Trading Vinylmation?? Help!

[texasteacher35]

I have purchased the 3" vinylmation figures to trade at WDW...I talked to my girlfriend about it on the phone yesterday, but can anyone tell me exactly how this goes down?
Where/ What types of places can my DS5 trade?
How many times per store can you trade?
Is it always for a mystery box?
Are there always 24 to choose from?
What series is the current one?
Do they only trade and give back the current series, or do they sometimes have other leftovers from back series?
Anything else you can tell me would be great!

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[t_catt11]

I'm not a Vinylmation trader, so I can't say for sure what the current series is, etc, and I'm not 100% certain how many boxes are available for trade at a given time.

I do know that you can trade Vinylmation at pretty much every place that sells them. I believe that the limit is once per store per visit, but the best idea is to ask - they may let you trade again if you are unhappy with the trade.

If I understand correctly, there are typically three vinylmations in clear boxes that you can trade for, or you can opt to pick one of the numbered boxes in a blind (mystery) trade. Some CMs may peek into those boxes to give a hint, and some may be willing to steer you toward trades that you might like if you tell them what you are looking for, but they don't have to do so.

I believe that it is indeed possible to get leftovers from previous series - especially, of course, if someone has traded an older one to them.


Have fun! And if you need pin trading advice, I'm your man.

 

[FigNewton]

I have purchased the 3" vinylmation figures to trade at WDW...I talked to my girlfriend about it on the phone yesterday, but can anyone tell me exactly how this goes down?
Where/ What types of places can my DS5 trade?
How many times per store can you trade?
Is it always for a mystery box?
Are there always 24 to choose from?
What series is the current one?
Do they only trade and give back the current series, or do they sometimes have other leftovers from back series?
Anything else you can tell me would be great!

Thanks!!!!!!!

You can trade at many different gift shops around the resort. There are lists here and there but unless you are setting out to do a full day of trading exclusively they aren't very useful. The best approach is to take a few traders with you anytime you are out and be on the lookout for trading stations. Even in a place where trading occurs, it's not always available.

Some places have 24 slot blind trading boxes, some have window boxes to trade from, many have both. The general rule is supposed to be one trade from the big blind box and one from the clear box at each location each day, though you may find CMs who are a little lax about that rule.

You will mostly find figures from currently available series but not always. People have been known to find retired figures in the trading boxes. Chasers too.

There are a LOT of series currently available. Disney has kinda been going overboard lately.

For more info on VM see vinylnation.net and also check out the Disney Parks Blog. There have been some decent entries on the parks blog about trading.

 

[texasteacher35]

FigNewton- I bought 11 on the disney store website...they had some series 3 that were on clearance for 5.99...so I thought that would be good for DS5 to start with...he may like some of them and want to keep them, and I am sure at least half of them he will want to trade! So, I could get a used one?? Or are they all new in the box?

When we trade, do we trade the box, too, or just the figure?

Thanks t_catt11, we may be trading pins, too! I have to see if DS5 wants to do that, too! LOL What's a good starter set of pins??

 

[texasteacher35]

What's a chaser????

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I do know that you can trade them in the store by the Art Institute (or whatever its called) in DHS. We saw a couple trade 2 there - one was definitely out of the "mystery" box.

 

[Victoria3]

Here's a list of places that trade.

Disneyland® Resort

Downtown Disney® District and Resorts
D-Street
World of Disney® Store
Disney's Paradise Pier® Hotel - Mickey's In Paradise

Disneyland® Park
Emporium
Disneyana
The Star Trader
Le Bat En Rouge
Disney Showcase
Disney Clothiers
Gag Factory
Westward Ho Trading Co.
Adventureland® Bazaar

Disney's California Adventure® Park
Greetings from California
Engin Ears Toys
Off the Page
P.T. Flea Market
Sideshow Shirts
Tower Hotel Gifts
Walt Disney World® Resort


Downtown Disney® Area, Resorts and Other
D-Street
World of Disney® Store
Disney's Pin Traders
Art of Disney
Once Upon A Toy
DisneyQuest

