pintrader
<font color=FF66FF>Leader of the Conga Line to ton
- Joined
- May 18, 2000
Well I avoided starting this thread last night, and I have replied to almost every thread on the first page, trying to get in a positive frame of mind to put a post up here.
It is not news on Disney property anymore after last night's pin meet and I just don't know how to say this my backpack with almost 300 traders in it was stolen yesterday at the Artist signing.
I had really hoped that it was just accidentally picked up because we all know that all pin bags look alike. But after having many discussions with many people the sad reality seems to be an opportunist just flat took it. Everyone looks the same on Disney Property with the same yellow poncho on.
How??? Ok well here goes. Mind you I KNOW this is my fault. I know I am responsible for my own actions. I know I have no one to blame but myself. But in instances like these you look around and say how could this have been avoided. I was very mindful yesterday of my cell phone, book bags, new purchase packages and such. I had my DH Gary and I friends around me and we were all somewhat claustrophobic and overwhelmed. There was a great deal of pushing and crowding as the end neared.
Two friends were in front of me in the Artist signing line. 8 or 9 complete strangers. Or have I ever seen their faces before?? Yes, maybe I have. Those of you who have been to ANY of the Artist signings before remember how Gestapo-like, in a Disney sort of way Disney has been about only your party go up on stage (or wherever) for the signing and the next party not go up until the first were off the signing platform??
Well this one was run nothing like those. This one was not even fun like the one at DTD inside Wod in December that was less organized than some before. At least at DTD the owner of the pins were the only ones allowed at the table with the artists like in all the previous pin signings.
The artists were in the back of County Bounty, back in toon town. They were backed up to the lanes where guests go through cattle rails to get in the queue for the characters they want to meet. A CM stood at the back of the line to tell all that the Artist line was closing so they could get off stage and get a bite to eat. It was after all, almost 2:00. As we approached the Artists we first cam upon a gray plastic 2-tiered cart then the Jeff signing surface about 3'x2' and then the Michelle signing area about the same size there was may 8-10 inches between the two of them
There were 8 or 9 people let in the line behind us. As we approached the small little table where Jeff sat there was that plastic cart for us to put our things on as we prepared our pins for the signing. We put our things on this cart as we approached it. Used the scissors to open our plastic bags, take the pins off the card backs and get them ready for signing. Michelle Morrow designed all the princesses, front of the medallion, the Artist Choice, and the free gift pin. Jeff designed the princes, the map and the back of the medallion. So needless to say the line began to back up at the Michelle table. EVERyone bought the princesses prepaid. Everyone did not necessarily brave the lines and weather to get a pin that will be a rack pin for the next several weeks. This caused the line to back up at the "Jeff" table. No CM was there to assist with the pushing and shoving that ensued. People were trying to get to the cart, which they could not reach as guests had no place to move to advance the line. (And what was their hurry anyway??)
Jeff was sitting there with nothing to do but talk with us and I think his tummy may have been speaking to him louder than any of us. So being the person in just the right place, I began to reach back for people's maps and pass them up to Jeff for him to sign. Passing them back to their owners. Now mind you I am standing right next to the cart where I placed my things they are at waist level. The family of 12 that has been holding up movement finally begins to move and the line advances toward Michelle and her table. Securing my pins, pin cards and pin backs all precariously balanced on my maps I reach over to get my pin back pack, and there it is ...GONE!!!
We look everywhere. Where could it have gone? We ask everyone in line to check to see that the pinbag they are holding is theirs. They all claim they have theirs. Remember everyone is wearing a poncho, well not me or Gary, but that's another story. Hmmm someone must have accidentally picked it up. But who?? They would had to have been behind me and ... hey wait a minute there were 8 or 9 people in line behind us now there are only 6.
The security guard talks to us and asks about the other people. Well the CM remembers nothing. Her job was to pay attention to who got in line at her end, not to pay attention to who got out. So no help there. Could people that were going into the character greeting have just picked it up on their way into a completely different room with other exits? The cart was exactly at handrail height. Guess we won't ever know the answer to those and other questions. Did anyone pass us all and go out the front. NOPE!! Not a chance.
What was in it ??? Hmmm the backpack itself. Then, my VIIx palm pilot, my Bausch and Lomb lighted magnifier. My renowned concave pin-viewing magnifying glass. 40-50 yellow and black rubber backs. 2 packs of the secure lock sets. Three pens, checkbook, no ID, two tubes of Mickey bubbles with rubber stamps and almost 300 pins. I only know that because a dear young child by the name of Natalie sat in my lap Friday night. She asked me "How many pins do you have Miss Kathryn?" I said "I don't know Miss Natalie, Let's count them and see!" We were both pretty amazed. I would have guessed about 130-150. But I had just filled it to the brim with the big princess ball coming up this weekend.
I had just traded for 2 LE 100 auction pins Friday Night. One was Mickey sitting at a desk and one was Donald (I forget about that one). The CM LE 6000 watch pin. The LE 6000 CM Walt and Fab 5. A dear darling person whose name I have completely forgotten GAVE me the purple Tinkerbell LE 1953 still sealed in the box as a gift!. I got the President's Day pin,
Ever trader from $4.00 to the MSEP spinner, wet paint, Port Orleans, and my Tink pins of yesterday. LE 1000 and 3500. Well I feel like crying again.
Please do not chastise me, I feel bad enough. I KNOW that while I do not feel as if Disney provided as safe an environment for us to have our pins signed as they have in the past, I have final ownership over my safety and property. I am just SO hurt and disappointed. .
So if you don't see me on the boards for a while. Know that I love each and everyone of you well almost
I will be at my pin meets even though I have nothing to trade and I will be in chat. But I feel very violated. Gues my pin trading cruise won't involve much pin trading 
It is not news on Disney property anymore after last night's pin meet and I just don't know how to say this my backpack with almost 300 traders in it was stolen yesterday at the Artist signing.
