Honestly, it was an absolute cluster when we were there in June. It was BEYOND frustrating, and my kids walked out of there upset. I can see how things need to change up - but it is the cool ideas like this that keep WDW ahead.
The bold is why I could see this going away completely. It was probably suppose to be a surprise thing and then as what happens with all cool things at Disney it made it to the internet. Families tell their kids, kids get excited, the get to Disney and it doesn't go as described on line and then kids and family leave upset. I believe originally the Jawas did not "trade" but rather would offer you something for whatever they liked so kids wearing light up bracelets, husbands, magicbands, maps, paper whatever. Once it got out people started initiating trades but when the Jawas turned them down they got upset. So now it'll go away and maybe once people stop asking for it they'll bring it back but for now they will just be out randomly through out the day.
The bold is why I could see this going away completely. It was probably suppose to be a surprise thing and then as what happens with all cool things at Disney it made it to the internet. Families tell their kids, kids get excited, the get to Disney and it doesn't go as described on line and then kids and family leave upset. I believe originally the Jawas did not "trade" but rather would offer you something for whatever they liked so kids wearing light up bracelets, husbands, magicbands, maps, paper whatever. Once it got out people started initiating trades but when the Jawas turned them down they got upset. So now it'll go away and maybe once people stop asking for it they'll bring it back but for now they will just be out randomly through out the day.
based on the last couple of comments it is seemingly more like they are trading, but only if it isn't junk. I remember early on people saying they traded all sorts of things that would go right in the garbage - those are things they are probably now declining and just "not trading"...no?
I agree with a previous poster .. the internet probably "ruined" it.
It was probably a cute little surprise "extra magic" which (as people found out via forums like this one) .. became an attraction in itself. They were probably constantly mobbed and probably didn't have the items to keep up with the demand. It just probably couldn't be controlled .. especially as more and more people "discovered" they did that (and as it gets more crowded with the fall months).
Just like how everyone "expects" cards from Mickey in their rooms, phone calls on their birthday and towel animals on their beds. Great little extras, but when guest "expect" this . it isn't very magical anymore and Disney probably can't keep up with the demand without having guests complain. "Where was my birthday card from Mickey? I heard on the internet you get one! This place sucks!"
I got a free locker at MK by answering some trivia (I was the only one getting a locker at the time and the CM just offered it out of the blue) .. but if people started expecting that .. the counter would be mobbed with people (and complaints) .. "Where is the trivia to get my free locker? I read on the internet you do that!".
This is why we can't have nice things ...
I dub this the "Andy's Coming!" effect. CM goes above and beyond, word spreads on internet and soon it gets out of hand. You're absolutely right.