Pin Trading - take the plunge with my 4 yr old?

[WDWLinda]

Hi Everyone,
I've read a lot about pin trading lately and briefly explained it to my 4 yr old son. He sounded excited about it, but I'm not too sure if he understands that when you trade something, you don't get it back. He has one pin and I'd buy him a starter kit (where can you get them? Can I get one at a Disney store before we go?), plus I'd get some off of ebay, if I thought he'd like it.

For those of you with little ones, do they like pin trading, or is 4 yr.s too young? I can just see us spending FOREVER with someone while he tries to make up his mind...then crying when he has to leave without both pins.

Please let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Linda

 

[MN Dis Fans]

You can buy starter kits at the pin trading carts. They will be nice for your Ds because the kits have 2 each of 3 different types of pin. That way he can keep one set of three and trade the other.

 

[fizz13]

I tried this with DS3 and DD5 in january and the verdict: they loved it!! I did stock up on ebay so they started off with about 10 each and we bought starter kit lanyards when we got there. They started straight away with the CMs at DTD and never looked back. There was no tears and we said it was like getting a present every day. The CMs are so friendly with the kids that if they are reluctant to trade, no one cares that they change their mind. They even got some secret pins from a CM who was hiding them inside out on her lanyard. Turns out they are highly collectable.

Quick note: do not try and steer them toward trading certain pins. They will make some odd choices and you will see some beautys traded away, but they need to be in control of it themselves so the whole thing is a positive experience for them. Also, the lanyards may become hot and uncomfortable as the day goes on, so be prepared to wear them for them if it gets too much. Keep it fun and don't force it. Enjoy, its a great way to make new disney friends

Claire xx

 

[WDWLinda]

Thanks to both of you for the quick replies and the info.

When I buy pins on ebay, what should I look for, and what's a good price? If I search on "Disney pins", it comes up with individual pins.

Thanks again!

~Linda

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Linda,
When buying on ebay, watch out for the "2000" pins. There are lots of these being sold. They are official Disney pins, but one of the rules of trading with a CM is that you cannot give them a pin that they already have on their lanyard. When we were there in August, almost every CM had one and some had two of these pins on their lanyards. They were all over the place.

The other pins to watch out for are the Sedesma pins. These are inexpensive pins Disney pins that are made in Spain. Disney has gone back and forth on whethor they will accept them for trading. They are currently suppose to be accepting them, but some CM's will give a hard time. They are nice pins. I bought a whole bunch before I knew better and some of them my son just won't trade anyway.

One thing which has already been said, is that children are so funny when trading. Sometimes there is just no rhyme and reason in what they want or what they want to trade. I actually bought the more expensive pin back that you need a screwy thing to take the pins off which I use on the pins she is not allowed to trade.

It is fun especially after you have done the initial trading of the pins you want to trade and the children then need to start making decisions on what to keep and what to trade.

Have fun.

 

[daisyduck123]

If you look at certain boxes of Kellogg's cereals, there is a coupon to clip on the side - save 3 and turn them in when you get to Disney for a FREE pin. (If you're not going to be in Disney for the next 12 months, then there is an address where you can mail the 3 coupons away & receive your free pin in the mail).

My kids saved many of these coupons last year & we turned them in at Pin Traders in DTD. They each got several free pins..they were all the same but that didn't matter, as they traded them later that day.

We're doing this again for our trip next May.
I've been buying lots of cereal & making lots of Rice Krispies treats.

 

[Aneille]

My kids did some pin trading on their last trip. They were 3 and 2. I handled the 2 year olds pins but she picked what she wanted or I just picked her out Pooh characters since they are her favorites!

My 3 year old loved it. She had no problem understanding that they were gone for good. Sometime on the trip I got some of the locking backs for 2 reasons:

1. So her favorites didn't fall off. Being that young she was all over the place and so were the pins!

2. We talked in the morning or at the end of the day about which ones she didn't want to trade and I locked them. That way I could tell her which ones were tradable.

As far as no rhyme or reason my daughter traded a pin she really liked for this pin of a guy with a basketball. I don't know who the guy is, dd doesn't know who the guy is, and the CM that was wearing the pin at the pin cart had no idea either. She still likes the pin!

 

[Forevryoung]

I have the email address of someone I used to buy pins from- I got their name through the boards. She sells on Ebay but we didnt do it through Ebay. PM me if you want her name.

It was 2.25 or 2.50 a pin and then shipping. She was fast and I would definitely use her again. I didn't get to pick out the pins but she sent a mix of everything (nothing was the same).

 

[mcbj]

We started a pin collection for DS 4 on his last trip, we never traded any, but thought it would be a nice thing to start/add to with each trip. We got a "My First Trip", "2003", "WL". Now he can add on to his "collection" this trip. I'm sure it will be fun for him to look back in twenty years and have a record of his trips and where he has stayed.

Can't wait to start a collection for DD 1.5 this trip.

The Disney pins are very nice quality.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Thanks to both of you for the quick replies and the info.

When I buy pins on ebay, what should I look for, and what's a good price? If I search on "Disney pins", it comes up with individual pins.

Thanks again!

~Linda

I am just getting DS 6 into it (for Christmas to get ready for a Jan. trip) and I know he is going to love it. I have bought lots of non-Sedesma pins on eBay for less than $2.00/pin (which is a GREAT price). Search under "disney pin lot" or "lot disney pins" and you will get tons of hits.

 

[WDWLinda]

Thanks everyone for your help...looks like we'll take the plunge now when we go Oct. 23rd. I'm sure now my son will have a great time doing this. I think we'll start "pretend" trading now - he loves to play "store", now we can add a new twist.

Thanks again - you guys are great!

~Linda