Newbee pin trading question

[roger8918]

Hello all, we are planning our first visit to WDW this October. I have read that pin trading can be a blast so we have decided to let the Little People 6, 8, and 9 give it a try. I’m not looking for the best pins out there just looking for a few inexpensive pins to trade with the CM on our trip. I was thinking maybe 3 or 4 each. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[twoksmom]

I'd ;love to know about this also.My DD6 is wanting to get some pins.Will CMs trade any pin with you? All help is welcome.April

 

[Figment1964]

Cast members will trade pins that have "Disney" stamped on the back. They will trade with you as long as you're not trying to trade them something that they already have on their lanyard.

I bought a lanyard at the Disney Store that had 4 pins on it, 2 each of 2 types so that you can trade one and keep one. I gave one of each kind to each of my 2 boys and let them start out with that.

We had a great time with the trading and we would have to stop whatever we were doing or wherever we were going whenever either of my boys spied a cast member with a lanyard.

Have a great time!

 

[drgnfly30]

I purchased some "starter" pins for my family on ebay - a Lot of 10 misc. pins for around $25-30... When we arrived at WDW we took a trip to the Belz outlet store & found tons more for around $1.50-$2 a piece. Within a day we had easily "turned" those over into ones we really wanted! Of course by the end of the trip we were hooked & found ourselves buying LE pins, etc.. at the parks (at full price!)

 

[twoksmom]

What is the price range on the pins? Also, what about the lanyards..about what do they cost.TIA April

 

[Bev J]

You can get a lanyard for about $7 or the bottle straps they sell at the parks for $3 work fine also. For great buys on pins go to www.cheappins.com. We have gotten lots of starter pins here. They sell tons of disney pins, some from the disney store for cheaper than I can buy them with my DC discount! Our kids love pin trading and talking to CMs. Better start with 10 or so pins each child. They don't have to wear them all at one time on the lanyard maybe 5 since once kids make the trade they want to keep the pin they got. You will end up buying more expensive pins in the park so they can keep it up. We have gone to the florida mall and bought pins at the disney store there, the new musical series is to start now and those pins are $4.50 each.Your family will have a great time pin trading we have gone back 3 more times since trading started and we really have a blast, we will be returning for the pin event in 2 weeks and have our pin bags ready to go. Check out the collectors board for more pin information.

 

[Pigsty333]

What we did was the following: We bought each of the kids six of the same pins to begin with. They were able to keep one and trade for five others. This made it much easier for them. That's how we worked it. Buy the same number and then trade. I basically had them trade with CMs since they must trade and they don't rip you off. You will find people willing to trade and there are those who want two for one, etc. Just be wary and cautious.

My kids decided that the CMs were the best ones to trade with. It got to the point that every day, they would make a trip into the resort store and trade with the CMs. The CMs were very nice to them and even gave them exclusive CM pins and some pins as a goodbye when we left.

I found a hat was easier to put the pins on. The lanyards get heavy and I often found myself with four of them around my neck. They become cumbersone.

A neat idea is one of the Goofy hats with the big ears, attach the pins to those. Or one of those safari/fisherman hats. Put them all around the brim.

Have fun pin hunting and trading. Check schedules for special events and pin trading carts.

 

[vcasey]

Just found this thread and first, wanted to say thanks Bev J for the link to cheappins. We just got back from WDW last week and had our first pin trading experience. We decided to dive in when TDS had their buy 1 get 1 free sale. Now we only have 'keepers' and I wasn't looking forward to paying full price for new pins.

