Pin?

[PrincessParty]

We are going to WDW in 5 days, shhh it is a surprise for the kids. One guy at DH's work gave him $$$ to purchase pins. We have never collected pins. Where do we get them? Which ones would you choose? We are going to MVMCP so we will get one there, but where? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[makinorlando]

We are going to WDW in 5 days, shhh it is a surprise for the kids. One guy at DH's work gave him $$$ to purchase pins. We have never collected pins. Where do we get them? Which ones would you choose? We are going to MVMCP so we will get one there, but where? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You can find pins EVERYWHERE just about in WDW. Some of the larger locations are under the Hat in MGM, Uptown Jewelers on Main St and Pin Trading store in Frontierland in MK, There is a location in EPCOT just past Spaceship Earth before the fountain and a big Pin Trading store in DTD near Once Upon A Toy. You can also find smaller selections of pins in just about every store, including the resorts.

There are pins for EVEYRTHING. You should find out from the guy at work if there is a theme or character for the pins you are buying for him - there are just so many - characters, movies, rides, events, etc.

The pins at MVMCP can be purchased once the party starts at Exposition Hall right at the front of the park - you go all the way to the back right of the store, and also at the Pin Trading store in Frontierland.

Here is the "official" Disney Pin trading site and you can look at the pins -
http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/index - of course not all locations have all the pins.

The other fun part of collecting pins is trading them. You can trade with Disney CM for the pins on their lanyards. Some of these pins are pins that you can only get from CMs -they are not for purchase in the parks. My DD has a great time doing this, and it is fun to come home each time with several new pins without spending money! Of course you need to make an investment to buy a few pins to begin trading with.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[lovethattink]

The newer pins that makinorlando is talking about, the pins you can't buy, but can trade for...they have a hidden mickey head on the pin making them easier to spot. My suggestion to people just starting pin trading, is to buy what you like, and trade for what you like. I usually suggest your favorite character, or maybe a pin of the resort where you stayed.

Some of the stores and certain guest services have pin trading books behind the counter. Mousegears on occasion puts out a trading board where you can trade 2 of your pins for 2 of their pins.

I also suggest to newbies that it's easier to trade with a CM than it is another guest. The CM will accept any pin that fits Disney pin trading criteria. Another guest has the right to refuse a trade.

There is a list of bad pins on dizpins that are circulating the parks and are counterfeit. I discovered the list too late. My son who is a seasoned pin trader (since 1999) traded for 2 pins off cm lanyards. He knew they were LE pins. When he got home and looked them up on pinpics, he found out that the pins were counterfeit.

The link to the counterfeit pins can be found on Dizpins. http://www.dizpins.com/pinventory/wanted_not.htm (these are only the top 10 offenders, unfortunately there are more, and they seem to be listed frequently on ebay)

 

[bevgray]

For more help in pin collecting, be sure to check the Collectors forum here on the DIS. A lot of veteran pin collectors there will be happy to answer your questions.

 

[crazy4dizney]

You don't find the pins, they find you.

 

[PrincessParty]

Thank you guys for all the help. DH did ask the guy when the guy gave him the $$$ and the guy said whatever DDs choose. Will see. Thanks again!