First time Pin trader

[Shanrich96]

My 8 yo dd is interested in getting a starter set when we go in a couple of weeks. We have never done the trade thing before and would like to know how to do it. Do you just go up to CM's wearing lanyards and ask to trade? I know not to touch anyone elses lanyard. Do you also approach other visitors with pins? How does it work with the starter sets? She would really like a Tinkerbell one as that is her favorite character I know it comes with 4 tinkerbell pins do you keep 1 and trade 4. Also is it easy to trade with the starter sets as they are a popular item and come with several of the same pins (does that make sense). Sorry for all the questions just don't want to break etiquette while we are down there:) Thanks for any help.

[Meezers]

Oh boy...this could be a LONG answer so forgive me if I ramble.

Starter sets are a good way to go. Plus they come in neat colors...I think Tinkerbells is Lavender!

All CM's must trade if the pin you want to give them is not already on their lanyard. These lanyards and pins are Disney property so don't feel bad! CM's wearing green lanyards only trade with children.

There are so many pins it is hard to even imagine. It seems the most sought after are the "cast lanyard" series. These are given to cast members only and can't be purchased. I personally don't get all weird about them...I mean I am not looking for resale or anything....

That said...I have to limit myself....you have to really pick a character or theme or you will just be overwhelmed! I have started trying to find the smallest pins I can....but once again...only if I like them. My "themes" are Beauty and the Beast...Lion King...and tea (the drink from England!).

Pins are traded hand to hand only and don't feel bad asking to keep your "good" black rubber Mickey backing. I haven't lost any pins but do check the backs regularly.

I have been buying some pins on ebay. If you can get a buy it now with a good shipping rate you can actually save money. The lowest pin cost at WDW is (I think) $6.50....if I can get a pin from ebay for $5.95 and get several and comine shipping and handling I do it. Once again....only pins I like....you never know what you may or may not be able to trade.

All this said.....if you child lucks on to a really good pin....there are some less than honorable people out there (children and adults) who will try to trade a "you can get in anywhere" rack pin for her very special pin. This happened to my Mom....who is 64! She just told the person she couldn't trade without asking her children.....said person disappeared! A good thing cause I would have wrung her neck. So....I wouldn't let my little one trade without asking Mommy!

Warning....you get very attached to your pins....my Mom had a hissy fit when I wanted to trade a Dumbo....there she was...in the middle of Epcot..."Oh no....you can't trade Dumbo". Now Mom collects and my brother and I trade!

I plan on taking my cork boards (really just several cork trivets) with me on our next trip so I can change out pins when I want...plus if I buy any I don't want to wear on my lanyard this way I don't have little bags all around the room that wind up getting lost!

Have I tired you out yet?

I plan on downloading and printing the current lanyard series from dizpins just before I go....cause sometimes it is the fun of the chase.

If you have any mini pins....very hard to find...there is a guy in AK who works at one of the shops...all he trades are mini pins....from a stuffed frog I believe. Mini pins for mini pins...his name is Brian...guess he is getting kind of famous.

Okay my hands are tired and a cop just made fun of me for typing so fast!

Good luck....PM if you have any more questions...although I am sure you are going to get many many responses from many people here!

[Meezers]

I knew I would forget something.

Remember to ask where the "books" are at gift shops and at some pin stations. They have HUGE books of pins.

Also there is a CM at World on Disney in DTD who does really great pin trading during certain times of the day....he has tons of great pins and there is some kind of system so there is no pushing and shoving. The people with the books outside at DTD are the ones to be wary of...they are in it for profit and not fun.

Also....you can approach anyone who is wearing a lanyard...if they didn't want to be approached they wouldn't be wearing a lanyard now would they. I give on the fly lessons to kids who ask me and almost always give them a pin...not trade...just give...so if you see a 43 year old overweight blonde with a pink lanyard...that is me!

Bet I will remember something else in a few minutes.

