Pin Trading at DLP

[njpyro]

Greetings!
I'm looking for some advice on pin trading at Disneyland Paris (and Studios). We are going for the first time ever this August, but have been to Disney World and Disneyland many times before. I enjoy pin trading with cast members and I was wondering what it is like in Paris. Do many cast members have pins? Do they have any different pins than you would expect to see in the US? Like their own variation on the hidden mickeys or cast lanyard pins?
From what I've heard, no one wears lanyards (which is fine- I keep my pins in a zippered pouch in my bag/pocket).
Thanks in advance

 

[Reptonboy21]

Hiya,
Yes Pin Trading is still popular at DLP although the cast members are quite strict on the rules like which they will accept ( which do tend to change quite often!!). There is a great selection of pins and monthly/limited releases-one of the best places to find limited editions and upcoming releases is the shop at the Disneyland Hotel behind the tills. The cart next to the ride times board at the end of main street is quite good too. Cast will swap with you very happily and chat-don't be shy if your french is rusty! They have cast lanyard pins, but you will find that you will see the same pins on most of them in most places-it's quite hard to find any specials. Make sure you chat and not just gawp at their lanyards, as they might "find" something hidden away in a pocket for you!! ( I secured a cracker last summer..) Although not limited, the pins for the resort exclusive hotels/rides and restaurants are a nice find. have fun..

 

[Vala]

The rules are not changing. They are the exact same they are and have been in the US parks. Problem is that the CMs in Paris make up their own rules. I've had anything from "Minnie pins for Minnie pins only" or "the pin has to be of the same size." Quite popular is also that the CM gets to pick the pin. Nothing of that is an official rule.

Forget complaining about it, no one will listen. I've been told a number of times at City Hall and even when writing in that the CMs were right, was handed the exact same rules leaflet out for the US parks and when I asked where the rule in question was never got an answer anymore. If someone gives you trouble the best recommendation to save your nerves is just tell them no and walk away.

I also strongly advise against wearing a lanyard "showcasing" your best pins like some traders in the US do. If you do that you'll inevatably be facing the demand to trade something from that lanyard with them. If you use the ziplock bag method you're describing you'll very likely face the "but I want to chose" sooner or later.

There are cast lanyard pins that are exclusive to Paris, yes. You can normally spot them because they are a little larger and characters you wouldn't normally see - Gargoyles from Hunchback for example. You will occasionally score a nice Paris open edition pin from there. Very rarely older pins someone wants to get rid of. The overwhelming amount of pins are the same pins you'll see in the US. Hidden Mickeys mostly, and some extremely bad fakes among them.

 

[SWofDisorder]

I found pin trading really not big in DLP at all. We had to go into the shops and then ask. We were very polite, smiled, used our best French words but they just don't trade so freely as they do at WDW and DL. It is hard to find a CM with pins and then they are really very picky.

I agree, save your time and energy if you don't get to trade.

 

[Donald Ducks wife]

I pin trade at DLP, and its ok for the size of what DLP is. Ive found a few good pins over my time there. In the stores they don't have pin boards like they do WDW, just cast members with lanyards. Also DLP have there own cast member refresh lanyard pins that are pretty cool to trade for too

 

[kobiko]

We have always found pin trading to be easy and fun at dlrp,it helps that my daughter is the main trader as I think the cast members always seem to respond better to kids be it at dlrp or wdw,but I have noticed on many occasions that the shop cast members tend not to get as involved with you as much whilst your trading,for example they carry on conversations with other cast members or keep serving other customers.
That said we have never had a negative trade and have had a few pins given to us by cast members as gifts.
one time in particular we were trading with a cast member who had a display board set up in a shop,the sign specified only 3 pins could be traded at a time but my daughter was eager to trade 5 so he let her without question and also gave her 2 cast pins still in their plastic pouches.My daughter was over the moon!!!

 

[frenchieSteven]

I didn't like pin trading in Disneyland Paris. I discovered pin trading in Disneyworld and it was fun but in Paris I had the same problems as Vala, a CM who was making her own rules and she wasn't really nice so it's stopped me from trading there, except on the board in the Pueblo Trading Post (the place to go for pin trader in disneyland paris).

 

[osowired]

I've been trading pins for a long time, but really still consider myself a bit green since I don't follow the latest and greatest unless I'm looking at the new releases when I'm going to the parks. Am a bit scared of the pin traders, too, since some seem so ruthless. I tend to trade just with the cast members. I'm lucky to have a brother who does stay on top of it, attends the events and knows what pins are special or pins to avoid. Had to learn about scrapper pins, which is really a terrible shame that this still happens.

Was hoping I could do pin trading at the DLP parks but don't want to load up my suitcase with too many heavy pins and I'm not sure about how expensive the pins would be to buy them all there since that could be costly (CDN $ exchange).

Do you guys think there would be enough pin trading in the parks to make it worthwhile to bring traders?

Does DLP have most of the same pins as the U.S. parks or are they different?

 

[moorhunhe]

It's hard to find a CM with pins? In the past years, I've noticed every single CM (apart from the ones who do guest flow) wear lanyards.

