Pin trading with no lanyard....HOW?

[iluv2go2disney]

On our last trip to Disney my kids really got into pin trading. The problem with this was they didn't like wearing the lanyards. So guess who got to wear them....you guessed right...ME! Well, let me tell ya. I didn't like wearing them either. If you have very many pins, they can get pretty heavy, especially for a kid. I know my kids want to do this again this year because they are already talking about it. What can we use instead of a lanyard?

 

[rwrocksme]

They have bags, too, similar to fanny packs. Also, you can put pins on hats.

 

[iluv2go2disney]

They have bags, too, similar to fanny packs. Also, you can put pins on hats.

Do you know how big the bags are? I remember seeing something but it was kinda big. My DS may wear a hat but I don't think my DD will. Might mess her hair up.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm planning to use the kids' fanny packs.

 

[iluv2go2disney]

I'm planning to use the kids' fanny packs.

Are you putting them in it or pinning them to it? I would love to come up with something that I don't have to carry.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'll make it up as I go along

Since I have most of the summer to put it together, maybe I'll come up with a piece of felt or something that they can put their pins on, and keep inside the fanny packs. (This is the kid's first trip. I'm starting off with 25 pins for 3 kids-- they won't take up THAT much room.)

 

[iluv2go2disney]

I'll make it up as I go along

Since I have most of the summer to put it together, maybe I'll come up with a piece of felt or something that they can put their pins on, and keep inside the fanny packs. (This is the kid's first trip. I'm starting off with 25 pins for 3 kids-- they won't take up THAT much room.)

That sounds like a good idea. Have your kids ever used a fanny pack before, how did it go? Where did you buy them at? I haven't seen them anywhere.

 

[DevilDuckie]

My kid only gets to pin trade if he's willing to wear his own lanyard. He limits the number he has on at once to about 6 so it doesn't get too heavy but we have a firm rule that Mama is NOT a pack animal.

 

[MiniGirl]

I have seen people cut squares of felt and stitch down along one side to make like a book. The pins are then pinned onto the pages. The entire "book" can be kept in a ziplock or something and put in the child's backpack. It isn't fance, but it is easier to carry and easier for the kids to manipulate and see their pins.

 

[Aliceacc]

That sounds like a good idea. Have your kids ever used a fanny pack before, how did it go? Where did you buy them at? I haven't seen them anywhere.

I got each of us one at www.beltoutlet.com The kids ones were $4.95 (pretty tiny, but good for my 2 girls), $5.95 (much bigger for my son) and ours were in the $12 or so range.

This will be the kids' first trip to WDW, so they've never used one. But I wanted a place for their sunglasses and stuff. Otherwise you KNOW who becomes the pack mule!

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd's find the lanyards hot and itchy but they love to pin trade. We found a small pin pouch at DTD. Its about 5" x 3 1/2' and a soft velvety material. It has a small pin trading logo on the front and a corded sinch closure. I got some cute carabiner clips and the girls clip them to a belt loop or put them in a fanny pack.

This was a win/win because they were more comfortable and it was much easier and quicker to do the trade without having to take them off the lanyard. In additoin there was no chance of loosing them off the lanyard because of slipping backs.

My nephew likes to wear his on his Disney hat so that's another option. I usually have a couple loose in my fanny pack as well just in case

TJ

 

[iluv2go2disney]

My dd's find the lanyards hot and itchy but they love to pin trade. We found a small pin pouch at DTD. Its about 5" x 3 1/2' and a soft velvety material. It has a small pin trading logo on the front and a corded sinch closure. I got some cute carabiner clips and the girls clip them to a belt loop or put them in a fanny pack.

This was a win/win because they were more comfortable and it was much easier and quicker to do the trade without having to take them off the lanyard. In additoin there was no chance of loosing them off the lanyard because of slipping backs.

My nephew likes to wear his on his Disney hat so that's another option. I usually have a couple loose in my fanny pack as well just in case

TJ

That pouch sounds cute. I've never seen it before. I think I'm gonna order 2 fanny packs for them to carry their pins and other stuff in. My load is gonna be a lot lighter this year.

 

[hsmamato2]

my kids love to trade..... they wear some faves on a lanyard sometimes, but they also put their traders in the pocket of a waistpack,or my teen keeps them in a zippered pants pocket too- I hate the feeling of lanyards myself,and I keep a trader or 2 in my purse
then they put their 'keepers' on a lanyard,but rarely wear it-every night of vacation they sort and resort which ones they'll take and which ones they'll keep

 

[BeckityBobbidyBoo!]

My dd (11 at the time) chose not to use her lanyard and instead used her purse strap and the front of the purse (heavy cotton/denimy material). She'll probably do the same next trip.
Maybe your kids can rotate pins and just bring 5 or 10 at a time to trade/show off.

 

[skmommy]

We kept the lanyards in quart sized ziplocks in my backpack, mainly because I was afraid that they would lose pins if they wore (and played with) their lanyards. It seemed to work well for us.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

We kept the lanyards in quart sized ziplocks in my backpack, mainly because I was afraid that they would lose pins if they wore (and played with) their lanyards. It seemed to work well for us.

We all have lanyards, and would LIKE to show them off that way... but we've found the pins aren't very secure. We had a near 'tragedy' of our first Pluto pin... (but thanks to an honest CM, we actually backtracked and FOUND IT!!!)

So...what are we doing wrong that the pins are very secure on the lanyards?!!?

 

[zoemurr]

I think most people will tell you that they have lost or almost lost a pin. Especially with the kids banging it on everything. My kids loved showing off their lanyards and trading pins. After the first "pin loss" (as soon as we mentioned to a CM that we were looking for a dropped pin they just gave us a replacement) my mom bought the pin locks. They are pricey, and a bit fussy to use, but we will always use them now.

 

[Leonsmom]

I was thinking of getting my DS5 a thin vest and ironing something on the back that says pintrader or wanna trade? or wanna see my pins?
and keeping the pins on the vest and just have him wear it one night

I am new to pin trading so I am not sure if that is a great idea or not

 

[mommy2hannahgrace]

can someone explain pin trading to me? thanks!!

 

[t_catt11]

Here's a guide to pin trading:

http://www.wdwinsiders.com/view_article.php?articleid=23

A couple of basics:

Cast members will ALWAYS trade with you (if they aren't too busy doing something else) - whether you are a child or adult (unless they are wearing a green lanyard, in which case they only trade with children). The only rules are :

1. The pins you are offering MUST be official Disney pins
2. They cannot take a pin from you if they already have it.
3. They may only trade two pins with you at a given time.

If you have questions, please feel free to post here, or to PM me... I love to talk pin trading!