Kim's Corner - Sep 12, 2002

Kim's Corner
Page 5 of 7

Where’s Mickey? Pin Event - the bad -

I’m happy to say that the "bad" is mostly little knit-picky stuff - but still…

CM communication -

Any event - no matter how large or small - no matter how well planned or well executed - is bound to have its problems. This event was no exception as there were problems with lines - especially in those venues that were also selling the 100th 100 Mickeys pin. Some cast members were also unsure of the way the game was to be played and it was often a hunt to find the Where’s Mickey? pins. Once we got to the Premiere Shop and went to get in line we asked if there was a handicapped line as my friend uses a cane to walk - we were told that unless he was in a wheelchair he had to take the stairs. Once we were about an hour into our wait and inside the underground queue - however - we found that this was incorrect - he was offered a short-cut to the other line which was - you guessed it - up the stairs anyway he chose to hang with us.

There is still a lingering problem with getting everyone in the Premiere Shop on the same page from an operations standpoint.

But - for the most part they were small problems - nothing major - and nothing that wasn’t quickly remedied.

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The clue "Mickey Mouse can be found on the big screen in this dark CINEMA on MAIN STREET, dressed to impress in his "Turn of the Century" attire" - took you to the Main Street Cinema, where this sign could be found.
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the game -

From the first letter we had the puzzle solved - so - yeah - it was VERY easy. Very easy for us that is - but it wasn’t designed for "us". This event was written for the Disneyland day guest - the first-time tourist and family who would find the clues a challenge and the walk around the park a fun way to spend the day - decidedly not those of us who could walk the park blindfolded while reciting the menu at the Blue Bayou. Sometimes we jaded Disneyland-centric types forget that there are guests for whom it’s all magic and wonder - I still need to be reminded that it’s a theme park and not a mall on occasion.

And - if this event was any indication - the typical day guest really likes to have a game to play as they enjoy their day. The 5,000 game cards produced were all out on the park by 1:30PM - and since there were still Where’s Mickey? pins in the Premiere Shop when I stopped in yesterday - I’d say that the day guests playing outnumbered the pin folks by 2 to 1.

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OK - so the clues were pretty easy for the hard-core Disneyland fan - but the game was geared to the day guest who may have been visiting the park for the very first time - they outnumbered the pin-faithful by more than 2 to 1. We had fun with it - what more do you want from a game?
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The art was very cute on the game board - not everything needs to be a "map".
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I put my Where's Mickey? LE 2,000 pins on the game board and think that they look pretty cool displayed this way. I'll wear these pins - so - I won't frame this one.
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