[TinyTinkerBell]

Well...we were literally just in WDW (april 21-25 2005) and I'm a 13 year old girl, small for my age (they thought I was eight and tried to convince my parents I needed a kids ticket) but anyway..I purchased the Tink starter set! It is a lavender lanyard with glow-in-the-dark stars and 4 tink pins. My brother got the Toy Story set. Each starter kit except for the classic one is $25 and includes a lanyard and 4 pins. I saw Tink, Princesses, Toy Story, Lilo and Stitch, and Lion King. There is also a $48 Classic Starter Set coming with a navy lanyard and 8 pins....these are all different and are of mickey, minnie, chip-an-dale, daisy and donald, etc. I'd reccomend a starter set like Tink because you get 4 pins alike and then trade so you have 4 different pins. It was easy to trade with cast members. My first trade...the CM knew it was, I'd purchased the set like an hour ago...she was very nice and even though she had a pin like mine she traded me because it was the only kind I had. I got a Ballerina Minnie Mouse. I now have 7 pins. All very cool...and one I traded for the CM didn't want to because it is apparently older and limited...It is Jiminy Cricket saying "I'm No Fool!"
Sorry I got on a tangent...but get the Tink starter set!

[Shanrich96]

Thanks Brenda and TinyTinkerbell( I couldn't guess which you would pick :) ). Okay I guess I have a few more questions as this is starting to sound like alot of fun (I used to be a beanie baby collector:wink: )

-How will I know if my daughter has gotten a pin worth keeping?

-I have seen pins that do different things moveable, addable, open, 2 sided can you explain

-what are the charms that I have seen?

-What are mini pins? do you trade for just mini pins or both?

-Do all pins come with the good backing?

-Do the Huge pin books hold pins that are for sale that are not out at the booth?

Have I tired you out yet?:D

This may be something I might have to look into too.....Next thing you know we'll have the whole family hooked:lol:

[Meezers]

Well....here we go.

The ones that are marked "lanyard" or "limited edition" on the back are the ones that are supposed to be "special". The writing is tiny so take your reading glasses :)

The charms are a new thing....I don't know if they are tradeable or not...but they sure are cute and tiny!

I haven't seen any mini pins for sale....hopefully someone will come along that knows about them...we stumbled onto them by mistake....and we love them. The special guy at AK only trades for mini's....I guess if you catch another CM with one (or me) I would trade.

All the pins you buy have a rubber backing...some that are traded for have that pinch metal backing....I don't like those!

The books the CM's have are for trading....so many people are into it that some of the pin stations have the books cause the poor CM's neck would break from the weight. So trading only on those!

Sure more questions will be coming along!

PS...there are some places you can buy locking backs for the pins if you are really scared of losing them....since I don't have kids I don't know how prone they would be to losing or knocking them off the lanyard.

[BevW]

How to know if you have a pin worth keeping...do research...lots of research.
LE (limited Edition) pins are worth keeping, CM pins are worth keeping. I've got a FedEx pin that I have in a VERY safe place..it has Tinkerbelle on it.

No the pins do not all come with good backing..I've lost many pins because of those metal backs. I like the Plastic ones but I always exchange those for the metal ones that you have to use a little tool to screw them in. If you do it right, the don't come off for anything.

Yes, pin trading is addicting..I've got 5 pin books full and 2 shoe boxes ful, 2 denim jackets loaded with pinsl and 5 lanyards full of pins. That doesn't count the pins I received as a CM. And I know my collection is nothing compared to a lot of people's collections! :lol:

It's a lot of fun though. I've asked CM's wearing suits to see their pins, and they were eating lunch! They love it! One CM said "I never get asked if anyone wants to see my pins!" I was the first. :lmao:

[MeezersDM]

There are also tourists (usually local folk) who walk around with those rolling cases full of pins to trade. My opinion is that they are in it for money and not the fun, so be a little careful. Addicting? It can get downright intoxicating and very exciting. I'm not as much a trader as a collecor. DS (37) wasn't going to get into that silliness, but once started, we couldn't keep up with him. He went on more than one "quest", had to complete a collection. Yep, I'm Meezer's Mom. And I was only 63 when the girl tried to bilk me out of a valuable pin for a rack pin.

[MeezersDM]

Meezers' Mom here again. Meezers was not driving and typing when the cops were on her case for typing so fast. She works at the precinct.

[BevW]

There are also tourists (usually local folk) who walk around with those rolling cases full of pins to trade. My opinion is that they are in it for money and not the fun, so be a little careful.

These people are HARD CORE pin traders..they know exactly what they have, how much it's worth and we all know they have about 4 of them, but to trade you have to give up the pin THEY want and your first born son.

I did have a chance to trade with one of these people once. She saw a pin I had and absolutley flipped over it! I knew what it was, and I didn't really care for it, so I traded with her. I got a really nice CM Chrismtas pin for it. Not a bad trade.

