As 2009 draws to a close, I asked my fellow Cast Members in product development, Disney Design Group, planning, merchandise marketing and operations to select their favorite Disney Pin released this past calendar year. For some, this request was like me asking them to pick their favorite child (okay maybe that was only a challenge for me).
The pins they selected were about as varied as their corresponding reasons. I’ve chosen several pins to spotlight here. For the complete “Best of 2009” recap, please visit the What’s HapPINing? Blog on DisneyPins.com on December 31.
Without further ado, let the trip down memory lane begin!
Julie Young – Product Developer for Open Edition pins and Accessories
“I selected the ‘Have a Disney Day’ pin. It features a simple design and wonderful message. I think everyone should have a Disney day! What’s more fun than that?”
Beth Marinaro – Category Planner for Disney Pins and Commodities
“My favorite pin released in 2009 was the ‘two-on-a-card’ set featuring the acorn and pilgrim hat with Mouse ears. My home state is Massachusetts where the Pilgrim reigns supreme.”
Jim Matthews – Epcot Merchandise Operations
“My favorite pin – that’s easy! The 10th Anniversary of Pin Central pin is my favorite as I’ve watched over Pin Central at Epcot for the entire ten years of Disney Pin Trading. This pin brings back memories of the thousands of Guests I’ve traded with and the many experiences I’ll cherish forever!”
My Choice
I chose the limited edition, White Glove pin featuring King Pin that was released in June 2009. I love the story behind this pin (see: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=41448#Nov202008). ‘King Pin’ is a nickname given to an almost 30-year Cast Member named Wayne Moore. He works at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and is portrayed by Goofy in the pin. Wayne’s passion for trading and creating magic for Guests is inspiring. To me, that is what Disney Pin Trading is all about – making people happy through trading.
Now it’s your turn. What was the “Best Disney pin of 2009?”
Comments
I was so excited to hear that Disney has pin trading. My son will be turning 10 when we go to Disney in May for our first visit. He has collected pins for many years. What is the best way to start his pin trading experience? It looks like so much fun I may start trading pins too.
Steven–tis is a little off topic, but not sure who to contact for pin designs–I’m a retired Air Force officer, and World War II history buff. Disney created a lot of insignias, nose art, etc. for our military–it would be great to see these made into pins–would probably create another group of collectors 🙂
Jerry
Jerry,
First, let me say thank you for your years of service in the military.
Second, you are correct. During World War II, Walt Disney had artists design about 1,200 insignias for various military units. Some of those designs were created as pins by Disney Consumer Products in April 2004. They made two different five-pin sets that featured various insignias. Sadly, the sets are no longer available for sale but I have seen them traded by Guests with Cast Members at Disney Parks (at least I have received them before in trade).
In 2008, the Disneyland Resort team had a series of military inspired insignias created as Hidden Mickey pins (see: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=39742). These may still be available for trade at Disneyland Resort (but it is doubtful they are still available for sale).
I was wondering if additional UP Pins were on the horrizon? I always thought that replicas of the pins, the soda pop metal tops, that Ellie and Carl wear as pins, as kids and then later as adults.
Kelly,
Things are looking “UP” for some additional “UP” pins (yes, I should probably keep my day job). We have discussed some additional pins for Disney Parks, but that is all I can say right now. 🙂 Keep watching DisneyPins.com
There have been some of thos soda pop metal top pins done at Disney’s Soda Fountain & Studio Store in Hollywood, CA. (see: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=44927)
The Disney Store Europe has also created one: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=47501
Steven
All of these are cool! I agree with all of these choices!
Great choice on the “Have a Disney Day” pin. I agree with Julie completely.
My all time favorite pin doesn’t exist (at least not that I know of) yet: Sonny Eclipse from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland. C’mon Disney, make it happen!!!
Julie,
Great choice in pins! I think that pin says it all. These 4 words”Have a Disney Day” pushes a great message for what Disney stands for.
I would rate that pin saying along the lines of “Magic Happens” and ” Got Milk?”
Awesome!
I love the Big Al “White Glove” pin.
Hope they’ll keep making pins with the Country Bears.
If you haven’t see them yet, check out the new Hidden Mickey pins coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. We produced a shared collection of five Country Bear pins this year. Friends of Scoop Sanderson and other Main Street, USA residents will be happy to see a five pin collection being released at Walt Disney World.
Here are the checklists for the new 2010 Collections:
Walt Disney World Resort
http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/WDWHiddenMickey2010.pdf
Disneyland Resort
http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/DLRHiddenMickey2010.pdf
I attended the EPCOT Pin Celebration “Musuem of Pin-Tiquities” Event in June this year. Having said that, my favorite pin of 2009 is the “Pinbassador – Chip and Dale Vikings”. This pin makes me laugh out loud everytime I look at it. To poke fun of the old, infamous 2000 Dancers pin….classic!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Can’t wait for TRADE CITY U.S.A in August!
Katie,
I’m honored you liked that pin. Funny little story about that pin. It served as the inspiration for the entire event theme. I wrote the original story outline for The Museum of Pin-tiquities event. Basically, this one-sheet story gave the developers and artists inspiration for the overall event.
In that story, I mentioned a “1000” Millennium pin. Originally, I wanted the pin to be just like the 2000 Millennium pin (see: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=33758) except that it would have 1000 in the art.
The idea grew into the final pin you mentioned (see: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=44904). Chip and Dale were Vikings as Leif Ericson first visited North America around the year 1000.
A friend of mine went to Disneyland in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of The Haunted Mansion this year. I was so thrilled when she called from the parks to tell me that she was able to buy me the HAUNTED MANSION® O’PIN HOUSE – PINBASSADOR – JUMBO – RECORD ALBUM…my favorite pin of 2009. It’s not only nostalgic, but also creative and an outside-of-the-box idea.
P.S. – I totally agree that more Scoop Sanderson pins would be great! I miss his pin talks that he used to hold at Exposition Hall in the Magic Kingdom. Those pin talks really helped us pin traders get acquainted with Disney pins, pin trading etiquette, and of course provided the chance to meet Scoop in person!
Carleen,
I’m humbled. There is more to the story on that pin on in the archives section of the DisneyPins.com Blog.
See: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=47024#20090808
Thank you for the kind words! I still wish it was a real album.
My favorite pin of 2009 is actually an entire pin series. It is the Scoop and Friends series! I never go to WDW without visiting Scoop on Main Street!
One of my all-time favorite pins is the very first Scoop Sanderson pin that Scoop used to award to pin traders. He gave me my Scoop pin during my first Disney pin event, Mickey’s Toontown Pin Event in 2003. I have collected every Scoop pin ever since!
I REALLY REALLY hope that there will be a Scoop pin at the Trade City USA pin event! I was extremely sad to see that there wasn’t a Scoop pin at the Museum of Pin-tiquities Pin Event.
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