CM pin trading... who wears them?

[enchantingodin]

I need a little clarification on which CM's wear pins and which ones don't.

I read somewhere on these boards unless it would cause distraction/harm, like ride operator, that CM's had lanyards or belt swatches of pins. So it was my original assumption (first time trader - silly me) before leaving for our trip a couple of weeks ago that almost ALL cm's had pins to trade.

I found this was no where near true, and was really disappointed to see that only about 1/4 of the CM's actually had pins. In fact the only people I found to have them were those in shops, line 'greeters' for rides, managers, and gate attendants. But even then this was hit or miss and not ALL of them wore pins.

So what gives? How is all this stuff decided?

 

[daber]

It is decided by each individual CM. If they want to wear one, and it does not interfere with their job, then they can. But they don't have to wear one if they don't want to.

 

[enchantingodin]

But they don't have to wear one if they don't want to.

Well that's a major bummer. I mean I'm not for people being made to do things they don't want to do or anything. But I was hoping to have more of a... erm.. selection. Seemed everyone had the same pins. Including the HM ones. I did score a few that I wanted to collect, like 2 chip n dale food ones, and 2 princess quote ones. But other than that it was a major miss.

Maybe I'll have better luck next year...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The best bet for Cast Member lanyards are ones working at any store in WDW. Of course if they are working behind the cash registers and there is a line then you need to wait. Also if they are walking around the stores and guests come up to them for help the same rule would apply about waiting until they are done with that guest.

 

[enchantingodin]

The best bet for Cast Member lanyards are ones working at any store in WDW.

Thanks, I'm not normally a go into stores person. But I guess I just became one.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks, I'm not normally a go into stores person. But I guess I just became one.

You're welcome.

 

[hjohnson6]

Honestly, I found more CM at WDW wearing pins than at DLR. Only my boys had done pin trading at WDW so when we got the chance to go to DLR, DH and I got some lanyards as well. Including both parks, I think we came across 15 CMs that had pin lanyards on.

At WDW even the janitor CMs had pin lanyards on. The best places we found for pins was at Crystal Palace and Cosmic Ray's. The manager at Cosmic Ray's actually got on his radio and requested that all CMs that had lanyards and were available to please come over so a young man could trade with them. Talk about some pixie dust!

We had a much better pin trading experience at WDW than DLR. I did more trades with kids at DLR than I did with CMs.

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Any Castmember can wear a lanyard from Bob Iger on down. I believe there was even a pin trading pony at one point. Just keep a lookout for those lanyards you never know where one would pop up.

Swamp Fox

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention if the Cast Member is wearing a green lanyard they only trade with kids up to 12 years old. However if they are wearing the blue lanyards they will trade pins with anyone.

 

[enchantingodin]

Honestly, I found more CM at WDW wearing pins than at DLR..... I think we came across 15 CMs that had pin lanyards on.

WHOA - that's awful.

The manager at Cosmic Ray's actually got on his radio and requested that all CMs that had lanyards and were available to please come over so a young man could trade with them. Talk about some pixie dust!

Awww... that's awesome. I didn't go into either places on my recent trip. But the hubs and I went for the FWF this weekend at Epcot and I found a bunch of great pins - and almost every CM wearing one in Inoventions. We just happened to be cutting through on our way out of the park (had to leave early) and 4 CM bombarded me with "Hi do you wanna trade?" It was great.