Need info on the "how-tos" of pin trading

[JrsyDebs]

I think I said on one of the other threads that I know just a little bit about pin trading, and that is true. To be completely honest, though, I must admit the extent of my knowledge.

This is what I do know about pins:
1): Pins exist.
2): People can trade them with others.
That's it.

Need more info on this topic. I think my DD would enjoy pin trading. How do you get the pins? How do you trade the pins?
Etc. Any info would be very helpful, thanks.

 

[Tamickey]

I'm not a trader, but here's what I think I know about it.
* There are pin trading areas noted on the park maps. Check the map legends, it's usually only a couple of locations, generally around a kiosk or gift shop.
* You can buy ribbon type straps to wear around the neck like a necklace. Kind of like a lanyard only wider. People pin their pins to this and are then prepared to present them to others.
* I believe you can either trade your own pins you bring with you or trade newly purchased pins.
* Some pins are limited editions and appear to be good candidates for trading. In other words, not something someone could just go purchase.
* It seems that some CMs participate in trading as well, but I'm not sure.

 

[zurgswife]

My kids are big into pin trading and only trade with CM as they are obligated to trade any DISNEY trademark pin for one on there lanyard if it isn't already there...some will even consider taking a double....

We don't have anything in particular we trade for just the ones we likes the looks of...

 

[Sarangel]

All cast members with lanyards will trade one-for-one pins with the Disney Trademark. They sell pins all over the parks, but it might be cheeper to pick up some at your local disney store before you leave for trading at the parks. Some pins are limited editions, and as such are 'worth' more to traders.

In the Magic Kingdom, Scoop Sanderson gives a talk on basic pin trading on an irregular schedule. Just ask someone if he's giving it. It's a great way to start kids (and adults) on the path to pin trading politely.

You might get a more complete answer to this over on the collectors board.

Sarangel

PS. If you have any specific questions, just PM me.

 

[Di$neyDad]

Pin trading has been great for my DD 6. Here's some info/tips:

1. Trading is done with official Disney pins that you can buy at the parks, hotels, downtown Disney shops, and maybe the Disney Store (although I think they've stopped, but I'm not sure).

2. Most "standard" pins cost around $6.50. Other "special" pins cost $8 and up (I've seen some for sale for over $100). Some pins you can't buy, but get only through trading with CM's or as part of certain special events.

3. CM's will always trade any Disney pin that they have for any Disney pin that you have (as opposed to park guests and professional traders who will want to trade for a "better" pin).

4. One exception to #3 is that a CM can't take a pin if they already have it (or maybe if they already have two of it). So some of the "free" pins you can get (such as with certain vacation packages) can be difficult to trade late in the day after everyone else has unloaded their's.

5. Some CM's wear a light blue lanyard that is for trading only with children (I'm not sure up to what age).

For young children, it's hard to get them to trade a pin that they like. So for my daughter and nieces, I buy pins that I know they don't like, such as villains. My DD is just getting to the point where she gets the concept of putting together a collection. So, since her favorite character is Ariel, she now only trades for Ariel pins.

For older kids, I'm sure it's fun to build a collection with some favorite character or other theme. And for kids who like to research things, sites like pinpics.com and dizpins.com let you look up pins that you have to see where they are from or how much they're worth.

In addition to certain vacation packages, you may also be able to get free pins at one of the big pin trading stores. There's one at Disneyland, and when we stopped by they had a little presentation for kids about pin trading. When it was over, each kid was given two pins. I think there are one or much such stores at the WDW parks and they might have a similar presentation. I don't know what the max age is.

 

[JrsyDebs]

Thanks to everybody for the info on pin-trading. I am sure that DD13 would enjoy collecting pins, and probably trading, also.

I am sure that many adults collect pins, but do they actually participate in trading at the parks, or is that just for kids? I would like to start my own collection, sounds like fun!

 

[swilshire]

Except for the green cast lanyards which are limited to traders under age 10, adults trade just like the kids. I was very surprised to see how much my husband enjoyed doing this. He doesn't even like Disney much, but he was chasing down cast members to look at their pins.

Sheila

 

[Jen D]

I made fun of pin trading for years, calling it a racket, until I started doing it! (Although I still kind of think it is a racket )

My daughter and I do it together. We aren't hard core or anything and have no concept of pin value, or rare pins or whatever. We just trade for what we like and collect what we like. Last vacation dd was allowed to pick a pin a day, and I picked up a few myself. I try to always get one for the resort I'm at for that trip.

It's kind of a fun little diversion and it is fun for the kids to shoot the breeze with cast members.

 

[JrsyDebs]

I found a lot of useful information about pin trading on the Collectors Board (duh!).

It sounds like LOTS of adults collect and trade pins. I'll be one of them; just need to decide what kinds/themes I want to start with.

Di(dollar sign)neyDad: I read your story about daughter's lost pins; very touching. Never, ever let it be said there is no real magic in Disney!!

 

[lvp49]

Do those lanyards have a plastic tag on them that I could write my three year olds name, my cell # and resort on. I remember that some of them looked like they had a big plastic tag on them? Would that work? Who else Tagged their kids. I'm so paranoid about losing her.

 

[TerriBelle]

If you have a Disney Store Outlet near you check for pins! We found last year a deal of buy 3 get one free. Each pin was already marked down to $1.00. The great thing about these pins were they were ones that the kids didn't want so they were excited about trading! We usually let the kids buy a "special" pin each trip. It might be the hotel we are staying, a favorite ride, or character. These they keep.

 

[disneyatl]

I don't trade and really didn't know much about it but I just returned from WDW and a CM told us that they must trade with a child but they didn't have to trade with an adult.

 

[JESW]

Our kids got into pin trading our last trip in June. DS9 was more into it than DD5...she didn't like giving her pins away!

You have gottens some good advice here. Our kids would "earn" a pin a day (a $6.50 one). DS would usually buy a character one and trade it. I suggested that he find a theme he liked and collect that. His choices were the Disney travel pins (only given out if you booked through Disney travel), Fantasia pins, and anything Donald. That way it was more like a treasure hunt! He managed to get all the Disney travel pins (at least the ones we know about) except a Goofy one.

Our DS has Aspergers so this was such a GREAT experience for him. He had to approach complete strangers, make eye contact and actually talk to them - he did great!! And I must say that ALL the CM's he dealt with were so kind. There were several (a couple in the Boardwalk Inn lobby come to mind) who could tell that DS wanted to trade but was a bit shy so they would come over...many even went down to his level so he could see their pins on their lanyards.

There was a CM at the toy store at DTD who spent quite a bit of time with DS talking with him about his pins...she even went in the back to check with some other cm's to see if they had the Goofy pin he was looking for. I spoke with her afterwards and thanked her for being so kind.

I know that they are just pins, but they were such a wonderful addition to our last vacation....to see our son acting the way he was - pure Disney magic!

When we got home he took his favorites off his lanyard and put them on a cork bulletin board and hung it in his room. We had pins at home fom previous trips and from the Disney store so now we are making a pile of ones they can trade next trip.

Hope that your DD enjoys it as much as our kids did/do.

Jill

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by Di$neyDad

For young children, it's hard to get them to trade a pin that they like. So for my daughter and nieces, I buy pins that I know they don't like, such as villains

I try to buy pins at the outlet. My way around this is my DD8 gets all matching. Last time it was Winnie the Pooh pins. I learned from our first trip she could spend five minutes just deciding which pin she was willing to trade. Now it's if there's a Pooh pin left...trade it. Only the last day or two of the trip is there a decision to make and usually she decides each night if she doesn't like something she thought she wanted earlier in the day.

Sandy