Advice on pin trading for 6 year old

[MariDisney]

We'll be leaving for WDW next Sunday and I've just talked with some relatives about how much fun their DD had pin trading. I'm thinking this is something my DD6 would like to do, but I have no idea about how it works. In the past we've (GASP!) actually tossed the pin and lanyard we've gotten with our packages. I'm not sure that our package even comes with that this time, as I don't remember reading it in the documents. SO, anyway, any info on the basics of pin trading and how to get my DD started? I'm interested in the protocol, costs, etc. Thanks for any help you have for me!!

 

[MariDisney]

just bumping to see if anyone has any ideas

 

[pezpam]

My DD loves pin trading. She's 8, but did her first trade when she was 6 or 7. I would advise starting her off trading with CMs. They're friendly about it and that should be a comfortable way to get her started. I've found that the interaction between DD and the CM is best when I take a back seat and it's obvious that I am not pushing her to pick certain pins.

While most pin traders we have encountered have been wonderful people, there have been one or two times we've run into sharks who wanted to make a very unequal trade.

So, step back and let DD make the trades *she* wants to, but be there to politely cut off a trade with someone who seems off to you. Now, my daughter has traded rather a lot and I have only stepped in twice, so it's not a regular occurrence at all, just something to be aware of. We've skipped formal pin-trading sessions to avoid it as well.

Your DD is going to love pin trading. There are so many CMs to trade with. Some will simply trade, some will joke around with us for a while. DD still talks about the CM who wanted to trade his pin for her shoes.

Oh, almost forgot...... we didn't have time to do this, but at WDW they have a scheduled pin talk. The CM talks about how pins are made, the 'rules' of trading, and I think you are given a pin for attending. That might be a nice way to get started. Otherwise, just dive in and let her approach CMs. Give her pins you don't mind seeing go and let her choose anything she likes and she'll have fun.

Enjoy!

 

[pezpam]

OK, rereading your post..... here are a couple of quick answers.

You can buy pins at the parks or a Disney Store (maybe) for $6-10 for basic pins. I've heard that the outlets sometimes have some. If you had more time, I'd suggest browsing Ebay or disneyshopping.com

Mostly at the starting level, you'll trade 1-for-1 with CMs. DD should approach teh CM and ask if they want to trade. (The CMs generally have to, but it's a good habit to get into) With CMs, your DD will choose one of theirs and one of hers to trade. With non-CMs, they don't have to accept a trade unless they want one of your daughter's pins.

Knockoff pins are not acceptable for trading, but anything officially Disney should be.

For keeping track, there is a Tomart (I think) book available at the parks or there is pinpics.com online. Someone more experienced than I might be able to point out a site that has values on it, but there are so many entry-level pins that yu shouldn't need to worry too much for a while.

 

[Tjaleks]

We just did this in Dec. My boys are 9 & 10 and had a blast. It did take them some time to work up the courage to ask the CM's and on occassion I had to intiate the conversation. Everyone of the CM's were wonderful and very nice. They allowed my ds's to pick whatever pin they wanted from the CM's lanyard and to chose what pin they wanted to trade for it from their own lanyard. We also limited the boys to only trading with CM's.

We did see one man who had a VERY large collection of pins at MK. He was very nice to the boys and gave them stickers.

Just a side note, I did have one CM tell me they would only trade for Disney pins, but another CM traded with my youngest a pin that was clearly not Disney, (you can tell, the quality is just not the same), but it was the pin my son wanted. Since it was all about them having fun, I didn't say anything. Then later that day I saw another CM with the exact same non-Disney pin. So they are out there.

 

[homber]

CMs with green lanyards trade with kids only

 

[daber]

Oh, almost forgot...... we didn't have time to do this, but at WDW they have a scheduled pin talk. The CM talks about how pins are made, the 'rules' of trading, and I think you are given a pin for attending. That might be a nice way to get started.
Enjoy!

They are referring to Scoop, who does a pin talk at 1:00 in the back of Expo Hall (Main St where Tony's Restaurant is located) They are I believe Sunday -Thursday. You should definitely plan to attend.

A word of advise: Try to pick a theme or character to collect, otherwise you will go NUTS! My niece collects Cinderella mostly with a little Tinkerbell, Minnie, Pocohontas, and now (heaven forbid) STITCH! Try to keep it to just one or two things.

Also you may hear of something called LANYARD PINS. These are pins you can not buy, but only get them by trading with a CM. You can see a list of them by year and by park on either pinpincs.com or dizpins.com

Not sure, but there used to be a thread at the top of this page on pin ettiquette or basic rules. You might want to read it if it's still there.

Hope this helps.

 

[MariDisney]

Thanks, everyone, for the info. I have a sense of what I'm doing now. Great advice, as always!