Should I get my 5 year old involved in Pin collecting??

[NJDisneymom]

Does anyone's kids do this? Do you think 5 1/2 is too young for this? Am I just asking for an expensive hobby?? What do you need to get started? And how exactly does it work... can you just ask any CM wearing a pin to trade with you? Do you trade with other guests in the park??

 

[Lizzybee]

I'm by no means an expert on this, but my son started this "hobby" when we were at Disney a couple of weeks ago. He's ten and he had some spending money so I tried to guide him some but I pretty much let him spend his money as he chose. We found out quickly that if you are going to do this, while the package ones seem pricey, they are a good deal. He got just a plain lanyard cheap and it doesn't have a card or anything to balance the bottom, although OF COURSE they sell $13 charms to hang on the bottom. We also learned buy the cheaper pins unless it's one you MUST have. Cast members have to trade and they sometimes have pins you can't buy called "lanyard pins" or "cast lanyard pins". Several cast members said that if someone wants to trade they have to trade. My son also traded with other kids a couple of times, it's good to supervise this, especially since your son is younger. It can get kind of expensive my son HAD to have the Epcot pin that spins and you can see all of the flags when you spin it. I think that was almost $14. They have pins as cheap as $5.95. I also heard from someone that cast members like the small pins anyway because theirs can get quite heavy. . If you like mingling and chatting wtih people, it's a fun way to have an "excuse" to strick up a conversation. My son has never needed an excuse, but he was in his glory "mingling" with the other pin collectors. He's quite proud of his collection and his memories. Like I said I'm by no means an authority, alot of people know way more than I do, but it was fun for my child.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

My oldest son started pin trading on our trip over this past Christmas. He was just over 4½ and LOVED it. He was constantly on the lookout for cast members to trade with. We bought him a "starter set" lanyard with 4 pins on it (2 different pins with 2 each...one to keep and one to trade). He was very quickly asking for more pins. We had a car with us so one afternoon while my DH and sons took a nap my Mom and I went to one of the character outlets and stocked up on pins to trade. We got them for $1.99 and $2.99 each. Since he was just going to trade them, we weren't terribly picky with them. Before we left we bought a new lanyard too so that we could save the "special ones" on that one. Special ones include his very first pin trade (a "cast lanyard" pinocchio pin ), the ones we buy for us for each trip and any pin he proclaims to be special after the trade.

Pin trading really got him in to interacting with the CMs and he had SO much fun with that. We met so many wonderful CMs this way. It really helped add to the magic for him. He took his lanyard for show and tell at preschool and was SO proud of it. He asks to see it all the time at home now too.

 

[mjmcca]

I have been collecting pins for years long before it became the thing to do. I have a lot of traders. This last trip i got my kids 2 of the lanyard sets and 2 of he large lanyard charms. I let them use my traders for pin tradng. They had a blast. My DS is 4 and DD turned 3 after the trip. I would suggest buying locking pin backs so that your child doesnt lose the pins.

 

[Brina]

when we went a few years ago my boys were just 3. our package came with 2 lanyards, each with 2 pins. Dh and I didn't want to spend a lot on souveniers, and we didn't want to carry a lot of stuff home. We told the boys they could each pick one pin per day and that would be all they were getting. My guys now, 2 years later, love looking at their pins and their autograph books. Overall, I think we spent relatively little on souveniers, didn't have to carry much home, and the things are lasting.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I too would just like to say to get the locking pin backs. There is nothing worse than watching a $10.50 pin fall into the lagoon, aprrox 1 hour after buying it.

I bought mine on Ebay- seller id mmmjcoz They are different than the ones Disney sells, but I got 120 for $36.00, and they work really well.

I have also bought several great lots of pins on Ebay, form several different sellers. The bigger the lot, usually the cheaper per pin. THey are not always the most attractive, but if you are just going to trade them- who cares. I usually find them for under $3.00/pin. Just be sure they are not Sedesma pins. THey are form Spain, and cheaply made.

My 9 y.o. loves to pin trade. This year her 6 y.o. sister is joining in. YIKES!! We have no chance of getting by a CM with a lanyard now.

 

[isla bonita]

I think it is an inexpensive way to take a little magic home with you and not have the stuff take up to much room. My son has been collecting for a few years now. To me it is a lot better then stuffed animals that add to our families allergies. I sneak and purchase them and put them in his Easter basket or Xmas stocking. A great little gift that he so enjoys. I don't think he could part with a single one.

 

[NJDisneymom]

I have also bought several great lots of pins on Ebay, form several different sellers. The bigger the lot, usually the cheaper per pin. THey are not always the most attractive, but if you are just going to trade them- who cares. I usually find them for under $3.00/pin. Just be sure they are not Sedesma pins. THey are form Spain, and cheaply made.

Aside from Sedesma pins are there any that can't be traded at Disney??? I am going to start looking on ebay, to see if we can at least get a few to trade, I know the ones we buy in the park are going to be ones dd won't want to give up. Thanks for all the tips!!! I saw a Toy Story lanyard set that I think I will buy my 2 year old also, but won't worry about trading much for him this trip.

