So...YOU like Pins?

[ArielLover]

I am currently trying to collect every pin that has (shock) Ariel on it. I have3 full pin books and am starting on my 4th. Guess I could have much worse hobbies. :hammer:

 

[NemoRocks78]

OMG!! O-M-G!! PINS!! WHERE?!??!! Gimme!! :lol:

Me....I am a big pin fan. I used to wonder what the big deal was about 'em, but after I bought my first one last year I can't stop buying them up. I only collect theme park pins, but I'll buy a Goofy or Stitch one once in awhile. I don't trade, just like to collect.

 

[stuart]

And Stuart, I think we discussed this before about your Millennium pin. If it is one of the cast pins of a multicolored balloon with a Scottish flag beneath, it is very exclusive and should be kept by you. If I remember you have no intention to sell, which is best. (I have one from Wales reflecting partial heritage) that I also have no desire to part with.

No its not one of the cast pins but all the same its kinda rare im guessing as i have never seen anyone out there wearing one either and i would never get sell or trade it. I know from speaking from one of the CMs at the Scottish part to the millenium celebration that she was offered $1000 but would not sell, she said she would never sell it. Too right.

I think as well that the fact there was a Scottish and Welsh part was a sign from Disney that they know that the current United Kingdom pavillion is more English that British. I still think that they could have acts from all around the UK such as Scottish highland dancing (would definetly be a crowd puller). But it hasnt happened sadly.

 

[MissM]

The reason poeple don't trade LE for and LE is because each LE is different. Trading a 3000 LE for a 500 LE is crazy to "Extreme" PT. I think perhaps doing some research on the pin you want to trade would help. Knowing when it was made, edition size, if it sold out or not will help you secure a trade. And the other thing is that you can look to see what people will trade for your pin on pinpics. Hope this helps.

Well yes of course there are LE differences, release and access difference and I suppose I should have gotten more about my example (another thing I despite about the "extreme" pin traders! ) but that's not even close to still representing what ends up being a "fair market value" for a pin.

A LE 500 pin might be "worth" less then a LE 3,000 pin - it's all dependant on basically what the majority wants, where/when it was released, what character it is, and how many people got away with buying insane multiples of the pin and thus a narrower trading market. From an educated outsider's POV (meaning I don't participate but I keep updated on releases and trends to see what's out there in general), it's really insanely irregular. It's mass hysteria + equal parts hype in order to come up with a "fair trade value" for pins. Even long-time PT'ers will complain about people having unbelievably unrealistic values assigned to pins - with no real reason. (I see this all the time on pin communities I lurk at.)

I don't know. I don't like trading. I love pins but the whole trading thing is too rude, aggressive, contradictory and slanted (only those willing to spend hundreds of dollars to obtain rare - and oftentimes ugly - pins can ever find anything that will be accepted as a trader.) It's not newbie friendly to get into and not for those of modest budget (yours truly).

But, just collecting them for yourself can be fun. And it's more then enough for me. *shrugs*
-m

 

[maxime29]

I collect what I like.

The only pins I had to hunt down that I really wanted were for 2004 Graduation (I graduated high school last June). The closest we found to a graduation pin was a "create your own" diploma one (It was actually for 2003 because of an '03 hanging from the cap). We went on eBay and bought the WDW and DL grad pins.

The only other one I would hunt down would be a Horizons one.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

MissM: But, just collecting them for yourself can be fun. And it's more then enough for me. *shrugs*
-m

Ah, MissM I believe you've summed it all very nicely. If only more folks could enjoy the simplicity of it.

 

[Main Street USA]

I like the Magical Moments pins, because like bright, shiny, blinking things. So, I've got those. Also a few here and there that really caught my eye.

 

[kknopp]

First, let me say that whoever came up with the idea of pin-trading is a bonified EVIL GENIUS.

We just got back from our 2nd trip to WDW (first trip with our 4 year old) and noticed the pins right off. We aren't that big into collecting anything, but though the whole idea of trading with CM's might be fun for our little guy. We bought a lanyard that had like 6 (half where duplicates for trading) Toy Story pins on it for our little one (He's a Buzz Lightyear fanatic). He was only interested in Toy Story pins.

