[JavaBeing]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here...and decided to stop watching everyone else playing and just jump into the pool myself...so please excuse any splashing at my first attempt!

So first...hello! I'm planning a trip to DL this March 2003 and am taking my 8yr DD and her best friend who is also 8, and one brave DH who will try and appease three females and still have his sanity at the end of the trip. Indeed a hero here!

My question is: This is a surprise trip for these two girls (one's coming from Alaska, where she's never been away from home or on a plane...so we hope we don't melt her from overload!) and I would love to give them the fun of collecting pins as a neat souvenir of their trip. Alaska airlines is giving each of them a Disney collector set on the flight...and I know that this will be something they'd would love to continue. So....any ideas on how to start when we arrive? Any other parents with ideas or suggestions that worked for their kids?

Thanks so much for any help, suggestions you can offer!

[BDavis932]

Welcome aboard! We're glad you're here!! Disney planning is so much fun (and addicting!!)

I would start before I leave home.

A couple weeks ago (not sure if sale is still on) The Disney Store was selling their pins at 75% off!! You could buy pins for under a buck each!!

What a great way to get a whole bunch of pins to trade, and at a real bargain!!

Just a suggestion, hopefully you have a Disney Store nearby!

Another idea is to purchase Disney Dollars ahead of time at the Disney Store so that the kids can have there own "money" for souvineers, rather than asking you for everything in every shop!

[ilvminnie]

Another thing we do is buy pins that are "special" to us for a particular trip. For example, when we stayed at WL we bought a WL pin, when we got to see Mike & Sulley in person for the first time we bought those, etc. You don't have to go overboard, but they make great souvenirs, especially if they've been given their own Disney $$$ to spend. Also, get as many freebies (at check-in or whatever is going on) as possible. Keep one, & then trade the rest. That also goes for any you get really cheaply on sale at the Disney Store or other outlets. Buy one to keep, & then buy a few to trade. Just wear the "extras" on a lanyard around the park & you'll be bound to find folks to trade with...Just look for other folks with a lanyard!

[DisneyTeacher]

Welcome JavaBeing

I don't know a lot about pin trading. However, I agree with BDavis about the Disney Dallars. I have started giving my 4 year old DS a dollar a week for cleaning his room. He just loves this and is much more willing to clean his room or help me out a little for an extra dollar. He knows how many he has at any given time and is looking froward to spending his own money at WDW.

[JavaBeing]

Wow! What wonderful (and quick!) responses. Thanks to all for the answers...they have definately given me some "nooks and cranies" to go try out.

We do have a Disney Store near us, and will check them out for pins to have something to trade with when we get there (thanks BDavis for the suggestion!:D ) The only hard part will be in getting my girls to actually let these ones go to trade for others!!

You guys are fantastic for the ideas. I was just checking another thread, and came across the Disney Dollars (again at the Disney Store!) and was thinking what a wonderul idea this was...and great to build up the momentum for the big event. Then what do I see, but more kind disney pixies helping again with the same suggestion. This board is just great! (If you all did taxes and served good coffee while I waited...I swear I've peaked into heaven!).

Now, the only bad part...with all the great answers...now I've got more questions, hope that's okay. Here it goes...ILVMINNIE mentions "lanyards" ?? I'm getting a visual of the old girl scout uniform we use to wear with our badges we'd earn on it....is this close? What do they look like? I've read that some staff members (CM's??) wear them too. Are they the same? Does the disney store sell them too?

Boy, you find one answer, and it leads deeper into the unknown. My many thanks for being such good guides....again!

[mickey]

Welcome to DisneyCentral! Yes, a lanyard is just a small, about one inch wide, stip that goes around your neck and hangs down, with pins on them. They usually have them at the DisneyStore, but you might have to wait until you get to WDW. And yes, a good portion of the CMs wear lanyards, you can just walk up to them and they will trade you any pin that they have.

Another option is to check out ebay. Often, you can find a lot of 10 or 20 pins for considerably less than what you would pay for them in the park. That way, they will have a start, and then they can just trade for what they want when the get there. Just make sure they are real Disney pins, or you won't be able to trade them.

[Michael Darling]

I still recommend www.cheappins.com for starting your collection. They have nice, fully tradeable Disney pins for cheap. They even sell the rubber pin backs! (I got 100 for something like 2 dollars. Beats the 12 for a dollar in the parks!)

I discourage new pin collectors from buying pins on eBay because newbies often aren't aware of what is a ripoff and what isn't.

[mickey]

Originally posted by Michael Darling
I discourage new pin collectors from buying pins on eBay because newbies often aren't aware of what is a ripoff and what isn't.

Good suggestion!

[JavaBeing]

Originally posted by Michael Darling
I still recommend www.cheappins.com for starting your collection. They have nice, fully tradeable Disney pins for cheap. They even sell the rubber pin backs! (I got 100 for something like 2 dollars. Beats the 12 for a dollar in the parks!)

Thanks Michael Darling for the website....I checked into that and found a "grab bag" of various pins for about 4 dollars! What a great place to start with....and I don't have to dip into my Disney Dollars to do it Thanks again for the suggestion.

[Michael Darling]

I love the Grab Bag! No matter what pin you get, $4 is still cheaper than buying it at WDW. You cannot go wrong with the Grab Bag. Some of their Grab Bag pins are quite rare and many are from Paris, Tokyo, or California.

[JavaBeing]

Originally posted by Michael Darling
I love the Grab Bag! No matter what pin you get, $4 is still cheaper than buying it at WDW. You cannot go wrong with the Grab Bag. Some of their Grab Bag pins are quite rare and many are from Paris, Tokyo, or California.

Thanks again for the "heads-up" on the pins Michael Darling. Could I ask you another question (see the monster you've help to create )? How do I know if I find one of these rare pins pins you've described. I would hate to find out later after the girls have already done their bidding and we find out later. I don't want them to get taken advantage of by those who don't have any qualms in making such a unworthy exchange, even from a child. I'd rather be forewarned so to speak....

Thanks again!

[Michael Darling]

Most "rare" pins are limited editions. The number of the edition is always printed on the back.

You can also check www.pinpics.com where folks list their collections of pins. You can search for pins based on keywords (hint: try to avoid searching for "mickey") and see how many members have a certain pin listed. Generally, the fewer the people listing the pin, the more rare it is.

[DisneyTeacher]

Michael,
May I ask how many pins come in the grab bag?

[Michael Darling]

At my last visit to cheappins.com the pins were sold in singles. You could buy more than one, however.

Here's the direct link: http://www.cheappins.com/store/merch...tegory_Code=17

[DisneyTeacher]

Thanks Michael! I have avoided getting involved in pin trading so far. However, the closer I get to my trip the weaker I get. I just hate to get started in fear I won't be able to stop. I'm scared will end up with hundreds of the pins if I start with just a few.