Question on pin trading

[CindyH]

I bought some pins for our kids and their friends to trade. I've never done this before, and don't want to look totally stupid doing this. How does it work? Can I walk up to any cast member and ask to trade, or are there certain uniforms to look for? Do I have to wear my pin on a lanyard, or can I just keep it in my purse? Anything else I should know, pin-etiquette-wise?

 

[Queenbillabong]

You can go up to any CM wearing a lanyard and ask to trade. I think it's best to have your pins out as well (although we were told by one CM that they are not their pins anyway so they really don't care what pin they get in exchange - I guess as long as it's a Disney pin). You can trade up to two pins per person. Some people are VERY pushy about this and it can be frustrating for little kids - some adults are very intense about pin trading and are not too good on the wait your turn plan!

 

[CindyH]

Some people are VERY pushy about this and it can be frustrating for little kids - some adults are very intense about pin trading and are not too good on the wait your turn plan!

So your recommendation for little kids would be to find a CM who's by him/herself?

 

[Queenbillabong]

We had no problems at all finding CMs to trade with this past week - they are all over the place and very happy to explain things if you're not sure. My son had a blast doing this.

The only bad experience was when he went up to two CMs who were trading with another person (an adult) and he waited patiently, then a group of about four more adults (who obviously knew the person who was trading), came up and just budged right in front and were very forceful about it - grabbed the lanyard, asked why there were no mystery trades, etc. Didn't even care that there was a child who had already been waiting patiently for his turn! Kind of scary to me.

BTW - look for the mystery traders. This will be a pin that is backwards (so the back is out front). You can't see what the pin is, but it's usually something good. My son loved looking for the mystery pins and he got some really good CM only pins (ones you cannot purchase (except maybe on eBay ).

 

[CindyH]

Thanks for all the info!

 

[justliketink]

A topic dear to my heart. My three kids started pin trading in 2001, I still have their "pin trader badges with their pictures" that they made in Ca Adventure at the photo booth. Probably can't do that anymore.

The pins are indeed owned by Disney and cast members are just trading them for the Mouse. If anyone that is an employee of the park, whether working at a ride or wearing a business suit and walking along the street, is wearing pins they are willing to trade.

The employees either wear them around their necks or on a fanny pack that looks like a square piece of fabric hanging around their waist. You walk up and say, "Would you like to trade pins?" or "Can I see your pins" and they will show you them. You can ask for up to 2 of their pins and you must trade one pin for one pin. The back of your pin must have "disney" on it. You can either be wearing your pins or have them in a pocket or backpack. My little boy who is now 15 refuses to wear a lanyard but still loves trading pins, so he carries them in his pocket.

Some lanyards, they used to be teal blue, are only for children. If an employee is wearing a teal blue lanyard, he or she will only trade with kids. They will tell you if you ask them by mistake. No big deal.

My kids love to look for the Cast Lanyard pins. They have little hidden mickeys on them and you can only find them by trading with a cast member (but I think they are changing this rule and you will be able to buy lanyard pins, but I'm not totally sure). And my kids like to check the back of the pin after they trade to see if it is a limited edition (only a limited number of them were made) because they think it is special. Pins usually come in a series, so there will be a set of them that are similiar. For instance there is a set of pins that look like the Disneyland trash cans, each pin resembles a trash can from a section of the park.

Cast members don't have to trade, they only wear pins if they like trading with guests, so it is usually a great experience. And if you are looking for a pin to complete a series, mention it. I've had cast members reach into a pocket and pull out the missing pin that we've been trying to find.

Have fun!!

 

[CindyH]

Thanks, justliketink! Your tips are great - although I think our kids will trade just based on the characters they like (Tigger and Pooh).

It was just something different and fun that I thought the kids might like to do! Hopefully we won't get run over by over-enthusiastic pin traders!

 

[justliketink]

I bet your kids will love it! Mine really love it. California Adventure is a great place to trade pins because there seem to be more employees wearing pins and less people trading overall.

I think the vast majority of pin traders wait patiently until you are finished trading and I know that most cast members wouldn't even allow someone to try to trade while you are still trading.

 

[pixiewings71]

If someone tries to cut in front of you or your child, please remind them that you are there! I HATE it when people try to cut my kids or myself. Especially when they are adults. Most CM's won't let other cut though, they will mention that they are already trading and that you are after x person. At least that is our experience. It is pin for pin but your pin must have the Disney logo on it to trade. There are some cheaper brands that they are not supposed to accept as traders but they do, we have traded for 2 Sedesma pins and they are not supposed to be tradable in the parks. You don't have to wear your pins on a lanyard but it is a lot easier to trade if yours are right there, but that is entirely up to you.
Biggest thing to remember is to have fun!! And yes, CA seems to have a good pin selection, we made some amazing trades there last weekend!

 

[CindyH]

Thanks again, everyone! I like the suggestion of doing the trading at DCA, it will be more fun if the kids aren't being shoved or rushed.

I went home last night to look at the pins I bought off ebay - they all have the Disney stamp in the back, as well as the mickey shaped rubber thing that protects the pin. I also found a couple of pins shaped like a bus, from when I went to Orlando for a business conference and took the Disney shuttle. Can I trade those pins (the bus ones) as well? Thanks!

 

[Queenbillabong]

As long as it's a Disney pin, it can be traded. That being said - the very first time my DS traded (about five years ago), he traded and got a Sedesma pin. This time while we were there, not one CM looked at the back of a pin to make sure it was Disney (they all were though).

 

[pixiewings71]

Just look for the Disney copyright logo and you should be fine, unless they are Sedesma, then CM's are not supposed to take them...Like I said, they do but they aren't supposed to.