Pin Swap or Not? 5 year old

[Jennasmomma]

My DD will be 11 when we go to Disney for the first time. Will she be too old for the pin trading? I know that the CM's with the green lanyards trade only with 12 and under. At 11 is she pushin it?

 

[In a hurry]

They are th cheaper pins that are licensed by Disney, but our kids got some really rude comments for trading them. The sedesma are the worst, and they go for about a $1 on ebay, which is what made me think of them. It was really frustrating because the pins my daughter was trading were pins she traded with CMs FOR last year. They had no problem unloading them on a 5 year old, but don't trade them back in!

propins are a step up and sold by a company called mousepinsonline. They are nicer, but the kids still were harassed on several occasions for trading them.

 

[mom2grace]

They are th cheaper pins that are licensed by Disney, but our kids got some really rude comments for trading them. The sedesma are the worst, and they go for about a $1 on ebay, which is what made me think of them. It was really frustrating because the pins my daughter was trading were pins she traded with CMs FOR last year. They had no problem unloading them on a 5 year old, but don't trade them back in!

propins are a step up and sold by a company called mousepinsonline. They are nicer, but the kids still were harassed on several occasions for trading them.

Harassed by CM's or other vacationers?

 

[poohs4me]

Is there a way for a novice to tell that they are "sedesma and propins"? We have never traded pins but I would not be surprised if DD(9) wants to do it. She got her first lanyard on DCL. Anyway, is there something I can read on good pins versus bad pins?

 

[In a hurry]

Harassed by CM's or other vacationers?

CMs. We don't trade with real people! I can't tell you how many times a CM would look at a pin, turn it over and say "We aren't supposed to take these...I got in trouble last week for taking one of these..." On at least 5 occasions, the CM's started loud conversations while we sere still standing there, about how trashy the pins were. I wound up in tears at one of the pin places, talking to one wonderful (wish I got her name) CM who said the pins were "legal."

But I would never purchase propins again (I had bought 100 for the 9 kids who were with us to share). Nor will I take back the sedesma's (that we got FROM CM's!!!!) that are still in my daughter's collection. I will replace them, and she can keep those she has on her bulletin board. They do make cute thumbtacks.

I had thought from reading these boards that the propins were nice traders, and appropriate for kids. From now on, though all the pins i buy will be the regular sort. They are getting cheaper and cheaper on ebay and disneyshopping. And we are just traders. I collect just a few, but we have always just enjoyed talking and trading with the CMs. Until this year.

 

[hnws2000]

I ordered some off ebay for my 4yr daughter and now Im worried she wont be able to trade when we go to wdw nextweek

 

[Bashful'sMom]

CMs. We don't trade with real people! I can't tell you how many times a CM would look at a pin, turn it over and say "We aren't supposed to take these...I got in trouble last week for taking one of these..." On at least 5 occasions, the CM's started loud conversations while we sere still standing there, about how trashy the pins were. I wound up in tears at one of the pin places, talking to one wonderful (wish I got her name) CM who said the pins were "legal."

But I would never purchase propins again (I had bought 100 for the 9 kids who were with us to share). Nor will I take back the sedesma's (that we got FROM CM's!!!!) that are still in my daughter's collection. I will replace them, and she can keep those she has on her bulletin board. They do make cute thumbtacks.

I had thought from reading these boards that the propins were nice traders, and appropriate for kids. From now on, though all the pins i buy will be the regular sort. They are getting cheaper and cheaper on ebay and disneyshopping. And we are just traders. I collect just a few, but we have always just enjoyed talking and trading with the CMs. Until this year.

We purchased 30 pins from mousepinsonline, and my DD8 and DD5 traded them, and had no hassle whatsoever from any of the castmembers. One castmember traded pins and also gave one of my girls a special pin for participating in the pin trading.

As to OP question, my girls enjoyed trading a lot. Especially the 5-year old, who was constantly on the lookout for CMs with lanyards.

 

[In a hurry]

I am so glad it went well for you! We were there a couple of weeks ago. Was your trip recent? Or did we just hit all of the crabby CM's?

