Appropriate Pin Trading behavior?

[planetcaravan19f]

Is it appropriate (for my son) to ask ANY cast member wearing a pin for a trade, or only the ones at designated Pin Trading spots? Does the pin have to be on a lanyard? Will the cm give up any pin they have. Just want to break down the rules for my son so he can , hopefully, be a sucsessful trader.
Please and Thankyou for any info!!!!

 

[fAnnF]

If he's under 9, he can trade with any cm, if not then not with a cm wearing a green lanyard(they can only trade with kids under 9, and have the nice pins) I don't wear mine on a lanyard, but keep them in my bag, until I trade, they will trade as long as you're not giving them a pin they already have on their lanyard. those are the general rules. I trade with all sorts of different cms, janitors, ride operators, even some CM wearing a suit. Dream Squad members also have lanyards, but they may not all be over the neck, they now have belt clip ones.
Hope this helps some, if you don't have any pins yet to trade look on ebay there are always some offical ones up for sale.

 

[EmptyCinema]

Most cast members are REQUIRED to trade pins with anyone who asks. The cast lanyards are not the CM's personal pins, so they'll trade whatever is there.

CMs with GREEN lanyards are only supposed to trade with young children (the usual 9 and under, I believe) however I've seen them trade with older kids. (And, rarely, adults who traded a really nice kids pin away).

You may only trade TWICE per CM per day. All pins that you trade must be official Disney pins in good condition with the "mickey ear" backing. Official pins will say (C)Disney on the back.

Also, look for pins with a small silver mickey head on the front. These are the so-called "hidden mickey" series and are first released to CMs before guests. (And most have not been/probably won't be for sale).

 

[aristocats_lover]

Actually green lanyards are for 12 and under. These are some answers from the official website disneypins.com. You can find everything you need to know on there!

IS IT TRUE DISNEY CAST MEMBERS HAVE TO TRADE THEIR PINS?
Yes. Cast Members at our Theme Parks and Resorts have to trade their pins displayed on their Company issued lanyards. Guests can make up to two (2) trades per "lanyard," per Cast Member, per day. When trading with Cast Members, Guests should offer a pin that is not already displayed on the Cast Member's lanyard.

WHY ARE SOME CAST MEMBERS WEARING GREEN/TEAL LANYARDS?
Disney Pin Trading is fun for people of all ages. However, kids, ages 3-12, get an extra trading treat. Look for Kids Only lanyards - Disneyland® Resort uses "teal" lanyards and Walt Disney World® Resort uses "green" lanyards. This means that Kids are the only Guests allowed to trade from these special lanyards. Kids can also trade from Cast Members wearing blue lanyards.

 

[planetcaravan19f]

Great info, I was hoping it would be easy!!! Just got 7 disney pins on e-bay for around $4 each !!! I got 4 that my son might want to keep (cars, bears, etc.), and some he will want to trade (princess)!! Not sure if he will actually ask any cm for thier pin, he's a little shy. I will be keeping an eye out for ones I know he would want and point them out if he seems to engrossed in the disney magic all around him.

 

[Butwhyistherumgone?]

Great info, I was hoping it would be easy!!! Just got 7 disney pins on e-bay for around $4 each !!! I got 4 that my son might want to keep (cars, bears, etc.), and some he will want to trade (princess)!! Not sure if he will actually ask any cm for thier pin, he's a little shy. I will be keeping an eye out for ones I know he would want and point them out if he seems to engrossed in the disney magic all around him.

We just got back and pin trading was one of my DS's (5) favorite things! He really got into it. Now he wasnt looking for anything per say but just loved trading! When he found a pin he really liked we would have to take it off so he wouldn't lose it
Have fun! I think your son will have a blast trading!

 

[bopper]

The only thing to keep in mind is the Cast Members are working, so make sure to wait for a lull in the action to ask. I have found the Cast Members love to trade and will definitely interact with you when you are "just looking" at their lanyard.

 

[Grumpy987]

Feel free to "help" your child trading the first couple of times. I did that with my daughter and then she took off with the trading after that! We love doing the pin trading! It makes a great souvenir!

 

[dfherrera]

All the information provided above, is great and on the money. I would only add that some places are better than others. Whoever pointed out about finding a lull is dead on. My son has traded with anyone and everyone he can. All have been polite but some that were very busy or on their way to do something, rushed a bit. I try not to let him be a bother but this is something he really loves to do at Disney. It also can be an icebreaker and this is the Year of a Million Dreams! To illustrate what I mean, two truely wonderful things have occured during my son's pin trading sesions. First, he went up to someone in a suit with pins and asked to trade, after that conversation, the CM asked of he wanted to be in the AK parade and we were on the main float with Rafiki. On the Disney Cruise, he became very close with a CM in the store and He was picked Pin Trader of the Week and got to trade pins with the ships captain. Truely great experiances.