We only traded with CM's, and he scored 3 different Toy Story pins to replace the duplicates, and he HAD to have a Zurg pin we saw in a shop so we bought that one. None of this was really with building a collection in mind...just for some fun and to bring home a few Toy Story themed souvenirs. THOUGH..we probably would have never bought into it had it not been for the clever "trade with the CMs" angle....

...which brings me to a question:

Are CM's given pins for free to trade? The reason I ask is that my boy went to trade pins with a CM on the Buzz Lightyear ride (we rode maybe 8 times that week :lol). He picked (on his own) another Buzz Lightyear pin. However, I did notice once we went to put it on that it featured Buzz in front of a calendar with a 2002 (I think it was) date on it. I assume that was some sort of limited edition pin of some sort, and was probably worth much more than the mass produced duplicate pin that it was traded for. At that point, I felt kind of bad...like we'd cheated the CM out of something.

What are the rules are far as CM's and pins?
Do they get them free?
Would there be a reason they'd wear what appeared to be a rare pin, knowing that it could be quickly traded away for junk?

...feedback please

 

[tigger248]

...which brings me to a question:

Are CM's given pins for free to trade? The reason I ask is that my boy went to trade pins with a CM on the Buzz Lightyear ride (we rode maybe 8 times that week :lol). He picked (on his own) another Buzz Lightyear pin. However, I did notice once we went to put it on that it featured Buzz in front of a calendar with a 2002 (I think it was) date on it. I assume that was some sort of limited edition pin of some sort, and was probably worth much more than the mass produced duplicate pin that it was traded for. At that point, I felt kind of bad...like we'd cheated the CM out of something.

What are the rules are far as CM's and pins?
Do they get them free?
Would there be a reason they'd wear what appeared to be a rare pin, knowing that it could be quickly traded away for junk?

...feedback please

The cast members are given the lanyards from their management and then they are replenished occasionally so you can have fresh pins or better pins. Merchandise cast members are required to wear them in some locations, but not at others. (I used to work in frontierland merchandise and my managers would make us wear it as part of the costume unless it was a stock shift.) So yes the cast members get them for free, but they are not really "theirs". They also have to turn them in, so the trading is of no personal gain to the cm. A cm also must trade any pin on the lanyard for any pin a guest wants to give. The only way the cm can say no is if they already have the pin that the guest wants to trade (and that is just so they can keep some variety, although some will trade regardless. I never turned down a little kid for example) So if a cm has a rare pin, they have to trade it. The buzz calendar pin you mentioned sounds like one that was released from TDS as a calendar series. I'm not sure how rare they are now, but in my cm days back in 2002, they weren't real rare. I hope this helps! I also hope your son enjoys all his buzz lightyear pins. Sounds pretty cool and the fact that he enjoys them is what is most important.

 

[ogryn]

I get a handful everytime I visit a resort. I wouldn't think of trading them though. I buy them cause I love those ones.... why would I want to swap?

I do agree they are expensive though, I reckon I have about £150 worth in the photo (not including the case).

 

[Gucci65]

Believe me they all are not men.!

Men have been the only ones to try & rip my kid off. Never been approached by a woman.

 

[MKCustodial]

The cast members are given the lanyards from their management and then they are replenished occasionally so you can have fresh pins or better pins. Merchandise cast members are required to wear them in some locations, but not at others. (I used to work in frontierland merchandise and my managers would make us wear it as part of the costume unless it was a stock shift.) So yes the cast members get them for free, but they are not really "theirs". They also have to turn them in, so the trading is of no personal gain to the cm. A cm also must trade any pin on the lanyard for any pin a guest wants to give. The only way the cm can say no is if they already have the pin that the guest wants to trade (and that is just so they can keep some variety, although some will trade regardless. I never turned down a little kid for example) So if a cm has a rare pin, they have to trade it. The buzz calendar pin you mentioned sounds like one that was released from TDS as a calendar series. I'm not sure how rare they are now, but in my cm days back in 2002, they weren't real rare. I hope this helps! I also hope your son enjoys all his buzz lightyear pins. Sounds pretty cool and the fact that he enjoys them is what is most important.

:lol: Yeah, this whole "CMs have to trade pins got me into some tight spots... I never really wore the lanyard, being a Custodial and all, but I did wear two pins that I got from Disney, "Fantasy - The Magic Kingdom" one that I got from Minnie on my first day, and the "2000 Millenium Celebration" I got for working on New Year's Eve. Some pin-nuts would see those two pins a mile away and go "WOW, I never saw those! Wanna trade???" Uh, no. "Aw come on, trade!!!" Seriously, no, these are special. "Come ON!"

