Pin trading at the parks?

[willis37862]

I read that you can trade pins with anybody working around the world who is wearing a pin you want. Anyone do this? Just wondered. Sounds pretty interesting to me. Could be fun looking for ones you want to swap for.

 

[Dorisk3]

There are quite alot of cast members that have the lanyards- so it's fun trading- and they are very good natured about it. Someone else might be able to enlighten you on this more, but one lanyard color means they will only trade with kids and another color means you trade with anyone.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Check out the Official Disney Pin Trading web site at http://www.odpt.com and click on "Get Started".

Pin trading is a blast and VERY addicting.

 

[willis37862]

Interesting. I didn't know that. Anyone know which color means what?

 

[jodistar]

Here is a link to all of the information about pin trading - http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/page?id=getStarted

 

[NJBlackBerry]

At WDW a CM with a green lanyard will only trade with children. Not sure what the color for children only at Disneyland is.

 

[willis37862]

Thanks. You all have me off to a good start.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

And check out the DISBoards forum dedicated to Collecting - http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37

 

[lorik]

Most of the cast members wear yellow lanyards; they will trade with anyone. Some of the cast members have green lanyards; they will trade only with kids under 12. Pin collecting can get very expensive. I learned quickly that if you are buying pins at Disney it is best to buy the least expensive ones, about $6.95, and trade for the more expensive ones. Many pins cost $10.95 or even $15.95. There is no problem trading less expensive ones for more expensive ones. Also, there are some ways to get free ones. We got 2 free ones when I purchased batteries. There was one included in each pack that I bought. Also, Birnbaum's official guide has a coupon in the back for a free pin at Downtown Disney. I lucked out and there were two copies of the coupon in my book, so two free pins. No problem trading any of the free ones either. Also, someone told me that there are pins for sale on Ebay. She got about 80 pins for a dollar each. I wish I had thought to check Ebay for pins before I went to Disney.

 

[willis37862]

Thanks everyone. I will have to check ebay for cheap pins to trade.

 

[willis37862]

Is there a store in DTD that sells just pins? Or that trades pins? This is all new to me. This will be the first time I have tried to trade pins.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

There's an area in DTD called Pin Traders. It is a store and an outside area for people to trade pins. There are stores and kiosks in all of the parks to buy pins (Pin Central at Epcot, for example). There are scheduled pin trading events (Thursday night at All Star Sports and Friday night at the Contemporary) where people go and trade pins. Prepare for pin overload.

Check out http://www.dizpins.com for a ton of information.

 

[Lizzybee]

Is there a store in DTD that sells just pins? Or that trades pins? This is all new to me. This will be the first time I have tried to trade pins.

Yes there is a place in DTD that is just pins and pin related stuff. There are pin kiosks everywhere in the "World". Each park has pins, most stores have some pins as well. Resort gift shops have pins too. My son loves chatting with adults and is very very sociable and pin trading was just a dream come true to him. He got to chat up the cast members while looking at their pins. My daughter is less into the pins because in order to trade them she'd have to give up one of her possessions. We don't have any guides to pin trading but my son found out that there are special cast member lanyard pins you can't buy. You can ask CM's if they have them or look for a small hidden Mickey on the pin. My son has also traded with other guests, but I always was right there to make sure the trade was a good one for both. It's lots of fun! Enjoy!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Willis37862....
you will love pin trading! its very addictive and fun.
where in east tn are you, we are in Bristol and I also love photography and scrapbooking. Disney + Scrapbooking= The happiest I can get! I even work part time at a LSS.

 

[Rella Bella]

Thanks everyone. I will have to check ebay for cheap pins to trade.

I think you'll find that after you pay shipping you'll spend about the same $6.50 per pin you would at the Park. At least that's what I've found. The exception is if you invest in a set... but those are usually collectables that you wouldn't want to break up.

DS9 loves pins & trades with every CM he sees... I shop on E-bay because my DS LOVES Pluto... so we're trying to collect all the Pluto pins we can!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Normally, pin trading while working is fun, but i've had some not so fun experiences
- people that come up and just stare at my lanyard without saying anything. It's not too hard to ask "can I see your pins please?" (not such a major issue for me, but it is more of an issue for female co-workers)
- people that would come up and grab me by the pin lanyard (hello, there IS a person attached to this lanyard)
- people that expect me to interrupt whatever I'm doing to pin trade

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I didn't know about the color lanyards adult/children thing- learn something new all the time here on the Disboards! I guess it didn't matter though- I know we didn't need to know it because it was only the kids trading anyway... there aren't any lanyards that are ONLY for adults- right? LOL

Check out when they have sales at a Disney Store if you have one near you. Awhile back we purchased a bunch (doesn't matter if they are duplicates either) really cheap at the Disney store and have been trading them for many trips now.


Oh and when you're trading... if you see one that is put on backwards on their lanyard where you can't see it- that's a "special" one they put backwards and you have to trade it without seeing it. Sometimes they are special pins... we never really know what's special about it until they tell us- AFTER we've already traded for it- and it doesn't hurt to trade for it if you're trading a pin you're not really interested in keeping anyway (ie: purchased on sale or something solely for the purpose of using to trade for pins while there)

 

[daisyduck123]

Some Kellogg's cereal boxes right now have coupons on the side redeemable for a free pin. You need to save 3 & then you can send away for a pin or take the 3 coupons to DTD Pin Traders for a free pin. I believe they expire next Sept. 2006. We've got 6 already which we will be taking with us on our May 2006.

 

[ncbyrne]

I have only one lanyard full of pins. I do not collect pins, I have them strictly for the fun of trading. I started out with some purchased from eBay, and increased with the pins from the batteries and cereal boxes. On each trip I have a theme in mind. For instance, last year I chose all Mickeys with some sort of transportation...on a skateboard, in a car, boat, plane, etc. There sure were a lot of choices and it was lots of fun searching for those types of pins. Next week I'll be in WDW with DH, sans kids, and I'll be looking for "musical" pins.

 

[Clevera]

I dunno anything about pin trading!

She's not on DIS often and I haven't seen her since I moved....but when I read you r post it reminded me of a trip report my former neighbor wrote about how (OR WHY, REALLY) she started trading. It's the bottom portion of the post.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=8717613&postcount=3

I thought you might like it!!!!