Pin trading, not as popular as it used to be??

tarak · Jul 12, 2017

My kids loved pin trading when they were younger. It was almost like shopping - and I loved it, too, because I was spending anything extra. The older kids have kept their pins for years now and are sentimental about them, so they won't trade. But I'm planning to do it with my youngest the next time we travel to WDW.

beckyx3 · Jul 12, 2017

My husband has gotten into pin trading the last few years. Over our wedding trip a bunch of our friends started to get into it too. We found a ton of pin boards across the parks. AK had a lot of carts that had cork pin boards sitting on them and the trash cans with the pins on them throughout the parks were a hit. Also, if you're fortunate enough to head on a Disney Cruise, their pin trading with officers is fantastic. Our last cruise we got a handful of huge Star Wars Day at Seas pins and different sailing pins.

lovethattink · Jul 12, 2017

We were really into trading in the early 2000s. Then it dropped off for us.

My 13 year old has started trading. He's had no problem finding cm with lanyards. The kid can spot a lanyard miles away, lol.

Epcot's guest services no longer has a pin board. That we discovered last week.

TexasKiwiPrincess · Jul 12, 2017

peg2001 said:
The only way I know that you can be positive to avoid scrappers is to buy directly from Disney. We used to have some luck finding discount pins at our local Disney store in the mall but they don't seem to carry pins anymore. Besides, if you buy from Disney and then trade in the parks, you will end up trading genuine pins for scrappers that are on the lanyards.

If you just want to trade for fun then buying bulk pins from Ebay, etc. to trade in the parks is what most folks seem to do. Then, if you are trading scrapper for scrapper, you are on an even playing field.

We used to participate in pin trading more often, but too many people buy those huge worthless lots of fake pins off ebay. That's pretty much all that is available to trade on the CM lanyards and boards. Some CMs have a "special" lanyard, book, or board sometimes they call it a mystery pin set. I've discovered those are usually higher quality and authentic pins. We only trade pins purchased directly from Disney. I was very lucky to find pins on clearance at our local Disney Store outlet and stocked up on those. We watched a couple of youtube videos on how to spot the fakes, so we don't end up trading our quality pins for ebay trash. I also don't like the idea of contributing to crooks that make the fake pins without a Disney contract. All the fakes definitely took the fun out of it for us.

Moramoon · Jul 12, 2017

We got into trading after our trip last September. Unfortunately it wasn't until the last few days that we decided to buy some pins and trade them so we didn't get too much experience then. We did stop by Disney Springs and some of the resorts on our way home from Cape Canaveral this past May and did some trading then. I do agree that a lot of the CM's have the same pins, but we did find a few worth trading for (DH found a white rabbit pin on a CM at GF). We've actually found several facebook groups that trade/sell pins. A lot of them have guidelines for selling and admins that monitor the groups so I feel more comfortable buying there than ebay and taking chances of getting fakes. I know some people don't mind, but I know I wouldn't want to trade a good pin for a fake one or add to the fakes that are already out there.

mousefan73 · Jul 12, 2017

not sure if it was mentioned but I think the magic bands played a role in lowering the pin trading craze.. before MBs.. tons of people bought laynards for their passes... and used laynards for pins.. so you would be in line and chat with the guy next to you and check out their pins... now 1. people are on their phones booking next FPs or checking wait times,, 2. no more laynards to show pins off.

Kjbbach1 · Jul 12, 2017

Good info all. My 5 year olds love pin trading, so I think we will keep trying. We aren't experts but with this age the eBay pins are fine with us. Too bad they don't have another way for the experts to trade more valuable ones.

mshrm · Aug 9, 2017

Glad to hear its still going strong, I had wondered the same thing. Planning to go next June and want the family to have fun trading.

HMANSION LOVER · Aug 9, 2017

We were there in March. There were still plenty, and I mean PLENTY of CM's wearing pins and willing to trade and interact with my daughter and her friend who was a first time visitor to Disney and truly enjoyed the experience. Don't forget that there are pin trading boards at resorts and certain shops throughout all the parks. You will have no problem finding places to trade pins.

. Enjoy your Disney vacation!!!!!!!

here757 · Sep 1, 2017

My favorite line on pin posts usually starts "I bought a bunch of pins on eBay and they were 100% authentic... lol

BigredNole · Sep 7, 2017

here757 said:
My favorite line on pin posts usually starts "I bought a bunch of pins on eBay and they were 100% authentic... lol

I always like the idea that CMs have 100% authenticate pins on their lanyards to trade. I would say 80%+ of what CMs have are the pins that are on eBay. If Disney had better product control, there would be no issue. As long as they want to make pins for $0.07 and sell them for $10, there are going to be eBay lots for sale.

DAKDarling · Sep 7, 2017

That's so weird. When I was a CM I was required to wear a pin lanyard. We even had extras in the back so if we forgot ours, the managers would make us get one.

Melissa Perez · Nov 20, 2017

My fiance and I just started pin trading this weekend! We decided on a whim to start on our 2nd to last full day, so we didn't get too much experience but boy, did we have a blast! I love trading for the hidden mickey pins and some of the CMs were so so sweet in explaining to us how it all works. We even bought new lanyards and pins for our next trip in February already - this time around we will be prepared! :stitch2:

PanamaMike · Nov 20, 2017

Melissa Perez said:
My fiance and I just started pin trading this weekend! We decided on a whim to start on our 2nd to last full day, so we didn't get too much experience but boy, did we have a blast! I love trading for the hidden mickey pins and some of the CMs were so so sweet in explaining to us how it all works. We even bought new lanyards and pins for our next trip in February already - this time around we will be prepared!

Welcome to the addiction.

SPAM · Nov 20, 2017

We are going to do it for the first time next month. We got one of the pin lots on EBay, I don’t know enough about it to know which are real or fake they all look okay to me. We don’t care about what we trade for I will probably just get things or characters I like. Just thought it would be a fun thing to do, we are only planning on trading with cast members.

Best Aunt · Nov 20, 2017

Eye issues tonight so forgive me for not reading all posts. I was there Labor Day and learned that gift shops in resorts and on Boardwalk had the pin boards behind the counter. You had to ask to see them. There was even a pin board at desk of Boardwalk Resort Community Hall.

BigredNole · Nov 21, 2017

SPAM said:
We got one of the pin lots on EBay,

People are going to try to vilify you for that. I would not worry about it though. There is no reason to buy $5+ pins to trade for $0.20 pins anyway. At least this way, you are trading fair-value for fair-value.

Pin trading, not as popular as it used to be??

tarak

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beckyx3

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lovethattink

TPAS Moderator

TexasKiwiPrincess

Dream Big, Princess

Moramoon

DIS Veteran

mousefan73

Germans are faster at dubbing

Kjbbach1

Mouseketeer

mshrm

Mouseketeer

HMANSION LOVER

PIN TRADER

here757

DIS Veteran

BigredNole

DIS Veteran

DAKDarling

Disney Darling

Melissa Perez

Mouseketeer

PanamaMike

DIS Veteran

SPAM

DIS Veteran

Best Aunt

"That's the best-est present ever!"

BigredNole

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