Disney Pin Trading
- Justin Storks
- May 26, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: May 27, 2019
One of the many things my wife Jaime introduced me to with Disney is the wonderful world of pin trading. We were sitting on our bed talking about our upcoming trip and she goes to the closet and pulls out this lanyard full of Disney pins. Honestly my first impression was this is kind of lame, but it looks like something the kids might enjoy. She goes on to explain the basics of it all and how everything works. Most people order some trader pins on eBay and when you go to the park you can trade with cast members or even buy pins from various locations all over Disney World.
So we ordered our a massive lot of about 75 pins from eBay and they arrived in the mail. We're sorting through them so we can divide them equally among us and the girls. One particular pin catches my eye which is a Star Wars pin of Mickey and Goofy with light sabers. I start thinking to myself this might actually be ok after all.
Long story short we got to Disney and I started trading with cast members every time I saw a Star Wars or Nightmare Before Christmas pin. Our resort even had a pin trading board at the back of Fulton's General Store. Basically if you see a pin you like you can swap it out with one of your own pins. I ended up spending a good portion of my Disney allowance on so many Star Wars pins. Needless to say I really enjoyed the entire experience. Our daughters loved pin trading and when we got home we made really nice displays showing off our "keeper pins". Its a great memory keepsake from the parks and a really fun experience for the entire family.
I recommended pin trading to my sister and niece when they went on their trip with us back in November and my sister had the same reaction as me. She ended up ordering a small batch of trader pins off eBay as well. My 10 year old niece fell in love with the experience and ended up trading every single one of her pins for pins she adores.
Here is the official pin trading etiquette as per the Disney pamphlet:
The general rule on what constitutes a trade-able pin is that it is a cloisonne, semi-cloisonne or hard enamel metal Disney pin, or an acceptable operating participant pin that represents a specific Disney event, place or location, character or icon
Only operating participant pins that show a Disney, Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort affiliation with accepted for trading.
Pins from other business units of the Walt Disney World company, such as ESPN, ABC, etc. are trade-able.
Disney service pins, Spirit of Disneyland Resort pins, and Disney language pins will not be accepted for trading.
Counterfeit pins and lower quality pins (e.g. plastic pins, rubber pins, other non-mental pins, epoxy coated pins, etc.) will not be accepted for trading.
If there is any doubt as to whether a pin is trad-able, pursuant to these rules, the trading Cast Member shall make the final decision.
Pins should be in good undamaged, trad-able condition.
Trade one pin at a time hand to hand.
Please refrain from touching another person's pin or lanyard. If you need a closer look, ask the person wearing the lanyard if they can bring it into clearer view for you.
Certain pin sets must be traded as sets. If a single pin from the set does not complete the intended picture or statement alone, such as carded pin sets, all pins in the set must be traded.
"Name pins" may not be traded with Cast Members. This includes Disney name pins.
When trading with Cast Members, Guests should offer a pin that is not already displayed on the cast members lanyard.
Monies or gifts may not be exchanged or used in trade for a pin.
Guests may only trade one pin of the same style with a Cast Member.
Above all.... Have fun!! Pin Trading can be a great way to interact with and meet Cast Members and their Guests.
All that being said most of these "rules" are pretty relaxed. We've been turned away only once or twice from trading with a Cast Member who had a duplicate pin. Most of them will get down to your child's level and lift their lanyard up so they can see the pins and touch them.
All in all its a really fun experience and I would highly suggest trying it at least once. When you're not at the park there is a really awesome Facebook group for Canadian Disney pin traders. I have used this site for several trades through the mail and its always a really fun experience. People will spruce up the packages with fun stickers and notes to make it more exciting.
If you're interested in the Facebook group it can be found here:
If you're interested in the official Disney pin trading document it can be found here:
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