Otherwise, Roger8918, One word of caution, my DD (9) had a BLAST trading with the CMs but I must confess she had some humbling disappointments with some 'serious' traders. We had some TDS pins exclusive to NYC so she figured they had to be a pretty good trade since you can only get them one place, all she looking for was a tinkerbell nothing special and she unfortunately met some people who, IMHO, forgot what the Disney magic was all about. She did then finally meet a wonderful grandfatherly gentleman who made her day with some trades. I'm sure there are many more wonderful pin traders out there but if I had to do it again, I'd just have had my DD stick with the CMs.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

vcasey,

I totally agree with you--it seemed that a lot of adults (those without kids in their party) weren't interested in trading with kids unless my kids had a super-ultra-mega rare and desirable pin.....or they weren't trading at all, just wearing their pins 'for show'. I just didn't understand this mindset--surely they must know that children are going to want to trade with them, and I'm sure it annoyed many of them to have kids constantly asking. Why they didn't wear 1 or 2 pins they had zero interest in keeping, so they could say "I'll trade only these 2 pins" and end it there is beyond me. Better that (for them and the kids) then to have the kids say "how about that pin? Or that pin? or that one?" through every pin on their lanyard. LOL Oh well!

On the upside, there were some marvelous adult traders out there as well, who would even tell my kids that they (my kids) were offering a better pin then they were getting, and not allow them to trade. MOST traders are friendly and open, but there's always a bad apple in the bunch! By the end of our trip, my kids pretty much stuck to CMs too. They did learn, too, to just ask, "May I look at your pins?" (rather than, "Want to trade pins?") whether a CM or guest, and to understand that most grown-ups wouldn't want to trade. If you prepare your kids in advance, it will help too.

On a note more germaine to this board and to the OP question, a good buy for a new trader are the starter lanyard sets at The Disney Store. They come with 4 pins and a lanyard for $15. Since most of the disney store pins retail for $6, its a real bargain....and they get the lanyard to boot!

BK

BK

 

[Pigsty333]

Also, look out for CMs wearing green lanyards. They will only trade with kids. Also, the managers, supervisors, etc., have better pins than regular CMs.

I always go to the Disney Store at Belz and buy about 10-15 of the same one to trade. We have gotten great pins that way. My kids are only allowed to trade with cast members since most of the adults and other traders will try to get three or four pins for one of theirs.

 

[Good Deeds]

This is some GREAT information... Thanks to everyone!!
I am having trouble finding pins and starter lanyards at my local disney store. They told me they no longer carry pins. ..Do the outlets in Disney always carry the pins and lanyards? We will be making an early stop at the outlets when we first arrive in January and would love to pick up some pins if they have them...if not I thought I'd pick up some on Ebay...

Any thoughts???? Also which of the outlets have the best selection???

Thanks

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Thanks for the info. My DD just started with the pins but she is not willing to let go of the ones that she has now. So I need to get some that she will trade out to get some new and different ones.

 

[knationk]

We just got back from Disney on Sunday. We had the best luck at The Belz Mall, Character Warehouse. There are actually two stores there, both Character Warehouse. My favorite is in Mall 1. They had several pins for $2.99. We went to several outlets and they seemed to have the best selection and price of them all.

We only let our kids trde with CM's as well. DH and I tried to trade with individuals a couple of times, but they were trying to take advantage of us. If you stick to CM's you will have a MUCH better experience.


Kayla

 

[Anne34]

Just to let you know -- Cheappins got out of selling Disney pins a few months ago. They were a great deal though. You might need to stick with the outlets or e-bay (if you want to get some in advance).

 

[Anne34]

Just to let you know -- Cheappins got out of selling Disney pins a few months ago. They were a great deal though. You might need to stick with the outlets or e-bay (if you want to get some in advance).

 

[canwegosoon]

I wanted to post that I am pretty sure that the Disney store at Orlando Airport sells the laynard sets, if not almost every larger place to buy pins at wdw does too.

I will ditto the 1) trade with CM's only 2) look for the green lynards(but the kids must be wearing theirs...not mom), and 3) kids trade with other kids only.

I think many adults like to show the pins they have gotten (but you could always carry one of the pin books too). Also there are many pins that cost more than the $6. that starter pins cost. Too many adults look at it as an investment/collection instead of the fun it is susposed to be. My boys give me any pins they LOVE and don't want to trade with anyone, and I usually put them in my pocketbook . I usually wear my snow white pin. I love trading pins, and hate seeing adults "stalking" cm for their pins, so they can catch a LE or Cast Member pin.