what happened to pin trading?

[taterheads]

Never mind- I looked it up. Luckily I don't have that problem! All my pins have been purchased at Disney.

 

[courtneylauren]

Well just left a way too long line at tsmm and did not see a single guest with pins.

I wouldn't go by this. I haven't worn my pins on a lanyard in years. I keep all of my traders in my purse... we have too many pins for lanyards!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Awww. I love to buy pins in the stores.

I don't do too much pin trading but have done some with CM's in the past. I usually have my pins put away in my purse since those lanyards get heavy. One afternoon I was wearing the lanyard and a little girl of about 6 was admiring a Tinkerbell pin I had so I gave it to her with her Moms permission. That little girl was so happy, it was cute.

In September there were alot of pins at the Frontierland Trading Post in MK and at the pin store in Epcot (the one that is near the Electric Umbrella). There was a pin kiosk in AK that still had the Mothers Day pin I couldn't find anyplace else. I didn't get much chance to check out the pins at DHS.

On the plus side, if it goes away at least I'll be saving money buying less pins.

 

[Gamegrl1]

We have them in pouches or bags instead, so just to look at us, you wouldn't know that we're into pin trading.

This is probably going to be us. I've never traded in a park, just DTD (in CA) and I didn't mind wearing the lanyard there, because it was just for a couple hours, but I honestly don't envision myself wearing it much in the park all day, not just because they bump and thump on your chest when you walk and also the possibility of losing them (even though my best ones have locking backs).

We'll probably just carry 'em in a bag and pull 'em out if we find a good one to trade with. And I've never traded with a guest, only CM's. I wouldn't mind being asked but I wouldn't probably ask a fellow guest, myself.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

We just returned from a trip a week ago and asked this very question. Three out of the 4 of us pin trade. Almost every lanyard had the exact same pins on them. All of them are the different color figment faces, different color Mickey faces, black pins with animals or family member on them or princess flowers.

We also found that most CMs were not very friendly when approaching them about pin trading. Now, I must say that my MIL is kind of a rude guest, but the other two of us are very polite. CMs seem really put out with pin trading.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

My family loves pin trading, but we don't actually wear them on our lanyards. It's too easy to lose them that way, as we sadly learned! We have them in pouches or bags instead, so just to look at us, you wouldn't know that we're into pin trading.

This is us, too. I mostly carry them in my pockets so that I do not lose them.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We didn't encounter any rude CM's, however I agree on finding the same pins constantly. We were at WDW for over 5 weeks in total and we felt seeing the same 50-60 pins over and over again. We traded many pins (almost 1000 between my sister and I) but pins trading is one of our main things in the park. One day at EPCOT, all we did we visit Food and Wine booths and pin trade

We just returned from a trip a week ago and asked this very question. Three out of the 4 of us pin trade. Almost every lanyard had the exact same pins on them. All of them are the different color figment faces, different color Mickey faces, black pins with animals or family member on them or princess flowers.

We also found that most CMs were not very friendly when approaching them about pin trading. Now, I must say that my MIL is kind of a rude guest, but the other two of us are very polite. CMs seem really put out with pin trading.

 

[pookadoo77]

We didn't encounter any rude CM's, however I agree on finding the same pins constantly. We were at WDW for over 5 weeks in total and we felt seeing the same 50-60 pins over and over again. We traded many pins (almost 1000 between my sister and I) but pins trading is one of our main things in the park. One day at EPCOT, all we did we visit Food and Wine booths and pin trade

LOVE the Starbucks signature,lol

 

[Disney_Princess83]

LOVE the Starbucks signature,lol

Thank you! Disney and Starbucks are my "true loves"

 

[DisGirl819]

My family loves pin trading, but we don't actually wear them on our lanyards. It's too easy to lose them that way, as we sadly learned! We have them in pouches or bags instead, so just to look at us, you wouldn't know that we're into pin trading.

My kids and I also do this. We lose pins if we actually wear our lanyards for any length of time. I will carry the pins with us and if the kids or I find a CM with pins we want, we pull them out and trade. I haven't paid attention to new pins vs. old pins or the same pins because every trip I am trying to finish a set or two I have at home and am searching for specific pins. My kids simply trade for whatever catches their eye and are happy with.

I typically will buy one or two special pins each trip as well (MNSSHP, F&W, F&G, resort, etc pins).

We have three cork boards at home covered in pins that we've collected over the past 5-7 years.

 

[FLchick415]

I do not trade, but I do collect. I use locking backs for those on my lanyard. The reason I collect pins is because I can get multiple pins for the cost of even a T-shirt. My favorites are pins for Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror. They are always fun! I do this as a way to "remember" specific rides or situations from the trip. For example, I did CP dinner one time and had a GREAT interaction with Eeyore. After dinner, I bought an Eeyore pin to remember that by.

I do the same thing. I don't trade, just buy. And I always buy AT LEAST one pin each trip and it's usually something to help me remember a certain moment.

