pin trading on a first visit?

[abookworm]

Our first visit to DL is this March and my 2 older kids are 5 and 8. Should I even try to trade any pins since it's our first visit and we'll be so overwhelmed? I think it sounds like a cool thing and could be a great keepsake but not sure if we'll really have the time to do it since we only have 2 days there.
Or would it be a better thing for older kids to do like around 10 yrs old and up?
thoughts?
thanks

 

[pbnjrockette]

I'm an adult and felt like a kid while pin trading for the first time last month! It was so much fun! Many times when you are waiting in line there is a cast member nearby with a lanyard of pins. What fun to look over them and if you find one you like make a trade!

I saw lots of "little" kids trading with Cast members with the green lanyards just for kids and they really seemed to enjoy themselves.

Hope your kids have a fun time!

 

[DaGrumpy]

I think it would be a great time. My niece pin trade her first visit back when is was four and is still enjoying it at the age of 8.

 

[pindecisive]

Our first visit to DL is this March and my 2 older kids are 5 and 8. Should I even try to trade any pins since it's our first visit and we'll be so overwhelmed? I think it sounds like a cool thing and could be a great keepsake but not sure if we'll really have the time to do it since we only have 2 days there.
Or would it be a better thing for older kids to do like around 10 yrs old and up?
thoughts?
thanks

I'm usually only there a day, and it's enough for me to trade.

There's so many pin stands, you don't really have to go out of your way to buy any, you also don't have to go out of your way to find CM's to trade with as they're standing everywhere.

I went with a couple other people who I didn't want to be bogged down by my new "collecting thing" and they weren't even bothered.

So i'd say go for it, it's easier than it sounds once you read the rules and kinda remember them

 

[warriorboy648]

I'm usually only there a day, and it's enough for me to trade.

There's so many pin stands, you don't really have to go out of your way to buy any, you also don't have to go out of your way to find CM's to trade with as they're standing everywhere.

I went with a couple other people who I didn't want to be bogged down by my new "collecting thing" and they weren't even bothered.

So i'd say go for it, it's easier than it sounds once you read the rules and kinda remember them

Where do you read the rules?

 

[pindecisive]

Search "pin trading etiquette" on yahoo and go to the page that has eventservices for Disney as the link.

That'll give you the rules.

They're pretty basic.

 

[figment_jii]

Trading pins can be fun, but I'd stick to trading with the cast members and avoid the 'professional' trader. The cast members don't try to haggle and as long as you have an appropriate pin (i.e., authentic Disney and not already on their lanyard) they won't say 'no'.

 

[abookworm]

Thanks everyone. I just bought my first 12 pins on e-bay and very excited to get them! I think I'll give each child 5 (I get 2!) and we'll see how it goes-I figure it might be a great thing to do while waiting in line.

 

[Suzflee]

We had fantastic experiences trading pins with my two 8 & 10 (and me too!)

It was a great way to keep the youngest occupied while waiting for the parade. Lots of cm's hanging around.

At AK the talking palm tree had a ball with my daughter (aka "Pin Head") with all the pins on her hat.

I remember my d's first trade at MGM on our first day (we were the first ones in the parking lot we were so excited!) with an amazing man from France. He spent half the year making wine and 1/2 the year greeting folks outside MGM. that's how I want to retire!

and lastly, and probably the best, we were waiting for the rope drop at Epcot (we like to be early!) and I called over a CM on a (ooops, those motorized stand up scooters??? brain loss, sorry) to check out his pins, we said no thank you but he went over to another CM who then chose us to be the Family of the Day! We got to open Epcot and received a family fast pass for one attraction to be used all day!

my sisters and I doing a happy dance after a fun trade
(I'm buying them a couple of pins on ebay so they can join the fun!)

 

[DisneyMama27]

We just did the "pin thing" for the first time - our 5th family trip to WDW - and loved it! We've done the autograph books and decided to not do those this time. We had given the kids $50 each for souvenirs - their choice. After DS bought his starter pin lanyard, the girls HAD to get one too! They all had so much fun, and I let them trade however they wanted. They spent all their money on pins and had no regrets (except wanting even more pins). I had to slip away and buy pins to give them for Valentine's Day, April Fool's Day (thought Stitch pins would be fitting for that day!), etc. DH and I had just as much fun watching, although I had to get myself a couple too! DS could no walk past a pin stand without stopping to look, and my 3 somewhat-shy kids all approached CMs with no urging from me. They are so proud of their lanyards and could not wait to take them to show their friends! I'm glad we waited - I think 5 is the youngest age I would do it with, but it was perfect this time!

 

[pindecisive]

We just did the "pin thing" for the first time - our 5th family trip to WDW - and loved it! We've done the autograph books and decided to not do those this time.

I'm not a fan of the autograph books. Takes up more time and such. Though they are cheaper