Help Around the Mouse Clues You In on....
Pin Trading
The pins themselves come in many styles, shapes, and sizes featuring nearly every conceivable aspect of the Disney experience, from the major attractions to fairly obscure Disney characters to Mickey Mouse. Some pins feature special design elements such as a dangle, a fastened rubber element, movable pieces that slide or spin, or even flashing lights. Pins commemorating holidays are very popular with Disney pin trading enthusiasts who spend a particular holiday in the park.
How do you get started?
Disney Pin Trading is as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Purchase your Disney pins
2. Meet a Disney Cast Member wearing a pin trading lanyard.
3. Trade your Disney Pin with the Cast Member.
The most important thing to remember about Disney Pin Trading is to have fun collecting and trading the Disney pins you like. Disney Pin Trading can be a great way to interact with and meet Cast Members from around the world -- pins are great conversation starters! It’s fun, social and best of all, gives cool little souvenirs of Disney parks, characters, events and basically anything else that's Disney.
At a starting price of nearly $9 per pin, it is easy to see that pin trading can quickly become an expensive proposition. Disney does offers a variety Disney Pin Trading "Starter Sets." These "Starter Sets" feature a uniquely themed Pin Trading lanyard and four Disney pins.
Trading vs. Collecting
The fundamental difference between collectors and traders is that collectors keep their pins! Most often, each of us is at the same time, a collector and a trader. There are some pins we decide we can’t part with, and others that we are willing to trade away. Keep in mind, the more pins you decide to collect, the more pins you will need to buy. Otherwise, you won’t have pins to trade.
Some helpful hints for parents
We suggest you start your vacation with a set number of pins for each child. At the start of each the day, put some of the pins on their lanyard. We suggest a child has no more pins on his lanyard than his age. As the day progresses, designate one side of the lanyard for the ‘traders’, and one side for the ‘keepers’. Each time you return to your room, take the keepers off the lanyard, and replace them with new pins from your grab bag. When that child’s bag is empty, they must decide to give up some of the keepers, be finished trading, or convince Mom and Dad to buy them more pins!
The fundamental difference between collectors and traders is that collectors keep their pins! Most often, each of us is at the same time, a collector and a trader. There are some pins we decide we can’t part with, and others that we are willing to trade away. Keep in mind, the more pins you decide to collect, the more pins you will need to buy. Otherwise, you won’t have pins to trade.
Some helpful hints for parents
We suggest you start your vacation with a set number of pins for each child. At the start of each the day, put some of the pins on their lanyard. We suggest a child has no more pins on his lanyard than his age. As the day progresses, designate one side of the lanyard for the ‘traders’, and one side for the ‘keepers’. Each time you return to your room, take the keepers off the lanyard, and replace them with new pins from your grab bag. When that child’s bag is empty, they must decide to give up some of the keepers, be finished trading, or convince Mom and Dad to buy them more pins!
A nice idea is to tie a pin purchase with a special event. How about a Rockin’ Roller Coaster pin to commemorate the first ride? Or, a Cinderella pin for your first meeting with the princess? Perhaps a pin from your resort? Start a collection!
Losing pins
Every trader has lost their share of pins. The backs fall off, and the pins fall to the ground, unnoticed. You can buy locking backs in the parks, but even those are not fool proof. If you have a Mickey head back, we suggest you put the pin in a little sideways. This tends to lock them on a bit better. You also should put the lanyard inside your shirt on some of the wilder rides, to keep them from flying around. And, if there is a pin that you really love-- take it off your lanyard and put it in a zipped pocket or backpack.
Traveling with pins
Yes-- you can take your pins on a plane with you. No need to stash them in your checked baggage.
Every trader has lost their share of pins. The backs fall off, and the pins fall to the ground, unnoticed. You can buy locking backs in the parks, but even those are not fool proof. If you have a Mickey head back, we suggest you put the pin in a little sideways. This tends to lock them on a bit better. You also should put the lanyard inside your shirt on some of the wilder rides, to keep them from flying around. And, if there is a pin that you really love-- take it off your lanyard and put it in a zipped pocket or backpack.
Traveling with pins
Yes-- you can take your pins on a plane with you. No need to stash them in your checked baggage.
Once home, many people put their pins away in a closet until the next trip. But, you can put them a display board for them, purchase a pin notebook, or use them as tie tacks!
And a final word about Pin trading...
Pin trading, like souvenir shopping, should never take place during the first two hours you are visiting a park in the morning. This is prime touring time, when there are no lines. Let’s save the pin trading until after lunch, or in the evening, okay?
From everyone at HelpAroundtheMouse.com -- We hope this information, and all of our Help Around the Mouse Clue Ins, contributes to you having an even more magical Walt Disney World vacation! K
6/19