And so on and so forth.

 

[MKCP 1985]

What resort were you staying at.

I was at Coronado Springs. I looked up and down every rack in the gift shop for a CS pin, but none were there. It was disappointing at the time not to be able to find one, but I am way over it.

We visited a couple other resorts while we were there, eating at the Poly and at the Wilderness Lodge. When browsing around the gift shop in the Wilderness Lodge, I didn't see any WL pins either, but my search motivation wasn't as strong.

I'm guessing the resorts issue pins from time to time, but don't keep them in stock. Anybody know for sure?

 

[ClemsonTigger]

There aren't many, but Coronado Springs pins can be seen with the following link to Pinpics.com: http://www.pinpics.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi
ADD: Unfortunately the link doesn't take you right there. Just go to search, Disney Pin and type the resort name. Sorry I couldn't take you right there.

If curious, that is a nice site to go to to find out what is/has been available.

As for WL, there are a lot.

Generally, all resorts have standard issue pins. The greater variety is with the deluxe resorts. They all then have limited editions for special events, anniversaries and the like. If you don't see, do ask!

What I have found is the resort pin supplies and variety are probably the most limited. You are better off looking for your resort in one of the larger pin stations in the park, MouseGear or the like. You can also ask CM's at one of the larger trading stores...some don't have a clue, others are real helpful.

 

[tigsmom]

I was at Coronado Springs. I looked up and down every rack in the gift shop for a CS pin, but none were there. It was disappointing at the time not to be able to find one, but I am way over it.

We visited a couple other resorts while we were there, eating at the Poly and at the Wilderness Lodge. When browsing around the gift shop in the Wilderness Lodge, I didn't see any WL pins either, but my search motivation wasn't as strong.

I'm guessing the resorts issue pins from time to time, but don't keep them in stock. Anybody know for sure?

We've seen beautiful WL pins there every year we've gone. Lil'mermaid has a beautiful boxed set she received as a gift. We also got one from the Polynesian. Maybe you just hit it at an off time? If you don't see a specific pin just ask because there may be more tucked away.

 

[BG Rugger]

Theyre all right. I like collecting Lilo and Stitch pins, but my complaint is theyre too expensive

 

[NitroStitch]

I keep trying not to be a pin collector (too many collections already), but it isn't really working for me. :hammer: I've bought a bunch of Lilo & Stitch pins, Villain pins, Chip and Dale pins, Pooh and Friends pins, etc. and somehow I have ended up with a lot of pins, just a few at a time.

So far I've managed not to get heavily into pin trading, and I still only buy the pins I really like, but it's reeeeeealllly draining the Disney budget. :brick: Too many great characters and designs, and not enough money and space.

If I keep this up, I'll have to join Pinaholics Anonymous soon.

 

[MissM]

Here, try this link for Coronado Springs resort results. Most of them appear to be gone by now but this one seems to be open stock. (Meaning, they have no limited quantity of them and they are around for awhile.)
-m

 

[Kwit35]

Never bought a single pin, but still think they are a great idea. If they had been popular about 20 years ago, I would have been crazy for them. They are cute, fun, a great collectors items... But right now, I would rather save my money for a big squishy sweat shirt and lots of food.

 

[tigger248]

:lol: Yeah, this whole "CMs have to trade pins got me into some tight spots... I never really wore the lanyard, being a Custodial and all, but I did wear two pins that I got from Disney, "Fantasy - The Magic Kingdom" one that I got from Minnie on my first day, and the "2000 Millenium Celebration" I got for working on New Year's Eve. Some pin-nuts would see those two pins a mile away and go "WOW, I never saw those! Wanna trade???" Uh, no. "Aw come on, trade!!!" Seriously, no, these are special. "Come ON!"

And so on and so forth.

I would hate if that happened. But, then again, that's why I never wore my fantasy or merchantainment pins at work. Since I had to wear the lanyard, I figured it would be harder to explain why specifically those two weren't tradable. I did wear my magic kingdom 30th anniversary button, and I'm thinking we had a Bambi one too at one point. I also never wore my 9-11 tribute pin in the shape of a bell, but that was more because I was off on 9-11-02 and that was the only day we could wear them.