WDW Pin Prices

[ismetoo]

Is it my imagination, or are the pin costs at WDW going through the roof - and quickly? It doesn't even appear to be a gradual increase in the hopes that we won't notice. If you compare what we pay for pins at WDW compared to like pins from DL, the difference is staggering at times. It's gotten so that I can't afford most of them anymore. Does anyone have any insight as to why this is happening, other than the obvious?

 

[Mickey527]

I noticed that too, and mentioned it to someone last night.
I know that if they keep making those $12.50 and $15.00 pins I will be dropping the pin collecting really quick.
To say nothing of the $18 Beauty and the Beast pin.
I was upset when the pins went up $.50 each at the beginning of the year, but now it seems like they have jumped $2.00 each.
If Disney is having financial troubles, they should not try and make it up with pin collectors. We are a poor bunch, and can always drop pin collecting and collect those cards.
Peggie

 

[ismetoo]

Well, I'm glad to see it's not just me! It's just ridiculous. I'm insulted and disallusioned that WDW would take advantage of us - and at a time like this. Shame on them - not that I'm at all surprised, Eisner does have that big year-end bonus coming up - gotta make up the difference somehow...

 

[mickey2000]

It might have to do with needing extra income. First they closed PO now on 12/9
it will be parts DXL and the Institute!! Things are tough with Disney and business is off. Limited pins are on the racks for days or weeks at a time that use to sell out in hours. I believe pin collecting will continue however trading will die fast . Not many will have the luxury to buy expensive EXTRAS. I have SOLD off all my extras months ago and currently only buy what I like, very little trading.
I saw the writing on the wall with using ebay. I have been on it for 3 years with pins
both buying and selling. Pins are at an all time low. Very few sell, maybe 20%. It is currently a buyers market. Look at the DIZ sale board and here where many have sold off their extras even at below cost.
JMO Al

 

[GotAnyPins]

'Tis true, unfortunately, what was a fairly inexpensive hobby, that could be enjoyed by all the family
has fast turned into a luxury.....I think that the pin event in August, when all of us rabid pin traders
lined up for hours for the privilege of maybe being able to buy pins, placed $ signs in the mouses
eyes..

Hey I know a great way to raise the revenue....sock it to the pin traders..

Forget that they are in the parks almost daily, spending money, and supporting Disney, when everyone else
is staying away...who is coming down to stay at the hotels so they can enjoy their hobby...the pin traders

Who is spend many $$$ daily on food, pins, passes...the pin traders, what other group is a constant at the World
all the parks, and DDD..One would think that instead of being a target, we should be rewarded...

What if we all just decided that this was just getting toooooo rich for our blood, and found some other way to spend our time and money..

Granted, no one loves the Disney magic more that I...We have had annual passes for years, we are there almost every
week-end...and tonight spend mucho $$$$ at Chef Mickeys for dinner..

I should be the VIP..we probably spend more money annually then there vip guests..

10.50 for Christpher Robin was a joke, Beauty & the Beast was pretty, but not 18.00 pretty, and Thanksgiving Mickey
with a L$E of 7500 for 12.50....is just a rip off.....

And I haven't even touched the Christmas pins

I don't know who the person to contact at Disney would be...but I sure would hate for them to kill the Golden Goose..when they
could have it soooo good, if they would be fair...

Oh well I feel better now.....that is until I see the price of the next released pin.....

Don't even get me going on paying for the Halloween Party, and being told, that tooo bad they sold out the pins on Fri
and I had the misfortune to go on Sat. came home w/o one halloween pin.. So forget the joke of the Christmas party for 25.00
at DDD, or MVHCP......I have renewed my pass thru to 2/03 I think that shows good faith on part....I'm waiting for Disney
to do the same...

 

[Raulandpinboy]

If it keeps going up, I'm gonna have to say stop myself. today I said no, and refused to buy the pins for $12.50 and I notice that the limited edition pins from the Epcot event are still there, as well as most other LE pins released last month.

Also as a note, I have noticed that on the last couple of LE releases we were told that they were sold out, and then a magical mystery lost box of pins turns up for on next day or two. People think they lucky and gobble them up fast.

So I think Disney needs to rethink this, if you all remember beanie babies did the exact same thing, and were are they now.

They were cool and everybody wanted one, then the prices went sky high, then they said they were going to stop making them, and the price blows up (Tokyo to quit pintrading in Feb 2002) then they stayed and made 3 times as many beanies, and still want the high price from before.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I Ebay, and use to quite a bit. I think it really has been a buyer's market since July. Starting around then, it has been very easy to buy pins at bargains or below cost -- LE and rack. I have pins I paid $1 each (stretched out Minnie, TDL kissing Don Donald). Great traders!
There are always the mega popular pins that go for above, but not that many.
I saw the auction prices drop in July and I thought it was due to so many people attending and anticipating the August event. And it seems there has always been something after that. TDS pins cut back my Ebay buying significantly. And now Christmas is here.
It's a great time to trade.