 

[Meriweather]

I trade, but haven't the last 2 trips because, like mentioned before, same pins for years.
I do not wear my pins. I carry about 10 to trade in my bag. I have lost too many over the years.
I found no lack of pins to buy though.....but am trying to limit the ones I purchase because they cost so much and I have SO many.
I have been limiting it to AP, Visa and DVC......but will pick up celebrations and new attractions.

 

[939913Noles]

We were there in October and my kids found tons of cool pins. Not it took some work, and many boarsds att he resorts hasd the same pins, but with some effort they found really awesome pins that adorn boards in their rooms.

Also, we don't wear lanyards. My wife keeps them in a ziploc bag in her purse to keep from losing them.

 

[Dorisk3]

I trade, but haven't the last 2 trips because, like mentioned before, same pins for years.
I do not wear my pins. I carry about 10 to trade in my bag. I have lost too many over the years.
I found no lack of pins to buy though.....but am trying to limit the ones I purchase because they cost so much and I have SO many.
I have been limiting it to AP, Visa and DVC......but will pick up celebrations and new attractions.

Same here with wearing the pins. My kids always did the lanyards, but since we usually go in August or September it was always so hot, and they lost quite a few good trades on the ground somewhere. Everyone knows that sound of fallen metal on the ground! My stomach still slightly clenches when I hear it, even though my kids now keep their traders in bags!

 

[Ulysses]

My DW and I trade, but we keep them in a bag (usually inside a backpack or her purse). I can't stand having anything around my neck, so I won't wear the lanyards.

That said, our last couple of trips it seemed like it depended on which park we were in dictated if it were going to be a good pin trading day.

For example, before the 24 Hour Party in May, the CMs had TONS of great selections to trade, and there were plenty to trade with. But after the 24 hour party, it seemed as if they had been entirely cleaned out.

Although we had struck out all day at DHS, then went to EPCOT for a dinner reservation, and absolutely loaded up on great trades.

 

[kakiegirl]

We were there the last week in May and didn't have any trouble with finding any Cast Members to trade with. We did find the same pins over and over again. I blame it on all of the huge lots of pins for sale on ebay. We have also discussed the pin trading stores even the one in Downtown Disney have less pins. They all seem to be using space for the Magic Bands and accessories. Pin Trading is a big part of our vacation and I hope it is not starting to die out.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I used to pin trade. I love the thrill of trying to complete a set, especially a Hidden Mickey cast member set. I also enjoyed interacting with CMs.

But like other posters, I am tired of seeing the same pins over and over. I have a large collection of probably 600-700 pins. I love the villains (Evil Queen and Maleficent especially) and Snow White and Tinkerbell. My collection is so large, it is hard to find a pin I need.

Just recently, I decided to sell off some of my collection and am in the process of photographing 400 pins (some mint in box and many limited editions and Hidden Mickeys). This is making my non pin trading non Disney DH very happy.

 

[SimonSez]

It's still there, but it's not as big as it used to be.

My theory is that it's a casualty of two things - first, it's been around a LONG time, and sometimes people get tired of a hobby and move on; and second, in the scheme of things, it can be expensive. We used to buy a few pins each trip, but at $8-12 per, it was one of the first things to get cut from the budget when the economy got bad and our income became stagnant. Because everything else at WDW keeps costing more and we have basically the same amount to spend per trip as we had 5 years ago. Most of the money that used to get spent on extra souvenirs and stuff now goes to pay for the room nights.

(Yeah, I know you can buy "cheap pins" online and take them to the parks and trade them etc., but nobody in our family is in love with pin trading enough to go through all that effort.)



I suspect Vinylmations are heading the same way. They haven't had the same lasting popularity as pins, and they are already a bit harder to find. Our kid likes them and buys one with his souvenir money each trip though.

Nooo we like the vinylmations It's always fun to buy the mystery ones. I'm hoping to finally get the Siamese cat from Lady and the Tramp...before these things go the way of the dinosaur

 

[Missymouse18]

We found no shortage of CM's wearing lanyards or boards available in the shops. You have to ask, many stores have books under the counters

Same for us last month. DH traded with several CMs and DN14 traded every bus to the parks. We also found lots of paces to buy pins, didn't seem to be a shortage IMO. We love collecting the pins, and like a lot of other people, we collect and have a separate set to trade.

 

[poooh]

We also found that most CMs were not very friendly when approaching them about pin trading.

I was buying a couple pooh pins at the trading post and behind the counter was one of those cork boards with a bunch of pins to trade. I asked the cashier "can I see what pins you have there?" and he looked at me with a totally straight face and said "no." When I asked why he told me "I don't trade with people I don't like." I was extremely confused and kind of hurt? I had a lanyard on my neck and was making a purchase and I wasn't being loud, obnoxious etc. There wasn't a line behind me or anything. Sometimes CMs will joke around but he was so serious and wouldn't bring the board closer. He just handed me my change without looking at me. It was really bizarre and I thought about it for the rest of the day, wondering why he "didn't like me." Makes me really not want to ask CMs to trade anymore.