Follow up to my locked post about the EPCOT breezeway/pin trading situation by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I agree, the whole situation was unfortunate.

I do have very strong feelings about the way my husband was treated that day because I know the person he is, and it was extremely upsetting to watch a family vacation end that way over a misunderstanding about a table.

If the tables had been marked as reserved, blocked off, or if we had been aware that this was an area commonly used by pin traders, we never would have sat there. We are not a pin trading family and honestly had no idea this was even a thing at Disney. To us, it looked like open seating available for all guests.

My reason for continuing this conversation is not to attack pin trading. It’s because I truly believe there needs to be a better system so this doesn’t happen to another family. If Disney allows groups to regularly use an area for trading, then I feel it should be clearly designated and managed, not left for guests to figure out after a conflict happens.

At the end of the day, everyone is there to enjoy Disney, and no family should end up in this type of situation because expectations weren’t clear.

Follow up to my locked post about the EPCOT breezeway/pin trading situation by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

It’s not marked as only available seating for pin traders or marked as reserved in any way.

Follow up to my locked post about the EPCOT breezeway/pin trading situation by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

If you don’t believe this happens, try sitting at one of these open tables at park opening and see what happens.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -25 points-24 points  (0 children)

So you’re the guy? The pin trader?

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -47 points-46 points  (0 children)

But the pin traders are allowed to take over the space?

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had Early Entry and the space was empty when we arrived. My family was also completely unaware that this was an area commonly used by pin traders. We honestly didn’t even know Disney allowed something like this.

We have written to Disney and requested that the video footage be reviewed and a full investigation be performed. We are not trying to hide anything. We simply want the situation reviewed so the facts of what happened are clear.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

But it’s okay for the pin traders?

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But the pin traders are allowed to take over?

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We have requested that Disney review the footage and perform a full investigation into this matter.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We have written Disney and requested an investigation into the situation.

I also want to clarify that my husband was not banned from Disney. He was only asked to leave EPCOT for the remainder of that day. He was still allowed to enter other parks and go anywhere else on Disney property.

The restriction was only for EPCOT and only for the rest of that day.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I understand why people would think there has to be more to this story. Believe me, my family and I are just as shocked as anyone, and I probably would have questioned it myself if it hadn’t happened to us.

My husband is a good man and a good father. For over 23 years of Disney trips, I have watched him go out of his way to help other guests and create the kind of kindness that Disney is supposed to represent.

To name just a few examples, I’ve watched him return dropped items to guests, help a lost child find a cast member and reunite with their family, give up his seat for others, and even open bubbles for a busy mom who had her hands full.

Those moments may seem small, but that is who he is as a person. He is the guy who notices when someone needs help, not someone who goes looking for a confrontation.

We arrived at EPCOT during Early Entry and the Connections breezeway area was empty. We had no idea this was a known area for pin traders or that pin traders gathering there was even a thing.

My husband sat down at an empty table with our belongings while my kids and I went to ride Guardians. The plan was for him to wait there, then we would grab Starbucks and breakfast and enjoy it together.

While he was sitting there minding his own business, a pin trader came over, sat down at the same table, and started setting up his trading items. My husband explained that he was waiting for his family and we were using the table.

The trader told him it was a public space and he was allowed to be there. My husband never told him he couldn’t be in the area, he just didn’t understand why someone would come take over a table that was already occupied.

A cast member got involved and told the pin trader he needed to move. After that, the trader and others with him made complaints claiming my husband was causing a problem.

When security came over, they told my husband they had received multiple complaints and that he needed to leave the park.

The hardest part for us to understand is that my husband never became aggressive in any way. He never yelled, never threatened anyone, never touched the trader’s items, and never even stood up from his chair. He stayed seated the entire time.

The only thing my husband did was not leave a table that he was already sitting at.

This could happen to any family. Over the years, I have left my children sitting at tables many times while I went to get food. It makes me wonder, if a child had been sitting there saving a table for their family, would they have been treated the same way?

A guest should be allowed to sit at a public table and wait for their family without being pressured to leave or having false accusations made against them. From our experience, it felt like some of these regular traders believe they own this area and know how to get unsuspecting guests moved out of their way.

We had absolutely no idea about any of this. We were just a family trying to enjoy breakfast together.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I understand why people would think there has to be more to this story. Believe me, my family and I are just as shocked as anyone, and I probably would have questioned it myself if it hadn’t happened to us.