 

[cindala]

What happened to the $6.50 pins? I know I bought some of them! I limit myself now that the prices have gone up. When pins first come out, their prices on EBay are crazy. After a few weeks, they go down. I have no choice being so far from WDW.

 

[GotAnyPins]

are the cheapest rack pin you can now buy at WDW. Oh for the days when you could buy
a higher # LE for that price..... Then check out the pin prices at Dl , and weep

 

[JudithM]

I've been thinking about this post ... the first Americana pin we saw at the TDS was $4.00 - Mickey behind the star. After that sold out, the stores received different Americana pins. However, these later pins were $6.00. Even the 100 Years of Dreams pins are priced differently - some $4 & some $5. Did I read somewhere that the locket next week will be more? Just somethings to think about ...

 

[Luv2Roam]

Isn't the locket $8?
The price increases will just make the rack pins more desirable.

 

[JudithM]

I thought I read or heard somewhere that the locket wouldbe $8. Inch that price up little by little .

 

[GotAnyPins]

may just chase away the goose that lays the golden egg for Disney....I sure hope they nip the prices in the
bud before they make them more unaffordable than they already are

 

[mickey2000]

bump

 

[jojo_ct]

There is no question that the number of pins being released, and the prices of those pins, has forced me to make a major adjustment in this hobby of mine. When I discovered that the money I was spending on pins meant I could not afford a trip to Florida, the bubble burst. Here are the changes I will be making for 2002:

I will NOT give up pin trading and all the wonderful friends I have made over the last two years. If anything, I am hoping that I will be able to go to even more meets next year. However, I will be basing my happiness over those meets on the number of friends I've gotten to spend time with, not on how many pins I come home with.

I will visit Florida at least twice during the year. In fact I am planning to go to the September Pin Event, since I expect to see a lot of my friends there. While I am in the parks I will be moving gleefully from one CM lanyard to the next, looking for pins I don't have. If I find one, even if it is a rack pin, I will be very happy.

I will not be buying every Limited Edition that is released next year. When I have friends visiting the parks I will tell them to bring me home 1 pin - whichever one they think I'll like the best. I'll use PinPics to see if I can get others by trading. If I get them I will be happy. If I don't get them - oh well.

One thing I want to point out is that I DO NOT BLAME DISNEY for these changes. They are responding to the demands that we have all placed on them. I believe that the cost of the pins is high because the pins are unique and require more labor and special processes. Stained glass, sliders, dangles, book pins, lenticulars...we are not talking simple rack here. They are doing it because we like it. At least we used to. I think it is very possible that the pins we see six months from now will be simpler and cheaper, because demand is droppping. Comments have been made that in these tough economic times Disney should be taking it easy on us, but remember that the pins being sold now were planned way before September 11th.

So please guys, don't look for a scapegoat and don't give up this wonderful hobby because we let ourselves get carried away. Over Thanksgiving weekend I stood in two Disney Store lines. I waited on Friday for the special beanie, and I waited on Saturday for the pins. Do I need to tell you that the pin people were waaaaaaay cooler. The beanie people didn't want to talk and they really didn't seem to be enjoying themselves at all. The pin people had a blast, from the time they got in line at 6am to the time they finally hugged a stranger (me) and said goodbye around noon.

I for one want this hobby to continue for the rest of my life. Sorry for the speech.

 

[Dom13]

Cynthia I agree with alot of what you said. I have enjoyed making new friends and even expanding an old one through pin trading. I now know and have traded with people all over the world.

When I was down in WDW in 1996 I spent 2 days there alone taking classes at the Disney Institute (something I SORELY miss). The days taking the classes were fun. The nights eating supper alone and walking through the parks alone were not much fun. I was down there in May for 4 days alone and spent some time in late August by myself. With the pins I got to meet people, trade, and had someone to converse with. I never felt alone or bored. I would miss all that if I gave up this hobby.

You can almost tell the price of the DS pins by looking at them. If they have no special features they are $4. If they have a special feature, dangle, slider etc. they are $5. The locket is the only one that is $8. And it looks like a reasonable price to me. I could see this pin going for $12.50 in WDW.

I do think WDW has "tested the waters" by increasing the prices of some of their pins to see what the market will bear. Alot of these are still on the racks. I hope WDW does not shoot themselves in the foot by doing this.

I am sure pin trading/collecting willbe around for years to come. I doubt that it will stay at the level it has been. It can't if Disney keeps making TONS of pins. At some point you have to say enough and narrow your focus/themes. It is a healthy, normal part of any kind of collecting.

 

[JudithM]

I know price is not the only factor, but it is amazing to see how many limited edition & rack pins are still left on the pin carts, etc. - Sage of Time; pin event pins from the Studios, EPCOT, MK; etc.