Disney Pins and trading?

[TheFairestOfThemAll]

I just bought 10 pins from someone on EBAY and all of them are legit except maybe one of them. I'm not really sure about it and I'm going to have it checked out. I only paid $13 dollars for them so I'm not really upset about it. $13 is a great deal for 10 pins. We have our first DISNEY trip next month so I figured I would buy cheap ones and let my DD trade up for the ones she really wants! Anyway, EBAY has tons of pins. It's almost overwhelming. lol!

 

[LadyDi13]

I have bought somewhere around 100 pins in various lots from people on eBay. I have received alot of the "hidden mickey" cast member pins but also a handful of "rack" pins (ones you can buy) and limited edition ones (including one from a previous MNSSHP). There are even informative articles you can find on eBay about buying legitimate Disney trading pins from sellers. The last lot of 50 I received I split with my mom. We are going in October and wanted pins we could trade. We pulled out at least a dozen keepers. Our problem is that we buy pins we really like so we don't usually trade. We are hoping to trade the eBay ones for pins we like!! On average when I have purchased a "lot" I have paid around $1.40/pin which is significantly cheaper than at the parks. It also seems that alot of sellers offer free shipping when you purchase a lot. Today I purchased one that was a lot of 10 specific pins and paid a little bit more per pin since it wasn't a grab bag, but I think the members of our Grand Gathering will be happy with them anyway. I hope to get some new people hooked on this next trip, I am sure with 25 people going someone is bound to jump on the trading bandwagon!
Yes, CMs wearing green lanyards can ONLY trade with kids, which is nice because then they don't get crowded out by adults. I also read a suggestion somewhere that if a CM has a pin on backwards to always choose it. Usually it is a really good one.

 

[Lost in Wonderland]

I think my kids will enjoy trading pins as well. We leave the 19th so I'm not sure if buying from ebay they will get here in time. Do they sell the pins in Disney Stores? TIA

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I think my kids will enjoy trading pins as well. We leave the 19th so I'm not sure if buying from ebay they will get here in time. Do they sell the pins in Disney Stores? TIA

I buy from Thinkerbelle102. I won an auction from her on 7/28 and they arrived (in PA from CA) yesterday. If you were able to pick up one of her auctions ending today, you'd likely have them in hand before you leave.

I paid less than $1 per pin before shipping and (optional) insurance. The good news is that the price per pin has gone down since last year; the bad news is that she's now selling in larger lots of 100. We pulled out maybe 10 that we (me and two DDs) want to keep, 20 for a present for a cousin who is going later this month, and we'll trade the rest on our next two trips.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

We just got back and had a great time trading! My dd5 had so much fun asking the CMs to look at their pins and decide for herself (of course I had to step in a little when there was one one her lanyard I liked). She also received 2 CM pins - look for a little silver mickey on the pin. If you find the little mickey, it is a CM pin and not available for sale, only available to the CMs for trading. DD recevied a Pirates of the Carribean pin and a Jasmine pin. We also surprised her when we got home today and gave her 4 new pins we bought at the gift shop last night while she was sleeping! She was thrilled.

Not all Hidden Mickey pins are Cast Lanyard. Cast Lanyard pins should say "Cast Lanyard" (most of them) or something like "Imagineering Exclusive" on the back.

 

[Lost in Wonderland]

I buy from Thinkerbelle102. I won an auction from her on 7/28 and they arrived (in PA from CA) yesterday. If you were able to pick up one of her auctions ending today, you'd likely have them in hand before you leave.

I paid less than $1 per pin before shipping and (optional) insurance. The good news is that the price per pin has gone down since last year; the bad news is that she's now selling in larger lots of 100. We pulled out maybe 10 that we (me and two DDs) want to keep, 20 for a present for a cousin who is going later this month, and we'll trade the rest on our next two trips.

