Hi
@Pidge -
Wanted to check in and see how everything is going. You're definitely getting some great experience, and offering a tremendous service to the community. Thank you.
Thought I'd chime in on Tuesday's release. I arrived at 6:40 in the park. Went to Westward Ho to wait it out. Well, let me tell you all, at 8 a.m. it turned into a FREE FOR ALL. I was literally two rows back from the rope. Once it dropped, I've never witnessed what happened. Between the general Guests making their bee-lines to rides, and the People Running and pushing to get in line at the store, it was a nightmare.
Here is exactly what happened, once the RUSH started ( and honestly, in the past I would have been able to get in line, fairly close to the entrance) well, by the time I made it to the right side of the entrance to Frontierland, and Westward Ho, people were bunching up in groups, and a line had started down the entrance toward the castle ( all this while people were STILL rushing to get into FL in general and the line). I saw the line forming and heading/curving, so I decided I needed to turn around and get in line. Well, that was a nightmare in and of itself, because the rush IN was still happening. I have Never, Ever Experienced anything like this before at WWH. It was Seriously Dangerous. I ended up at the back of the line, towards the castle. I decided to leave and go to the Tomorrowland Pin store. The line was long there too. While I was standing there, a lady walked up, one guest ahead of me and got in line with a man. There have been far, far to many people doing this, 'saving spaces and line cutting' so I went to talk with a Lead. When I came back to and told the lady in front of me, what I did, the woman decided she'd better leave. A little later I went up to the same Lead, and asked about the inventory, considering the amount of people in line, twice. I have been down this road, far to many times over the years. They Need to keep track, and let people in line know what's going on. He was professional, and followed thru. Hence I left him a Cast Member Compliment. In the end, I was successful in getting the 2 WoA's. But all the Pooh/Tigger sets were sold out. This dang Pooh series has become, CRAZY.
In closing, I want to mention that I have written a letter to Disney, addressing: 1. my appreciation for the cm's who man this every week; how they have been able to stream line the process, gratitude for the hobby and the awesome pins that have been released. And at the same time my concern on how the popularity has increased in leaps and bounds, and their need to reassess how to go about making Pin Release Tuesday's, safer and fair. I relayed my experience with Wrist Bands being handed out, and the need for monitoring the lines for line cutters and people who save spaces, both which are wrong. I did receive a letter back from them that was Very Professional, and very encouraging. They've started handing out Wrist bands at WDW. Hopefully they will at DL too.
The Pin Hobby has BLOWN UP the last 6 months. There are more and more passes being sold, and a LOT more information being circulated thru social media, Tik Tok in particular. Don't get me wrong, that's not bad thing, it's just caused some of the Tuesday Releases to turn into the "Hunger Games" - LoL. A term a friend of mine came up with to describe WDW's releases. And honestly, in my opinion, the label describes it well.
In Closing, I felt the need to let the members here know, just how crazy Pin Release Tuesday's have become. And, I want to Applaud you
@Pidge for taking on this responsibility at such a crazy time. We all greatly appreciate your efforts. And, if I can assist you from time to time, please, reach out.