Pin trading help with my two ASD kids

[TinkTatoo]

My two kids DD (7) and DS (8) have Autism and both love pin trading. It is great for them as it lets them engage in social activity in a safe way and my son in particular has surprised me by actually going up to the CM's to trade (normally he won't talk to any "strangers")

They both have their own collections DD is into Minnie, Jasmine and Cat pins while DS collects Stitch, Incredibles and pins with moving parts (plus one or two others which catch his eye) Having been caught out last year paying WDW prices we have bought a load of pins from e-bay for trading when we go back next summer.

I've seen some pin trading events advertised - like Friday afternoon's in the Contemporary and I've seen pin traders outside the pin shop at DTD. How would I know if the kids got a fair trade - some of the pins we have to trade are limited edition and lanyard pins etc., what do you trade for these pins - I know with a CM you just get one pin for another but is it different with non CM pin traders???

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[BONITATIME]

I wont let my children trade with adults that are not CM's as there are some real sharks.
I read somewhere that there are childrens areas and boards for them to trade on at these 'events'. Some one is sure to know or you could ask on the boards of www.dizpins.com

 

[TinkTatoo]

I wont let my children trade with adults that are not CM's as there are some real sharks............

Thanks - that's exactly why I asked the question here. I want to let them trade but don't want them ripped off.

Hopefully someone will be along who might tell me something about the children's areas and how they work

 

[tearawayface]

The Childrens area basically features a pin board where the children are alllowed to take any 2 pins and trade them on to a board, same idea as the lanyards but they have more to choose from all at once. I think there are also coloring sheets to keep children occupied also.

 

[lpizzuro123]

I would highly recommend pin trading Friday nights at the Contemporary. In the kids trading area there is a large board that they can trade off and activities to keep them entertained. A few years ago with were there with my boyfriends son (who was about 12 at the time) and he was talking to a CM while waiting on line. The CM asked why he liked pin trading and collecting. He answered that he liked collecting pins that meant something to him. Either from a ride that he loved, a place we had eaten that he liked or one of the hotels we had stayed at. The CM liked this answer and gave him a special pin (gave - not traded). He was so happy - it was really a very special magical moment. And of course, he still has this pin and would never trade it.

It is really amazing to see the amount of pins the pin traders have at these events (they come with suitcases of pins). Some of them are very nice and very willing to trade and will really give you a history about pins. Other are also nice but are really looking for very special pins (limited editions, cast member only, etc). You can do some research on the pins that you have before trading them if you have some that you think might be limited editions. Honestly, I am not saying that your pins are not wanted but sometimes you will go up to a pin trader and they will have dozens of your limited edition pins. I really don't know where they get them from.

Another place to pin trade is most of the gift shops at the Disney hotels usually have a pin book by the register. You can also trade from these books. There is a pin kiosk right by where you enter the pin trading area in the Contemporary and they usually have this book on their counter and you can trade there.

Linda

 

[TinkTatoo]

..............Another place to pin trade is most of the gift shops at the Disney hotels usually have a pin book by the register. You can also trade from these books. There is a pin kiosk right by where you enter the pin trading area in the Contemporary and they usually have this book on their counter and you can trade there...............Linda

Thanks Linda

 

[HayGan]

I'm really glad you posted this question. My DS (5) is dx as PDD-NOS. I bought a ton of pins for him (well, really all of us) to trade during our upcoming trip. I think the social aspect of it will be wonderful for him! I'm glad to hear that your kids enjoy it!

Thanks to everyone else for all the advice as well!

 

[TinkTatoo]

I'm really glad you posted this question. My DS (5) is dx as PDD-NOS. I bought a ton of pins for him (well, really all of us) to trade during our upcoming trip. I think the social aspect of it will be wonderful for him! I'm glad to hear that your kids enjoy it!

Thanks to everyone else for all the advice as well!

Great - let us know how you get on

 

[Meezers]

My 3 adult family started the pin thing in 2000. No way was my "little" (6"4' and 200 lb) brother going to do that....then we got into it....now we have quests on each trip (this year mine is to try and get the ticket pins).

I know there are alot of mean adult pin traders out there....I have to watch out for my Mom....she just gets taken advantage of.

That said...I also love cat pins and would love meet another cat crazy pin trader in the parks....so please don't be too afraid of all adult pin traders...if you are there between Jan 23-Jan 31 and see a 43 yoa overweight blonde wearing a pink lanyard with many cat pins...please say HI!

Your kids probably have a better sense of who to approach and who not to than most adults....

Also...does anyone know about "scoops" pin talk...where and when? I haven't heard much about it but sounds good for kids and adults!

 

[TinkTatoo]

.........That said...I also love cat pins and would love meet another cat crazy pin trader in the parks....so please don't be too afraid of all adult pin traders...if you are there between Jan 23-Jan 31 and see a 43 yoa overweight blonde wearing a pink lanyard with many cat pins...please say HI!......

DD only has 7 cat pins in her collection as they seem hard to find. How many do you have I am sure she will be interested to hear how many she might be able to collect

 

[Cheshire Figment]

DD only has 7 cat pins in her collection as they seem hard to find. How many do you have I am sure she will be interested to hear how many she might be able to collect

The frightening thing to do is go to www.pinpics.com, click on SEARCH and then where you have a space to put in details just type in CAT. You will then see several hundred.

 

[Kitty-chan]

Also...does anyone know about "scoops" pin talk...where and when? I haven't heard much about it but sounds good for kids and adults!

Ah, thanks for reminding me of that! My DS9 really wants to get to that at some point.

Here's what I found on the WDW web site (of course it also says it may change w/out notice):

Learn how pins are made and how to trade at Scoop's One O'Clock Pin Talk. Join Scoop and his "Pin Pals" in Town Square Exposition Hall at the Magic Kingdom® Park every Sunday through Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.

 

[TinkTatoo]

The frightening thing to do is go to www.pinpics.com, click on SEARCH and then where you have a space to put in details just type in CAT. You will then see several hundred.

Wow I don't think I'll let her know there are THAT many cat pins

.............Learn how pins are made and how to trade at Scoop's One O'Clock Pin Talk. Join Scoop and his "Pin Pals" in Town Square Exposition Hall at the Magic Kingdom® Park every Sunday through Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.

Thanks for that - we'll be there

 

[Meezers]

Let's see....I have Figaro, Si and Am, Cheshire Cat, Lion King, Nala...Aristocats....Oh...what's his name from Cinderella...Oh...Lucifer...

I think I have to say Nala is my favorite...even though she is a "big" cat But have to collect Si and Am cause of my own kitties!

I have a mini Figaro that is about the size of a dime...he is SO cute!

 

[TinkTatoo]

Let's see....I have Figaro, Si and Am, Cheshire Cat, Lion King, Nala...Aristocats....Oh...what's his name from Cinderella...Oh...Lucifer...

I think I have to say Nala is my favorite...even though she is a "big" cat But have to collect Si and Am cause of my own kitties!

I have a mini Figaro that is about the size of a dime...he is SO cute!

They sound cool

DD has Si and Am as part of a Lanyard series, she has the Nala and the 3 Aristocrats cats from that series. She has a Figaro from the Tails series and 2 more Aristocrats pins. She also has Simba and Nala which are her favourites as our cats are Stitch and Simba - having seen just how many cat pins there are, I am sure this collection will grow next time we are at WDW