Starting my kids off with pin trading

[fizz13]

Hi there! I would like to start my kids, DD5 and DS3, on pin trading when we go to WDW in January. I have been buying a few cheap pins for them to start with. My main question is about lanyards/ holding the pins. Do the kids need a specific color lanyardand what is correct etiquette for asking to trade? Any pointers on general rules for a newbie would be most grateful.

Much pixie dust,
Claire

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Why do you want to do such a terrrible thing to your children???!!

Actually, I would suggest that you consider it pin "collecting" and use the trading aspect for them to add to their collections.

Disney has a very good FAQ where you can get a lot of good information and advice. Partway down, they have a link to an Acrobat/Adobe file on Pin Trading Etiquette.

As far as lanyards, you can get "starter sets" at WDW which include a lanyard with at least four pins, two to keep and two to trade. Or you can use a soft material lanyard that is comfortable and can be used to hold pins. My primary trading lanyard is one I purchased at a US Capitol Gift Shop.

I would also suggest that you keep a close eye on their trades; if they get a pin they really like either keep it off their lanyard (for framing or something on return home) or make sure that they don't trade it away.

One of the most important rules is that there is no requirement that any guest trade any pins. A guest may turn down any trade they are not interested in. Only the CMs have to make trades provided they are within the guidelines.

Mike

 

[fizz13]

Thankyou so much, this is exactly what I was looking for, and actually trading my kids for pins sounds quite good some days LOL.
Much pixie dust,
Claire

 

[LLagow]

My DS4 and DD4 started pin trading last year at age 3 and they love it. I got them each one of the starter sets (girl pink with princess pins, boy blue with toy story pins). I mainly got them the pins because their older cousins were pin trading and they wanted to have "necklaces" like their cousins. The wore them for 2 days without making any trades but one day a CM we were talking to asked them if they wanted to trade. The light went on!! Suddenly my twins were wild for pin trading they would stop ever CM they say to trade. I really thought they were too young to understand and enjoy it but boy was I wrong. We are getting ready for a trip in 2 weeks (Dec 17th-22nd) and they have been sitting around picking out their traders and keepers for days!!

 

[pandamom]

My dd4 and dd6 are hooked too! I was really surprised at how much they enjoyed it -- I think we spent just as much time pin trading as we did standing in line for rides! And now they save up their allowance money to buy pins instead of toys. One problem we had with the lanyards was with pin backs coming off. I purchased a small pin bag (size of a very small purse) to use next trip instead of the lanyards. Hope you and your family have a fantastic time!