I traded with a child once also...he saw a pin he REALLY wanted, and I saw one that I REALLY REALLY wanted...I asked his Mom if he was allowed to trade and she said yes..watching the entire time. He got the pin he wanted "A Steamboat Willie" and I got what I wanted...a CM LE pin! Even CM's were asking me where I got that pin! I'll never tell. I did tell the Mom that the pin I wanted was a CM pin and she said that didn't mean anything to her...ok..I tried.

[MeezersDM]

Thanks, BevW, I wasn't quite sure about the rolling case people.

[BevW]

FANATICS...plain and simple. :lol:

[Shanrich96]

Meezers' Mom here again. Meezers was not driving and typing when the cops were on her case for typing so fast. She works at the precinct.
I was hoping it was something like that.....tyoing and driving is a dangerous combination:lol:

You all have given me and my daughter some great info. She has been looking for ways to spend her allowance. This may sound bad but it drives me crazy to by souvenears that later end up being trashed, thrown around or collecting dust. I think this is something she will really enjoy doing. She is a girl scout and they do a similar thing at certain events with homade pins and she always has a blast. That is why when I saw this I thought this would be a good thing for her and not a real waste of money. Dh is afraid she may be to timid to ask people to trade or she may feel disapointed that she spent her money on the pins, but I rather see her money spent on something like that than one of those light up spiney thingeys I can't find in her room 3 months later:D Watch I am sure next thing you know know I will come home with a trip report saying we have a cork board full of pins and half of them will be his. (He was the crazy Beanie Baby collector...you know the one in line at 5am:wink: )

[MeezersDM]

The people interaction is the best part of pin trading and this may be very good for your DD. Uh, since I'm an "older" fan, I now have eight cork trivets (usually used as hot pads on the dining table) on the wall over my ironing board. My DD has covered her corks with coordinating fabric and they are part of her decor. You should see her Christmas wreath (she doesn't have room for a tree). Er, I have a lot of Beanies in the lucite boxes carefully stored in my huge closet. Mostly cats.

[Shanrich96]

We have bears. We had the the whole collection from 1996-the end, but decided to sell everything except the bears before a previous move. Now we have all the bears in a display case. I shouldn't really pick on dh because I was out in line a few times early too. It the thrill of the hunt that is so much fun:)

[BevW]

Shannon....go here (http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/search/results?store=true) this will give you an idea of pins to find or look out for.

[Figment]

My DS was 6 the first time we went and he started trading. It was amazing how easily he'd walk up to a CM and ask to trade! He did far more pin trading than I did!

This past trip, we started with about 10 *trader pins* that I'd gotten at the now defunct cheappins.com...he went through them in only 2 days! I had to buy more pins he didn't like (mostly princesses) so he could trade for stuff he wanted. :lol:

[Shanrich96]

This past trip, we started with about 10 *trader pins* that I'd gotten at the now defunct cheappins.com...he went through them in only 2 days! I had to buy more pins he didn't like (mostly princesses) so he could trade for stuff he wanted. :lol:
I was wondering how to trade pins that you buy (picking ones you like and all).......Never thought to buy ones she didn't really like to to trade. Thank for the great idea:thumbs:

[Shanrich96]

Shannon....go here (http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/search/results?store=true) this will give you an idea of pins to find or look out for.
Hi Bev...

are these pins that other traders will have? I noticed when researching there are different names (types) of pins could you explain the difference...

Cast lanyard series...I assume these are from CM lanyards I noticed some come w/ hiddem mickey's & some don't

Disney Auction-?

What are build a pin and trading medals?

Sorry for all the questions ....Just want to be prepared for when we go. Not to much time now (not that I am complaining):)

[MeezersDM]

Well, you're into it this far, you might want to consider getting a book on pins and trading. Most good book stores have them. Be aware, there are many, many pins. It can get mind boggling. eBay sells a lot of pins, too.

[Shanrich96]

I know I was thinking the same thing....uh oh does that mean I am already officially hooked? Before I even get down there....wow that's got to be bad:lol: and to think this started out for my dd:lol:

[MeezersDM]

Forewarned is forearmed. You can look at it as hooked or you can get excited about having a new and wonderful adventure.

[Shanrich96]

Defiantely fun and excitting!!!!

[GoofyDuck]

I thought that I should make a couple of points. It is best to trade with a CM. They are always willing to trade, even if you have to wait until they are done helping a guest. There are also CMs that have green lanyards in which only kids can trade with them. Also, don't let anyone force you to trade with them just because you are wearing a lanyard. There is no rule for this at Disney World. You can get cheap (for as low as $5) pins at the Disney outlets in Orlando. I once bought 5 Dixie Landings pins at $5 apiece for me and the kids to trade.

