Hey all! I have a question. What's the deal with the pins? I noticed on some of the navigators that I've ready that there is a pin trading activity? Can someone enlighten me? Thanks! Kristi
What is Pin Trading?
Pin trading is one of the most exciting (and profitable) merchandise promotions in the history of the Walt Disney Company - most especially for the companys Resorts and Theme Parks divisions. Begun in the Walt Disney World parks and resorts as part of the WDW Millennium Celebration in October of 1999 it has spread to every venue within the theme park division (with the notable exception of
Disneyland Paris, the French, it seems, arent much for collecting). It soon extended to Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel in February of 2000, and to the Disneyland® Resort, the Paradise Pier and Grand Californian Hotels with the opening of Disneys California Adventure in February of 2001, to Tokyo Disneyland in January of 2001.
You could even trade pins on the high seas on both the Magic and the Wonder, the two ships of the
Disney Cruise Lines, almost as soon as they hit the water. Disney Quest, the Disney Stores and many of Disneys Operating Participants and Vendors have also joined in the fun offering Guests pins as part of their merchandise.
How does it work?
Pin trading is - for the most part - a civilized and fun way to add small, colorful, collectable, crafted pieces of cloisonné to your collection. There are some rules and common sense and courtesy should prevail. Most Cast Members and other Guests are trading for fun and enjoy the interaction and it should be treated as a friendly exchange. Nothing will turn a Cast Member or another Guest into an EX-Pin-trader faster than negative experiences and pushy traders.
Cast Member to Guest - Rules about what is and isnt tradable apply for trades between Cast Members and Guests (see the new Disneyland Resort Guidelines in the Pin Etiquette section on page 3). Its very easy to tell which Cast Members are taking part in the Pin Trading promotion as they wear their "official" Pin Trading lanyards while in costume and on stage. A Cast Member lanyard must have 12 tradable pins on it at all times and each of those 12 pins should be different (pins that a CM may have on their costumes, their name badges or service pins are off limits to trades). You are free to trade for any of them as long as the pin youre offering is tradable under the guidelines (has a ©Disney) and isnt already on the lanyard. Trades with Cast Members are one for one - one pin of yours for one pin off of their lanyard (except if its a set, then multiples are traded as one pin).
Cast Members are free to trade with any Guest at any time during their shift. Do take into account that Pin Trading, while fun for you, isnt the only activity the CM is responsible for during their day and some common courtesy should prevail during trades. If you see a pin that you want, but the CM is busy loading an attraction, serving food, ringing up a sale or helping another Guest, let that Cast Member know that youd like to trade and then wait for them to finish, or get in line and let them do their jobs until they get to you. Cast Members wear lanyards and trade because they want to and are appreciative of traders who dont interrupt their "other" jobs
Above is from
http://www.laughingplace.com/Info-ID-Mult-PinTrade.asp
Some people are sooooo addicted to pin collecting
.there is a term that just makes me chuckle
.they are also termed Tin Crack.
My DDs love this activity. Heres a good tip when we went in 05, we pre-purchased pins at our local
Disney store. They had a bunch of the millennium set on clearance for ~$1.50ea. We probably bought 50 pins and wish we had gotten more. Each morning
I would offer each 4 or 5 new trading pins. They were able to trade with other kids while waiting on rides and numerous cast members. Each came home with a bunch of pins from their favorite rides/characters. Our supply of tradable pins is dwindling so
Ill prob pick up a disney pin lot from eBay. You can usually get them between 2 and 3 dollars each
being careful to buy them from a dealer with high positive feedback.