Is Pin Trading worth it for the kids or a hassle?

[DisneyVetMom]

I have been to Disney many many times, but the most recent trip was 9 years ago. The pin trading was not a priority back then, actually I don't even remember if people did it back then. Anyhow, I was wondering if you think it is a fun thing that you don't want to miss out on or if it is a hassle for the kids to do. I am worried about CMs not being very nice (as I already read one story where that happened). I have 3 kids going (5,8,9) this is their first trip and I was wondering if I should just bypass this or not.

 

[Pumpkingirl7]

Following bc I just ordered 35 pins to split between my kids for their first time trading

 

[MandiC]

My girls *LOVED* pin trading, much more than I was expecting. They only traded with the CMs and actually they pretty much only traded in the World Showcase when they had a lot more one on one interactions with the CMs but there were a few in other places they traded with. They really had their minds set that they wanted princess pins so when they'd see one they'd politely ask to trade and it always went well. I ended up telling them if their behavior was good we'd stop at the pin store in DTD on our last day and they could choose any one pin they wanted and that ended up being a huge incentive for them.

 

[chris31997]

My kids loved it. Oldest was/is alittle picky when it comes to the pins but the youngest just picks a cool pin.

Most CM will trade with kids. There is a certin color lanyard that will trade with the kids no matter what. I forgot what color. But all the CM traded with our kids. Some CM had turned the pins around so you had no clue what you were getting. It was kinda fun to watch the kids process this.

We also limited the pins the kids wore to the park. They only wore pins that they were willing to trade.

 

[dprincessmom]

My DD loves trading and we have been doing since our first trip when she was 5.
Some tips...

• Green lanyards on CM you must be 12 or under to trade.
• If they have a pin they are especially attached to, put in your bag. The Mickey backs get loose over time and we usually lose at least one each visit.
• If you are staying onsite, resort CMs have some neat pins and most of the gift shops have a "board" that comes out during certain parts of the day. Ask when you check in.
• Each park has a book (or 2) that you can look thru. Check Guest Services to see where the books are located. Animal Kingdom used to have two.
• Have your kids use their good manners, "excuse me, may I look at your pins" and make certain they only look, but don't touch. If the CM doesn't have a pin that interests them, they need to say thank you for letting me look at your pins (or something to that effect).
• Also remember most CMs have lanyards but some have them on their hip. This seems to be true with the Custodial CMs and they sometime have the coolest pins.
• If they seem very interested in the trading prepare for multiple stops early in the trip. My DD would trade pin, after pin, after pin early in the trip. By the end of the trip, it is less about trading and more about finding the pin.
• I loved watching my 5YO at the time interact with adults. Great for the shy kid that doesn't like to talk with adults. Awesome for outgoing kids that like to talk to everyone (it helps steers their conversation).

 

[DisneyVetMom]

Thanks for the tips! did you get a bunch to star with from eBay or just splurge and get ones from Disney?

 

[livinginthecornfield]

My 5yr old LOVED pin trading (he LOVES collecting things in general so this was right up his alley) and my 3yr old got a little bit into it. This came in handy when we were waiting for a rider swap or if someone was having a meltdown or coming in after A LONG day at the park, we'd trade with the lady at the resort's gift shop. I think the idea of "getting something new" is super appealing to kids.... My son really got into Chip and Dale so he traded all his pins for chip and dale ones..... And my 3 yrold daughter was looking for Pooh characters. We wound up buying some official starter packs off of Amazon -- the kids wound up with 6 pins each and we even bought them a few new ones. The CMs weren't picky at all with what the kids were trading....they accepted whatever was offered. I would bring only the pins that you are willing to trade and keep any "sentimental ones" in your room because the backs come off easily and they can easily lose a pin or puncture themselves...but most CMs have extra backs that they can give you.

 

[Happyjen27]

My 5 year olds loved it, and continued to love it when they were 6. It was a fantastic in every aspect.

We bought each of them starter kits from Disney with the lanyard and 5 pins. I have heard sketchy things about ebay, so I stuck with the good ones. I'm sure my kids traded for some scrappers, and that's fine, we aren't collectors or anything, I just didn't want to add to the problem by adding anything but authentic ones into the system.

I think pin trading would be a great addition to any kid's Disney vacation.

