Pin trading at Disney World?

[Ashley&Scott]

Has anyone tried pin trading at Disney? Our neighbors go to Disney World a few times a year & recommended pin trading. They said it was a fun, easy way to get some mementos. They recommended buying a cheap lot of pins online to use for trading. 

Just wondering if MMMers have tried it...

[SJ]

Trading for other pins? Who do you trade with and where do you find them?

[Ashley&Scott]

Oh sorry, you just trade pins for pins. So basically they said you can buy a cheap lot of ugly pins then trade them for ones you like.

I've started googling a little bit to try to learn more.
www.disneytouristblog.com/pin-trading/

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 12:58:29 GMT -5 SJ said:

Trading for other pins? Who do you trade with and where do you find them?

Apparently (thousands) of cast members participate in pin trading.

[Ashley&Scott]

minniemouse I did not know cast members had to trade. This explains how our neighbors were able to get rid of all their ugly pins.

[niq]

Jul 29, 2015 12:59:05 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

We never have. I never wanted to take the time to do it. Plus I hate having those type of souvenirs. What do you do with them when you're home?

I have a handful from the 1996 Olympics that I got for participating in the Closing Ceremonies and had them framed, a long with event tickets, the program, etc. I could see them being a nice memento for a big trip.

See also those patches that backpackers often get.

[nachos]

The last time I took my kids, they did it, and enjoyed it.

Cast members do have to trade, and you can get some really nice pins that way. I bought each kid a starter kit and they got to buy a pin from each of the "big" rides/roller coasters etc. They used the pins in their starter kits to trade, and got some really nice ones.

Now DS keeps his on a bulletin board in his room on display, and DD's are packed away for safe keeping.

[SJ]

Oh that sounds fun!

I am totally a geek about collecting though, so it would be right up my alley.

That being said, I have been to WDW once in my life and we don't plan to take DD for a while yet, so probably not going to jump on it.

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 13:05:11 GMT -5 nachos said:

The last time I took my kids, they did it, and enjoyed it.

Cast members do have to trade, and you can get some really nice pins that way. I bought each kid a starter kit and they got to buy a pin from each of the "big" rides/roller coasters etc. They used the pins in their starter kits to trade, and got some really nice ones.

Now DS keeps his on a bulletin board in his room on display, and DD's are packed away for safe keeping.

Where did you get the starter kit? My worry about buying a cheap lot online is that they won't be "official" pins, therefore excluding them from trading.

[nachos]

Jul 29, 2015 13:06:54 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Jul 29, 2015 13:05:11 GMT -5 nachos said:

The last time I took my kids, they did it, and enjoyed it.

Cast members do have to trade, and you can get some really nice pins that way. I bought each kid a starter kit and they got to buy a pin from each of the "big" rides/roller coasters etc. They used the pins in their starter kits to trade, and got some really nice ones.

Now DS keeps his on a bulletin board in his room on display, and DD's are packed away for safe keeping.

Where did you get the starter kit? My worry about buying a cheap lot online is that they won't be "official" pins, therefore excluding them from trading.

 They're available all over the place. Downtown Disney had amazing kiosks, and that's where we got ours. The special ride pins were available in the stores throughout the parks.


I didn't mind spending for them on site because it was the only souvenir that they really wanted, and it was great to watch them go up to cast members and ask to trade - something very out of character for either of them.

[londoncalling]

My niece has hundreds of pins. She lives in Orlando though. She has all of hers cataloged in books and rotates out different displays.

She's 21 and has been doing it since they moved there when she was 16. At this point she goes out in search of specific pins.

[ribollita]

I would (and did) do the pressed pennies instead with a 3.5yo.

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 13:15:28 GMT -5 ribollita said:

I would (and did) do the pressed pennies instead with a 3.5yo.

I plan on getting some pressed pennies 

[ribollita]

I didn't see any automatic machines in January or March. There are so many machines that I would assume plenty of manuals will be around for awhile.

[nachos]

Jul 29, 2015 13:15:28 GMT -5 ribollita said:

I would (and did) do the pressed pennies instead with a 3.5yo.

Yes, I did that on our first trip. The kids were 8 & 10 for pin trading.

Our first trip saw a lot of souvenirs that they outgrew (t-shirts, headbands with ears etc..) They wanted something with a longer 'shelf life' and I wanted something small - lol!

[Deleted]

The CMs who have to trade have a different color pin backing. DS has a starter kit and a few extra pins. He wasn't really able to understand last trip, but we might try this trip.

I collect and have traded the vinylmations before.

Also if you play SOTMK in MK you can get 3 packs of cards per a day ( one for you, one for DS and one for your H). Some kids LOVE that game and collect all the cards.

[jeaniebueller]

I saw older kids doing it a lot, but for a younger toddler or younger child, it seemed like a PITA. Of course, my MIL bought one for DS even though I asked her not to and it promptly got stuck in our bag and forgotten.

