Pin trading at the parks

[Haley R]

Any idea if All Star Movies has them? And where?

I have no idea but I’m sure they do. I would just ask someone in the gift shop and I’m sure they’ll know. That’s usually where the pin boards are at

 

[Love Tink]

That said 99% of all pins on boards & lanyards are of questionable orgin so it makes the hunt for the 1% the goal.

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

 

[Figment115]

I would never trade a pin with a CM that I knew was a scrapper. Even if the CM has to take the trade, that means the pin is being passed off to another person that was probably hoping for a real pin. I have seen some people take scrappers, cut the post off, and turn them into magnets or decorations for hairbows, which I think is a neat idea.

Even the quality control on real pins isn't that great, but scrappers tend to have rough edges or the Mickey waffle pattern on the back can be rough. If you are trading with another guest that has all their pins in tiny individual baggies, most likely those pins are fake also. It's possible they are just trying to keep each pin in good condition, but in my experience, the bulk lots bought off eBay come in tiny clear bags.

On many days, a group of people gather at Epcot near Pin Central and trade with other guests. Many are nice and legitimate traders (I pop in there sometimes)! Some are "pin sharks" and trying to take advantage of new traders. If you are interested in one of their pins and they "suggest" that you buy them a pin of their choice from Pin Central in order to do the trade, this should be a red flag and I believe is not allowed by Disney.

 

[Ladyfish77]

I'm taking the grands in August. I bought sets at the Disney Outlet (so official pins, but at a discounted price). Basically 4 of the same set, but then they can use them to trade. I'm sure they'll end up with scrappers, but they are starting out will real pins. I figure they will have fun with it and pick the pins they like. Can't really tell them not to choose a pin they like because it's not "real". For us it will be something fun for them to do.

Also, if doing pin trading for fun, stay away from the people who are collectors. My DS was so excited about pin trading (and we didn't know these people existed) and he had one of them tell him they'd only trade with him if he PURCHASED a specific pin at the nearby pin kiosk. Totally turned him off from trading because he thought he would have to buy pins to trade them (note, all the pins on his lanyard were official pins as we had bought one of the disney trading sets). I'm sure they aren't all like that, but stick to cast members and pin boards if doing it just for fun.

 

[Haley R]

I’ve only traded with another guest twice. The first time was a kid that was looking at my lanyard. He looked really interested so I asked if he liked any of them. I let him pick any of mine (except for one I really liked) and he could choose which one to give me. The second time was with a couple my age and they noticed a pin I had they wanted. We ended up trading and Dh also traded with them. Both experiences were good and it was fun to trade with another guest but I never initiate the trade

 

[ShelliRenee]

How do you ‘store’ the line while in the parks? I’ve tried to keep them on a lanyard I wear around my neck, but it’s both cumbersome and the pins fall off. I would love to hear some fun tips - especially for my DD8 and DS5.

I got an Itsa bag for my "keepers". I wear my trading pins on my lanyard.

 

[ShelliRenee]

I have also found some great buys off of Facebook Market Place. One guy is a collector in our area and he puts unopened packs on this medium frequently.

 

[Sara_H]

How can you spot a fake? I wouldn't intentionally trade with a "fake" pin but what if I didn't know? I thought that as long as they have the Disney Pin Trading symbol on the back then they were authentic? Maybe I'm way wrong.

 

[Figment115]

How can you spot a fake? I wouldn't intentionally trade with a "fake" pin but what if I didn't know? I thought that as long as they have the Disney Pin Trading symbol on the back then they were authentic? Maybe I'm way wrong.

Even the fakes have the Disney symbol on the back. In fact, even high end pins are now being faked/scrapped, sometimes before the authentic ones are released.

Some signs of fakes are rough edges, the back of the pin having a small raised border instead of being smooth, misspelled words or the font on the words isn't consistent. Sometimes the pin just looks "off" or is a different weight than a real one, but of course that's hard to tell if you don't have a real one for comparison.

 

[HokieSLP]

I would never trade a pin with a CM that I knew was a scrapper. Even if the CM has to take the trade, that means the pin is being passed off to another person that was probably hoping for a real pin. I have seen some people take scrappers, cut the post off, and turn them into magnets or decorations for hairbows, which I think is a neat idea.

Even the quality control on real pins isn't that great, but scrappers tend to have rough edges or the Mickey waffle pattern on the back can be rough. If you are trading with another guest that has all their pins in tiny individual baggies, most likely those pins are fake also. It's possible they are just trying to keep each pin in good condition, but in my experience, the bulk lots bought off eBay come in tiny clear bags.

