Pin Trading......Fun or Waste of Time?

[Nuslerosh]

Been pin collecting since my third trip to Disney. I'm not super hardcore about it , but pins are really the only souvenirs I buy from Disney. I also like to buy a bunch of mystery pins or pins online and trade them with CMs, but It's not a first priority. I usually just check a CM that's around when our group is kind of at a stand still or if someone's shopping and I will go check some CMs and look at their pins. I think It's important to be aware of others and understand that attractions are the priority for the whole group.

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

Meh, I'd entertain it for a while but then move on. It's my vacation too. To each their own. My wife is interested in plenty of stuff I don't like. Doesn't mean we have to do it together. I'd keep moving eventually. I see the alure in pin trading for some people. Definitely not my thing, but if that's what helps them enjoy their vacation go right ahead. But I agree have some consideration for others that don't want to do it, or be willing to spend some time by yourself to indulge the hobby.

 

[worldfanatic]

Pin Collecting = Cool, if that's what you enjoy.

Pin Trading = Guests can do what they want with each other. But wasting Cast Member's time with it is annoying. It should be disallowed.
Cast members won't admit it, but it must drive them crazy when dork after dork keeps wandering up to look at their lanyard.

 

[NearTheEars]

I'm guilty of acquiring some questionable batches of pins on ebay. Do you think this practice will eventually lead to the end of pin trading? We go to a the parks a lot, and you can just tell by the CMs lanyards what batch of pins were unloaded off the boat that month.

 

[DManRightHere]

I finally caved and bought a storm trooper with a mickey hat pin. Stuck it on my hat.

Me and wife are interested in theming collection. She had a princess collection on one bag, now her 2nd collection is rides. Getting like one pin a year.

I would just like a pin of each park. I tried to find one of EPCOT to start, but I couldn't find a stupid pin without a character on it.

As far as wasted time trading, we try to take a couple designated days for only shopping (mostly browsing). I would pick that time for trading with cast, unless you HAPPEN to see a CM with a pin that perks your interest.

This may be useless info though as we've never traded before...

We may get a bulk ebay auction to try it next trip.

 

[LAKid53]

I collect pins, but don't trade them. After completing my collection of the classic characters, I now collect pins tied to special events - like the 24 hour party, 25th anniversary of DHS (the pass holder pin is very nice), 15th anniversary and Earth Day for DAK, etc.

All my treasured pins (make that classic Disney characters) have locking pin backs so I don't loose them (I hunted the classic Snow pin with the sparkly dress for months). Have disappointed many a kid when asked (some actually rudely insisted - parents teach manners, please) to trade and showed them my pins are locked to my lanyard (and no, I'm not trading anyway). Don't wear my lanyard anymore as it is so heavy I would need neck surgery. So now I just collect the interesting pins I see and I'm going to need a larger pin book.

I've now switched from collecting pins to collecting ears. Disney, if you can do Halloween and Christmas ears, can you do other holidays? I'd love a pair of St. Patty ears. And Easter ears that don't look like a tutu - I am assuming those pink ears with the tutu looking wrap of fabric are supposed to be an Easter bonnet? Looks like the tutu I wore in dance class.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

We have a few pins, perhaps half a dozen. We are not trading and we are definitely not collecting. I bought some very selected ones, which were a little more extraordinary, only resort or attraction related like Poly and EE and enjoy to wear one of them during a day of work because I am carrying something that reminds me and kinda connects me to my favorite place. But I would never collect them, I consider the prices are quite ridiculous and would never pay for more than a handful, because they don't have a REAL practical value. We prefer to purchase more practical merchandise at WDW, e.g. mugs, we already have more than 20 and still going, especially with the new AL merchandise.

 

[Susan Savia]

I buy one dated pin each year. I can't see spending a lot of money on pins then 'trading' them.

 

[draybook]

Pin Collecting = Cool, if that's what you enjoy.

Pin Trading = Guests can do what they want with each other. But wasting Cast Member's time with it is annoying. It should be disallowed.
Cast members won't admit it, but it must drive them crazy when dork after dork keeps wandering up to look at their lanyard.

So why are they dorks if they like pin trading? You're talking about a place where people ride attractions based on fairy tales and pin trading is the line you've set where it crosses into dorkiness? Well, I'm a dork then because I love the rides and pin trading can be fun too if you have the extra time.

 

[Britt]

Total waste of time, IMO!