One other note, CMs are required to trade any pin on their lanyards (as outlined above) but sometimes they have pins on their collars and those are not for trading. They also sometimes keep special pins in their pockets!

Lastly, let your child do as much of it as possible. I do not tell him what pins he can trade and what he can not. He chooses based upon what he likes. He also makes the CM pick the pin they want from his lanyard. It is a bit against the rules but most will and he feels good that they get what they want too.

It's a great time.

 

[ellyn2000]

We also stop at the Premier Outlet Mall Disney Store and purchase pins at a discount for trading. We usually find several for $2 to $3 that will just be traders. My family enjoys this so much and it's become a favorite part of our Disney adventure. I hope your son has a blast!

 

[Princess_Melanie]

At age 29 I started Pin Trading this year....my DBF found it most amusing at how excited I got to find a Stitch pin I didn't have and really liked (I'm a Stitch nut....). I wanted to try it out really badly but was nervous and shy so I asked in the Outlet Store how it worked and a CM was soooooo helpful. She explained the 'rules' and showed me the pin range they had and how it was a good start to buy the cheaper official pins and start trading that way.

It took a while to actually approach the CMs at first but once they catch you trying to look at their lanyard they are pretty good in interacting with you and asking if you'd like to do a trade. I also tended to have my lanyard in my little bag instead of round my neck as I found it rubbed, I was worried this might not be ok with trading but they were fine about it!!

I can't wait to go back next time and do more....only 17 months to count down!!!

 

[dbarker]

Also, set the ground rules for trading w/ other children and non-cast members.

After reading some of the stories here, I let DS8 know that he was not allowed to trade w/ non-cast members unless I was there to supervise. One child asked him to trade when I wasn't there and he told him he wasn't allowed. (I was proud of him for following my instructions). DS really got into the pin trading this trip. It became of hobby of his.

 

[vanillasoftserve]

We also stop at the Premier Outlet Mall Disney Store and purchase pins at a discount for trading. We usually find several for $2 to $3 that will just be traders. My family enjoys this so much and it's become a favorite part of our Disney adventure. I hope your son has a blast!

I used some of the those too, but one time when we were trading, the cast member told us we couldn't use those pins to trade since the store isn't owned by Disney anymore

 

[JadeDarkstar]

my son will be 5. he is shy and stuff so will the cast members be mad if im trying to help him.? I think a few times and he will catch on but idk he is shy of strangers sometimes

 

[vanillasoftserve]

I don't think the cast members will get mad. Lot's of parents help their kids

 

[JadeDarkstar]

kool ty

 

[stitchlovestink]

Most cast members are REQUIRED to trade pins with anyone who asks. The cast lanyards are not the CM's personal pins, so they'll trade whatever is there.

CMs with GREEN lanyards are only supposed to trade with young children (the usual 9 and under, I believe) however I've seen them trade with older kids. (And, rarely, adults who traded a really nice kids pin away).

actually it is 12 and under according to Disney's own website. CM's will trade any pin on their lanyard for a pin of your choosing as long as the pin you are trading TO them is not already on their lanyard.

You may only trade TWICE per CM per day. All pins that you trade must be official Disney pins in good condition with the "mickey ear" backing. Official pins will say (C)Disney on the back.

They do not have to have the mickey ear backing. proper pin trading etiquette is to offer the pin to the CM w/ the pin back intact on the pin so that no one is 'injured' in the exchange. Disney rules do not dictate that the backs have to be the current 'mickey icon' style.

Also, look for pins with a small silver mickey head on the front. These are the so-called "hidden mickey" series and are first released to CMs before guests. (And most have not been/probably won't be for sale).

The hidden mickey pins that they do sell are not exact duplicates of the ones released to the CM's. They are modified in some way, usually color or size.

Other pin trading etiquette would include not touching pins on the CM's lanyard which sometimes kids forget.

Have fun pin trading. It is one of my very favorite things to do at Disney!!

 

[planetcaravan19f]

Have been looking a everyones photos and have seen some awesome lanyards loaded with pins. So I ended up buying some pins for myself, now that I know adults can do it too!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!

Thanks for all the info!!!