Pin trading for dummies....

[momof3disneyholics]

This will be our very first time doing pin trading. I looked on the official pin trading website, now I would like some unofficial advice.
I have bought each one of my kids 10 pins off of ebay, and I figured I could buy the lanyards when we get there.
I am wondering how much do they cost? Where can you find them? Do the cast members really trade any pin on their lanyard for yours. Is it really that easy? Do people really come up to you and want to trade with you? Are there any pins that are peopel will not trade? Are the ones that come from the Disney store tradeable in the parks? How much are the pins inside the parks? I figured I'd save money buying the initial ones off of ebay and I think I did good.
Any help on this would be great. Thanks!

 

[princess lovers mom]

yes the CM's will give you anything off their lanyard for any pin you want to give them..our kids would look in the stores for the pins that they knew they wanted and they enjoyed searching the CM's for the right one!!

I don't know how much the lanyards are...less than $10..my DD wanted to put hers on her hat when we were there

 

[cindala]

You will find a ton of information about pin trading on the Collectors board within the disboards here.

It really becomes quite addicting!

 

[doombuggy]

To be honset, I have worn my lanyard about 3 or 4 trips, and have only been approached once - by a CM! I have traded with about 3 other CMs, mostly b/c I knew them. Maybe i would have better luck if I was hanging around pin carts??

 

[pointandshoot]

A lot of good questions! Let's see if I can what I can recall off the top of my head...

- Pins costs about $6.50 for rack pins to about $12.50 for limited editions.

- Lanyards can be found anywhere but the best selection seem to be in Downtown Disney, Pin Central in Epcot, and Exposition Hall in MK. Right now, they have a cute Mickey Sorcerer and Tinkerbell Lanyard. I think they cost $12.50. Starter sets with a lanyard and four pins cost $25.00.

-Yes, cast members trade. Remember to be polite and greet them. Some of the CMs really seem to enjoy trading and it can be a neat experience.

- I have not been approached to many times in the parks by adults but often by children.

- You can trade any Disney pin including Disney Store pins.

As a suggestion, you might want to get a lanyard for yourself and trade with your children. I got into trading through getting a few pins I thought my child would like and each day slipping them onto my lanyard for trading with her.

Hope this helps.

-Chuck