[MerlinMatt]

Gracie had asked about pin trading, so I figured I'd start a new thread for it.

Before last year, I had no idea what pin trading was. It's really cool!

I'm not sure what the actual history is behind pin trading, but it's become a Disney tradition for the last number of years.

Here's how it works. "Pin traders" wear pins on a lanyard around their necks. CM's also wear pins on a lanyard. Pin traders are encouraged to trade pins with other pin traders and CMs anywhere in WDW, whether it be in a park, at a restaurant at a resort.

CMs are issued various types of pins that generally fall into 3 categories: non-tradable pins, tradable standard-issue pins and tradable "lanyard series" pins. I'm not sure what constitutes a non-tradable pin, that's never been explained to me. Standard issue pins are pins that you can purchase anywhere from Disney and Lanyard Series pins are not available for purchase.

The rules for trading are simple. Anyone can initiate a trade. CMs are allowed and even expected to trade any of their tradable pins. CMs are only allowed to reject a trade if the traded pin appears to not be an authentic Disney pin.

It's a lot of fun, especially collecting Lanyard Series pins. Those pins are limited issue pins and many are very cool.

DS and DD both traded pins about 6 or 7 times each during the trip. DS even had a trade with another pin trader about his age.

[gracie]

Thanks Matt. That helped to clarify things!

[DisneyHog6]

Yea, I've gotten into the pin trading the last 2 or 3 years. It's really a lot of fun.

[hiner]

Also, the great thing is that you get a coupon for two free lanyards and pins if you stay at a WDW resort.

This was our DS's first trip and it started off with buying stuffed Pluto's. By the third day I was panicing on where we were going to pack a ton of animals, so I took our coupon and got the goodies. Problem solved!! For the rest of our trip we could not get him away from the pin stations. He filled both lanyards by the time we left.

He now has a great souvenir and can bring it back everytime we return. Whoever thought of this brain child has made WDW millions.

[mwalter]

I agree with you hiner. My wife and kids have gotten right into the pin trading. We like to hit the Character Premiere store in the Orlando outlets mall and buy some cheaper pins there for trading purposes. You can usually get some pins for 2.99 - 3.99 and we buy a bunch for trading. They also drag me along for the annual summer pin pursuit and make me fill out a card so they can get an extra build-a-pin at the end of the game. It's a good way for Disney to get some people to visit parts of WDW that maybe they wouldn't normally venture to.

[monorailgoof]

How do get the two free pins and lanyards? I have never heard of this before!
Thanks
-MoNoRAilGoof

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by monorailgoof

How do get the two free pins and lanyards? I have never heard of this before!
Thanks
-MoNoRAilGoof

It's part of the Dream Maker package. If you book a WDW resort with a Dream Maker package, it includes free pins and lanyards.

[Towncar T]

Originally Posted by mwalter

We like to hit the Character Premiere store in the Orlando outlets mall and buy some cheaper pins there for trading purposes. You can usually get some pins for 2.99 - 3.99 and we buy a bunch for trading. o.

We tried but couldn't find any cheap pins for trading anywhere. Is the store you mention the one at the Belz complex? If not, where is it? My DW DD and DS must have spent about $300 -$350 on pins at WDW (our first trip) and my wife went Ebay mad when we got back home and spent at least another $200 on every Winnie the Pooh pin ever made!! She bought pins from the UK USA Hong Kong and Spain!

Three months ago I'd never even heard of pin trading now I'm approaching bankruptcy because of it. And I don't even own a single Disney pin!!

[sandanv1]

I collect the pins but don't trade. Each pin we get means something to us, either a memory or a special occasion. We get a pin from every resort we stay. We also collect pins from special events like MNSSHP & MVMCP. We collect special days, like Valentines, and special issues. I made a display using a dowel rod and ribbon. The ribbons hang from the dowel and the pins are on the ribbons. The dowel hangs in the bedroom. A constant reminder of good times.

[monorailgoof]

thanks so much for the info!
-MoNoRaIlGFoOf!

[MissDisney]

Sandanv1, what a great idea!

We did the pin thing this year for the first time ever, and the kids had a blast. They collceted series (son wanted all the thrill rides and daughter wanted AK Whimsical Animals) of pins and did pretty well except for that last holdout pin in each kid's set! We searched high and low for my son's last one, a BTMRR pin, and my daughter's last one, a Whimsical Giraffe). While we were collecting, we ended up with several incomplete series... so I went on eBay and found almost everything we were missing, and that was fun too!

(BTW, never found the bright-colored Whimsical Giraffe, which I understand is now ON THE PIN TRADING STANDS at Animal Kingdom! Just got back from WDW recently, timing is everyting!)

[mwalter]

Originally Posted by Towncar T

We tried but couldn't find any cheap pins for trading anywhere. Is the store you mention the one at the Belz complex? If not, where is it? My DW DD and DS must have spent about $300 -$350 on pins at WDW (our first trip) and my wife went Ebay mad when we got back home and spent at least another $200 on every Winnie the Pooh pin ever made!! She bought pins from the UK USA Hong Kong and Spain!

Three months ago I'd never even heard of pin trading now I'm approaching bankruptcy because of it. And I don't even own a single Disney pin!!

The Orlando Outlet mall is just off I-4 at Vineland. It's a huge mall so you can't miss it. Ask at the front desk of whatever hotel you are staying at and they can give you directions. I would be broke too without that store.

[Huakai]

Originally Posted by Matt McDonnell

CMs are issued various types of pins that generally fall into 3 categories: non-tradable pins, tradable standard-issue pins and tradable "lanyard series" pins. I'm not sure what constitutes a non-tradable pin, that's never been explained to me.

Those non-tradable pins are the ones they get for special recognition. The only other rule is that the cast members that wear a green lanyard trade only with children.

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by Huakai

Those non-tradable pins are the ones they get for special recognition. The only other rule is that the cast members that wear a green lanyard trade only with children.

ahh.. ya learn something new every day.

And... congratulations! You're a Senior Mousketeer now!

[downsouthtigger]

Some other non-tradeable pins, are ones that guests get for free. We used to have a hard time with that one. American express used to give free pins and lanyards when you used it at a wdw resort. You were not allowed to accept that pin, but we did anyways, you try telling a kid no! I'm glad that Visa gives you an actual Disney pin now, since thats acceptable. Another non-tradeable pins are the ones that have your name etched on them and also build-a-pins. There are some no no's for us Cm's but those arent actually pins youd want so we don't trade em anyways.
Also I have to agree I only buy my pins for the memories they give me, so I feel bad when I wear my lanyard (I bought one this trip). People look at it and see the cast member exclusives and their eyes light up. Then I break eye contact and kinda walk off. It may seem rude, so I do have a couple on there for trading purposes, but why is it that no one wants them?? I guess thats the bad part of having the cheap pins, so this is why I seek out a fellow Cm to trade with.
Oh and word to the wise, just watch out for some of the major pin traders, they can be very shady and even try to swindle kids! I have seen them do it and its horrible. Young sally will have just a mix of her favorite characters and just so happen to have a limited edition Mad hatter pin, mister pin master will pull out a new generic shiny cinderalla pin not worth an eigth of the mad hatter. Since its new and shiny (and a princess) sally loses her poor valuable mad hatter. I know she gets what she wants and it's a trade, but still he took advantage, and some pin traders will really do that!
Last but not least cm's with green lanyards only trade to youngins, so if you're kids are new to pt, find one of them to trade with!