Do kids still trade and collect pins?

[wrldpossibility]

Hi,

I know there are many people who make a hobby of collecting and trading pins, but do children generally do so? We're going in Dec, and if lots of kids are involved in trading pins, I'll buy some beforehand for my children to participate. Do you think they'll notice the pin trading, like the way they'll see all the other kids with autograph books? (We'll have those!) Or is it mostly an adult activity?

 

[Enchanted]

Kids LOVE to trade pins. My younger brother has been trading since our first trip when he was only seven. I've seen kids even younger pin-trading. And if I recall correctly, there are CMs that wear green lanyards. These lanyards are for "kids only" meaning that adults aren't allowed to trade with these CMs at all but young kids are. I think pin-trading is something that people of all ages enjoy. I'm almost eighteen and I still pin-trade, and my mom and aunt are in their late forties and they both pin-trade too. Hope this helped!

 

[Fionasmommy]

I've been wondering about this too! Where do you get the pins to start your child off? Can it be anything, or just Disney pins?

 

[Enchanted]

They have to be Disney pins. When you get to the World, at the parks and most of the resorts, they have "starter sets." These starter sets include a lanyard and (it seems like) 4 or 5 pins. I got a Tinkerbell one when I first started, and there's one that's Mickey and his friends, and a couple other ones if I remember right. These starter sets are about $20, if I remember correctly, but it's been a long time since I bought one! Considering it's got a lanyard and several pins to get you started, I always thought it was a great buy. Hope that helps you both out! But beware, once you start pin-trading, it's really hard to stop! It's so much fun!

 

[shelleybell]

You can also check ebay. If you can find a pin at a low price and low shipping, it is cheaper to go ahead and get them there. Most pins are $8.50 at the parks. They do have a few at $6.50. I have purchased many pins on ebay, both for keeping and for swapping.

shelleybell

 

[Pamlur]

My grown children and my grandchildren absolutely LOVE trading pins! We have been twice in the last couple of years (don't go as often as a lot of people) and I gave them a stack of pins each time. I have some put back, just in case we ever go again; I'm wild about my kids.

To begin with, I lucked into a year-end clearance at the Disney Store (I guess the last year they sold pins) and got literally hundreds for a dollar each or less. Then I found some lots on eBay and different boards, so we are set for life now.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Yes, pin trading is still in full force. Every CM has pins to trade. My childrenare a bit on the shy side, but even my youngest (DD4) had no problem walking up to a CM and offering her one of her pins. They really love it. My son (12) is more into looking for the special lanyards, but the girls just like collecting what they like. It's really fun for everyone!

 

[slp87]

My DD loves pin trading!! It is a great souvenir, and for us, really cheap. DD isn't so much into the buying as she is trading. She likes to trade a pin, wear it for a few days and trade again. She has one pin from each park that she doesn't trade, but all the rest are constantly rotating.

 

[kpk89]

My kids love pin trading, and got their cousins into it on our most recent trip. To answer your other question, though -- I don't necessarily think that kids who aren't trading are going to notice the ones that are, and be upset or anything. I guess it depends on the particular kids -- but IMO pin trading isn't as noticeable as, like you said, the autograph books.

So either way -- if you'd rather save that for a future trip, you'll probably get away with it. If you want to get your little ones started with trading, you can do so pretty easily with a starter lanyard (includes pins).

have a great trip!

 

[fakereadhed]

Pin trading as opposed to collecting is a great bargain IMO. On our last trip, I got the kids lanyards and about 8 pins each. They traded in line, at the resort, and in all the gift shops(mostly with CMs). They would go into the gift shops, not even looking at the stuff, and make a beeline toward a CM with a lanyard. They did not spend a dime in any of the giftshops! And after 2 years, they still take out their lanyards and look at their pins they ended up with. I highly recommend this.

 

[KBarber]

My two boys (7 and 5) started to trade last November. They loved it! They were Not interested in all the other "stuff" just getting new pins and trading. We are going again in November and they cannot wait to start trading again. They keep the "keepers" on the left and the "traders" on the right. It is a lot of fun!

 

[mrs. magnolia]

My 8 year old will LOVE to trade pins..she is always starting new "collections". I had no idea...tks for the info.

 

[carrie_106]

There is a thread on the budget board about disney doll outfits, anyway, as you read it, at one of the disney outlets in Orlando they have Lilo and Stitch lanyards with four pins for five dollars. I called an ordered five today for trading. The phone number for the outlet is listed in the thread. If you need traders I think this is a really good deal.