 

[HockeyIsLife]

My children LOVE pin trading, and it has become something they look forward to. They always browse through their pins, bringing the ones they aren't attached to at each trip. I helped them display the pins on a bulletin board in their room at home, and we always get one or two special pins each trip. The first trip my youngest was brave enough for Space Mountain, she got a Space Mountain pin, we try to get a pin from the resort, a dinner show or something new we have done. It helps us remember the trip, which is always my favorite part.
I do buy them on ebay, but Like I said, we always end up buying some in the parks. And the kids always end up loving half of what I bought and won't trade them.
Oh! And another fun thing to get ready for the trip is to look at what the current and past season CM pins are going to be. Then they get excited about picking a set to aspire to trade for. They know when they have the whole set. It is such a sense of accomplishment when they have them. My oldest worked really hard for the orange bird set one visit, and when she finished she was so excited!
You have me all excited now!!! HAHA

 

[Leeba]

This sounds like fun - I'm going to look into it too. So that i understand ... are kids just trading with CMs, or are they trading with other kids, too?

 

[theyoungs07]

I guess you need the other opinion. It was a hassle and I don't think we'll do it again. They come with rubber backs that fall off and then get lost...then your kid gets jabbed. I'm sure there are workarounds. Our kids thought it was kinda fun, but we are usually on our way to an attraction, a meet n greet, a meal, a FP, or the exit...we probably don't do enough aimless wandering where it could be worthwhile.

My kids are insanely excited to visit WDW, at this point I don't need some other thing to dangle in front of them to get them motivated.

I'm glad we tried it, but I'm also glad I didn't spend a fortune on them.

 

[Pumpkingirl7]

I've spent $35 so far...for 35 pins... Hoping they get into it! I'm also going to go to hobby lobby to buy a bunch o backs so I can take the Mickey ones off

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Our kids love it - even my teenagers love it. Just make sure not to buy fake pins. We buy lots of mystery pins which are cheaper and they trade what they don't want. They look forward to it.

 

[dprincessmom]

Thanks for the tips! did you get a bunch to star with from eBay or just splurge and get ones from Disney?

Starter kits (if you like the lanyard) and we lucked into a great sale of pins at the Disney Outlet in St. Augustine for the first time we went. The hunt is half the fun. Since then, we have added more to our collection if we really like them, find a good sale or just decide that some on our lanyard aren't doing it for us anymore.

Thought of a couple of don'ts to go with my tip list:
There will be tables and grand displays of REALLY cute pins at Epcot - don't let the kiddos look there. They will find one they like and it will be an extremely rare pin and it will be very $$$.
Also, unless you are really interested in DVC don't ask to trade pins with them - you will get a sales pitch and a pin to trade.

 

[dprincessmom]

Our kids love it - even my teenagers love it. Just make sure not to buy fake pins. We buy lots of mystery pins which are cheaper and they trade what they don't want. They look forward to it.

DD, myself and my DSis all trade. She stumbled upon a rare Lilo and Stitch pin at one of the shops on Main Street on our trip last summer. Can't wait to trade again.

 

[newestkg06]

We have been thinking about doing this too, but decided with the pressed pennies too it was going to be too much to handle and keep track of. This is our first big trip, and we won't be returning for a few years. I don't know if this is true, but it seems like most of the people who do pin trading go pretty often already, so they have seen most of the shows, etc. We have a lot to see and I don't want to have another distraction (after food, snacks, gift shops, etc.).

 

[CitrusSwirlGirl]

It's funny because I didn't realize pin trading was still a big thing until my oldest, who is now in the Disney College Program, told me she frequently has young guests come up to her to pin trade. While all three of my kids have pin traded in the past, none of them have gotten hugely into it. My youngest did a little on her last trip and seemed to enjoy it.

 

[MandiC]

We have been thinking about doing this too, but decided with the pressed pennies too it was going to be too much to handle and keep track of. This is our first big trip, and we won't be returning for a few years. I don't know if this is true, but it seems like most of the people who do pin trading go pretty often already, so they have seen most of the shows, etc. We have a lot to see and I don't want to have another distraction (after food, snacks, gift shops, etc.).

It really didn't take up too much time for us (I will say we did two days in Epcot and like I said, they mostly traded with those cast members). It really doesn't take long at all, less than 5 minutes and they are done. I liked it for my kids because they are *really* shy, so it got them talking to the cast members. We did it on our trip and it was our first trip, we also did pressed pennies and those were a huge hit as well!

 

[sallytigger]

My boys loved it and pull their pins out often to look through them. They were 7 and 11 when we went. Even if you don't want to take pins to the park, there are good trading spots. At wilderness lodge, they brought out a pin board in the lobby each day, and they loved to check it out. We also took their lanyards to restaurants, and they traded in the gift shops or lobbied while we waited for our table. The Contemporary had lots of good trading in the gift,shops while we waited for Chef Mickey.

Sometimes we would take a few of the pins they wouldn't mind trading with us to the park so that if the chance came up they had a pin they could trade. We thought it was great. Expensive for us to start them off, lol, but some great memories!

 

[Allie_Librarian]

Has anyone bought pins from ebay? I was considering doing that to get started.