ALL Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels
Disney Cruise Line® - Disney Wonder and Disney Magic
ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex
Disney Earport and Magic of Disney at Orlando International Airport

Magic Kingdom® Park
Emporium
Frontierland Trading Post
Uptown Jewelers
Space Mountain Arcade
Merchants of Venus

Epcot®
Art of Disney
MouseGear
Pin Central
Club Cool
ImageWorks
Disney Traders (at World Showcase Entrance)
Guest Relations

Disney's Hollywood Studios™
Mickey's of Hollywood
Tower Hotel Gifts
Beverly Sunset Sweet Spells
Animation Gallery
Sorcerer's Hat Shop
Stage 1 Company Store

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Island Mercantile
The Outpost Shop
Disney Outfitters
Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures
Dino Institute Shop
Serka Zong Bazaar

This site should help you get started.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/index.html

 

[Spart02]

The ones that are in the trading boxes are used. They are other ones that people like you are giving up to try for a different one. You do not keep the box. Most come with a little trading card and you CAN trade the card, but you don't have to. You may or may not get a card when you trade.

There are hidden boxes (24 count) that you just walk up to the counter and give them the one you want to trade and tell them the number you would like. Then they pull it out of the box and you get to see what you got! Also at the counters are two clear boxes where you can see exactly what you are trading.

The CM's are very nice to little kids who are trading and sometimes "guide" them a little if the family seems to want a little help. They were good about looking for girly ones for my little girl or more boy-ish ones for the boys. Some CM's are a little tighter with the rules though, so if you don't like what you got, each person in your party can trade. You can switch to another family member and try again, or simply go to a different shop and try again.

A chaser is a secret Vinylmation in each series. They are not pictured on the outside of the box and are a surprise. There is only one chaser per case, so they are pretty rare. Also, there are SO many trading spots. They are basically in almost every store that sells them. They really were everywhere when we were there in October!

We love Vinylmations and just bought a cheap case from Disney for trading on our next trip in January. As far as what series are available right now, I can't tell you. But there are usually at least 5 different ones available...for example Muppets, Toy Story, Urban, etc. Have fun with it!

 

[texasteacher35]

Thanks, Victoria3...I am printing that out! LOL

Good info, Spart02! Thanks! I just bought 11 on the disney website, so we will have some to start with! Do you know any good websites to get some starters cheap?

Thanks to everyone so far who has helped me!!!!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

My girls, ages 8 & 9, really got into this when we were staying at Boardwalk this past December. The manager of the gift shop there explained to us how it works (exactly as above posters describe), but then he also asked my girls who their favorite characters were.

Right after his explanation, we bought two...my younger daughter got a really cute Minnie Mouse-looking one but my older daughter got this bizarre looking one. Well, wouldn't you know it...there was the clear box at the register with a Tinkerbell-looking vinylmation. The manager totally went back and put this in there for her! I was so impressed.

Another time, we were trading at Mousegears in Epcot and they had the black box with the 24 spots . While my girls were trying to decide on a number, the CM was also asking them what they were interested in. Would you know it...they both ended up with ones they loved!

So yes, they are able to trade, but I think the CMs 'help' out a lot so the kids walk away happy!

 

[texasteacher35]

My girls, ages 8 & 9, really got into this when we were staying at Boardwalk this past December. The manager of the gift shop there explained to us how it works (exactly as above posters describe), but then he also asked my girls who their favorite characters were.

Right after his explanation, we bought two...my younger daughter got a really cute Minnie Mouse-looking one but my older daughter got this bizarre looking one. Well, wouldn't you know it...there was the clear box at the register with a Tinkerbell-looking vinylmation. The manager totally went back and put this in there for her! I was so impressed.

Another time, we were trading at Mousegears in Epcot and they had the black box with the 24 spots . While my girls were trying to decide on a number, the CM was also asking them what they were interested in. Would you know it...they both ended up with ones they loved!