 

[got2lovedisney]

I'm lucky in that my DBF is also into pin trading. We get really competitive about it. When we are with other people though, we tone it down which is what we did on our latest trip with my brother & his family. Planning another family trip in October so I'm already thinking about making a solo trip so I can get some pin trading in while not being disruptive to the non-traders.

 

[whitney37354]

DH & DD started pin collecting in October & got lanyards to wear. They only traded from pin boards & CM's who were already at the checkouts we were in. They mostly bought the pins they wanted. DH bought a pin book & I bought pins of the resorts we've stayed at & character meals/dinner shows we've gone to. We have bought one lot of pins from e-bay and picked out the ones we wanted. We are going to have a "pin party" with the family we went on the last trip with to trade with them.

It does get expensive. I think you should only collect pins you like, not just to get a set of pins. DD likes Figment & Duffy pins, DH like pirate pins. They have a few other kinds, but look for those pins in particular.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think it's totally up to you. Are you someone who enjoys collecting in general, or likes role-playing games (e.g., Pokemon, Magic, Heroclix) in which "rare" items are sought, collected and prized? If you want to trade pins and are willing to pay what it costs, then by all means, do it! It's a popular pastime for guests of all ages. I used to work with a highly intelligent and personable professional who proudly kept her pin-laden Disney lanyards on a special display board in her corporate office in Rochester, NY, and was happy to discuss the joy that pin trading brought her and her family with anyone who inquired.

On the other hand, if it doesn't appeal to you (and especially if you are an infrequent guest or don't have any extra cash to devote to a new hobby), it would be a waste of time and money. Personally, it's not something I've ever wanted to "get into," but I applaud the fun it brings to others.

 

[habuma]

We let the kids trade, but as they get older they find more "keepers" which means I have to buy more "traders".

This.

We've bought a few pins here and there, so we're not against the idea. And I'm a collector by nature (in the sense that once I have one of something, I feel compelled to have *all* of that something). So pin trading appeals to me, at least in concept.

In practice, however, I've been hesitant to jump into it because I don't get the logic of it. If I want a pin, why not just buy it? And if I bought a pin, I probably bought it because I wanted it...why would I ever want to trade it? It's not like I have a lanyard full of pins that I bought just to trade...I could've just bought the pin I wanted and skipped the trading step in the middle.

I'm hoping that someone here can enlighten me on what I'm missing here, because I really want to trade pins. I just can't follow the reasoning of it.

Also, the extremely high risk of trading and getting a fake or scrapper frightens me a bit. I have a fairly good idea of how to spot a scrapper or fake, but some of them are extremely well done, so it's likely that one would go under my scrapper-radar and onto my lanyard. (And don't say "Well, if it's one you wanted, then it shouldn't matter if it's fake or scrapper." It does matter because any trade involving fakes/scrappers only serves to taint the entire hobby.)

 

[worldfanatic]

people ride attractions based on fairy tales and pin trading is the line you've set where it crosses into dorkiness

Yes, that is correct.
At least those who bother cast members with it.

People who collect autographs from characters are also goobers in my book.
BIG TIME!!

 

[draybook]

Yes, that is correct.
At least those who bother cast members with it.

People who collect autographs from characters are also goobers in my book.
BIG TIME!!

How is it bothering them when it's part of their job?

 

[Matt_Black]

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."- John Lennon

 

[Uncle Remus]

This.
In practice, however, I've been hesitant to jump into it because I don't get the logic of it. If I want a pin, why not just buy it? And if I bought a pin, I probably bought it because I wanted it...why would I ever want to trade it? It's not like I have a lanyard full of pins that I bought just to trade...I could've just bought the pin I wanted and skipped the trading step in the middle.

I'm hoping that someone here can enlighten me on what I'm missing here, because I really want to trade pins. I just can't follow the reasoning of it.

I guess if someone wanted a discontinued pin or a limited time pin they'd have to trade for it being that it's not available to buy. That's the only reason I could think of. Or a Mystery pin they want but don't want to buy a bunch of packs to try and find it.

 

[JillC LI]

In pin trading as in life, all things in moderation. I don't mind if the kids want to stop to trade occasionally so long as we can all get to do the things we most want. I enjoy their enjoyment of it even though I am not personally into pin trading. They wouldn't want pin trading to interfere with rides and other attractions anyway so we're all on the same page.

 

[worldfanatic]

How is it bothering them when it's part of their job?

It's kind of like when first aid cast members have to treat injuries, or janitorial cast members have to clean up puke, or security cast members have to break up fights.
It's their job, and somebody has to do it. But they sure as heck would prefer not to.