Are pins a big deal for kids?

[hglenn]

So I had made the decision that I was not going to "encourage" the pin trading on our DD6 and DD8 first trip to DW. But I had mentioned it a while back to them and showed them a few pins I have from when I was a kid. I didn't want it to interfere with our trip (become something to fight about if you know what I mean). That said, one of the girls asked me about it last night and was disappointed to find out that I had not pre-purchased any for our trip.....which happens to THIS SATURDAY! Sooooo, any advice from parents of kids similar ages? Is it a big deal or only as big as it's "made" to be - maybe by the parents??? Should I try to do the mad dash and scramble and order some express delivery for Friday (or go to the Disney store) or not sweat it? TIA!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

We pin-traded for the first time last week. My kids enjoyed it, at first. Then they both decided that they liked all of the pins they had, and didn't want to trade anymore. That's ok, I guess, but I am still going to bring the pins with us on our cruise, just in case!

 

[hglenn]

We pin-traded for the first time last week. My kids enjoyed it, at first. Then they both decided that they liked all of the pins they had, and didn't want to trade anymore. That's ok, I guess, but I am still going to bring the pins with us on our cruise, just in case!

Did you purchase pins ahead of time for them to take or buy pins on-site? Thanks!

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

I heard about pin trading from this forum a while back and decided to order 2 pins off Ebay; one for each of my kids. We didn't end up trading or buying another other pins while there. We lost my son's pins and I got him a new one based on his favorite thing to do in WDW: Jedi Training. So it's meaningful and all but I don't think our family really cares to keep collecting pins. I can think of lots of other souviners they would want while there instead.

 

[Disneylvr]

It just depends on the kid. My daughter isn't into it at all but my niece was. She bought a lanyard and a few pins on her first day (she was 9 years old at the time and it was her first WDW vacation) and started trading with CM's right away. She really enjoyed it. On her second trip 2 years later she brought the lanyard & pins and enjoyed trading again but this time worked on specific collections and characters.

 

[jadelane1]

We got our fist lanyards with pins as part of the year of a million dreams in line for Dinosaur. I think Disney made a ton of money on that one. My kids love trading pins now. We have spent so much since then (those pins are expensive). We always wait till we get there and the buy a couple to trade. I like them to help pick the pins out. I feel like it makes it a little more special and kind of like a tradition every time we get there. My kids are DD8 and DS10. The 10yr old is much more into it.

 

[jac1976]

My kids love trading pins, although I have found that when they find ones they really like they don't want to trade anymore. Because of that, when we purchase pins, I tend to purchase the least expensive pins at Disney, even if they are the "mystery pins". Since the kids are going to trade them anyway, it doesn't really matter if they like them or not.

At EPCOT, you can ask to see the pin stroller when you are leaving. A cast member told us about it and we were shocked to see a huge rental stroller covered with pins that my kids could choose from. They thought it was awesome.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Did you purchase pins ahead of time for them to take or buy pins on-site? Thanks!

I bought pins ahead of time from one of the sellers mentioned on this board.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My son bought a Steamboat Willy and a Redsox Mickey pin one year, but besides that, neither of my children showed any signs of interest in pins or pin trading.

 

[Chabby]

DD7 loved to pin trade last year and we are doing it again this year. While trading on pin boards I saw quite a few children with their parents asking about it and those children wanted to participate, meaning the parents had to go buy some onsite.

 

[KWithers]

At first, I hadn't given it much thought, but after hearing and seeing how it works from in-laws, I was into it. We bought a bag of 25 random pins on eBay to trade. then, We bought a Tinkerbell lanyard for DD4 from Home Depot of all places. They had other Disney lanyards, too. She enjoyed trading with CM's. I let her do the trading. She collected all the princesses. I think it's fun if you have a "theme." If you buy from ebay or somewhere like that, make sure they're authentic Disney pins.

 

[jimmysmom74]

My 5 y/o and nephews 6, 8, 10 all loved doing it last year at DL. I would say they are more pin collectors than traders though. They get a pin, and then they love it too much to trade.

