Pin Trading

[Dwarful]

Ok I need some help here. We have made several trips to Disney...yet we have never done the pin collecting or trading thing. The kids have friends who have done this and they want to do it when we go in May. Is there some sight I can go to to get some general rules? I dont want the kids to bother people on their vacations too! Is there a general area at each of the parks? or certain CM's that do this? Thanks for any info you can provide. It will make our trip so much easier if the kids all know the ground rules before we go!

 

[Thespis]

There are pin trading areas in all three parks and at Downtown Disney. Be careful trading with other guests. There are sharks who go to the parks daily to fleece the tourists. I almost never trade with other guests though because most of the CM's are wearing lanyards. If you want to trade for a pin on a CM lanyard, the CM must make the trade if you're trading a pin with the Disney name stamped on the back and if the CM doesn't already have that pin on his/her lanyard. It's been my experience that CM's will trade even if they already have the pin you're offering.
It's great fun and you get to talk to lots of CM's.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Buy and trade minimally. Most of the pins on CM lanyards are available for purchase. Buy what you like and have fun!! There are about 3000 pins out there (just WDW ones) so collect what you like. I make themes with my pins, like Mickey, or rides, or resorts. Also remember only buy if you really want it (pins are 6.50+)

 

[Dwarful]

Thanks for the info. I wasnt really sure how it worked. What about the special Magic Moment Pins??Are they worth the price? I heard they were about $15 each? I had no idea the pins were that price. My kids are 5 & 2 so I think we will do it low key, my niece and nephews though range from 8-14 so I guess it will depend on how much of their own money they want to spend on the pins! If I buy the pins at the Disney Store can you trade those with the CM's for pins related to the parks or resorts? Sorry to bother you all with so many questions...just dont want to get there in May and commit some major error!

 

[Jodigrl328]

Hi, My name is Jodi, and I am a Pin Trader.

It is an addiction (for me anyway). There is a cool website that gives you lots of info on pin trading. www.dizpins.com

It gives general rules and new pin releases. I really don't collect all the limited edition ones, just the resorts I stay, my favorite rides and characters. It does get expensive though. Yes you can trade pins bought at the disney store with CM.

The magical moments pins are expensive but they look really cool at night when they light up. It's also fun to see all of the rides they light up on. There are four mm pins. one for each park. have each child pick a favorite park and buy that one. There is also a "secret website" in which you can download a certificate and get a free internet pin. If your interested in more info just put up another post and i will be glad to answer your questions.

 

[Jodigrl328]

I made an error in my post. There are 5 mm pins. One for each park and one general one. sorry about that

 

[DisneyMom0324]

I thought the Magical Moments pins were a little expensive (or maybe I'm just cheap...lol) but they are really neat. I got the Magic Kingdom one. The pin would light up like crazy on Peter Pan's Flight and Splash Mountain. It also went off during the MVMCP parade and during Tower of Terror. I'd like to have all of the Magical Moments pins - hopefully I can get the other 4 in November.

 

[Thespis]

Buy and trade minimally. Most of the pins on CM lanyards are available for purchase.

Great advice! Also, buy low and trade high. There should be some pins left at the Disney Stores that sell for up to $2.00 cheaper than pins at the park. You can trade those at WDW just like any of the pins you buy there.

 

[Dwarful]

Oh my gosh! I had no idea there were that many different types of pins. Well, I guess we will let the five kids each choose their MMpin maybe they will each take a different one! If not maybe we will go ahead and get one collection for each household. I am wondering..we are going to the Disney Outlet Store in early May before our trip, if I find cheap pins there I can trade those cheap ones with the CM's? Is that right? If they have a lanyard? Is a lanyard the thing that hangs around your neck that you put the pins on? Sorry if I am asking loads of dumb questions, I just had no idea how big this pin trading was.

 

[Jodigrl328]

Yes, lanyards are the things you wear around your necks. I find the best trading to be with CM who actually are at the pin selling stands. They usually have a lot more to choose from and are willing to part with any of their pins (with the exception of the mm pins).

I usually take my crappy pins like the ones i get at work for disney training courses or ones i get with the package and trade them for really nice ones that the cm wear.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

The outlets are great because they have some of the older pins from WDW at a discounted price. Buy them there for 2-3 dollars and then trade with a CM that doesn't have the pin. You get a 6.50-8.50 pin for 2-3 dollars. It is great. Before they remodeled our Disney Store they had some left over gallery pins for .99. I bought a ton of them and traded them away to the CM's...It was great!!

 

[Dwarful]

Thanks for the info. Glad to know we wont be breaking any rules if we trade the outlet cheapies for nicer ones. Great thing about that is, is it wont be costing us "disney money" since I will stock up if they have cheaper ones before we go. thanks so much