Today we’re excited to share our interview with Emily aka @coraspins on Instagram, who shares her love for Peter Pan pins and talks about some of the Disneyland Paris interview process.
Thanks for talking to us today Emily, can you tell us a little about you?
My name is Emily, and I’m 27 years old and a student from the UK. I’m studying French and Event Management in the hopes of working for Disneyland Paris! I’m currently on a gap year working in a tea room. Disney had cast me to work in Attractions and Merchandise, but the world had other plans in 2020! Instead of trading pins in WDW, I’ve been buying pins on the internet all year. 😂
Emily (and Peter!) at Disneyland Paris
That is so exciting that you’re hoping to work for Disneyland Paris. Can you talk about the hiring process you need to go through?
I’ve been interviewed by DLP a few different times, and every time was a different method, so I’m honestly not 100% sure on the hiring method as it always seems to change!
I’ve had interviews through Skype, I flew to Paris for an interview, and I’ve also been offered a job, but then they revoked it as my term dates for uni didn’t align with the Learning Programme dates for that year.
For working on the business side, I have job alerts from the Disney Careers website for DLP. As soon as I see an advert for Paris that I’m interested in, I’ll apply.
I’ve been successful in an application with an English CV and cover letter before but got turned away at the following interview because I wasn’t French, so I’m not sure what that was all about!
It was probably something to do with Brexit. It just seems to be a lot of trial and error with applying to DLP, haha. And luck based on who reads your application!
We have our fingers crossed for your next applications! When and how did you get into pin trading?
I learnt about Disney pins when I started to learn more about the parks during college. I didn’t have any pins for myself, but I knew if I did, I’d collect loads of Peter Pan ones!
I went on holiday to WDW in 2013, where I got to meet up with an amazing family I’m friends with, and they blessed me with a box of around 50 pins! I think I spent all of my holiday money on pins that year.
That is so nice of them! What are your main collections, and why?
My main collection is Peter Pan, with a little bit of Alice in Wonderland on the side. These are two of my favourite stories from my childhood. The characters and designs of these pins spark joy for me.
Besides these collections, I really like to collect full body pins of my favourite characters. I also like to collect pins with locations that I’ve visited, such as resorts and restaurants, that have brought a special memory to me.
I like unique pins, such as those with different art styles and poses that aren’t just the regular character poses you see on merchandise.
Some of Emily's Peter Pan collection
We love collecting pins from the places we’ve visited too! How many pins do you have?
According to my profile on here, I have 177, but I think I have a lot more than that... considering all the pins I have that aren’t Disney, as well as the pins I have that I haven’t registered on the site yet... I think over 200. I need to stop!!!!
No! You can’t stop; it will make the rest of us look bad! What is your favourite pin?
My favourite pins are my Mary Blair pins. I have one from a Peter Pan boxed set and some Alice in Wonderland mystery box pins. The Mad Hatter and March Hare are my favourites from the mystery box as I have one of my most special memories attached to them from a trip to DLP a few years ago.
The Peter Pan and Wendy one is my favourite pins of all time, and I feel so lucky to own it! Mary Blair’s art for Peter Pan is my favourite; it inspires me so much, and to have this pin means the world to me. The characters always like to reenact the pose too when I meet them! One time even Chip and Dale did the pose; it was so funny.
That is adorable! What do you like most about pin trading?
I love getting to have conversations with people in the parks and seeing all the beautiful designs of pins.
Every day I see a new pin that I fall in love with. Usually, ones that are way outside my budget, though. 😂
Haha, I know what you mean! If you could change one thing about pin trading, what would it be?
The price of the Wendy Darling pin from the Disney Girls Reveal/Conceal Collection 😭😭
We just looked up the price; she isn’t cheap! If you could pin trade with any Disney character, who would it be?
Either Peter Pan because he always has a lot of treasure, so I’m sure there are some pins in there! Or the Mad Hatter, as he always steals my pins. If he had pins to give back to me in exchange, I’d let him keep the ones he steals. 😂
Love it! Is there anything you’d like to see come over from Walt Disney World into Disneyland Paris?
NIGHT TIME PARADE. PLEASE. I want a nighttime parade in Summer! Also, it would be nice to have more pin boards rather than just one that randomly shows up on certain weekends.
More pin boards would be excellent! Finally, do you have any advice for someone who wants to get into pin trading?
Join PTC or one of the UK pin trading groups on Facebook!
Don’t buy cheap trading lots from eBay! Try to find starter bundles from trusted sellers!
Just go for it; most people in the pin community are friendly and helpful and willing to give you a hand with things you aren’t sure about! Just have fun with it, collect whatever you enjoy.
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Love ending on “Just have fun with it”, we couldn’t agree more. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us, Emily, and we look forward to seeing you as a cast member in Disneyland Paris soon!
If you’re a pin trader and would like us to interview you, please get in touch!
