[cksgranny]

When I first heard about Pin Trading I thought our grandsons (8 & 10 yrs) would like trading a few when we take them in June. When I told their mom (my daughter) about it she thought it would be a tad expensive and take a lot of time out of the day.

Then we visited Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO over Easter weekend (we go there quite often as we're only about 3 1/2 hrs away) and they've started Pin Trading this year. Well, the boys went nuts :dazed over it so it looks like they'll want to do a little trading at WDW.

My questions:
1. What are the rules? (At S$C, as long as the employees don't have a pin like the one you're wanting to trade, they'll trade for any they are wearing and there's a limit of 2 trades per person.)

2. Are there lots of Cast Members to trade with or will the boys be doing a lot of waiting to trade.

3. We'll have to limit the boys on the number of pins they'll have to trade (that cost thing again). How many pins would you suggest each of them have in order to have a reasonably good time?

4. This isn't exactly about Pin Trading but I've heard about a pin you can buy that lights up (I think) when you're in different parts of the park and also lights up during one of the night parades. Are they still available?

Thanks!

[mickaholic4077]

The answer to question one is Disney has the same rule. Something I would advise you to do is to go to your nearest Disney Store and see if there are any pins on sale and get as many as you can afford. Then you would have more pins from which to trade. I am sure that you will have a great time with trading!!

[cksgranny]

I forgot to say I'd contacted the Disney Store closest to us (50 miles away) and was told that "Disney Stores no longer sell trading pins. You can only purchase them in our parks." I thought that was a little odd.

[DisneyAnne]

I am planning to do the same thing with my boys in several weeks. I have bought about 8 pins each on ebay for no more than $2.50 a piece (+ shipping) A suggestion if you use this route: look for folks selling more than one pin who will combine shipping. Shipping is really only about 60 cents per mailing, but lots of folks are charging $3.50 per. If I buy 6 pins from the same person, then I don't feel like I am getting ripped on the shipping. Good luck and have fun!

[Jantastic]

Hi cksgranny

I started pin trading in 2000. My 8 year old son started last year. He loved it.


1. Rules - When trading with Cast Members, you can only trade any pin that the CM does not have - as many as you want.

2. There are CM all over the place ready to trade. I have never waited.

3. We started DS with 6 pins. That turned out to be a good amount. He did buy a couple of more pins while we were there.

4. Yes, the Magical Moments are still available, but now they have NEW ones.

5. Yes, most Disney Stores have discontinued the sales of pins. You can buy them from Disney mail order. I have also bought pins from e-bay and http://www.mouseshoppe.com.

Hope this information has been helpful.

Janette :)

[jmouse]

Some CMs are now wearing green lanyards that are for trading only with kids.

[cksgranny]

Thanks to everyone for the all the information. I'm sure the boys will have a great time even if they only have a few pins apiece to trade.

I think I'll have to have one of the Magical Moments pins. They sound really neat!

[crystalrp]

I am thrilled the Magical Moments pins are still available too! I bet all 4 of us will get those! :)

[cksgranny]

Thanks to Jantastic and DisneyAnne for suggesting ebay! My daughter and I started watching and have been able to get several pins for the boys to trade. They averaged out at about $2.20 apiece including shipping so I don't think we did too bad and the boys will have a lot of fun.


The pins are on the way and I just found out yesterday there's a place to buy scrapbooking stuff (my personal passion) at Downtown Disney. I'm just getting more excited by the second!!!!!

Oh - and I finally figured out how to put an avatar on my posts too!

[DisneyAnne]

:D great news cksgranny!:D

This will be our first experience pin trading as well! Good luck!