[lawwin]

Calling all Pin Traders: Disney has new Pin Trading props to make trading a little more fun. It also makes it seem a little more like treasure hunt (at least that's what I'm going to turn it into for lil' brer on our trip). Check out this link and it explains everything. WDW pin trading Props Leave it to Disney to add to the already eventful pin trading in the parks. This sounds like even more fun for me, and it is not just limited to the kids if you read the article.

[PrincessJill]

How cute! :) I like it! I wonder if part of the reason they're doing this is to stop people from yanking the lanyards on the poor CMs' necks...?

[lawwin]

I don't think so, because the CMs will still have the lanyards. This is just an added attraction, becasue these are places where pins weren't at before. The costuming department came up with these props and they were added. It makes me wonder if maybe these places might have slightly better pins, since you have to look a little harder to find them and maybe not everyone will know about them. hmmmmmm!!!

[queensmama]

HMMMMMMMM.........I like this...............less people know..........sounds like fun.

[PrincessJill]

Originally Posted by lawwin

I don't think so, because the CMs will still have the lanyards.

Ah. Well, nevermind then.

[karliebug]

To me this sounds like they are just trading from these props rather than a laynard. That wouldn't be very convienent for them to have to carry around this prop. I wonder where they will be?

[lawwin]

It tells you in the article where they are at. They are in specific places.

[FireAngel]

Pretty Kewl!!

[Amethyst]

Thanks for the link. It looks like a wonderful idea. Now I wonder if they'll be selling replicas of the props because they'd make great pin displays at home.

[cinderbella]

How cute! Ive just gotten into the whole pin trading thing and i am glad that there is another element to it now!!

[Amelia's Man]

Neat idea! My sons are really looking forward to doing some pin trading this trip! This sounds like it'll be fun!

[dementia]

You know, a friend of mine knows a CM, and I recently just had another friend who went to WDW, and bought nothing but cheap $5 pins just to take advantage of what the CMS have. I thought this was awful to do. Then my OTHER friend sent me this from a CM she knows...

"My Rules for Pin Trading

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1. Do not walk up to a cast member and yank on their lanyard. Ask politely if you can see their pins.

2. Do not flip a cast members lanyard over to see what their mystery pins are. You aren't meant to know... that's why they are called mystery pins.

3. While we're on the subject... don't touch the cast members lanyard for any reason! I know you're at Disney World, and you are excited about finding pins...but just don't!

4. Don't buy crappy $1.00 pins online and then trade them for the $12.00 pins on my lanyard. That's just plain rude, and takes advantage of cast members who are not allowed to say no.

5. Don't try to trade Universal Pins for Disney pins. Guys, we know the differance!

6. Do not come up to me and interupt a transaction with another guest. Particularly when there is a line behind them. It's just common courtesy guys!

7. Remember that you are at Disney World. Have you been on Pirates of the Caribbean yet? Put down the pins and go do some of the things you and your family are forking over $10,000 to see!


Actually, there's an interesting story behind my frustration with pin trading (besides it's sheer stupidity).

Personally, I see no reason for Cast Members to wear pin trading lanyards, aside from the fact that the company is making millions off all the pin sharks out there. But basically, I think the lanyards inhibit our ability to provide good guest service, they are bad show (a turn of the century costume with a year 2005 lanyard anyone?), and they are dangerous (it's a great idea to have a rode peirced with sharp metal objects hanging around your neck while you are lifting huge boxes).

Anyway, so I quietly have not been wearing my lanyard for about 2 weeks in protest of pin trading. My manager spotted it yesterday and decided to teach me a lesson by giving me a new lanyard with all cast lanyard pins because "they will be picking you to death!" I traded it in for a green lanyard so that I wouldn't have to trade with adults, which made the pin sharks mad that they couldn't get at my 14 lanyard pins."


Thought it was interesting to hear what a CM had to say about all the pin trading.

[cinderbella]

I feel bad for CM's!! I saw a grown woman push her small children out of the way and run up to a CM yelling "I GOT DIBS ON HIS LANYARD" and yank the CM's lanyard closer to her, almost giving the poor CM whiplash!!
However, I see plenty of CM's without lanyards which make me make an assumption that not ALL CM's have to pin trade. I only pin trade with CM's who approach me first...I'm too shy to demand pins from a complete stranger...I usually only buy pins that I like, and that leaves me with none to trade anyways

[jk8]

Wow, I bet it can be rough on CMs. Those new props are cool, though. They will make a bundle if they sell them.

[Dana]

How cool is that? Thanks for the link lawwin. I can't wait to show my DD in tomorrow.