I had really hoped that it was just accidentally picked up because we all know that all pin bags look alike. But after having many discussions with many people the sad reality seems to be an opportunist just flat took it. Everyone looks the same on Disney Property with the same yellow poncho on.
How??? Ok well here goes. Mind you I KNOW this is my fault. I know I am responsible for my own actions. I know I have no one to blame but myself. But in instances like these you look around and say how could this have been avoided. I was very mindful yesterday of my cell phone, book bags, new purchase packages and such. I had my DH Gary and I friends around me and we were all somewhat claustrophobic and overwhelmed. There was a great deal of pushing and crowding as the end neared.
Two friends were in front of me in the Artist signing line. 8 or 9 complete strangers. Or have I ever seen their faces before?? Yes, maybe I have. Those of you who have been to ANY of the Artist signings before remember how Gestapo-like, in a Disney sort of way Disney has been about only your party go up on stage (or wherever) for the signing and the next party not go up until the first were off the signing platform??
Well this one was run nothing like those. This one was not even fun like the one at DTD inside Wod in December that was less organized than some before. At least at DTD the owner of the pins were the only ones allowed at the table with the artists like in all the previous pin signings.
The artists were in the back of County Bounty, back in toon town. They were backed up to the lanes where guests go through cattle rails to get in the queue for the characters they want to meet. A CM stood at the back of the line to tell all that the Artist line was closing so they could get off stage and get a bite to eat. It was after all, almost 2:00. As we approached the Artists we first cam upon a gray plastic 2-tiered cart then the Jeff signing surface about 3'x2' and then the Michelle signing area about the same size there was may 8-10 inches between the two of them
There were 8 or 9 people let in the line behind us. As we approached the small little table where Jeff sat there was that plastic cart for us to put our things on as we prepared our pins for the signing. We put our things on this cart as we approached it. Used the scissors to open our plastic bags, take the pins off the card backs and get them ready for signing. Michelle Morrow designed all the princesses, front of the medallion, the Artist Choice, and the free gift pin. Jeff designed the princes, the map and the back of the medallion. So needless to say the line began to back up at the Michelle table. EVERyone bought the princesses prepaid. Everyone did not necessarily brave the lines and weather to get a pin that will be a rack pin for the next several weeks. This caused the line to back up at the "Jeff" table. No CM was there to assist with the pushing and shoving that ensued. People were trying to get to the cart, which they could not reach as guests had no place to move to advance the line. (And what was their hurry anyway??)
Jeff was sitting there with nothing to do but talk with us and I think his tummy may have been speaking to him louder than any of us. So being the person in just the right place, I began to reach back for people's maps and pass them up to Jeff for him to sign. Passing them back to their owners. Now mind you I am standing right next to the cart where I placed my things they are at waist level. The family of 12 that has been holding up movement finally begins to move and the line advances toward Michelle and her table. Securing my pins, pin cards and pin backs all precariously balanced on my maps I reach over to get my pin back pack, and there it is ...GONE!!!
We look everywhere. Where could it have gone? We ask everyone in line to check to see that the pinbag they are holding is theirs. They all claim they have theirs. Remember everyone is wearing a poncho, well not me or Gary, but that's another story. Hmmm someone must have accidentally picked it up. But who?? They would had to have been behind me and ... hey wait a minute there were 8 or 9 people in line behind us now there are only 6.
The security guard talks to us and asks about the other people. Well the CM remembers nothing. Her job was to pay attention to who got in line at her end, not to pay attention to who got out. So no help there. Could people that were going into the character greeting have just picked it up on their way into a completely different room with other exits? The cart was exactly at handrail height. Guess we won't ever know the answer to those and other questions. Did anyone pass us all and go out the front. NOPE!! Not a chance.
What was in it ??? Hmmm the backpack itself. Then, my VIIx palm pilot, my Bausch and Lomb lighted magnifier. My renowned concave pin-viewing magnifying glass. 40-50 yellow and black rubber backs. 2 packs of the secure lock sets. Three pens, checkbook, no ID, two tubes of Mickey bubbles with rubber stamps and almost 300 pins. I only know that because a dear young child by the name of Natalie sat in my lap Friday night. She asked me "How many pins do you have Miss Kathryn?" I said "I don't know Miss Natalie, Let's count them and see!" We were both pretty amazed. I would have guessed about 130-150. But I had just filled it to the brim with the big princess ball coming up this weekend.
I had just traded for 2 LE 100 auction pins Friday Night. One was Mickey sitting at a desk and one was Donald (I forget about that one). The CM LE 6000 watch pin. The LE 6000 CM Walt and Fab 5. A dear darling person whose name I have completely forgotten GAVE me the purple Tinkerbell LE 1953 still sealed in the box as a gift!. I got the President's Day pin,
Ever trader from $4.00 to the MSEP spinner, wet paint, Port Orleans, and my Tink pins of yesterday. LE 1000 and 3500. Well I feel like crying again.
Please do not chastise me, I feel bad enough. I KNOW that while I do not feel as if Disney provided as safe an environment for us to have our pins signed as they have in the past, I have final ownership over my safety and property. I am just SO hurt and disappointed. .
So if you don't see me on the boards for a while. Know that I love each and everyone of you well almost
I will be at my pin meets even though I have nothing to trade and I will be in chat. But I feel very violated. Gues my pin trading cruise won't involve much pin trading 
I'm so sorry to hear about your pin bag being stolen. I cried as I read your post. How could anyone do that to another trader. I believe what goes around comes around and the person who took your bag will get their's in return. I'm praying for you it was a mistake and you will get a message this week that your bag was found.