 

[Mom2six]

My kids LOVE pin trading. I bought them each 25 pins (they were random) from e-bay - we made sure they were official Disney pins with Disney backs etc. They then picked a few from those 25 pins that were favorites, and collected toward a theme. It was something they all do on their own - they'll see cast members to trade with, look at other people's pins, go the resort pin trading board etc. They get so excited when they find one that matches their theme, and it sort of feels like a scavenger hunt too!

 

[ChitownFamily]

It's interesting OP you used the word "interfere" while I use the word "enhance" pin trading enhances our experience. It's part of the way, we can personalize our Disney trip. Just another vote for YAY pins! If you don't do it on this trip- next time.

Another thought- what about doing the pressed pennies- very little prep involved?

 

[estherhead]

So I had made the decision that I was not going to "encourage" the pin trading on our DD6 and DD8 first trip to DW. But I had mentioned it a while back to them and showed them a few pins I have from when I was a kid. I didn't want it to interfere with our trip (become something to fight about if you know what I mean). That said, one of the girls asked me about it last night and was disappointed to find out that I had not pre-purchased any for our trip.....which happens to THIS SATURDAY! Sooooo, any advice from parents of kids similar ages? Is it a big deal or only as big as it's "made" to be - maybe by the parents??? Should I try to do the mad dash and scramble and order some express delivery for Friday (or go to the Disney store) or not sweat it? TIA!

My family thoroughly enjoys pin trading, but I still don't recommend having pins on day one of your first trip. There is just SO MUCH to a Disney trip and to add pin trading seems unnecessary. I would just tell the kids that you didn't want to spend the money when you don't know if they would like it and that if they want to later in the trip then you will. Then I'd also tell them you will only buy pins they DON'T like. Because they have to trade them. On day 3-4 of this past trip we bought our youngest the pin lanyard she wanted and then she picked out a pack of pins she hated (villains.) She had a great time getting rid of all those awful villains. It didn't distract at all from our vacation.

 

[Julylady]

I also want to add that the pins are heavy. Both of my girls had lanyards with about 12 pins each. After an hour or so they didn't want to wear them anymore. Carrying both sets in my bag added considerable weight to what I was carrying. After a couple of days we just left them behind in the room. They did enjoy trading with cast members, though. Next time we are going to try the pressed pennies.

 

[GaBelle]

My kids love to collect pins too. They are not interested at all in trading...they buy pins that they like and keep 'em.
And great point July lady...they do get heavy, especially for a kid. We also start leaving them in the rooms. It becomes a chore to haul around.

 

[hurlball]

Our kids love it!

 

[SEA333]

My kids couldn't care less about anything they don't know about...so if I don't mention it, they don't ask. If I don't make it a big deal, they don't know it is a big deal. And, no...my kids are not babies. They are 13, 9, and 7. Plenty old enough to be aware of what's going on around them.

As someone who has studied sociology, psychology, and has done extensive research on the root causes of bullying, I have found that the majority of a child's behavior/attitudes/perspectives comes straight from the example of the parents, at least (and even after) up until the age of adolescence. Bottom line is... if you want your kids to think pin-trading is a big deal, they will. If you don't, then they won't.

Unless they are teens. Once they are teens, all bets are off. They don't want to listen to parents, and will do everything opposite of their parents anyway - so my recommendation is that you encourage the exact opposite behavior you are trying to discourage LOL

 

[JaymeC]

My now 7 and 8 year old have enjoyed pin trading since when they were 5 and 6 I think it's as big a deal or not as you make it. They don't trade for anything specific, they just love spotting a pin that they like and trading for it. Our next trip, sometimes they're bored with that pin and want to trade it for another, sometimes they want to keep it. I buy a few pins prior to us arriving for them to trade each trip. Any pins we buy at the parks are keepers generally, and I get pins that are specific to each trip for me (IE: Jedi Training pin the first year they did Jedi Academy, California Screamin' pin the first year my oldest was brave enough for it!)

I will say I don't have them carry their pins on lanyards. Usually they want to wear their lanyards, but I have them wear them without pins. If you put them on there in my experience with two active little boys they fall off, get lost, or get scratched. So I keep a few either on my lanyard or in a pocket for them to trade when they're ready.