Pin Trading as a scavenger hunt.

[Nakkira]

I consider myself only an amateur Pin Trader.
I discovered it by accident a couple of trips ago and had a blast.

I mostly trade with cast members and in fact have only had one trade with another Park visitor. (I am happy to do so, just a little shy about it)

I know nothing of actual Pin VALUE.
I honestly barely care.

I like to find pins that are appealing to me.
I never go looking for specific pins. (sort of)

What I do is I make of list of Characters I am interested in finding and keep trading in hopes of ending up with the ideal ones.
I start off with ones I do not plan to keep on my lanyard at the beginning of the trip.
Then I trade for Characters on my list.
So if I were looking for Stitch, I might trade with a CM for any random Stitch pin, then reserve that one to be be traded for only a BETTER (to me) Stitch Pin. I am not rigid about this, it's just kind of how I do it.

It really adds so much extra fun to me on the "hunt" for the pins I want.Also takes the stress out to not be cared about rarity and value.

 

[Nakkira]

Here are some of the Pins I will be looking for This time (OCTOBER 2013)
I am not even sure if some of these exist, it is just a scavenger hunt wish list:


PINS I WANT TO TRADE FOR

UP:
House With Balloons
Carl

TANGLED :
Pascal
Rupunzel

MONSTERS INC:
Boo
Mike
Scully

STAR WARS:
Yoda
R2
EWOK

MUPPETS:
Any
Beaker
Walter

WALL-E:
Eva
Mo
Wall-E

NEMO:
Dori

BRAVE:
The Cubs
Or Anything Archery

BEAUTY and the BEAST:
Belle
Lumier
Chip

LION KING:
Timon & Pumba
Rafiki
Zazu

ALLADIN:
Iago
Genie

WRECK-IT RALF:
Vanellope
Major Game Icons




MISC:
Pirate
Fantasia
Classic Mickey
Tinker Bell
Jiminy Cricket
Cheshire Cat
Chip & Dale
Eyore (for Catie)
Elliott the Dragon
Brave Little Toaster
Balu the Bear
Stitch (For Carrie)

 

[luv2cruisedisney]

You should head over to PinPics and do a search for each of the characters that you have mentioned.

It will show you what is available for each character so you won't be looking needlessly if a pin is not available

John

 

[Nakkira]

I kind of like the idea of the surprise. It's half of the point of my scavenger hunt. I do not know if I will find all the characters on my list (in either case I do not have enough trade-able pins to get ALL of them) but it will be fun to look.
I have browsed a bit to get Some idea of what is out there, but I am afraid to do it too much or I may get my heart set on a SPECIFIC pin that I will be un-able to find.

Am I weird for doing it this way?


165
DAYS
9
HOURS
34
MINUTES

 

[Nakkira]

Actually, there are 3 I will be sad (but not heartbroken) if I do not find:

Pascal
Dory
Boo

 

[pixiewings71]

You can find pins in all the characters/categories you listed, but what you find will be different every time.
Pin trading is always a scavenger hunt of sorts, you never know what a CM or other guest may have. I collect certain characters as well and I almost always come home with new pins that I've traded for a don't have already.

 

[PinGirl]

Actually, there are 3 I will be sad (but not heartbroken) if I do not find:

Pascal
Dory
Boo

I always try to make one of my first stops the pin station at DTD. Sometimes there are new releases you didn't see before you left home and the cast members are very helpful.

Avoid the Sharks that sometimes hang out there - they are the ones who will trade a pin with you but insist you go into the store and buy a pin to trade with them first.

The World of Disney use to let guests trade from their pin book twice a day - Does anyone know if they still do this?

Also each resort has a pin board or a time they have open trades. I have been trading since 2000 and DH and I, and now my niece like to have a free day or two half days where we travel around and chat with cast members and go to some of the more out of the way shops and locations.

We have gotten a few scrappers and I usually hand them to cast members or put them away so I don't trade them, but over all we still enjoy the hobby.

Now when we put our pins away after we get home, we leave them attached to the cards they came on.

We always purchase a few that we like. I also combine discounts at disney shopping on sets and individual pins before leaving home to try to get the lowest price for traders.

We give lots of pins away to kids who don't realize we aren't cast members and have fun doing it.

The hobby is supposed to be fun! We try to keep that in mind, though the scrappers are a very real problem, we try to work around them.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Nakkira]

We give lots of pins away to kids who don't realize we aren't cast members and have fun doing it.

Enjoy your trip!

That is a really cool idea!

 

[PinGirl]

That is a really cool idea!

Some of our best memories are smiling faces when we gave pins away to kids with Happy Birthday buttons...

It also teaches my niece to share. When you see a kids face light up because they got something they thought they'd never find - it reminds you of the spirit of the trading.

People trade pins at the Olympics and it's so much fun. You meet people from all over the world, Just like at Disney!

 

[super mike b]

It also teaches my niece to share. When you see a kids face light up because they got something they thought they'd never find - it reminds you of the spirit of the trading.

Nice!

 

[Nakkira]

I really think I will follow your lead and set aside a few pins to just give away!

 

[PinGirl]

I really think I will follow your lead and set aside a few pins to just give away!

You will have a good time and it will enhance your trip. You may even make a friend or two. My Niece watches us then she tries to find a child with only 1 or two pins and gives them one of hers. We are so proud of her, but setting that example helps kids see others who may not have what they have.

I think it's a good teaching moment!

 

[Nakkira]

I am really excited by this and have even more anticipation!
I love "gifting"!

 

[dizfan]

We like to ask to see the pin books at each parks guest relations.
We also like to ask at the Disney hotel. Several of them have pin boards and/or pin books at various locations.

Have a great time on your scavenger hunt.

 

[Nakkira]

I will be "visiting" the Poly for dinner one night, can I ask to see theirs and where do I do this?

 

[PinGirl]

I will be "visiting" the Poly for dinner one night, can I ask to see theirs and where do I do this?

1) In the upstairs gift shop to the right of the Monorail stop - they have a board. If you ask politely, they will often bring it out for you.

2) Also check gift shops downstairs and take a good look at cast member lanyards.

3) Always check "invisible" cast members - people who pick up garbage, people who clean rooms...when you see these cast members wearing lanyards engage and trade with them. They have very little interaction with guests as most people pass them up and they ALWAYS have good pins.

4) Any resort you go to ask if they have a book or a board - some resorts have both and if you are polite and friendly - they will always help you.

 

[Nakkira]

Thank you!