it's not going to be pretty the second time around. It certainly is more harmless than most of the rollercoaster rides you see at many amusement parks. Even with all the reported effects, it is still one of the most popular attraction at Epcot.

However, while Mission Space and Test Track were the top attractions at Epcot, they may have both been replaced by Soarin', judging from the lines and how quickly the fast pass disappears when I was there. So if any PF'ers are coming with me this Sept., be warned. We will be lining up at Epcot when it opens and head straight to The Land to ride Soarin' multiple times! :)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

I do much better on rides where I can't see what they look like before I get on them, or find out much too late. I think half my problem is I get psyched out watching the ride before I ever get on it. But, but, but, centrifugal force sounds "spinny," and I don't do spinny well. I can do straight lines at high speeds, and big hills (if I don't stare at them too long first...just don't tell me the big hill I'm looking at is for the ride I'm standing in line for and I'll be fine), but as soon as the ride starts twisting, rotating or spinning at high speed, I get nauseous. The Dumbo Ride is okay, and those swings are okay, but if you get much faster than that, especially if I'm turning in a direction I'm not facing, I turn green. I can handle teacups, but even that pushes my limits, and sometimes I have to sit for a few minutes after teacups to stop spinning, and then I'll get a headache that won't go away for the rest of the day and ruins all my fun. So, I just opt to sit out the really bad, spinny rides.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney Pins

I first got hooked on collecting Disney Pins when I found out that they release Passholder exclusive pins. As annual passholder, I started gobbling up these pins as soon as they came out. They are much sought-after, and they are certainly one of the desired pins for trading.

During the last visit to Disney World a couple of weeks ago, several new pins were or have been released. Below are just two out of a "few" that I obtained.

Zz.

 

[Evo]

I first got hooked on collecting Disney Pins when I found out that they release Passholder exclusive pins. As annual passholder, I started gobbling up these pins as soon as they came out. They are much sought-after, and they are certainly one of the desired pins for trading.

During the last visit to Disney World a couple of weeks ago, several new pins were or have been released. Below are just two out of a "few" that I obtained.

Zz.

Darn you Zz! These pins are cool, (that small world one is really pretty), now I want pins to go with my porcelain Disney collection.

 

[ZapperZ]

Darn you Zz! These pins are cool, (that small world one is really pretty), now I want pins to go with my porcelain Disney collection.

Evo dear, I have one Passholder exclusive pin with YOUR name on it! And I have one for Moonbie also. :)

I also have an incomplete set of Stitch Great Adventure pins (4 or 5 of them out of an unknown number in the set) that I'm GIVING away either by trading or whatever. I'll save them for you if you want them...

Zz.

 

[Evo]

Evo dear, I have one Passholder exclusive pin with YOUR name on it! And I have one for Moonbie also. :)

I also have an incomplete set of Stitch Great Adventure pins (4 or 5 of them out of an unknown number in the set) that I'm GIVING away either by trading or whatever. I'll save them for you if you want them...

Zz.

Ooooh yes! We need to talk.

(will work for Disney pins)

 

[Moonbear]

Aww...isn't ZZ so sweet! Well, the good news is I won't be jobless and homeless, the bad news is I'll be moving at the beginning of September. I'll have to wait for a later round of Disney adventures. But, I'm definitely going to get in on one of them, it just can't be September.

*starts singing, "Country roads, take me home..."* Can you guess where I'm moving?

 

[Evo]

Aww...isn't ZZ so sweet! Well, the good news is I won't be jobless and homeless, the bad news is I'll be moving at the beginning of September. I'll have to wait for a later round of Disney adventures. But, I'm definitely going to get in on one of them, it just can't be September.

*starts singing, "Country roads, take me home..."* Can you guess where I'm moving?

It's Colorado or College Station! Did you take the position in TX?

 

[Moonbear]

It's Colorado or College Station! Did you take the position in TX?

Nope...sing a few more bars of the song. This is just a lateral move because the lab I currently work in is leaving the country...hence why I'm not very cheerful about it.

 

[ZapperZ]

Nope...sing a few more bars of the song. This is just a lateral move because the lab I currently work in is leaving the country...hence why I'm not very cheerful about it.

Oh my god, West Virginia??!

Do they even allow people to have Disney Pins there?