So yes, they are able to trade, but I think the CMs 'help' out a lot so the kids walk away happy!

That's awesome that the CM's helped out!!!! I love to hear that! My DS5 is going to have a blast doing this!!!! I appreciate all the info! This is seriously going to be fun!

Thanks to Cinderumbrella for even telling me about it yesterday! Love her!

 

[Spart02]

Yes, there were VERY FEW CM's that wouldn't work with the kids or adults. Most of the CM's were so sweet and nice and made it a wonderful experience.
Really, the disneystore.com is the only place that I have found them cheap. You have to watch the site closely and just jump on them when you see them cheap.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

That's awesome that the CM's helped out!!!! I love to hear that! My DS5 is going to have a blast doing this!!!! I appreciate all the info! This is seriously going to be fun!

Thanks to Cinderumbrella for even telling me about it yesterday! Love her!

aw shucks!

He's going to love it! DS trades 12-15 times per day- he just loves the thrill of not knowing what he is going to get next. We usually have 4-5 with us on any given trip so he can trade until he finds something he wants to keep.

As for finding them "on the cheap" I have never done better than the $5.99 sale on disneyshopping.com (which is 40% off).

 

[texasteacher35]

aw shucks!

He's going to love it! DS trades 12-15 times per day- he just loves the thrill of not knowing what he is going to get next. We usually have 4-5 with us on any given trip so he can trade until he finds something he wants to keep.

As for finding them "on the cheap" I have never done better than the $5.99 sale on disneyshopping.com (which is 40% off).

LMAO..I bought 11 after you told me that! I'm not sure how I decided on that weird number...but that's how many ended up in my basket!!!! We are always in the gift shops/ souvineer shops anyway, we mise well be trading vinylmations! LOL You are so good to me!!!

 

[FigNewton]

Yeah for cheap traders the best you can do are the sale items that show up on DS.com. Even the ones sold on eBay for less than retail will still be more than $5.99 each after shipping. Heaven help us if the bootleg market ever gets going for VMs or we'll start seeing tons of eBay auctions of "buy 50 for only $25!!!" and the trade boxes will be flooded with junk!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I didnt know these could be traded!

 

[Disnut4925]

I definitely saw the Holiday series everywhere, and I think Muppets and Star Wars. The cm's were very nice to the kids, helping them with the mystery box. You can definitely get some retired figures in those boxes, and in the clear boxes too. Most of the clear boxes had three figures in them but a few places put in a few more so you'd have a better chance at finding one you like.

It's a fun thing to do - some of the figures are very cute and some are pretty odd!

 

[texasteacher35]

Yeah for cheap traders the best you can do are the sale items that show up on DS.com. Even the ones sold on eBay for less than retail will still be more than $5.99 each after shipping. Heaven help us if the bootleg market ever gets going for VMs or we'll start seeing tons of eBay auctions of "buy 50 for only $25!!!" and the trade boxes will be flooded with junk!

I don't want the market to be flooded with cheapies...I'm not really the cheap type! LOL But, I just wanted a decent starting price when I am buying 11 of them to trade around at WDW...I definitely don't want eBay to get ahold of them and sell huge lots! No thanks! LOL

 

[texasteacher35]

Yes, there were VERY FEW CM's that wouldn't work with the kids or adults. Most of the CM's were so sweet and nice and made it a wonderful experience.
Really, the disneystore.com is the only place that I have found them cheap. You have to watch the site closely and just jump on them when you see them cheap.

Thanks! That is so great to know!!!! I am so glad that the CM's try to help a little guy/girll out! I got some yesterday so I am excited to have a few to get my DS going! Thanks again!

 

[texasteacher35]

It's a fun thing to do - some of the figures are very cute and some are pretty odd!

Yeah, I saw some the last time I was there (Nov/Dec 2010) and there were some really strange ones in the giftshops...I just never noticed that they could be traded around!!!! That's going to be so much fun! DS5 is gonna be thrilled!!!!!