Lost Pins?

[MelodyMack]

Just starting to plan our first trip, and definitely want to get some pins/ lanyard for DD3 t to take with us in Feb.

I have been reading several troubling threads on the other boards where people mention losing pins.

Are there are special backs for the pins you can buy to keep this from happening? Do you guys have any recommendations on how to wear these in the parks to keep the munchkins from losing them? Are there any fun, comfortable alternatives to lanyards, or is that my best bet?

TIA - you guys always save the day!
Mel

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

The rubber backs tend to hold on to the prongs better than the metal ones, but aren't 100% safe.

There's a replacement called a pin saver. It's a metal ring that is secured on with a small screw tightened by a hex wrench. Search on google for "pin saver" and you should find a couple of web sites where they are sold.

I wouldn't use these for your traders, though; just for the keepers you want to wear on your lanyard.

Hope this helps.

 

[mickeysaver]

I have a couple of suggestions. One would be to see if you can find one of the My Pin Collection boxes for your daughter to use.

A cheaper alternative is one that I used at WDW last year. I have found that you can take craft foam and take a thin layer with adhesive and apply it to a thicker layer to create your own pin trading/collecting boards. The boards hold the pins really well....even when turned upside down. You can leave the foam sheets as is, which is about the size of a piece of notebook paper or you can cut them into designs, like a Mickey Head. If you take the average tote bag and place the foam boards in it, it's very easy to keep up with.....and when they become worn out, which takes a lot of wear, you can cheaply replace them.

I provided the kids going on Bert's Big Adventure last year not only with a lanyard, but also with the foam boards so that they could choose which way they wanted to keep up with their pins.

As for lanyards, we did pretty well during our trip last year with our lanyards. We just checked the backs every so often. But, they do make locking pin backs. I have never tried them, but I am considering picking some up for our trip next year.

I hope this helped. Maggie

 

[miste76]

Watch out for those locking metal backs... they're not 100% safe either. I had a CM put some on my pins to demonstrate how the locks worked. We all tugged at the pin several times and it stayed on... later that day, the pin was gone... somewhere, it had fallen off. We couldn't figure it out!!!

 

[shirley 38]

My husband use to wear a hot full of pins There had to be at least 250 pins or his hat.

Sounds crazy but I went to a craft store and bought the plastic earing backs.

Nothing moves with these on.

Thing childeren will not be able to remove them but an adult would have no problem

 

[LynniethePooh]

Just a side note........nice to see you posting here, Shirley.......I missed having you around!

 

[MelodyMack]

Thanks for all the tips guys! I'll definitely try the plastic earring posts!

Mel

 

[pandamom]

Thanks for the plastic earing back tip! Will have to try this next time. We just got back and my dd4 and dd6 LOVED trading pins. We did lose several pins though (they used lanyards and a pin hat) and almost lost a bunch more. We even found one missing pin embedded in the bottom of dd4's sneaker and had to buy a pack of replacement packs half way thru the trip. I was really amazed at how much they enjoyed trading and might even try it myself next time.