New trader any tips!

[psdjmem]

We will be going to WDW this October, our three youngest kids want one of the lanyards and to get a few pins. Our older two kids have them - one collects all cats from the different movies and lilo and sticth - the other the different mickey heads from different countries. Our younger daughter wants all tinkerbell, and the two boys one wants all toy story - buzz, woody ect and all pooh bear, tigger, piglet, ect. Where can I find cheaper pins to trade, are there places in the parks that we can find these types of pins (tink, toy story and pooh & friends)?? thanks for any help!

[tajainaz]

I'm not a trader or seriously into pins, but I did actually purchase a couple to commemorate my recent trips.

There are carts in various places in all of the parks and most of the stores carry pins and lanyards in the parks, DTD and resorts.

Try eBay for inexpensive pins to trade (check with members who collect them for pricing--I think new ones range $7 and up for the most part) and also at the outlet stores in Orlando. I've also seen starter sets some where (an online Disney store?) for about $14 each. They include a lanyard and about 2 or 3 starter pins. You can't specify the pins--it's potluck.

My understanding is that when a pin is worn on a lanyard at WDW, it indicates that the owner is willing to trade it. If you don't want to trade it, don't wear it! So you may want to take a box or something for each child to store pins they don't want to trade. Or perhaps attach them to a piece of plastic needlepoint mesh? My brain is starting to tick away here! ;)

[GoofyDuck]

We collect and trade pins. It's a lot more fun and safer to trade with cast members. We've actually seen pins that look like they are Disney but turned out to be fakes. A CM actually showed us a fake. They don't have the Disney stamp on the back. You don't have to trade the pins you wear on your lanyard. Don't let anyone at the parks tell you that you have to trade. There are two Disney outlets in Orlando that sell discounted pins. Its always hit and miss though. The outlets are Belz and Orlando Premium. Usually you can get them for $5 or less. I've seen very expensive pins at Belz for half price. This was in November. Here is a tip we found out the hard way; check your lanyard frequently. We've had a few fall off.