Ok thanks. I will look her up on ebay. This will be an added surprise for the kids as they have no idea we are going to DW. All they know is that we are going to FL and Sea World LOL

 

[Milio99]

I know nothing about pins and I want to get my boys 5&8 started on our first trip to Disney in Nov/Dec. Here's my question:

I've seen posts that say "choose a theme to collect." What kinds of different themes are there? And how do you know which pins you are looking for to complete your theme collection?

 

[Mama_Dis]

I think "choose your theme" is just to help those who are getting started out not be overwhelmed. The theme could be "hidden Mickey's", a certain set- like the characters on the monorail, or it could be all the Star Wars Disney characters (dh did this on our last trip and had a ton of fun hunting for them) or Princesses. Our kids "themes" were whatever they liked- DS7 wanted as many pirate related pins as he could get. DS2 was less into it, but LOVED showing off his Lighting McQueen and Mater pins that he traded for to any CM's that he "talked" to. Me personally, I love the villains- if I see someone with a good villain up for grabs, princesses start flying off my lanyard .

Our last trip to WDW was our first pin trading experience and we just went into it with a "we are going to collect whatever we like" attitude and we had a great time. Good Luck!

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Yes, there are tens of thousands of different pins (pinpics.com) and you'd go crazy trying to get them all. So we pick things that we like. My girls love the princess pins. I also get Marie (Aristocats) for my middle DD if I see any. I like Stitch and cats, particularly the Siamese cats.

Also, each time we go, I try to get the kids one of the special edition collector or artist edition pins. We have some really neat ones. Last trip, however, they didn't really have any interesting ones that fit their personalities, so I think we skipped it.

 

[Lost in Wonderland]

YAY just bought 25 pins off ebay for a total of $21.35 plus free shipping. I had a 15% off coupon on my ebay account. Now I wish I would have bought more so I could have some, too!

 

[earthfaries]

Hi

We have always enjoyed trading pins when visiting WDW ~ and since moving here in Jan. have become addicted ~ we now have about 800 pins!!!

All you need to do is buy some pins ~ we always bought some before visiting from ebay ~ but now you have to watch our for scrappers ~ fakes directly from China. There are some real pins for sale on ebay, just read the description first.

They are all over the lanyards too once you get to WDW so it's kind of hard to avoid getting any

What we do now is buy our pins from the outlet ~ they have pins for $2.99 ~ way cheaper than buying from the parks!

After you have some pins just check out the CM's lanyards when you're out and about in WDW ~ you can trade any of yours for any of theirs...just watch out for the green lanyards ~ they are for ages 12 and under only!

Another fun thing to do is while at Downtown Disney visit the Pin Traders shop ~ they have tables set up out front where local and visiting pin traders can put out a book and you can look through the pins and trade if you agree upon a trade.

It's fun and a great way to meet other pin collectors/traders and get a pin you may not be able to get while on a short vacation. We pin trade there about once a week ~ it's very fun and I love meeting all the nice families!

There is also a big pin trading event once a month at the Contemporary if you happen to be here during that time ~ you can check disneypintrading.com I believe it is for the exact dates and all the details you need to know about pin trading.

Also, once you get to WDW you can pick up a brochure all about pin trading ~ or get one on ebay ~ there are people who sell guidemaps, etc.

Have fun!!! It's a wonderful and fun addition to the magic for all ages

 

[kckmom]

Hi there, wanted to get some prior to our trip so that the pins are 'waiting' for our DDs at our resort when they arrive. What outlet and where is it?

Thanks for the help!

 

[earthfaries]

Hi there, wanted to get some prior to our trip so that the pins are 'waiting' for our DDs at our resort when they arrive. What outlet and where is it?

Thanks for the help!

They have the reduced pins at the official Disney World outlets ~ there are two in the area ~ one is in the Premier Outlet mall on Vineland near Downtown Disney and the other, larger store is in the Prime Outlet mall on International. They both have pins from $2.99 and up

You can also buy some on ebay, I have a good seller I just got some from last week if you want the name just PM me.

Good luck and have fun pin trading!!!!