[PrincessPooh]

So, I would love to get in on the pin trading a WDW this September. But how does one start?

[DisneyTeacher]

We were not going to get in to pin trading much but I had a few pins around the house I didn't really want so I gave them to my DS (then 6) to trade. We bought him a lanyard with 4 pins on it and the rest is history.

We spent so much money buying him new pins to trade that trip. Now I look on EBay for cheap pins to trade. He has over 30 pins to trade how ever he wants this trip.

You can pick up pins all over the parks and resorts and after that it's up to you how you trade. My son only traded with CMs but trading with other guests isn't a problem, you might meet some really nice poeple that way.

[Dana]

My DD started by accident. We got a free lanyard and pins with our package in 2004. She got right into it. She bought a few traders (lower priced pins that she had no interest in keeping) and started trading with every CM she saw. I only let her trade with CM's. I really don't know the values of the pins and such and would prefer her to stick with people who work there over strangers. It's fun and addicting. She loves it. She now has a black pin book for her limited ones and favorites. It's something she can do every trip and it honestly saves me money. She doesn't have the need or want for any of that other stuff that costs to much and has no purpose once we are home.

[dhoughton]

It's easy to start.....but......once you get started.....it's hard to stop...LOL!!!

[dznygrl]

I never had any interest in pin trading, but DH started getting excited about it last summer. I followed him around and stood in the background while he scoured all the CM's vests and lanyards...

Then one day, I saw a Chip n' Dale pin I just had to have. So I traded for it and...voila! I was HOOKED. We spent soooooo much money on pins last summer, it's no wonder we practically starved!

But seriously, it's so easy to get started. Just buy some Disney pins to start with (make sure they're ones you don't want to keep, though!) Then start looking at CMs' lanyards or vests...they're more than happy to let you browse...and if you see one you want, offer to trade. The CM will not say no, I guarantee you. Once you get started, you won't be able to stop! Have fun!

[BDavis932]

Keep checking www.disneydirect.com they should be having their semi annual pin sale soon (within a month). You can get box sets of pins and they work out to like $2/pin....stock up on those and trade them while at WDW. As long as they say "disney" on the back of the pin, they are tradeable. If you wait to buy them at WDW...they'll run you $7.00+ per pin !!!!!

[Amethyst]

It's easy to get started, as everyone has already mentioned. Keep one thing in mind though, the green lanyards on cast members means they want to trade with children only. I went to WDW in May & saw a few of these but the black lanyards still outnumbered the green ones by far.

I got started by accident in 2001. The DS released the 100 years of dreams pins & I was lured in by the stand-up ad in the doorway. Once I got started, I needed more. From there, I've bought from ebay & yahoo auctions. There is also a website for pintrading. You list your wants & tradables & it all goes from there. I've had only a few bad trades through the mail but only a smidgen in comparison to the number of successful trades through the mail. Trading in the parks is definitely much better. I'm a bit on the shy side so I traded with CMs only. I don't have the courage to walk up to other visitors. Still, I got some pretty good pins from the CMs. Maybe it's me but I found the best to be on the CM lanyards at the resort I stayed in. I think maybe other pintraders had food on the brain and missed the lanyards completely. It's a little hint. Have a great time trading.

[Baloo85]

I thought it was dumb at first...but my aunt got me three on one of her trips and I was hooked...that is all it takes...beginner/tradeable pins...three become six...six become sixteen...sixteen becomes seven hundred and thirty nine...hehe...just remember to have fun with it and steer towards those pins that you enjoy over those that are suppose to be rare or priceless...that step comes later...happy trading!!!

[PrincessPooh]

Originally Posted by BDavis932

Keep checking www.disneydirect.com they should be having their semi annual pin sale soon (within a month). You can get box sets of pins and they work out to like $2/pin....stock up on those and trade them while at WDW. As long as they say "disney" on the back of the pin, they are tradeable. If you wait to buy them at WDW...they'll run you $7.00+ per pin !!!!!

Thanks Davis! What a great tip! I'll definately keep my eyes open there! I thought it would be silly of me, as a grown up with a daughter of my own, to get into pin trading, but from the sounds of it, I should just fit in fine. That way, when DD is older, we'll have something to do together too!

[chris5568]

Getting started is easy, How do you stop? lol

[MerlinMatt]

DD had an extra lanyard this trip and on the last day, I wore it and sucessfully navigated my first trade with a CM. It was fun!

I think next time, I'll start on day one and see how many trade I can do.

DS doesn't trade anymore, but he's traded with other kids a few times. He initiated one and other kids initiated the trade the other two times.

[BDavis932]

Pin trading has been great for my VERY SHY 5 year old daughter. By day two she was running up to any CM she saw and would say "may I see your pins, please!" If she didn't see any she wanted to trade, she would kindly say "thank you!". The pin trading experience has really helped her not be so afraid to talk to adults.