Dipping my toes into the pin trading waters

[Tyr23]

Hi all-

We're heading to WDW in June and I thought it might be fun to try out pin trading. My DH is pretty nervous because he was witness to my Beanie Baby obsession a few years back, and fears this will turn into the same type of thing!

So how do I get started? Should I buy a starter kit from Disney with a lanyard and a couple of pins? I'd love to get started but it feels a bit overwhelming!

Tips?

 

[DARuss]

We just started our pin collecting/trading in Jan and DD8 was a little slow getting started but once she saw a few others doing it she started looking at what CMs had and what she would like to trade. There are some fake (not OFFICIAL) pins out there. Disney has something on them that makes them authentic. I believe it is gold mickey ears or something like that. I am sure someone else will reply here that can tell you better. You can buy bunches and bunches on ebay. We prefer just to stick with the ones at Disney.

 

[daber]

This hobby is worse than Beanie Babies. You're DH has every reason to be worried. Be prepared to go bankrupt. Buy what you like. Pick a theme or two and stick to them. Read the post about what pins do you collect. Don't try to collect a whole set, there are over 60,000 pins at present and more added hourly. Go to pinpics.com and do a search on some topics/characters, etc and see what's out there.

There are people who collect but don't trade. The trading comes in as there are pins you can get in FL that you can't get anywhere else. There are pins on the DCL that you can only get there. There are CA exclusive, Japan exclusive, Hong Kong exclusive, Internet exclusive, Paris exclusive, UK exclusive, etc. etc. etc. and since you can't be everywhere, you have to trade to get these. Also there are rack pins vs. LE where the number of pins made is definitive. The lower the LE size, the harder it is to find one if you are trying to get one.

They are authentic if they have the Disney trademark on the back. The mickey ears referred to by the OP are what they call hidden mickey pins (used to be called cast lanyard pins) You used to not be able to buy them and the only way was to trade for them. Now they sell a few of them as well, but most are still only obtained by trading with a CM.

 

[Tyr23]

Thanks for all of the information.

I think that mostly I'd like to collect the pins that have meaning for us: Resorts we've stayed at, favorite rides etc. I've also seen "retro" pins mentioned on other threads for old rides which might be interesting to collect.

So, do you suggest buying a few sets before our June WDW trip to trade, or just wait until we get there. Any suggestions on good starter trading kits?

Thanks!

 

[daber]

If you're going for the

collect the pins that have meaning for us: Resorts we've stayed at, favorite rides etc.

it doesn't sound like you'll be trading with CMs, just purchasing at the carts and shops. Get a lanyard if you want to wear them, but BE AWARE they have a habit of falling off and you will lose it.

If you see a pin on pinpics that you need to trade for, then I'd probably stock up on some LE pins to trade with non-CMs.

Of course, if while you're down there you start examining the CM lanyards and change your strategy, then all these suggestions go out the window along with your purse and your DH's wallet.