Anyone remember Artist Choice Weekends at WDW?

[TheTwins]

For those of us who came to the pin trading hobby a bit late, we missed out on the Artist Choice Weekends. But that's the great thing about pin trading -- it's never too late to learn and acquire, right?! It's a hobby that remains fluid and fun, since you can trade off one collection for another as your interests or enthusiasm changes. Don't be afraid to look at pins you've never seen before or browse the database from oldest to newest, instead of sticking with the default settings. You'll be amazed at what cool stuff you find in there!

 

Thanks to Holland's @ScoopsPins Pin Post article yesterday, I did a little sleuthing to find out more about Artist Choice Weekend of April 1-2, 2000. It was WDW's first-ever pin-specific event and was sure an exciting thing at the time. I guess they've been a bit eclipsed by the annual Pin Events, but this was really something for the people fortunate enough to get in twenty-five years ago.

 

Disney put out a brochure to advertise the four weekend events in April 2000. Thanks to the fact that there was one of these on eBay, we get a peak into the line-up offered. Boy, I sure would like to have gone to that auction!

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Don't miss out on these exciting pin weekends that include:

• Exclusive event pin available only during Pin weekends (as shown above).
• A Unique Disney Artist pin will be introduced and retired each weekend, with the respective Disney artist available to sign their pin.
• A special pin trading area for guests to trade with one another.
• Preview WDW's collection of one-of-a-kind pins, anniversary pins, preproduction molds, and pins no longer available, before they are auctioned that evening. (On display at Odyssey on Sunday, April 2nd and Sunday, April 16th)
• From 11:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Exclusive auction held at 7:00p.m. in the Odyssey facility on April 2nd and April 16th. (Auction tickets available for $25.00 and includes light refreshments.)
• Seminars that allow you to experience special presentations regarding: Pin Development, design, production and collection.
   

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The special pin available on the first weekend was a Sorcerer Mickey by Disney Pin Artist Marty Maldovan. He signed 100-200 pins per day over the weekend. Check it out in the database!

 

There was a note posted at the time that was interesting!

All artist pins are LE 10,000, but all unsold pins
were destroyed at the end of the weekend so the actual
edition size could be less than 10,000.

 

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Did any of you attend this (or any other) Artist Choice Weekend? If so, any chance you have any photos? Please, share your memories or pictures here. I'd love to learn more about these!

~ Sarah

[buzz2001]

Yes, we were there that April. 

[sithathoriunet]

That looks so fun!