Do your kids "do pins" at the parks?

[soccerchick]

At what ages did/do your kids get interested in pins? I am trying to max the budget and perhaps pick up some if they are on sale at my local DS. My DD is 5 and will be close to 6 when we go. I thought they might be a good ice breaker, attention diverter on the trip. Do your kids like the lanyards or just wear some on their clothes/hats?

 

[mom2cinderella]

We got into pins on our trip last fall. DH and DS (then 6.5) like to buy a few pins - one of the hotel stayed at, a Star Wars character, a favorite ride. I like the pins that have the year (esp lovin the Happiest Celebration pins!), the restaurants we went to, where we stayed. DD (then almost 5) love, love, loves the princess pins.

I don't know what if anything dh will ever do with his. I plan to frame mine someday. The kidlets did get a lanyard on their May trip, but they don't trade.

HTH a little! Michele

 

[meandtheguys2]

My boys 11, 8, and 5 love trading, and will run to each CM to see what they have. All of the CM's have been great to them, and it was reall nice to see my "shy guy" jumping right in there!

And yes, they have lanyards they wear.

 

[Chelle]

We just watched Great Hotels featuring the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts on the Travel Channel. My DS4 saw Samantha (show's host) pin trading and said he wanted to do that. I already have a lanyard and several pins that I've purchased through ebay and received through the Disney Club and the Disney Movie Club. I don't want to trade mine but now I need a lanyard and tradeable pins for DS4 and my DD10.

 

[dismom9761]

My kids enjoyed collecting pins on their first trip.My DS9 liked it more than the others.He wanted the pins from his favorite rides.My DS7 liked the Goofy pins.My DD6 did not want to wear the lanyard.

 

[Dislifer]

I said I wouldn't "do" the pins, but sure enough my 9 & 13 year old got into it. Actually, now that my children have the lanyards and several pins I think it is nice and a great momento.

 

[Dislifer]

I forgot to add this: mid to end of our trip, my son lost his lanyard and pins . That was sad, but we just purchased a few and now he is right up there with his sister!

 

[lovebuzz]

My children ages 4 & 5 got into pin trading on our last trip. The cast members are really nice and they did not rush my 4 year old. They had alot of fun. The only downside was we had to see every cast members pens.There was a couple of times when we went back and I forgot them in the hotel. my only advice is to buy some pin locks for the ones you do not want to trade. My sons lost about 3 each just by constantly touching them and they came loose and were gone.

 

[CleveRocks]

My 5 year old son and 2.5 year old daughter caught the pin bug during our visit last month. They knew nothing about it, but our package came with 2 pins and a lanyard, and I think we got another pin and lanyard through DME. They were instantly hooked, so we indulged them. They had no interest in autographs, however, THANK GOODNESS!

My 5 year old tends to be shy around strangers but he was VERY brave about going up to CMs to check out their lanyards to see if they had pins he'd want to trade for. Little guy was even savvy enough to suggest buying a few pins he didn't want so he'd have something to trade!
Pin trading is one of his fondest memories of our trip.
-- Eric

 

[chaoscent]

As I am a pin trader I took pins and lanyards for my 4 nephews (9, 10, 14 & 18) on our trip last November. I knew the 10 year old would like it, but wasn't sure about the 9 year old. He has some socialization problems (all 4 children are adopted and his biological mom was a drug addict). He also doesn't like things touching his neck. He wore his lanyard throughout the trip and by the end of the trip he was the first to notice any CM wearing a lanyard. He would walk up to the CM and appropriately ask to see the lanyard and then trade. He also started a couple of coversations with other children. My mom, didn't think the pin trading would interest him and was thrilled by all of the interactions my DN had throughout the trip (my mom lives with brother and 5 children as their mom passed away 5 years ago). Another interesting happening - my two nephews (14 & 18) were too cool for pin trading. by the end of the week they both wanted lanyards and were trading every chance they got. On the way home all 4 of them thanked me for buying them their lanyards and supply of start up pins. A good time was had by all. Penny

 

[Karalynn]

Another interesting happening - my two nephews (14 & 18) were too cool for pin trading. by the end of the week they both wanted lanyards and were trading every chance they got. On the way home all 4 of them thanked me for buying them their lanyards and supply of start up pins. A good time was had by all. Penny

That is so awesome! I'm glad they got into it too. Aunt Penny, YOU ROCK!!

 

[Maureenmouse]

My DDs almost 3 and 5 really enjoyed trading pins. My little one broke her lanyard. It was a very thin one with a light up pen connected to it that my neighbors gave my girls. A very nice CM gave her a big thick lanyard that she used to wear. That lanyard stayed on the rest of the trip. I bought them each 2 pins before we left and I think they came back with about 7 each. They had a wonderful time talking to CMs. I did not allow them to trade with anybody but CMs as they are so young, but they spoke to many other children and adults on our resort busses about their pins.