Pin Trading

[bord1niowa]

Some of the CMs will also put a "special" pin backwards on their lanyard, and you can only see the pin back to know it's there. You can trade for it but they do not show it to you ahead of time. These are usually pretty nice , bigger pins I have found. You just have to take your chances it's something you like, but then again, it will probably be an easy one to trade off too. We bought 2 sets of the same pins that are about 3 inches long with Cinderella and a hanging pillow with the glass slipper on it from ebay and with shipping they cost us about $2.50 each. We had these last year too and they traded with everybody Quickly! Some people were amazed we were willing to trade them. We just pulled out another one and went on to the next person...lol. We had a blast trading, sometimes giving kids much better pins than what they gave us, but if it was something they really wanted, what the heck! Have fun!

 

[kimsuenew]

Pin trading is just so much fun!

 

[hoffman1]

We always find the best pins come from Scoop!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

our 5 yr old is crazy about it and isnt too picky about what she trades, its fun to watch

 

[becca-becca]

Is there a schedule of when Scoop gives his talks? How do you find him? Do you just bump in to him by chance?

Also, are the pins the CM's own personal pins, or do they have a big stockpile off stage that belongs to WDW that they can keep replenishing their lanyard with? If they are their own personal pins, how come they trade away such good ones?

 

[kimsuenew]

OK... duh on my part! Who is Scoop? Where do we meet him? What kind of talks does he give? Thanks!

 

[kimsuenew]

Wow thanks for answering my questions!! That can be VERY addicting no doubt.. I would spend all my time searching for CM and trading pins.. LOL

You are very welcome! Have fun!

 

[Donald is #1]

Also, are the pins the CM's own personal pins, or do they have a big stockpile off stage that belongs to WDW that they can keep replenishing their lanyard with?

No the CM's aren't trading their personnal pins (unless they want to I guess). They have places in the CM only areas where the CMs can get pins to trade. They showed us the MK one when I was on the KTTK tour last May.

 

[hoffman1]

Scoop Sanderson is one of the Main Street characters and is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He is the "town reporter." He used to give pin talks where he would tell about the different types of pins and how they were made. He also would talk about pin trading and play pin games. He would usually have some special pins in his bag. His pin talks were discontinued but you can still find him on Main Street and if you ask nicely he might play secret pin trader with you. We make a point of finding him each year when we go. It is amazing that he can remembers us from one year to the next considering the thousands of people he meets. This past year for the Sept. pin event they had a Mickey as Scoop jumbo pin. We were not able to go to the event but were able to get one of the pins and had Scoop sign it for us! We "won" a pin game and he gave my husband a special Artist Proof Expedition Everest pin.

 

[kimsuenew]

Scoop Sanderson is one of the Main Street characters and is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He is the "town reporter." He used to give pin talks where he would tell about the different types of pins and how they were made. He also would talk about pin trading and play pin games. He would usually have some special pins in his bag. His pin talks were discontinued but you can still find him on Main Street and if you ask nicely he might play secret pin trader with you. We make a point of finding him each year when we go. It is amazing that he can remembers us from one year to the next considering the thousands of people he meets. This past year for the Sept. pin event they had a Mickey as Scoop jumbo pin. We were not able to go to the event but were able to get one of the pins and had Scoop sign it for us! We "won" a pin game and he gave my husband a special Artist Proof Expedition Everest pin.

WOW! Thank you for such an enjoyable and informative reply! He sounds like a really neat fella... we will have to make a point to say hello!

 

[wilde_oscar]

to semi answer the question of how to get the "best" pins... early in the day is better, but CMs come on shift at all hours of the day that would have "fresh" pins.

CMs behind the food counters where they are often busy, watch for what is on their lanyards as the probably don't get traded with as often.

Management... I have had great luck in trading with managers, but I strike up a conversation about what do they do, what are they in charge of, how long with the company... for my birthday last year, I asked to see his pins and said, oh well not any of the ones I am looking for, he asked me what pin I was looking for, I told him, and he said, I have that in my desk drawer. We were walking into Buzz Lightyear at the time, he said he would be waiting for us with the pin when we come out, and sure enough he was.

anyway, ya get more flies with honey than with pushing your way though the crowd screaming about how much you paid to stay on the concierge floor.