Disney Interactive: Pin Trading
One of my favorite activities at Walt Disney World is pin trading and collecting. Pin trading does require the purchase of Disney branded pins, and therefore is one of the interactive things you can do at the parks that isn't free. However, the pins themselves make really great souvenirs. In fact, I've gotten to the point with my own pins where I'm reluctant to trade any because I love what I have.
My daughter's pin lanyard which started by purchasing a starter lanyard that was Finding Nemo themed and then adding pins over time
How do you start?
Step 1. Purchase some pins. You can do this at Disney at pin kiosks and gift shops that sell Disney pins. You can buy them individually or get a "starter set" in various themes that usually include a Disney lanyard and a set of 4-6 themed pins (such as a "Finding Nemo" set, or a "Pirates" set).
Or if you really just want a bunch of pins cheap so you can participate and don't care what you get, you can buy pins in bulk on sites like Ebay. Be careful, though. In order to be trade-able, they must be official Disney pins (look at the back for the trademark). Scams abound on bulk bags of pins, but there are also many honest sellers with great customer service, so read reviews carefully and look for a seller who has lots of happy customers. The scam to look out for is getting pins that are not official Disney pins. Only official Disney pins can be traded.
Step 2. Display your pins. Nobody knows you are pin trading if they can't see your pins. Many people will wear the pins on a lanyard, a bag, or a hat.
Be careful about wearing pins and make sure the back of each pin is on securely. I have had more than one pin fall off because of a loose back, which is why an article of clothing that doesn't move too much, like a hat, might be the best place to display them. Or you can just invest in nicer backs that will hold your pins on longer. Disney knows this is an issue because they sell the pin backs alone.
Finally, you could just carry your pins with you in a ziploc bag of their own or a pocket. The downside is that other guests won't approach you because they can't see your pins, but you can still approach others.
If you purchase a Disney pin lanyard, the rules are printed right on it
How do you trade?
You can trade with Disney Cast Members or other guests, though there are some rules and etiquette with either.
With Cast Members - A Cast Member who is pin trading will either be wearing their pins on a lanyard or will have a corkboard nearby with the pins they are trading on the board. If a Cast Member is wearing their pins, please respect their personal space and safety and do not grab their lanyard unless invited. The best way to interact is to approach and ask "May I see your pins?" As long as you are not interrupting another guest interaction, they will gladly display their lanyard for you. A Cast Member is not being rude if they don't let you hold their lanyard. They are on the hook for the cost of each pin that gets lost and pins have been stolen before. Fewer Cast Members pin trade than did back when it started in the 90's because of these concerns, so please be polite.
A Cast Member cannot refuse a trade as long as you are trading an official Disney pin! So if you see a pin you like, offer any pin you would like to part with in exchange and the Cast Member will trade.
You can trade up to two pins per Cast Member per day.
With other guests - Trading with other guests is voluntary on both parts and there is no limit to the number or kinds of trades you can make. If you see a black-nosed Tigger that you want and the other guest will only accept 2 pins in exchange instead of one, if you both agree, this is a legal trade.
Other guests do not have to accept the trade. You must negotiate and come to a conclusion you both agree on, or just abandon the trade.
There is no limit to the number of pins you can trade with other guests.
The same etiquette applies as did for Cast Members that it's never OK to grab at another guest's pins without being invited to touch them, and that you should respect what other things that guest might be doing at the moment. It's not a good idea to approach a mom whose child is throwing a tantrum at that moment, for example.
There is an additional finer point to the etiquette of trading with other guests when it comes to children, though. Some adults will take advantage of children when trading and initiate a trade for more valuable pins from the child because children are more afraid to refuse an adult. It's a good idea to let children initiate any trade with an adult rather than the other way around.
Example of what you can get from Ebay. This was a bag of 100 random pins for about $20
What's the point?
So, we've talked about how to get started and how to actually trade, but... why? That depends on you. Here are some goals of pin trading:
1. Collect my favorite character/ ride/ resort/ park - Sometimes it's as easy as wanting as many pins as possible that depict your favorite things. My child wants any pins with Stitch, for example. You can't just hop into a gift shop and buy all the Stitch pins because different pins are produced over the years and the shops won't carry all of the possible versions of Stitch.
2. Collect rare pins - There are limited print, limited edition, limited event, and misprinted pins that are considered rare. For example, at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party each year, there is a limited event pin for that year that is only sold during the party. There are also misprints that have their own special fame, like the black-nosed Tigger pin. Tigger is really supposed to have a pink nose, but there was a limited print of black noses (though there is still controversy over whether this was truly a misprint or intentional in this case).
3. To interact with guests and Cast Members - Maybe you just like to strike up a conversation with a guest or Cast Member. When I trade with Cast Members, I ask about their day, the park, or whatever they want to talk about. When I trade with other guests, we bond over favorite rides or characters. I'm also known to let the kids have whatever pin they want in exchange for whatever pin they want because I just like making them happy, though I also only wear pins I am willing to part with.
4. To collect memories - Ultimately after a Disney vacation of collecting and trading pins, you will have a nice collection of memories of interactions with Cast Members and guests, events that happened while you were there, your favorite ride, the resort you stayed at, etc.
What can you do with the pins?
Display them at home
Sell them on Ebay - You might make some money off of certain rares
Turn them into magnets - Disney sells magnetic pin backs that can turn your pins into magnets
Bring them next time and keep trading
While pin trading is not as popular at Walt Disney World now as it was in the 90s, you can still find plenty of Cast Members and guests trading pins. Or you could just collect them as the gift shops still prominently display them. In my opinion, pin trading is as big a thing as you want it to be. You don't have to trade at all, you could trade only when you happen past a trading post, or you could actively seek out pin trading posts which a Cast Member will direct you to if you ask.
Either way, I love my own collection of pins and next time, I'll show you my favorites. Until then, have a great week, and if you like this blog, share it with friends.
