Pin Trading Info??? Is it usually CMs or kids?

[Callalily6]

So, I bought a bunch of pins off of Ebay for my daughter to trade while we are at WDW. I've never done it before and never noticed other people doing it.

I read the guidlines, but in reality, will kids walk up to her and ask to trade? Or is it usually the kids ask the CMs to trade?

Any tips for trading will be great.

 

[bwv4me]

So far, we have only traded with CM's. My DD (5) has never been approached to trade by another child, but I am sure she would love it!

Oh, and as far as tips go, the biggie we learned was to buy the LOCKING pin backs for the ones you want to keep!

 

[Callalily6]

Im showing my ignorance again...are the locking clip backs the black mouseears or the gold ones????

 

[SheDaisy0088]

DS8 has been trading pins for about 3 years now. Mostly our rule is that he only trade with CM's. Although there have been a few times that he has traded with other people. Those are few are far between.


When he does trade though he goes up to the CM and asks to see their pins. He picks the one he wants and then lets them pick theirs. All in all it is a fun experience.

The locking pin backs are the Mickey shaped ones. I think you can buy them at Downtown Disney.

 

[bwv4me]

The locking backs are neither of those. We had a very hard time finding them last January, but in August many of the places that sell the pins have them. They look like little gold cylinders and come with a little allen wrench to tighten them on. We use those when we have a "keeper" and my DD wears them on the lanyard. We have lost a couple with the regular kinds of pinbacks. The lockins backs are sold separately and come in a package with about 8 or so.

 

[beauandjacksmommy]

I have a strange question...

We are getting ready to leave in a week
and I got some pins for my DS6 to trade and he has never done this before (and nor have I).

I am wondering as I had read in the previous post that the CM gets to choose a pin from my DS's lanyard after DS chooses one from the CM. Is it possible that my DS can offer one of his traders instead of letting the CM choose? (I know that the CM in order to trade can not have two of the same pins on his lanyard). Does this make sense?

Basically I know DS might not want to trade if the CMs keep getting the pins that my DS wants to keep... I know that that is part of the "trading" for adults and didn't know if they make an acception for the children.

Thanks for your insight!

 

[Traveliz]

No no your child gets to give the pin they want off their lanyard - you never have to trade away something you want to keep.

Liz

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

So, I bought a bunch of pins off of Ebay for my daughter to trade while we are at WDW. I've never done it before and never noticed other people doing it.

I read the guidlines, but in reality, will kids walk up to her and ask to trade? Or is it usually the kids ask the CMs to trade?

Any tips for trading will be great.

My DW2B (in 2 weeks ) really got into the pin trading thing on our last trip. Although most trading does occur with CMs we did have several people come up to us and offer a trade. If it was for something we wanted to keep we just politely told them that was one of our favorites and were not trading, we also pointed out any others we marked for "keepers" Most people will be very understanding as they have their own favorites too.
We did have one little girl, about 4-5 years old walk up to us in Epcot one day. She stood in front of us and held out her lanyard and asked if we wanted to trade. She wanted my DW2B Tink pin (DW2B fav) she thought the girl was so cute and polite she traded it. The look on the little girls face was priceless, she was so happy I of course rewarded DW2B for her good deed by buying an exact replacement for her It was worth it to see the smile on that little girls face, but isn't that what Disney is all about?

 

[SheDaisy0088]

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. DS is such a pro at it that I sometimes forget others aren't as experienced. For the most part the CM will let the kids choose which ones they want to trade. Although DS usually knows which one he wants to give them before he walks up to them. Weird I know, but my son is very determined. LOL!!

 

[tjmw2727]

My girls have been trading for a couple years and the love it. We also use the locking backs for "keepers". We also trade the pin and not the back since I usually make sure we have good snug backs the CM's have never had a problem with this.

My girls only trade with CM's, they choose which pin they would like to tade for and which pin they are trading. The only exception is if the CM already has the pin the child wants to give them they can ask the child to choose another. This has only happend a couple times out of many trades.