On many days, a group of people gather at Epcot near Pin Central and trade with other guests. Many are nice and legitimate traders (I pop in there sometimes)! Some are "pin sharks" and trying to take advantage of new traders. If you are interested in one of their pins and they "suggest" that you buy them a pin of their choice from Pin Central in order to do the trade, this should be a red flag and I believe is not allowed by Disney.

I LOVE how you had them choose pins because they like them not because they may be fake. It’s more fun that way.

 

[Kimpossible1]

I agree about trading if you like them. Who cares if they are "fake" or not. Something to keep in mind in regards to CM's is that if you see them out walking in the park, either with or without a slip of paper in their hand, they are either going to lunch, or to the bathroom or to another assignment. Please don't stop them to trade because not all bathrooms or break rooms are near work areas, and they may be on their own time.

 

[Love Tink]

I agree about trading if you like them. Who cares if they are "fake" or not. Something to keep in mind in regards to CM's is that if you see them out walking in the park, either with or without a slip of paper in their hand, they are either going to lunch, or to the bathroom or to another assignment. Please don't stop them to trade because not all bathrooms or break rooms are near work areas, and they may be on their own time.

Actually, any CM you see onstage will be happy to trade with you.

CMs who are off duty quickly get offstage and you will not see them walking around the park.

 

[bdarling]

A great place to look at pins is in guest services at the entrances. They used to have small books of pins there, but haven’t do it in a few years.

 

[Kimpossible1]

Actually CM’s at AK have very few backstage areas and walking on stage is the only option. So, when you see CM’s out walking, they are running to the bathroom or on break or changing positions.

 

[Haley R]

We saw the pin board (trash can) for the first time recently at AK. They had a board on each side of a trash can right after entering the park.

 

[DISNEY1975]

My kids started when they were little, around 5 - 7 years old and did it until they were teenagers. Seems like over the years the CMs have downgraded their pins and it was me not wanting my kids to trade their expensive ones for really cheap ones from the "starter kits". Now I have about 6 or 7 landyards filled with pins that just sit in a drawer! I probably paid close to $1000 for all, but I guess it did bring some enjoyment for a while. No worse than the millions I spent on Yugio tins, mystery pokeman packs, bay blades, beanie babies, and my all time favorite......silly bands! I cant say anything because Ive started my own collection of Disney Pandora charms and Disney Dooney and Bourke satchels

 

[TeresaWen]

I have been “collecting” since 1999. Trading has definitely changed. I almost never trade with cast members because what I have is way better

I still carry pins - I have a lot of older “cast lanyard” pins and rack pins that I like to trade with kids. I don’t care what I get in return. I just like sharing the older pins with little ones.

We mostly just collect pins that have some meaning for us now. The days of hunting for interesting pins is long gone for us.

 

[bopper]

For a little kid: I would buy some Disney pins off of Ebay.
Trade with Cast Members.
Who cares what pin you get back as long as your kid likes it.
Realize your kid may like the pins you get from ebay and not want to trade.

Do try to talk to Cast members when they are not super busy or are doing their job.

 

[daae3]

I started a pin collection without knowing about trading. I keep my collection at home and wear a lanyard with tradeable pins when at Disney...My pins that I trade are ones I buy at Disney, usually as part of a set because I am trying to collect a mystery pin set! I get obsessed! I would not care if I got a scrapper as I only trade if there is something I want and I am not collecting pins for value but because they make me smile! It is terrible that some kids are getting discouraged by these collectors! I have had some great convos with kids who loved my Star Wars pins! I hope anyone that wants to try trading does so!

 

[Haley R]

I started a pin collection without knowing about trading. I keep my collection at home and wear a lanyard with tradeable pins when at Disney...My pins that I trade are ones I buy at Disney, usually as part of a set because I am trying to collect a mystery pin set! I get obsessed! I would not care if I got a scrapper as I only trade if there is something I want and I am not collecting pins for value but because they make me smile! It is terrible that some kids are getting discouraged by these collectors! I have had some great convos with kids who loved my Star Wars pins! I hope anyone that wants to try trading does so!

I love when a kid stands and stares at my pins. I usually initiate the trade because sometimes they're too shy. I'll just say something like "do you see any you'd like to trade for?". On our last trip there was a tween girl that pointed out how cool one of my pins was. I saw she had a pin trading book so I asked if she wanted it. I don't wear any that I wouldn't be willing to trade so I never mind trading. It makes them so happy which makes me happy. The only pins we buy to keep are resort pins. We buy a new one every time we try a new resort. Then we put them on our bulletin board at home so we can see which resorts we've stayed at.