I've never seen a CM actually wearing a Cast Lanyard pin, I've only saw those with the regular traders at the tables.

I've experienced a lot more trading in Paris, then when I went to WDW 4 months ago.

But it is true, they do make their own rules, but if you don't want to trade anymore, simply just say no thanks

 

[Vala]

I've been trading pins for a long time, but really still consider myself a bit green since I don't follow the latest and greatest unless I'm looking at the new releases when I'm going to the parks. Am a bit scared of the pin traders, too, since some seem so ruthless. I tend to trade just with the cast members. I'm lucky to have a brother who does stay on top of it, attends the events and knows what pins are special or pins to avoid. Had to learn about scrapper pins, which is really a terrible shame that this still happens.

Was hoping I could do pin trading at the DLP parks but don't want to load up my suitcase with too many heavy pins and I'm not sure about how expensive the pins would be to buy them all there since that could be costly (CDN $ exchange).

Do you guys think there would be enough pin trading in the parks to make it worthwhile to bring traders?

Does DLP have most of the same pins as the U.S. parks or are they different?

It is still worthwhile to bring traders, but don't ruin your luggage allowance with it. The pins you will find on lanyards are pretty much the same as in the US parks. On occasion you'll find a cast lanyard pin or someone put a French OE or booster set pin on a cast lanyard. I always try to grab these, often I keep them for cast lanyards in the US parks. CMs there always seem to be excited when they get an European pin.

If you meant pins on sale: yes, a number of the OE pins are the same as in US parks too. Some are exclusive to Paris though, or at least look a bit different - case in point the OE Elsa that came out in December. Ther's a series of attraction pins which are OE which are unique to Paris and really cute. LE pins are always Paris exclusives.

It's hard to find a CM with pins? In the past years, I've noticed every single CM (apart from the ones who do guest flow) wear lanyards.

I've never seen a CM actually wearing a Cast Lanyard pin, I've only saw those with the regular traders at the tables.

I've experienced a lot more trading in Paris, then when I went to WDW 4 months ago.

But it is true, they do make their own rules, but if you don't want to trade anymore, simply just say no thanks

In the US parks you'll find custodians with lanyards or CMs at rides too. In Paris you'll pretty much exclusively see lanyards in the stores. Sometimes at character lines.

 

[moorhunhe]

I've been to Paris 12 times in the past 2 years, so I've seen my share of lanyards with CM's and guests

Didn't see many CM's with lanyards anywere at WDW, I may not have been paying that much attention, since it was my very first time there, lol.

 

[Vala]

Sorry I misunderstood you and tried to explain. Your post looks kind of confusing, were you trying to quote?

I've been to WDW first time last year. Definitely more lanyards than in Paris, and pin boards in many stores and even restaurants. I was stunned at the amount of pin boards in Animal Kingdom. Some stores had items like a stroller full of pins, other stores were playing pin games. I came to a screeching halt when I was on my way somewhere and noticed a pin in the corner of my eye more than once. lol Not as much lanyards as in DLR Anaheim, but way more than in Paris. And definitely way more and varied trading opportunities.

 

[osowired]

It is still worthwhile to bring traders, but don't ruin your luggage allowance with it. The pins you will find on lanyards are pretty much the same as in the US parks. On occasion you'll find a cast lanyard pin or someone put a French OE or booster set pin on a cast lanyard. I always try to grab these, often I keep them for cast lanyards in the US parks. CMs there always seem to be excited when they get an European pin.

If you meant pins on sale: yes, a number of the OE pins are the same as in US parks too. Some are exclusive to Paris though, or at least look a bit different - case in point the OE Elsa that came out in December. Ther's a series of attraction pins which are OE which are unique to Paris and really cute. LE pins are always Paris exclusives.



In the US parks you'll find custodians with lanyards or CMs at rides too. In Paris you'll pretty much exclusively see lanyards in the stores. Sometimes at character lines.

Thanks for the great answer Vala. I'll definitely keep the weight of my luggage in mind!

I like collecting attraction pins so expect to find these. Hope to also find transportation pins (planes, trains...). Need to find different villain pins for my brother who has an AP at Disneyland in the US and is a pin trader extraordinare.

Looks like pin trading days are late in the month, which means I'll miss it. Crossing fingers I'm wrong.

 

[Vala]

They have a new Pin of the Month series with Villains, that may be something for your brother then. Released so far are Madame Medusa and Chernabog. This month is seeing the Queen of Hearts.

Transportation pins may be a bit difficult. I remember one Chip and Dale OE pin on Big Thunder Mountain. Does that count as train?

 

[bfost87]

I've been to Paris 12 times in the past 2 years, so I've seen my share of lanyards with CM's and guests

Didn't see many CM's with lanyards anywere at WDW, I may not have been paying that much attention, since it was my very first time there, lol.

Cast Lanyards are EVERYWHERE at WDW... The only ones who won't really have them are cast members who are working with food (open fryers, etc). Even managers have them on their hips.