Stupid Guest Tricks

Went to Ecpot with a friend this morning, and I brought some of my Castaway Club lanyards/pins. Since I sail so often, I have a ton of them. I handed them to some of the CMs who were wearing pin trading lanyards and asked if they would give 'em to a kid who might come up and want a pin but who didn't have a lanyard and trading pins of their own. They all took 'em but looked at me kinda funny. Is it okay to do that? I didn't feel like looking for worthy recipients myself (I was too busy trying to get in Soarin' rides before the park got too busy). I figured that would allow them to make a bit of magic for a kid. I have some more to bring next time if it's acceptable.

That does not sound like its breaking any type of pin trading policy to do that if that is your concern. You likely got those funny looks because the CMs were in shock you would do something that nice, if a guest had come up to me and given me pins to hand out to kids I would have been waiting for the guest to then ask me for something for free in return...thats just how people are most of the time. I think thats a great thing to do, my current position does not involve much pin trading but when I used to do it frequently there were always plenty opportunities to given pins to the kids. Families who had just gotten into the park in weren't familiar with pin trading yet and one of the kids would just love a certain pin, thats getting to make some magic :p: Thankfully I worked in a location where management allowed us to make pin trading policy exceptions in those cases and just give the kid the pin they wanted and not get in trouble for being short a pin. Honestly as someone who never got really into pin trading, not to knock people who are but that is one seriously expensive hobby, that was the part of it I enjoyed was trading with the little kids since it more about "oh look its Daisy!" rather than "I have all those Daisy pins already are there any other people around here with a differnt Daisy pin? My vacation ends in 2 days and I want to find every Daisy pin made." Gee I never realized I had so much of an opinion on pin trading.

I would love the lanyard and pins.

It is the gift giving part and I have done that before with pins and stuff. I rarely or ever have had problems doing so but I did it with CMs whom I knew well. It is rare to have people giving away free stuff anywhere in the world. It would be shocking to have a store clerk get handed a $5 off next purchase coupon by a guest for someone to use. The lanyards are valuable to some collectors and that makes it even more astonishing.

You are an angel and it is so nice to hear of such a nice and generous persons. A lt of kids see the trading and want in but cannot because they cannot buy pins and lanyards. Way to go, proud of you.

As a mother of three kids going to DW in two weeks, one child autistic, I think you did a very kind and considerate thing. I would be extremely touched if someone offered us anything.

Good going Syndrome! My hat is off to you! :) I collect pins and have many pins I wish to do something with, (they are duplicates of pins I already have or ones I don't collect) and my plan is to take those pins next trip to DL and hand them out to kids. I have never gotten into trading pins as much as collecting and buying the older ones so to give them to someone who would enjoy them would be fun. And it would clear out a big pile of pins in my house too! LOL! I think it's a grand idea!
Susi

I don't see it as a biggie, just spreading a little fun and happiness around...if a person is fortunate enough to have extra happiness in their life, why not spread it around? It's amazing how neat random acts of kindness are. I'll never forget eating at Red Lobster one day many years ago and seeing a hand come through the potted plants separating our table from the next section...it was a $5 off coupon! The people had several that expired that day and were handing them out to the diners around them. Because of that, I always gather dining coupons when I see them and hand them out myself. It's just five bucks, but hey, who among us can't use a little extra?

I know the CMs see thousands of people every day, so I hope the ones I have 'em to will spot just the right kid in need of a smile. I have a few more, so I'll bring 'em next time I visit WDW. Just wanted to make sure it was okay for the CMs to accept 'em and give 'em away. I think the perfect cure for having a bad day is to go to MK, buy a balloon, and hand it out to a kid. How can you not smile yourself when you see a kid's face light up?

But don't let this get too far beyond SGT. I prefer to be known as the evil woman who clotheslines heely kids and tramples the feet of flash photographers. ;)

What a great idea Syndrome!! It is definitely a refreshing feeling when you know you helped make someones day. Kudos on a great use of your pins!!!!

If you ever approach me for that purpose, you'll have to forgive my not telling you "no" three times.

Speaking of which, I was meaning to ask KidAtHeart... when you took the Tim Hortons to the people at the Canada Pavillion, did they refuse thrice? I mean, c'mon... there's only one reason you would bring that much to Florida...