Pin Trading in Parks

[maeraeg]

1st visit to Disney! What exactly is Pin Trading and do they trade pins in all of the parks? How does this work and are there only certain people who trade with you? Thanks!

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

If you look down the MSG Board there is a whole section on Pin Trading. Pay special attention to Pin Trading Ettiquette. Thatg should tell you all you need to know to start off with.

[cfoshe]

basically you purchase pins that you can trade for better pins or pins that you like better. They are traded in every park and any cast member has pins to trade. If you go under the info central tab at the top of this page I am sure they have more information on it there.

[mook3y]

If you are interested in doing this, I would recommend buying official disney pins through ebay, it is a less expensive way to get into pin trading.

[joonyer]

My boys got into pin trading one year when we got free lanyards and pins as a bonus as part of our vacation package. They have about outgrown it now, (ages 17 & 14) but trading pins was one of their favorite activities on every WDW trip for a few years. They still have their collections. We always found any cast member more than happy to trade pins with the kids. It was a lot of fun if you are into collecting things.

[NewDVCowner]

A couple of years ago I went to Disneyland with my sister and she said we should try it. She went to ebay, bought some pins for the two of us and off we went. I just kind of rolled my eyes at the whole thing. I thought it was a waste of money and wouldn't be that fun.

Oh boy, I was wrong. It's addictive. And it's funny to see the types of people that are trading. Sure, you have the kids, but also forty year old men covered in tatoos that you think would be more comfortable on a motorcycle than in Disney. My 26 year old brother is even looking forward to it when we go to WDW this year.

I also find that it's a good way to not spend money at the parks. You get your pins ahead of time at ebay, then you trade for all the souviners you want. I walk through stores without looking at what they're selling, I'm just trying to hunt down a cast member with a lanyard on!

[queenmom9497]

I am not quite sure how it works. I am sure that the Pin Trading thread mentioned by others will be helpful.

DD #1 is our "Trader Girl" for the family. She has to buy pins in June because she has no more pins that she wants to trade from her collection.

She has never been turned down by a CM for a trade. There are certain CMs that only trade with children.

DD is at school, so I cannot get more specific.

[queenmom9497]

DD is home from school. I will let her type her experiences in pin trading.

Having pin traded with a few CM. There are a few rules.
1) Only children can trade with CM with green lanyards. Anyone can trade with CM who have blue colored ones.
2) There are seals/logos on the back of Disney pins. These are official pin trading pins.
3) Trading is fairly easy. You go up to a
CM and ask them for a pin trade. You may point at the pin but you should not touch the pin. This in pin trading etiquette. You also should be polite. Then, if the CM accepts, you take your pin off while the CM takes their pin off and you exchange. Make sure to thank them.
You can use your own Disney pins and a lanyard that you bought before, or get a set that can be found in most stores on Disney property.
I find pin trading fun and part of the Disney magic. Good luck in your adventure and have fun!!!

[cer]

One thing that not everyone knows is that the cast members are not required to wear lanyards. They participate because they want to.

Also, the pins they trade do not belong to them, so you should never encounter a cast member who is not willing to trade.

That being said, you never need to feel uncomfortable approaching a cast member to look at their pins and they are always glad to trade.

[11290]

There are certain CMs that only trade with children.

CM's and coordinators have the option to be pin traders or not. They can either pick the black lanyards for trading with anyone or the green which is for the children.

Manager level and up are required to have lanyards.