<runs and hides from West Virginians>

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Evo,

I sort of remember you telling me that you're a "plant freak". In any case, just to seduce you more into this pin collecting thing, tomorrow, June 17th, is the release of a set of Disney pins with the theme "Our Disney Garden 2005". Check it out:

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=9469

These pins will only be sold at two locations in Epcot, and only 2000 sets will be available.

I'd say we get Moonbie's parents to go to Epcot tomorrow and buy several of these for us. :)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Oh my god, West Virginia??!

Do they even allow people to have Disney Pins there?

<runs and hides from West Virginians>

Zz.

Skeeeery, huh? A few years ago, I would have never even considered it (on my first trip there, my friends were teasing me not to stand too close to any road signs, I might get shot ), but the area around the university has been building up by leaps and bounds. Every time I've been there (I'm usually there about once every 6 months), it's grown noticeably from the time before. Tons of new construction, some new businesses moving in, etc. They're even starting to complain about traffic ...there is no perceptible traffic, but compared to the wide open highways they used to have, there are now cars on the road at rush hour. Oh, and I get the first day of hunting season as an official holiday. I better make sure I have some orange clothes in my wardrobe for that day.

I better get a compass for the car though. I get soooooooo lost on the roads around there. It's all mountains, so by the time I'm done going up, down, and around a few times, I have no idea which way I'm going. I'm not used to having to keep track of roads in three dimensions. Hmm...maybe I need an altimeter too.

I'd say we get Moonbie's parents to go to Epcot tomorrow and buy several of these for us. :)

Ha ha...well, with my parents, if I asked, they'd gladly go do me the "favor," but they'd come back with all the wrong thing. "Well, we saw these other buttons instead that were cheaper than those pins you asked for, and they had Disney characters on them too, so we got those instead so you didn't waste your money on those expensive other pins." I thought Santa was the most inept moron as a kid; he never got anything right when I sent him my Christmas list -- I asked for one thing and got something with a name that sounded somewhat like what I asked for or started with the same letter as...I started to wonder if Santa's elves knew how to read.

 

[Danger]

But, but, but, centrifugal force sounds "spinny," and I don't do spinny well.

On the contrary, my dear. Some of your posts indicate that you can be highly 'spinny' when you exert yourself.
Anyhow, a launch simulation most likely revolves you around a central axis to give the effect of an 'eyeballs-in' high-gee environment, rather than rotating you around your own axis as in the teacups. (Like a fast merry-go-round.)
Good luck with the move, but... now you're going to be even farther away!

 

[Moonbear]

On the contrary, my dear. Some of your posts indicate that you can be highly 'spinny' when you exert yourself.
Anyhow, a launch simulation most likely revolves you around a central axis to give the effect of an 'eyeballs-in' high-gee environment, rather than rotating you around your own axis as in the teacups. (Like a fast merry-go-round.)
Good luck with the move, but... now you're going to be even farther away!

It's reminding me of those "rotor" rides in most amusement parks. Test tubes go in the centrifuge, I stand on the outside until the buzzer says it has stopped moving.

 

[ZapperZ]

Skeeeery, huh? A few years ago, I would have never even considered it (on my first trip there, my friends were teasing me not to stand too close to any road signs, I might get shot ), but the area around the university has been building up by leaps and bounds. Every time I've been there (I'm usually there about once every 6 months), it's grown noticeably from the time before. Tons of new construction, some new businesses moving in, etc. They're even starting to complain about traffic ...there is no perceptible traffic, but compared to the wide open highways they used to have, there are now cars on the road at rush hour. Oh, and I get the first day of hunting season as an official holiday. I better make sure I have some orange clothes in my wardrobe for that day.

OK, I hope this is Morgantown, W. Virginia, because I don't know of any other "reputable" university in W. Virginia.

Ha ha...well, with my parents, if I asked, they'd gladly go do me the "favor," but they'd come back with all the wrong thing. "Well, we saw these other buttons instead that were cheaper than those pins you asked for, and they had Disney characters on them too, so we got those instead so you didn't waste your money on those expensive other pins." I thought Santa was the most inept moron as a kid; he never got anything right when I sent him my Christmas list -- I asked for one thing and got something with a name that sounded somewhat like what I asked for or started with the same letter as...I started to wonder if Santa's elves knew how to read.

I hate to think what you got from the tooth fairy. :)

Oh well, I'm hoping they will still have the complete set of these pins by the time I get there in early September. I hate to ask my disney sources to go get these after I've asked them to get the earlier ones already.