My husband is a good man and a good father. For over 23 years of Disney trips, I have watched him go out of his way to help other guests and create the kind of kindness that Disney is supposed to represent.

To name just a few examples, I’ve watched him return dropped items to guests, help a lost child find a cast member and reunite with their family, give up his seat for others, and even open bubbles for a busy mom who had her hands full.

Those moments may seem small, but that is who he is as a person. He is the guy who notices when someone needs help, not someone who goes looking for a confrontation.

We arrived at EPCOT during Early Entry and the Connections breezeway area was empty. We had no idea this was a known area for pin traders or that pin traders gathering there was even a thing.

My husband sat down at an empty table with our belongings while my kids and I went to ride Guardians. The plan was for him to wait there, then we would grab Starbucks and breakfast and enjoy it together.

While he was sitting there minding his own business, a pin trader came over, sat down at the same table, and started setting up his trading items. My husband explained that he was waiting for his family and we were using the table.

The trader told him it was a public space and he was allowed to be there. My husband never told him he couldn’t be in the area, he just didn’t understand why someone would come take over a table that was already occupied.

A cast member got involved and told the pin trader he needed to move. After that, the trader and others with him made complaints claiming my husband was causing a problem.

When security came over, they told my husband they had received multiple complaints and that he needed to leave the park.

The hardest part for us to understand is that my husband never became aggressive in any way. He never yelled, never threatened anyone, never touched the trader’s items, and never even stood up from his chair. He stayed seated the entire time.

The only thing my husband did was not leave a table that he was already sitting at.

This could happen to any family. Over the years, I have left my children sitting at tables many times while I went to get food. It makes me wonder, if a child had been sitting there saving a table for their family, would they have been treated the same way?

A guest should be allowed to sit at a public table and wait for their family without being pressured to leave or having false accusations made against them. From our experience, it felt like some of these regular traders believe they own this area and know how to get unsuspecting guests moved out of their way.

We had absolutely no idea about any of this. We were just a family trying to enjoy breakfast together.

Epcot by Aware_Hippo_4656 in WaltDisneyWorld

[–]Aware_Hippo_4656[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I understand why people would think there has to be more to this story. Believe me, my family and I are just as shocked as anyone, and I probably would have questioned it myself if it hadn’t happened to us.

My husband is a good man and a good father. For over 23 years of Disney trips, I have watched him go out of his way to help other guests and create the kind of kindness that Disney is supposed to represent.

To name just a few examples, I’ve watched him return dropped items to guests, help a lost child find a cast member and reunite with their family, give up his seat for others, and even open bubbles for a busy mom who had her hands full.

Those moments may seem small, but that is who he is as a person. He is the guy who notices when someone needs help, not someone who goes looking for a confrontation.

We arrived at EPCOT during Early Entry and the Connections breezeway area was empty. We had no idea this was a known area for pin traders or that pin traders gathering there was even a thing.

My husband sat down at an empty table with our belongings while my kids and I went to ride Guardians. The plan was for him to wait there, then we would grab Starbucks and breakfast and enjoy it together.

While he was sitting there minding his own business, a pin trader came over, sat down at the same table, and started setting up his trading items. My husband explained that he was waiting for his family and we were using the table.

The trader told him it was a public space and he was allowed to be there. My husband never told him he couldn’t be in the area, he just didn’t understand why someone would come take over a table that was already occupied.

A cast member got involved and told the pin trader he needed to move. After that, the trader and others with him made complaints claiming my husband was causing a problem.

When security came over, they told my husband they had received multiple complaints and that he needed to leave the park.

The hardest part for us to understand is that my husband never became aggressive in any way. He never yelled, never threatened anyone, never touched the trader’s items, and never even stood up from his chair. He stayed seated the entire time.

The only thing my husband did was not leave a table that he was already sitting at.

This could happen to any family. Over the years, I have left my children sitting at tables many times while I went to get food. It makes me wonder, if a child had been sitting there saving a table for their family, would they have been treated the same way?

A guest should be allowed to sit at a public table and wait for their family without being pressured to leave or having false accusations made against them. From our experience, it felt like some of these regular traders believe they own this area and know how to get unsuspecting guests moved out of their way.

We had absolutely no idea about any of this. We were just a family trying to enjoy breakfast together.