On our last few trips some of the CM's had green lanyards indicating they could only trade with kids. This was very nice as it kept some of the cool pins available for the kids.

My girls usually approach a cm by asking "may I see your pins" or "would you like to trade pins" They have met some wonderful CM's this way and its been a highlight of the trips. Its really much more than buying, collecting pins for them.

Have fun
TJ

 

[Meezers]

For those of you with children....if you are at the World between Jan 23 - Jan 31st. Look for a 43 year old with short blonde hair and a pink lanyard.

I have one side of my lanyard set up for my keepers...and the other for traders! I have gotten some really cool pins to trade! Jiminy Cricket the size of your little finger nail! Cinderella's castle the size of a nickle! (can you tell I like the itty bitty ones!)

Often I am mistaken for a cast member but am happy to teach what I know about pin trading and usually send the little one off with a pin they didn't have to trade for!

Most of the fun of trading is meeting new people and admiring each others pins!

PS....if you want to trade mini pins...look for Brian at one of the shops at AK...he has Freddy the Frog who only trades mini pins for mini pins!

 

[tjmw2727]

That is a really good idea - kitty - keeping the sides separate I know that will help my kids, thanks. Where do you get the mini pins?

TJ

 

[Callalily6]

Thanks for all the help! We bought a lot of pins, so my daughter has some doubles. And I am glad to hear that she can offer a pin for the CM to trade. I wasnt sure if she would get upset if she traded one she wanted to keep. Sometimes she does stuff and thinks about it later. Okay, most kids do that!

And that story about giving away her fav pin to a little girl was so great! And you buying her another was great too! Teaching children to be thoughtful is hard and you did it 2x in a row!

Going to BWV soooo soooon!

 

[Meezers]

I found some mini pins on regular cast lanyard pins on our last trip (I admit my brother found the first one) then it became our trip "quest"....we always have a pin quest...the first year is was ALL the dwarves....then mini pins...this year for me it is going to be the cast member older type ticket pins...you remember "E-ticket" etc!

I have also found some mini pins on e-bay. I have a Disney pin e-bay rule....never pay more for the pin and S&H than you would a rack pin.

I also don't buy pins I am not willing to keep. I know some people buy pins they don't like to trade....but I am only attached to about 1/3 of my pins...and it is such fun to watch someone be so happy cause they know it is a "special" pin and you are willing to trade it! (Not talking about the vultures who hang out at DTD either!)

I think the World of Disney Store at DTD has a special trading time with a CM who has a HUGE books of pins! There is a limit to how many you can trade and somehow a deck of cards is used to determine what order you go in....I may have to check this out this time!

 

[applechips]

I am going to DW for the first time this Dec with my dh and my two children. Can someone give me a pin trading 101 class or tell me where I can find out some more info?


Thanks!

 

[Meezers]

rats...I wrote a whole dissertation on another board.....stand by while I search and do the cut and paste thing!

 

[Meezers]

First thing I wrote:

Oh boy...this could be a LONG answer so forgive me if I ramble.

Starter sets are a good way to go. Plus they come in neat colors...I think Tinkerbells is Lavender!

All CM's must trade if the pin you want to give them is not already on their lanyard. These lanyards and pins are Disney property so don't feel bad! CM's wearing green lanyards only trade with children.

There are so many pins it is hard to even imagine. It seems the most sought after are the "cast lanyard" series. These are given to cast members only and can't be purchased. I personally don't get all weird about them...I mean I am not looking for resale or anything....

That said...I have to limit myself....you have to really pick a character or theme or you will just be overwhelmed! I have started trying to find the smallest pins I can....but once again...only if I like them. My "themes" are Beauty and the Beast...Lion King...and tea (the drink from England!).

Pins are traded hand to hand only and don't feel bad asking to keep your "good" black rubber Mickey backing. I haven't lost any pins but do check the backs regularly.

