Pin trading

[bananapepper]

I've read that pin trading isn't very big in DL, is that true? It's something my kids are REALLY looking forward to but I've read you really have to hunt for pins there and that there aren't many people trading. That DW is much better for trading with cast members and such.

What are your experiences with pin trading at DL vs DW?

 

[dieumeye]

I don’t know how it is at WDW, but at DL there are cast with pin lanyards, and many counters have a pin board for trading.

There are also occasionally traders that meet up just inside the entrance to Frontierland, although I don’t know if that’s something that is prearranged.

I don’t know what a hard-core trader expects, but there are plenty of opportunities for someone who is ultra casual about it like I am.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

My granddaughter also loves pin trading. She trades with cast members and a lot of the shops have boards at the cash register. A few years ago, we brought her best friend with us. When the CM found out that my granddaughter's friend's name was Aurora, she gave her a Sleeping Beauty pin even though Aurora didn't have any to trade. Pixie dusted on her first ever trip to DL.

My daughter and her BF and I also did some pin trading on our adults-only trip last year, and it was a lot of fun!

 

[bananapepper]

That makes me really happy thank you!

 

[Iceman93]

I agree that it's not as big of a "thing" at DLR as at WDW, but there are still plenty of opportunities. Sometimes in shops you have to ask if they have a pin board, which they will then gladly pull out. And fewer CMs wear pin lanyards, but there are still many that do.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Keep in mind that pin trading can be dramatically different post-virus. It's completely unavailable in Asia and very limited in WDW right now.

Traditionally, more CMs wear lanyards at WDW but there's still a decent amount of pin boards at DL. There's a lot more locals at DL who have more specific tastes in pins than the average pin trading tourist at WDW which is partly why there's less trading. But this also means that on average, you'd expect higher quality pins on a DL CM lanayard than a WDW CM lanyard. My experience with traders at Frontierland and the Grand Californian is that they're not the easiest to engage with if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[pindecisive]

Hi hi! Huge pin trader here. I'd say it depends on the year you go. DL can have lows sometimes for Pin Trading, 2015 was a particularly bad year due to Vinylmation, but 2019 I found to be perfectly fine. There are more "secret" boards at WDW, but I've always primarily pin traded at DL and found it enjoyable. Hot spots for Limited Edition pins to purchase are the pin trading cart at the end of Main Street and Westward Ho. The Mouselets have a great list online of all the "Secret" boards at DL and WDW, and before our trip to WDW last year I made sure to review all their lists so I knew where to go.