Zz.

 

[Danger]

I stand on the outside until the buzzer says it has stopped moving.

Is that just to keep the lid from popping open, or is it a variation on your 'sitting on the washing machine' trick?

 

[Moonbear]

OK, I hope this is Morgantown, W. Virginia, because I don't know of any other "reputable" university in W. Virginia.

Yes. I don't even know what other "universities" there are in WV. Probably just some small colleges with no research mission. This is just a temporary move while I continue looking for tenure-track positions. But, it'll be good because my sheep are already there, so now I don't have to rely on other people to do parts of my experiments for me when I'm not around to supervise (and things inevitably go wrong). And now I can stand guard to keep Danger and Artman away from the sheep.

I hate to think what you got from the tooth fairy. :)

A quarter for front teeth and 50 cents for molars. Though, the tooth fairy sometimes forgot to take the tooth, but I was assured she knew the difference and I wouldn't get away with leaving it under my pillow a second night to hold out for more money.

 

[JamesU]

I hate to think what you got from the tooth fairy. :)

or the easter bunny for that matter

 

[ZapperZ]

I mentioned earlier that one of the most sought-after pins are the ones that are released only to the disney cast members. These are the ones that you can only obtain by trade with another cast member. In most cases, they are usually gone pretty quickly, so one always has to be vigilant with a new one comes out. And different resort gives their cast members different pin sets (of course). So Disneyland cast members will get a different set than Disney World cast members.

I tend to check what have already been released to cast members before I make my trip down to Disney World. This way, I know what to look for. I always have in my pocket several "cheap" and common pins to trade with the cast members. If the pin I'm offering them for trade isn't already on their lanyard, they must trade. I keep the "good" ones, such as some special pins or passholder pins for trading with other pin traders.

These two links provide some info on what pins have already been released, or will be released, to Disney World cast members.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/WDW_Collection2.pdf
http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/WDW_Collection3d.pdf

Needless to say, there are a few that I already own, but there's plenty more that I would love to have.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Next weekend will be the last Star Wars weekend at Disney/MGM Studios for this year. The event has been BIG this year, with the release of the last Star Wars movie by George Lucas.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEventsDetail?id=StarWarsWeekendsSpecialEventPage

This event will probably continue each year since it has been a terrific success ever since it started. I have pictures with the Jedi Mickey, one of the sand people, and a wookie. What more can a Star Wars fan want? :)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More Disney World tidbits...

When they were creating the Animal Kingdom, they know they wanted it to be different than just a zoo. And they have created something uniquely different. They continue to emphasize this. In fact, if you pay attention as you walk around the park, especially in the Africa section, you might come across an "old" african word written or scribbled at various places:

NAHTAHZU

(get it?)

:)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Surprise Goofy Pin

Damn it! There's a surprise Goofy Pin being released today only at Pin Central in Downtown Disney. Limited edition, and only 500 in quantity!

Man, I need help and serious therapy... :)

[I hate disney, I hate disney, I love disney, I love disney...]

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Man, I need help and serious therapy... :)

The first step is admitting you have a problem. The second step is moving to Orlando.

 

[ZapperZ]

The first step is admitting you have a problem. The second step is moving to Orlando.

Speaking of moving, I told Evo this, but I forgot to tell you, Moonbie. In your contract for the new job, make sure you tell them that you will need a week off Labor Day week, and a week off after New Year.

<wink> :)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Speaking of moving, I told Evo this, but I forgot to tell you, Moonbie. In your contract for the new job, make sure you tell them that you will need a week off Labor Day week, and a week off after New Year.

<wink> :)

Zz.

Actually, usually both times of the year are good times for me to take off, those fall during the transitions between the anestrous and breeding seasons when we can't do many experiments. Well, sometimes we're crunching in a last set of experiments during January...February is definitely a month we can't do anything. But, I can easily offer to keep everyone's experiments running over Christmas in exchange for them running my experiments the first week in January. I've done that many times in my past too and it seems most people would rather take the week of Christmas off and think I'm so wonderful to sacrifice my holiday to keep the experiments going when it's just the ideal excuse to avoid spending Christmas with nutty relatives.

This year I won't be able to get Labor Day week off...that's the week I start the new job...and even though there's really some flexibility there, it means that's when I'll be moving and unpacking.

 

[JamesU]

Damn it! There's a surprise Goofy Pin being released today only at Pin Central in Downtown Disney. Limited edition, and only 500 in quantity!

