Newbie pin questions

[michygoomy]

So, I've read every FAQ and website I can find and I'm still just a little overwhelmed.

How this all started: in 2003, my daughter bought a Minnie pin (in spacesuit) at Mission:Space. We knew nothing about pin trading then, she just thought it was cute.

When we were going last year, she had heard about pin trading from a friend, so she brought her one lone pin to trade. She traded for a Tink pin, which she lost before the end of the trip. She had spent all her souvie money by then, and I had bought her a bunch of additional stuff, so I didn't replace it. I've always felt kind of bad about that.

That trip my son (who is more frugal with his money!) bought himself a lanyard and a couple of pins.

So--DD's birthday is in May and we're going again in June, so my goal was to buy her a lanyard, the Minnie pin and a Tink pin for part of her birthday present. Then I decided I could pick up a few random pins for the both of them to use as traders.

I got the Minnie in on eBay and I have two Tink pins coming (the same one--oops).

My questions are:

1.) The Minnie pin says "(c) The Disney Store CHINA" on the back. Is this a valid pin? It also has a loose pin, but we're going to see if we can fix it. Note: I'm considering this a keeper, not a trader.

2.) We went to a Disney on Ice show a few months ago and I bought two "grab bags" of souvies on the way out. In it were some pins. I have two sets. Are they likely to be tradeable?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Most of the pins are listed on www.pinpics.com and it should tell you what the back of the pin should say.

Is the pin from eBay the same exact pin you had at the park? I wouldn't think it should say Disney Store if it was a park pin, but I could be wrong!

I don't know anything about the Disney on Ice pins - sorry!

 

[michygoomy]

Most of the pins are listed on www.pinpics.com and it should tell you what the back of the pin should say.

This is the pin on pin pics, and it doesn't say anything about the back. In fact, everything I've read about backstamps in my initial search only says what "might" be on it--I'm so confused.

And it also says this: "Please be advised that there are unauthorized versions of these pins being sold from China directly to individuals not associated with Disney."

Is the pin from eBay the same exact pin you had at the park?

Hard to say. I haven't seen the original in a year. It looks very close to the picture, except the purple is a lot duller.

I wouldn't think it should say Disney Store if it was a park pin, but I could be wrong!

That is my worry.

I'll try to sneak a peek at the Disney on Ice Pins and look them up on Pinpics.

Thanks for responding!

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I collect M:S pins, and I am looking at the Minnie Space Suit pin. The back of it has a Mickey ears logo, with Official Disney Pin Trading 2004 inside the ears.

(C) Disney Made in China is in the lower left hand corner of the back.

I suspect you may have a scapper.

 

[michygoomy]

I collect M:S pins, and I am looking at the Minnie Space Suit pin. The back of it has a Mickey ears logo, with Official Disney Pin Trading 2004 inside the ears.

(C) Disney Made in China is in the lower left hand corner of the back.

I suspect you may have a scapper.

{Sigh} Oh, well, $3.84 down the drain. I guess I won't be as bummed when we lose the pin due to the broken back!

It's still cute, she won't know the difference, and I'll just subtly steer her away from trading it.

Thanks for the response!

To anyone else still reading: has anyone bought pins from Disney on Ice and traded them in the parks?

ETA:

They are four pins (I have two sets) on a card that says "Disney on Ice, Japan Tour, 20th Anniversary". On the back they say "Disney on Ice, (c) Disney, Made in China". The pins each have a year on the front--they are Peter Pan (1991), Baloo (1992), Chip & Dale (1993) and Mickey (1990). I can seem to narrow the search enough on pinpics, but I'm going to try some new searches.

 

[EpcotMatt]

As far as the Minnie pin goes, I don't think it's a scrapper. If it says Disney Store China on the back, my guess is that it was a Disney Store pin which is completely legit. The Disney Store pins I get all say that. Could you possibly post a pic of the front & back of the pin?

And as far as the Disney on Ice pins go, they're tradable too since they're produced by Disney & you got them at a sanctioned Disney event. Could you post pics of those?

Just something to keep in mind. Even though the "non-park" pins like Disney Store or Disney Shopping pins are totally legit, some CMs don't always recognize them & may do a double-take or may refuse{in very rare instances}. If that ever happens, it's no big deal, just keep the pin & try with the next CM. You'll be able to trade them. And with kids especially, CMs tend to overlook questionable pins since it's a kid.

All in all, don't fret, I have a good feeling all will be fine with your pins.

 

[michygoomy]

Thanks very much, EpcotMatt! My camera battery needs recharged, so I'll post some pics tonight.

The Disney on Ice pins are actually quite cute!

Do y'all recommend buying different backs for them? We had some pin-losing issues last trip.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

>>As far as the Minnie pin goes, I don't think it's a scrapper. If it says Disney Store China on the back, my guess is that it was a Disney Store pin which is completely legit. The Disney Store pins I get all say that. Could you possibly post a pic of the front & back of the pin?<<

That pin was never released at the Disney Stores and was a park exclusive to WDW. Plus it has the more recent TDS logo from when the TDS was their own entitiy (Not Disney owned) There are atleast 20 pins I can think of that are park exclusives that have the TDS logo on back (including several Cast lanyards pins...)

-em

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We traded 45 Disney Store pins at WDW in February and never had a problem. BUT they were all pins I really did buy at the Disney Store. I think the problem is that the Minnie pin was a park pin, not a DS pin.

There are "locking" backs that you can buy to prevent pins from being lost (or prevent them from being traded ). They are $10 for a package of 10 in the parks, but I have also seen them on the Evil EBay. We use them for pins like the AP pins I won't trade, or pins that DS definitely wants to keep so they won't fall off of his lanyard.

 

[michygoomy]

OK, here are the pics:

My Minnie front (any oddities are due to the camera flash and focus errors, I believe):

Minnie back:

Minnie back, zoomed in:

The set from Disney on Ice:

Close up of the Chip & Dale pin from the DOI set:

The back of the DOI pin (sorry for the bad pic):

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Those Disney on Ice pins are cute! You can always take them to the parks and ask if they are tradeable if nobody here has an answer.

I really think Minnie is a scrapper. Sorry!

 

[cinderellacm2000]

Those pins are definitely tradeable (the ice pins are adorable too!).