Can someone give me the basics? I thought I read that CMs would only trade with children? I would like to wear a lanyard but not sure I will trade any, but I might want to if I see something I really like. I read people arrange pins for trading vs. not for trade on the lanyard. Does my daughter just ask a CM for a pin on their lanyard & have a pin ready or does the CM suggest a pin to trade?
Thanks for all your help...I dont wanna look silly trying to show my 2 yr old what to do and be wrong
If the CM is wearing a teal or green lanyard, they will only trade with children. If the CM is wearing any other color lanyard (black or burgandy) they will trade with anyone.
Your daughter can go up to any cast member with any pin (as long as it's not one already on the lanyard) and trade it for any pin on the cast member's lanyard. My son politely asks the CM's to see their lanyard and most bend down/kneel down and hold the lanyard outward so the kids can see and pick. And they're all really, really patient with the children. My son is kind of wishy-washy when it comes to picking and we have to tell him to hurry, but not once has a cm been put off or rude about it. They're very, very good with the kids.
There is one exception though. Occassionally, cast member's will place one of their own pins real low on the lanyard, like where the two pieces overlap, if that makes sense, and that's their own pin for display and not trade. It's usually very obviously a much nicer pin or a jumbo pin. However, last I heard from a cast member at
Disneyland is they weren't allowing them to wear their own personal pins anymore. People were getting confused and complaining when they couldn't have the pin they wanted. Not sure if they enforce it or if it's only a DL thing, but just throwing it out there.
The only piece of etiquette I would pass along is to remember that these are cast members doing a job, not just people walking around pin trading. For example, you'll see the street sweepers with pins. If they're not busy, then by all means, ask to see the pins, but if they're obviously sweeping up a big mess or after the parade, then let the pins go and let them do their job. The same for CM's in stores. We get in line and wait our turn, just as if we were checking out. Don't go up while they're helping customers and ask to see the pins. I know it sounds like commons sense, but you'd be suprised how many people think they can interupt just because they only want to see the pins.