 

[lbgraves]

Last year when I decided to let DS 6 & DD 4 start trading pin on our DCL cruise I bought a bunch of pins for them online at disneystore.com's semi annual pin sale. They just had one in February. You can get the sets for 75% off and sometimes even free shipping so I ended up paying $2 a pin. Last year they had the advent sets and a couple of music collection ones. The CMs were excited to get some of them since they weren't common and the kids traded them for some GREAT pins! I ordered them more this year to trade on our next cruise. Kellogg's also has a promo in the spring where you send in 3 certificates from their boxes to get a free pin that is disney & can be traded. They had 5 of those to trade too. All I had to buy them was a lanyard and a name pin to secure it with.

The best thing to come from their trading was by DD came out of her shell since she had to approach the CM to trade. She gained some confidence too and LOVES her collection of princess pins.

 

[we3disneygo]

first you buy a lanyard and pins that you like. you can also buy a book to keep thhe pins you dont want to trade in you trade with people in the hotel and cm.i am 11 years old and when i was five was the first time i went to disney

 

[va32h]

My daughter started pin trading at 7. Her lanyard was free (my husband is the Army and got some free "Go Army" ones from the recruiters). We all wear them to hold our passes, fastpasses, etc.

I bought a "lot" of pins on ebay for her to start trading with. Once we got to the parks, her dad got waaaaay into the pin collecting and trading. At Animal Kingdom he bought himself one of those safari hats with pins on them....and the next thing I know - father and daughter are stalking every pin stall in the parks, and trading with cast members left and right.

I only let dd trade with cast members, though. I just worry that someone will take advantage of her.

My son is 5, and has no interest in the pins however.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Aside from Sedesma pins are there any that can't be traded at Disney??? I am going to start looking on ebay, to see if we can at least get a few to trade, I know the ones we buy in the park are going to be ones dd won't want to give up. Thanks for all the tips!!! I saw a Toy Story lanyard set that I think I will buy my 2 year old also, but won't worry about trading much for him this trip.

From what I've read, some of the cast members, will trade sedesma pins, some will not. They just look, feel, and are much lower quality than the real thing.

 

[MrsPete]

In real life, I don't think pin trading is as big a thing as it appears on these boards. I've been to Disney multiple times since this "fad" began, and I see a few people wearing pin laynards, but I"ve never actually seen anyone trading pins. I've seen them for sale in the stores and the resorts, but people aren't crowded around the displays.

I think the people who are "into it" are very into it, but it isn't like everyone in the parks is running around paying attention to pins instead of Splash Mountain.

 

[ducklite]

My nephew was 4 1/2 and we tried to get him interested, he was too shy to try to trade with the CM's, although trading with me worked fine for him He also didn't quite understand the whole trading thing.

I'd say to show him the pins and see if he is at all interested. If not, wait until he's a bit older.

Anne

 

[LLagow]

My DD5 and DS5 both started pin trading when they were 3. They both love it and it has been a lot of fun for the whole family
LLagow

 

[LynnTH]

We got into pin trading a bit by accident. We were there last year and my kids were 5 and almost 3. We were at Downtown Disney and in one of the Sports stores and my kids were getting a bit tired and wanting to get going. The CM could sense this and offered each of my kids a free pin off her lanyard - she let them pick whatever one they wanted. I thought that was so nice. So, they thought they were pretty cool and we put them on their hats as we didn't have any lanyards. I explained to the kids that they could keep that pin or if they found a CM with pins on they could trade that pin for a different one if they found one they liked better. So, we were out and about the next day and they found a CM to trade with and the CM would not take their pins and again gave both of my kids whatever pin they wanted. So, now they had 2 each. We did end up buying a lanyard at the hotel and a few more pins. They thought it was fun and I will bring them with when we go next year.

 

[Magic2000]

My DD loves pin trading!!! I usually get her some of the pins from pinshoppe.net (and give them as surprises!) and she trades for which ever ones she wants. She loves looking at pins and talking with the CMs.

Last summer, we were staying at Wilderness Lodge and she looked through the "trading book" every day!

Its a lot of fun!

 

[jenr812]

This seems like a neat thing, but I haven't decided whether to try it yet or not. I may wait til our next trip Thanks for all the info!

 

[homedad]

I hate to be so ignorant but I've been reading about these pins and think my DS4 might enjoy this during our Oct, can someone suggest a website that I can look at to check out what I may be getting into?..thank you in advance.. PS don't tell my wife as she's not a collector

 

[MinnieM3]

I've been collecting pins for a couple of years now. DS5 and a half just got into it this year. He really does enjoy it. We only trade with CM's. If a CM has a GREEN lanyard they will ONLY trade with children.

What's so hard for me is DS's taste in pins.... I practically bite my tongue off at some of his choices!! I'm thinking, "Don't trade that one...it's so cool...and you're trading it for that ugly pin!" I do usually catch myself!LOL