Pin Trading Etiquette

[RyanH]

Hi

Quick question (I hope). We will be in WDW in less than a month now. My two daughters (7 & 8) bought their first pins in Disneyland Paris last year and want to get some more. They are also inquiring about trading. The biggest concern they have (and i don't know the answer) is whether they have to give over a pin they want to keep if asked to by a CM. I can see the deal breaking down, straight away if the CM wants one of their Frozen ones!!! Presumably the answer is not to go out with their 'keepers' but does anybody know the actual etiquette?

Thank you.

 

[englanddg]

Hi

Quick question (I hope). We will be in WDW in less than a month now. My two daughters (7 & 8) bought their first pins in Disneyland Paris last year and want to get some more. They are also inquiring about trading. The biggest concern they have (and i don't know the answer) is whether they have to give over a pin they want to keep if asked to by a CM. I can see the deal breaking down, straight away if the CM wants one of their Frozen ones!!! Presumably the answer is not to go out with their 'keepers' but does anybody know the actual etiquette?

Thank you.

When trading with CMs, the CM will ask the child which pin he/she would like to trade from the child's collection, not make a direct choice themselves. They won't ask or demand a specific pin from the child's collection, ever (unless the child is having trouble deciding, they may ask to "prompt" the child, but the child is always free to say no.

The child, however, can choose from any of the pins the CM has, and the CM will NEVER say no.

Trading with other guests, though, well, that's a different story. But, it's fun to watch two kids negotiate with each other. Mine has been doing it every trip since she was 5 (she's 10 now), and we've never had a negative experience with it.

And, yes, there are some other rules. But, when it comes to CM, "magic" is more important, so even though, for example, while you aren't supposed to offer the CM a pin they already have, the CM isn't going to say no in any of my experience.

http://disney.go.com/eventservices/howtopintrade.pdf

 

[RyanH]

That's very helpful. Thank you very much, and happy trading to my girls!

 

[englanddg]

That's very helpful. Thank you very much, and happy trading to my girls!

A few other suggestions...

For the lanyards, get the locking pin backings. They aren't terribly expensive, and the plastic mickeys wear down and pins can go missing quite easily.

For my kiddo (who has a rather large collection of pins, several hundred), I look for pin sets that are on sale (like, a "princess" collection) and pick those up. I carry those around in a ziplock in my daypack, and those are generally the ones she "trades" with if she doesn't want to give up one on her lanyard.

I also assemble one lanyard for both of us per trip that is a custom momento. For example, when she was tall enough to ride Rockin Roller Coaster, we got a pin from there, etc. When we did the Disney Cruise, we got pins from there. When we went to Universal, we got some pins from there. They are not for trading, simply keepsakes.

 

[SAV]

I always tell my kids to be super nice and ask the cm "May I see your pins?". And to say "Thank You" even if you don't trade. This has gotten each of them some bonus pins along the way. Niceness matters.

One time they both wanted the same pin. I had them decide which would get it. They did rock, paper, scissors. My daughter won. My son just smiled and thanked the CM. The CM slipped me a free pin to give to him because he took it so well.

 

[DisneyJunkie]

Be wary of the parents of other pin traders.

My wife was standing around looking at a CM's pins and made the mistake of pointing to the one she wanted. There was a little girl standing there too also looking at the pins, and she wanted a different pin than the one my wife wanted. As soon as my wife mentioned which she wanted and started getting a pin of hers to trade, the mother of the little girl told her to grab the one my wife wanted. Then she had the nerve to smile at her afterwards.

 

[NormC]

I have had kids look at my lanyards and ask if they can trade . My lanyard is usually my favorites but I have now added a few traders and also keep a bag of traders in my backpack. If the child is polite I will usually just give them one without trading unless they really want to trade. My kids do the same.

 

[RyanH]

Thanks again, people. I think we will look at a couple of trading 'slots' during our stay. The girls are not addicts......yet!!!

 

[Kit83]

Looks like you have an answer to your question I have known about pin trading since the my first visit in 1982 but have never done it . I just love this aspect of Disney magic ! ....I'am now wondering how In can get my boys into it .

 

[mergatroid]

A few other suggestions...

For the lanyards, get the locking pin backings. They aren't terribly expensive, and the plastic mickeys wear down and pins can go missing quite easily.

For my kiddo (who has a rather large collection of pins, several hundred), I look for pin sets that are on sale (like, a "princess" collection) and pick those up. I carry those around in a ziplock in my daypack, and those are generally the ones she "trades" with if she doesn't want to give up one on her lanyard.

