This X marks the pin trading spot.
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Premiere Shop - Ultimate Pin Destination?
I was able to completely check out the new venue during it’s soft opening on Friday afternoon - I knew that it would be a zoo on opening day and forget about getting near the place on it’s first Super Pin Sunday event. It’s a rather small venue, many more than 30 guests at a time and it gets really claustrophobic - but, it’s very functional as virtually every inch of available wall space is covered with some form of merchandise or theming - be they pin or print related. True, due to the overcrowded floor space not allowing for pin rounders - some of the pins hung on the wall racks are far too tall for most guests to reach the top rows - I’m 5-foot-7-inches and even on my tip-toes I couldn’t quite reach the top two rows, but the pins are repeated on lower racks and seem to be well stocked with re-stocking as demand permits.

Its sales and trading space is remarkably multi-purpose - and well lit - as the Kids Art on Demand coloring tables and some of the merchandise display cases are removable so that events and pin releases can be staged in an efficient manner. It is crowded though - with the kids trading area and Kids Art on Demand tables, Print on Demand stand alone kiosk and Pin Trading display taking up about a third of the sales floor - and the Print on Demand kiosks and the ink-jet printer taking up part of the wall space it’s sort of an eclectic merchandise and assorted activities mix. I’m sure that the needs and demands of the guests will dictate the use of the venue as the sales forces make themselves known and the shop will “find its audience�? in time.

As to the array of pins and pin gear available in Premiere Pins - WOW! It’s got something for every strata of pin trader/collector/enthusiast - from the novice looking for their first lanyard or the veteran looking for the latest limited edition - virtually every pin for sale in Disneyland can be found here. It’s one-stop-pin-shopping at its best. It’s designed to be the ultimate pin “trading�? stop - not quite - as there are only two tables - one cocktail height and one lower for guests in wheel chairs - it’s not particularly trader friendly - there are three or four cocktail height tables under umbrellas outside as well. It didn’t take very long before the local traders social club moved pin trading central over to the patio and porch of the Plaza Pavilion where shade and tables with chairs make the trading - and gossip - more comfortable. We’ll see how long this venue is allowed to “unofficially�? remain.

I’ve been following the Build-a-Pin program release at WDW with anticipation for its opening here. And, here it is. It’s as cool as I had hoped it would be. I’m one of those collectors who believes that a pin doesn’t need to be created as a “collectable�? in order to be truly “collectable�? - what I mean is that a pin can be cool or cute or have meaning in order to have a place in my collection. I made three build-a-pins between Friday and Sunday - each had a very cute Mickey on them and I really like the idea of Belle and Eeyore going camping or the Hag Queen and Steamboat Willie at the beach or Pooh and Buzz Lightyear out for a drive - it’s pin whimsy at it’s best. I think that as soon as the Disneyland specific base pins arrive and the character elements are all in stock this pin program will sell very well.

The venue will also feature Kids Only Pin Trading - for kids from 3 to 9 years of age - with two sessions offered daily at 11:00am and 3:30pm. These sessions will feature a Disneyland Resort Super Trader playing pin-type games and giving pin-type prizes as well as a “kids only�? trading board. Some of the Cast Members in the shop will also be wearing special green “kids only�? lanyards to make the program accessible to all guests of all ages. It’s the resort’s attempt to make pin trading as safe and fun for kids - and their parents - as is possible. This is also a way to make sure that the hobby continues to the next generation of Disney pin enthusiasts - I wasn’t much older than 9 when I bought my first pin and it’s still fun all these years later.

I’m also a fan of Print on Demand technology and will support any specialized merchandise program that allows guests to choose and then print their own art on the surface of their choice in the sizes of their choice. PoD is a great addition to the Premiere Shop - as will be the addition of Product on Demand merchandise in the future - even if it adds to the over-crowded conditions. There is some art on the system now that hasn’t been available since last year’s Official Disneyana Convention and I’m happy to hear that there will be new art continually added to the system. Now - if the size range could be expanded with print sizes starting at about 11x14 or smaller - I’d be happy as wall space at my house is as limited as is the space on my pin shelf.

Moving the PoD system into this pin-centric venue seems to be an off fit at first but with the touch-screen video terminals from the former Disneyland Forever CD burner system already in place it would have been a waste of assets to have scrapped them - so PoD is a worthy addition to the venue and should sell very well here as some guests don’t even realize that the Disneyland gallery exists. As to the Kids Art on Demand - well, I remember all my childhood art being hung on the fridge, but, I’m sure that my Mom would have framed a poster of my artistic efforts if she could have had one printed - isn’t that right Mom? And with Stitch images on the way she may just get the chance to hang another. Overall it’s a cute idea and at $35 is a nice souvenir of the day.

Is the Premiere Shop the “Ultimate Pin Trading Destination�?? Not yet, but it’s been open less than a week and there is a phase two for the venue already in the works. And, I have faith in the merchandise, store operations and specialized products marketing folks at the DLR - they’ll refine and rework and refocus until it is.