I have been buying some pins on ebay. If you can get a buy it now with a good shipping rate you can actually save money. The lowest pin cost at WDW is (I think) $6.50....if I can get a pin from ebay for $5.95 and get several and comine shipping and handling I do it. Once again....only pins I like....you never know what you may or may not be able to trade.

All this said.....if you child lucks on to a really good pin....there are some less than honorable people out there (children and adults) who will try to trade a "you can get in anywhere" rack pin for her very special pin. This happened to my Mom....who is 64! She just told the person she couldn't trade without asking her children.....said person disappeared! A good thing cause I would have wrung her neck. So....I wouldn't let my little one trade without asking Mommy!

Warning....you get very attached to your pins....my Mom had a hissy fit when I wanted to trade a Dumbo....there she was...in the middle of Epcot..."Oh no....you can't trade Dumbo". Now Mom collects and my brother and I trade!

I plan on taking my cork boards (really just several cork trivets) with me on our next trip so I can change out pins when I want...plus if I buy any I don't want to wear on my lanyard this way I don't have little bags all around the room that wind up getting lost!

Have I tired you out yet?

I plan on downloading and printing the current lanyard series from dizpins just before I go....cause sometimes it is the fun of the chase.

If you have any mini pins....very hard to find...there is a guy in AK who works at one of the shops...all he trades are mini pins....from a stuffed frog I believe. Mini pins for mini pins...his name is Brian...guess he is getting kind of famous.

Okay my hands are tired and a cop just made fun of me for typing so fast!

 

[Meezers]

I knew I would forget something.

Remember to ask where the "books" are at gift shops and at some pin stations. They have HUGE books of pins.

Also there is a CM at World on Disney in DTD who does really great pin trading during certain times of the day....he has tons of great pins and there is some kind of system so there is no pushing and shoving. The people with the books outside at DTD are the ones to be wary of...they are in it for profit and not fun.

Also....you can approach anyone who is wearing a lanyard...if they didn't want to be approached they wouldn't be wearing a lanyard now would they. I give on the fly lessons to kids who ask me and almost always give them a pin...not trade...just give...so if you see a 43 year old overweight blonde with a pink lanyard...that is me!

Bet I will remember something else in a few minutes.

 

[Meezers]

And yet again!

Well....here we go.

The ones that are marked "lanyard" or "limited edition" on the back are the ones that are supposed to be "special". The writing is tiny so take your reading glasses

The charms are a new thing....I don't know if they are tradeable or not...but they sure are cute and tiny!

I haven't seen any mini pins for sale....hopefully someone will come along that knows about them...we stumbled onto them by mistake....and we love them. The special guy at AK only trades for mini's....I guess if you catch another CM with one (or me) I would trade.

All the pins you buy have a rubber backing...some that are traded for have that pinch metal backing....I don't like those!

The books the CM's have are for trading....so many people are into it that some of the pin stations have the books cause the poor CM's neck would break from the weight. So trading only on those!

Sure more questions will be coming along!

PS...there are some places you can buy locking backs for the pins if you are really scared of losing them....since I don't have kids I don't know how prone they would be to losing or knocking them off the lanyard.

And from my Mom!

There are also tourists (usually local folk) who walk around with those rolling cases full of pins to trade. My opinion is that they are in it for money and not the fun, so be a little careful. Addicting? It can get downright intoxicating and very exciting. I'm not as much a trader as a collecor. DS (37) wasn't going to get into that silliness, but once started, we couldn't keep up with him. He went on more than one "quest", had to complete a collection. Yep, I'm Meezer's Mom. And I was only 63 when the girl tried to bilk me out of a valuable pin for a rack pin.


And Finally....

Hello....my name is Brenda....and I am a pinaholic.

 

[tjmw2727]

I just stumbled upon this while looking for a lanyard alternative for my dd ~

Of course it pales in comparison to Brenda's advice but just in case, enjoy.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/page?id=getStarted#guideline

TJ