Man, I need help and serious therapy... :)

OMG! ONLY 500!?-- I mean...who is goofy?

OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG...

 

[ZapperZ]

Yesterday was the 50th anniversay of the Enchanted Tiki Room. First opened at Disneyland on June 23, 1963, it was the first Disney attraction to feature audio-animatronics. It was orginally going to be a restaurant, but then they realize that people will stop eating to watch the show. They'll never keep up with the reservations! :)

Of course, to mark this anniversary, there is a special pin being released today at Disneyland only.

Drat!

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Oooh, I loved the enchanted tiki room as a kid. I don't think I've made it to that attraction more recently. But when I was a little kid, I thought all the birds were real. I was just as entertained by everything they had around the line while waiting to get in as I was by the show itself. That's a great thing about Disney; for most of the rides, you're not just herded through cattle fencing, but they actually have stuff along the line to entertain you and immerse you into the atmosphere of the ride as you wind your way through the mouse maze (when I'm at Disney, I don't call them lines, I call them mouse mazes).

 

[ZapperZ]

Oooh, I loved the enchanted tiki room as a kid. I don't think I've made it to that attraction more recently. But when I was a little kid, I thought all the birds were real. I was just as entertained by everything they had around the line while waiting to get in as I was by the show itself. That's a great thing about Disney; for most of the rides, you're not just herded through cattle fencing, but they actually have stuff along the line to entertain you and immerse you into the atmosphere of the ride as you wind your way through the mouse maze (when I'm at Disney, I don't call them lines, I call them mouse mazes).

Did you go to the one in Disneyland or The Magic Kingdom, Moonbie? The one in Disney World is now called "The Enchanted Tiki Room - Under New Management". The show and music isn't exactly identical to the old Tiki Room production. I don't know if the one in Disneyland is currently also the same one in Magic Kingdom.

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Did you go to the one in Disneyland or The Magic Kingdom, Moonbie? The one in Disney World is now called "The Enchanted Tiki Room - Under New Management". The show and music isn't exactly identical to the old Tiki Room production. I don't know if the one in Disneyland is currently also the same one in Magic Kingdom.

Zz.

The Magic Kingdom. Not the same? Aww shucks. Well, I guess I couldn't expect it to all stay the same since I was 7 or 8.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, this is only the 2nd Jumbo pin that I would like to own (the rest of the jumbo pins, I can live without). It is just plain gorgeous - it better be for $45! It will be released tomorrow (June 26) only at the Disneyland resort.

Zz.

 

[Evo]

OK, this is only the 2nd Jumbo pin that I would like to own (the rest of the jumbo pins, I can live without). It is just plain gorgeous - it better be for $45! It will be released tomorrow (June 26) only at the Disneyland resort.

Zz.

Very pretty! How many pins do you have?

My daughter, the Child of Evo, is flying to Chicago Sunday with a friend and will be there a week.

 

[ZapperZ]

Very pretty! How many pins do you have?

My daughter, the Child of Evo, is flying to Chicago Sunday with a friend and will be there a week.

But Mother Evo isn't coming with her?

Er... OK, that sounded like you're head of a religious order. :)

Zz.

 

[Evo]

But Mother Evo isn't coming with her?

Er... OK, that sounded like you're head of a religious order. :)

Zz.

Oh, you haven't seen the PF sisters "Nuns with Guns". Yes, I am the head of, uhm...well, Moonbear is a gun toting nun too...

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, talk about combining two things that have nothing to do with each other. This is the "Pirates of the Caribbean Stich" pin. [I know. It makes no sense to me either].

I have no desire to own this pin. This is one of the few doozy that they have produced.

[See? My devotion to this "hobby" still hasn't caused me to be completely blinded by things that make no sense] :)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Pin Trading Mania

Since both Evo and Moonbie will be "occupied" during the Labor Day week, I will have to represent both of them on my next trip out to Disney World. In fact, I will be attending what promises to be the largest pin-trading event at Disney World, the Disney's Happiest Pin Trading Celebration on Earth to coincide with the Golden Celebration of Disneyland.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=5681

This event will begin right when I'm at Disney World. So for this trip, I will arrive armed with my lanyards with several "exclusive" pins for trading with the hardcore pin traders (I'm missing this ONE pin from a year ago to make a complete set). I'm also looking forward to meeting some of the artists who designed these pins [Hint: a limited edition pin accompanied by the autograph of the artist gets top dollar on e-bay! Include a snapshot of the artist with his/her pin, and you'll make enough money to have the large bucket of Cold Stone Ice Cream for a year!]