[dale]

My DS did it on our trip in April and had a blast. MIL had bought him a couple of "mystery packs" and both came out as princesses. As we were on our way to Epcot to see about trading them, the bell services desk clerk called him over and pulled out a book of pins and made DS's night!

[lindsaymg]

My 6yo loves to do it. Get the cheapy packs for trading and when you get one you don't want to trade, put a more permanent locking back (they sell them) on the back to keep you from losing it.

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 13:19:52 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

The CMs who have to trade have a different color pin backing. DS has a starter kit and a few extra pins. He wasn't really able to understand last trip, but we might try this trip.

I collect and have traded the vinylmations before.

Also if you play SOTMK in MK you can get 3 packs of cards per a day ( one for you, one for DS and one for your H). Some kids LOVE that game and collect all the cards.

Our neighbors were also telling us about the Sourcers cards, they said it's fun

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 13:23:15 GMT -5 dale said:

My DS did it on our trip in April and had a blast. MIL had bought him a couple of "mystery packs" and both came out as princesses. As we were on our way to Epcot to see about trading them, the bell services desk clerk called him over and pulled out a book of pins and made DS's night!

How old is your son? 

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2015 13:26:22 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Jul 29, 2015 13:19:52 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

The CMs who have to trade have a different color pin backing. DS has a starter kit and a few extra pins. He wasn't really able to understand last trip, but we might try this trip.

I collect and have traded the vinylmations before.

Also if you play SOTMK in MK you can get 3 packs of cards per a day ( one for you, one for DS and one for your H). Some kids LOVE that game and collect all the cards.

Our neighbors were also telling us about the Sourcers cards, they said it's fun

I can't wait to try it honestly. I am also hoping DS loves the Perry game in Epcot. 

[mmmomof2]

I could see how it would be fun for kids to trade with CMs and get their favorite characters or what not. But the adult pin collectors are weird. I shouldn't judge because I'm a fairly big Disney nerd, but they are a very weird subset of the Disney community.

My DD likes the pressed pennies. I recommend either cleaning your pennies with vinegar and salt or getting "new" pennies at the bank.

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 13:41:20 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

I could see how it would be fun for kids to trade with CMs and get their favorite characters or what not. But the adult pin collectors are weird. I shouldn't judge because I'm a fairly big Disney nerd, but they are a very weird subset of the Disney community.

My DD likes the pressed pennies. I recommend either cleaning your pennies with vinegar and salt or getting "new" pennies at the bank.

We would definitely be collecting favorite characters & probably only trading with cast members. Good tip about the shiny pennies for pressing.

[lishie]

DS wanted to try it, so we bought him a starter set, but he wasn't that into it.

Pinterest has some great ideas on things to do with the pins though, that could make a really cool souvenir.

[curbsideprophet]

Jul 29, 2015 13:06:54 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Jul 29, 2015 13:05:11 GMT -5 nachos said:

The last time I took my kids, they did it, and enjoyed it.

Cast members do have to trade, and you can get some really nice pins that way. I bought each kid a starter kit and they got to buy a pin from each of the "big" rides/roller coasters etc. They used the pins in their starter kits to trade, and got some really nice ones.

Now DS keeps his on a bulletin board in his room on display, and DD's are packed away for safe keeping.

Where did you get the starter kit? My worry about buying a cheap lot online is that they won't be "official" pins, therefore excluding them from trading.

Buying cheap ones online is generally frowned upon to my knowledge. Not sure if CMs can reject a pin or not.

[Ashley&Scott]

Jul 29, 2015 14:29:38 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Jul 29, 2015 13:06:54 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Where did you get the starter kit? My worry about buying a cheap lot online is that they won't be "official" pins, therefore excluding them from trading.

Buying cheap ones online is generally frowned upon to my knowledge. Not sure if CMs can reject a pin or not.

I was kind of wondering about that when she mentioned it but I didn't say anything.

[stephm0188]

Online pins are called scrappers. They're made from the same molds as Disney pins but are not the same quality. Technically, you shouldn't trade them. However, so many people do trade them that a lot of the pins are just not that great. We have junk pins we let the kid trade, but he's not allowed to trade any of the pins we purchase at Disney. He enjoys collecting them.

[lishie]

The disney outlet also had some cheap official pins available for purchase, so if you happen to visit the outlets, they have some cute options available. My last visit they had mystery packs, and also some last season food/wine and flower/garden pins.

[nachos]

Jul 29, 2015 13:32:55 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

Jul 29, 2015 13:26:22 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Our neighbors were also telling us about the Sourcers cards, they said it's fun

I can't wait to try it honestly. I am also hoping DS loves the Perry game in Epcot. 

We did this when it was Kim Possible and the kids had a blast!