I also assemble one lanyard for both of us per trip that is a custom momento. For example, when she was tall enough to ride Rockin Roller Coaster, we got a pin from there, etc. When we did the Disney Cruise, we got pins from there. When we went to Universal, we got some pins from there. They are not for trading, simply keepsakes.

Every time I read your posts I remember that wonderful video of you and your daughter dancing around Disney. You could see how happy she looked and what a great time she has with her dad, your posts always back this up too.

 

[englanddg]

I have had kids look at my lanyards and ask if they can trade . My lanyard is usually my favorites but I have now added a few traders and also keep a bag of traders in my backpack. If the child is polite I will usually just give them one without trading unless they really want to trade. My kids do the same.

Weve been known to give away a few extra pins to people we trade with as well. My kiddo has a lot, as I said, and when she trades with kids who are just starting out, Ill normally offer them a few extra pins to flesh out their lanyards. Not always, but weve done it more han a few times in various lines over the years.

 

[bjlc57]

are pins traded one for one? and if so.. why just not buy them? or can you get more then one pin trading for a pin..? I brought one or two pins with me this last trip.. but few people were trading , unlike previous trips that I have been on.. where I saw vests with hundreds of pins.. and trades being made.. please tell me the rights and wrongs and what's even steven..

 

[lorreejean]

We've been pin trading for years, and the only thing I might add to the above, is to make eye contact with the CM. I can't count the number of people I've see talk to CM's about their pins who never raise their eyes. It has to be uncomfortable to have someone staring at your chest or waist.

 

[NormC]

Trades are one for one. Some pins can not be purchased such as cast member only pins.

 

[mousehockey37]

Watch out for "scrappers" as well. On the "board that shall not be named" there's a thread where someone was asking about pin trading and one person had the nerve to respond with something to the effect of "we just buy big lots of pins on eBay and let the kids have at it". But yet, the same person also said that they then let their kids get a "real" pin from the shops and it's a "keeper" and isn't for trading.

So just be wary of the cheap knock offs that are out there, especially if you're trading with all "real" pins.

 

[AndyS2992]

Be VERY careful trading with other guests since a large amount of people go around with counterfeit pins they have bought in cheap lots on eBay. Always make sure the pin you have chosen is genuine before trading

Nothing more disappointing than trading one you bought for $10 and have been tricked in to accepting a worthless fake one that the person paid hardly anything for.

There are a few posters on this forum that encourage this and I think it is disgusting, you know who you are.

http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140526/18214/7-ways-tell-if-disney-pin-genuine

So yeah, only buy pins from Disney itself and always double check authenticity before completing a trade.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Have your kids look for the CM's with green lanyards. These CM's lanyards mean they will trade only with children. Some of their lanyards will have unique pins on them. And the CM's will not trade more than 2 pins with the same guest. I always carry a baggie in my pocket so when I trade for a pin I want to keep it goes in my pocket and that way ALL the pins on my lanyard that are looked at by others are tradable and I dont disappoint anyone looking. I've been trading pins for some time and always have extras with me that I dont want to keep so sometimes if a child is being polite, really likes two pins but has only one to trade, I will give them the extra one as a freebie.

 

[draybook]

I absolutely encourage buying pins from third parties, and I won't apologize for it. I'm not going to sit there and pay $7-15 bucks a piece for something I can get somewhere else for a tenth of that cost. I'm already paying $6 for that $2 burger, Disney will survive. And if you're going to stand around trying to authenticate every pin from every CM, then I suggest you don't plan on riding any rides or partaking in any attractions.

That being said, we traded pins on a couple of trips, but my kids have gotten older and kind of lost interest. It was fun while it lasted though and the CM's were always friendly.

 

[AndyS2992]

I absolutely encourage buying pins from third parties, and I won't apologize for it. I'm not going to sit there and pay $7-15 bucks a piece for something I can get somewhere else for a tenth of that cost. I'm already paying $6 for that $2 burger, Disney will survive. And if you're going to stand around trying to authenticate every pin from every CM, then I suggest you don't plan on riding any rides or partaking in any attractions.

That being said, we traded pins on a couple of trips, but my kids have gotten older and kind of lost interest. It was fun while it lasted though and the CM's were always friendly.

So you actively partake in buying and trading fakes for genuine ones from unknowing guests? That's low.

 

[draybook]

So you actively partake in buying and trading fakes for genuine ones from unknowing guests? That's low.

No, I buy under the pretense that they are legitimate pins. I'd love to see your data that shows that the average guest cares about much less knows the difference. But I'm sorry that I've upset your moral code, Jesus. I also speed when driving and sometimes toss out a curse word. Please forgive me.