The trip is still more than 2-months away, but I'm already giddy...

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

In the middle of this hot, muggy summer, I realize that all I've mentioned about Disney World are the 4 theme parks that they have: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney/MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom. We should not forget that Disney World has 2 outstanding water parks (in fact, Disney was credited as being the first to have a water park). Blizzard Beach is the largest, followed by Typhoon Lagoon. As usual, Disney just doesn't build anything without associating any story of theme to it. Blizzard Beach is supposed to resemble a freaky winter storm (yes, in Florida!), while Typhoon Lagoon is supposed to tell a story of the aftermath of a tropical storm. There are some terrific attractions too. The Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach is the tallest water slide in the country.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The pin being released today at Disneyland is inspired by the First Day stamp released by the US Postal Service this year. I must say, this is a terrific looking pin.

Darn it, I don't have contacts for Disneyland. Anyone happens to be going there anytime soon? :)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

I could see that pin also appealing to stamp collectors.

 

[ZapperZ]

I could see that pin also appealing to stamp collectors.

I definitely would agree to that. In fact, pair that pin with the actual stamp, and you have a collector's mania dream. That just creates more demand, and more competition for that pin <sigh>. Disney is next to no one in merchandizing.

Anyhow, if the stamp collectors go ga-ga for that one, wait till they see the two stamp montage pins also being released today. Not being able to have a chance to get these is just killing me! <sobbing>

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Today, July 1st 2005, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority ride at the Magic Kingdom celebrates its 30th anniversary. So if course, Disney World is releasing a pin to mark this occassion.

It isn't a spectacular ride, but it's a neat thing to do when your feet are tired.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Of course, July 1st isn't just the TTA anniversary, but also Canada Day. Thus, we have a Disney Canada Day pin.

:)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Do they come out with a pin (or two or three) for every day of the year!? This is seeming a bit obsessive here!

 

[ZapperZ]

Do they come out with a pin (or two or three) for every day of the year!? This is seeming a bit obsessive here!

Unfortunately, they ALMOST come out with a new pin every day of the year. If they can, they'll come out with a "drop of a hat day" pin.

We also need to note that this is not done only at one theme park, since pins are released at different theme parks (Disneyland, Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Tokyo). So it may appear that one is being released every day, but it isn't at the same location all the time.

And yes, the pin thing CAN get obsessive. It is why this can be a very dangerous hobby - you just don't know where and when to stop. I always advice people starting out to pick out either a theme, a character, or a location, and collect pins on that, and ONLY on that. You can't just go out and buy everything that you like, because you'll go nuts (not to mention, bankrupt!).

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, so this is another example of how weak and pathetic I am at resisting the Mouse Merchandizing.

In case you don't know, Disney has its name on a Visa credit card. You buy stuff, you get disney "Dream Rewards" that you can turn into Disney dollars to buy all kinds of stuff at all the Disney parks and online stores. When they first came out with the credit card, I didn't care to have one since, well, frankly, it takes eons and eons and lots of purchasing to actually get anything substantial. So I didn't get one.

Well, one day, I get my regular mailings of the Passholder newsletter, and lo and behold, they were advertizing a special merchandize for Passholder to enroll in the Disney Visa card. You get a rather neat-looking backpack that looks rather handy to have when you do go to a disney theme park. [Aside: invest in a GOOD backpack if you intend to go to any disney theme park. Trust me on this] So this Mr.-I-have-no-will-power here broke down and applied for one, JUST to get that backpack.

Of course, it's not your ordinary backpack. It clearly identifies that you are a Passholder. I wore this for the first time during the last trip to Disney World, and bumped into one other person with the same bag. She and I ended up with a very lively and fun conversation for the next few minutes. It turns out that she didn't want a Disney card either until she saw the bag. So she asked her husband (who was also a passholder) to get the card just so she could have the bag (obviously, I'm not the only one with this disease).

Anyway, I haven't seen them offering the bagpack anymore. I have enclosed the picture of the bag taken during the last Disney trip. And oh, I have about $90 Disney reward money to spend next time I go down there. :)

Zz.

 

[JamesU]

geez ZZ, does disney matter that much to you...?