 

[MichelleChell]

Just wanted to tell you all I was at the Post office yesterday and they have some really cute Disney stamp pins for $3.99. I am thinking of getting a few to trade when we go. Just an idea.

 

[Bashful'sMom]

I am so glad it went well for you! We were there a couple of weeks ago. Was your trip recent? Or did we just hit all of the crabby CM's?

We went in January this year, week of 14-21st. Our first trip together at Disney and it was fabulous. We didn't have any problems with CMs at all. Too bad you had a lousy experience with them.

 

[In a hurry]

Oh...you were there the good week... ~~smilie~~ You know, you just have to think they must have just had a "pep talk" about discouraging them, or something along that line as we arrived. It was too consistent. I am really glad no others have had this issue! (But still ticked that we did!)

 

[Bashful'sMom]

in a hurry - when were you there? After us?

 

[In a hurry]

We arrived on the 23rd. We went to MGM that first day (for the nephews!) but I think it was 2 or 3 park days into our visit when I remember noticing the comments. I don't know whether they just didn't register before that time, or if attitudes changed. The kids weren't usually all together, so they weren't swooping down on the CM's and "dumping" pins. They each only had 11 or 12 to start. they traded for some propins, and for some sedesma, and would just keep on trading for wimsy. Only a couple were "collecting" and even they weren't collecting lanyard pins. They were after Buzz Lightyear, Star wars and Indiana Jones.

You know, honestly, I don't know why this is still bothering me. I didn't like the feeling that I was out to cheat someone. And I feel like it dampened the fun I have had trading. Am actually thinking of selling mine, and walking away from the hobby. It is supposed to be fun.

 

[chilis]

Our DD, then 4, had a fantastic time pin trading when we visited in Nov. '04! At that age, she was somewhat shy (not now!!), so I was unsure if she would really enjoy it or not. She was a little timid about asking CM's to trade the first couple of days, but by the end of our vacation she was dragging me with her to trade!

A little off the topic, but on our last day, we had such a wonderful experience with a CM at Pooh's Huney Pot ride.....we told DD that we only had about an hour left in the park and then we would have to hit the road for our long trip home. We asked her what she wanted to do and she wanted to ride Pooh and Aladdin, but we only had time for one. We were already at Pooh, so we entered the line and found a CM named Mike (I think that was his name, but I do know he was from Long Island, NY). Casey was immediately interested in the lanyard he was wearing and started a conversation with him. He had a ton of pins that she was interested in trading with him. Our 15 minutes talking with him was truly one of the highlights of our trip. He asked her many questions about her vacation, her favorite characters, favorite rides and mostly her pin collection (which had grown extensively after a week!) She talked with him like he was an old friend. She explained to him her dismay that it was her last day at DW. He was so nice that he tried to give us FP's to Fantasmic, but Casey told him she was a little afraid of it so we didn't accept. We were about to leave and to our surprise, he said that he had such a nice time talking to DD that he would like to do something nice for her. He had already traded a pin with her and we told him that was plenty, but he had already pulled out a little book and was filling out some kind of form. He gave it to Casey and told her that the ticket would give her front of the line access to ANY RIDE IN THE PARK!! Needless to say, this made her day and enabled us to have enough time to ride both Pooh and Aladdin! We were so grateful because when we went over to Aladdin, we discovered a 45 minute wait and wouldn't have been able to ride if we had to wait in line. We presented the prized yellow ticket to the CM at the ride and she guided us to the exit ramp and we were able to enter the ride first!! It was unbelievable! The perfect end to a fabulous trip!!

 

[kimr210]

I just found that disney.com is having a pin sale and they have a code "summer06" that will take 20% (ends tommrow) more off your order. I just got 7 pins for $23 with free shipping. Great deal check it out!!

I bought two pin sets and a few single ones. The sets are to trade don't think DD will care about trading them.

I hope someone else enjoys the deal

http://disneyshopping.go.com/DSSect...nt_Id=2&Section_Id=14763&CLK=DS_11776_R2A_TXT