Oh, one more thing. In case you decide to trade with someone who isn't a CM, check the back of the pin to see if it says Disney on it. Once, we were at a pin trading night at the All Stars and a man came over to me to show me his collection. It was okay until I saw the page with Jessica Rabbit pins. Some of them would have made Walt Disney blush. I'm just glad my daughters were elsewhere. He left when he realized that he was wasting his time. I'm not saying all non-CM pin traders are out to rip you off, but there are a few.

[Shanrich96]

Thanks GoofyDuck....I will probably stick with the cast members this first time out. I think it will be easier for my dd to go up to them anyway. I never thought to look at the outlets for cheap pinsto trade. Thanks for the great idea.

[josh.p.]

i bought a box in epcot which says kids pin trading on it, and when you open the box there is a cartoon picture of the parks main attractions (castle for mk, hat for mg etc.) and you put your pins on, and when you take the picture out to put the pins on there is storage space for spare backs, pins for trade etc.

[tinytink]

Instead of starting a new thread I decided to post my question here in hopes that people will still see it. I've decided to try my hand at pin trading. It seems like a fun way to remember a trip to Disney and when I told my mom about it even she seemed excited. I know they have starter packs and I will definitely look into getting one but I have a few other questions.

Would it make sense to watch ebay and see if I can grab a few cheap pins for sale? Just to have something to trade with in addition to what the four pins that come with the laynard? And if so do people have any suggestions to what to look out for when buying on ebay?

I already saw one Disneyland pin I feel in love with on ebay. I bid because even if I was going to try pin trading I loved this pin so much.

[JuniorMickey]

get some cheap ones yes! They'll be perfect to trade (if if you don't like them, if you can get them cheap, go for it)

[Meezers]

On E-Bay....if it is a pin I am going to trade I make sure the pin plus shipping and handling isn't more than I would pay at WDW...now...ask about some of the ones I have fallen in LOVE with...I decide what is the most I will pay. If I get outbid oh well...

I still have trading pins and my pins I have to wear just cause I love them...I have a Jiminy about the size of my little fingernail...just too cute...plus my dormouse pin....plus Chip...plus mini castle...plus...plus...plus....you get the idea :)

[Shanrich96]

I found the ones that I bought at mousepinsonline (which were Propin and very cheap!) were still very tradeable while I was there in August! I think I paid 1.75/pin and they still run specials and even have grab bags.

[tinytink]

Thank you for all the advice. I'm getting way to into this already!

[Meezers]

Hello....my name is Brenda....and I am a pinaholic.

[Shanrich96]

It's all your fault Brenda that I am addicted (all that great info).......now I am not only addicted to Disney, but to pin trading as well!!!!! I'd plan trips just to trade!!!

[GoofyDuck]

now I am not only addicted to Disney, but to pin trading as well!!!!! I'd plan trips just to trade!!!

I know what you mean, Shannon. I didn't start pin trading until about 5 years ago and now we can't plan a trip to Disney without considering which pins to bring just to trade and which pins to bring just to wear. I also check a pin site that has all the new pins coming out. I'm addicted, I know. :blush:

[Meezers]

My family is laughing because I have set up cork trivets...with my "traders" on them...what they don't know is I plan on taking more cork trivets with my "favorites" so I can change them out each day...plus they will make a nice display in our room! And I can put pins on them as I collect them...thus keeping the clutter of ALL those little bags out of the room (yep...usually run out of room on the lanyard...use spare room on Moms...and DB wears TWO...one for trading and one for showing off....at 6"4' and 200 lbs...he is his own walking Disney attraction...so I use his spare lanyard space too...but getting them back from him can be a little difficult!).

[tinytink]

I decided to buy two pins off ebay that I saw and fell in love with. I decided it wouldn't hurt to start my collection there. They came yesterday and I am now way too excited. :wiggle:

[Sweet_girl99]

i bought 2 pins on e-bay once. They came to about 5.00 with s&H. i decided to sell them like 6 mothes later. The REALLY weird think is that one sold for 45.00, and the other for 30.00!!!!!!:eek:
I was sooooooooooooooo Shocked!!!!:afraid: :afraid: I was at the beach for the weekdend and the bidding was up to 3.00 or$4 each, came back and WOW WOW!!

Crazzy huh???? it was a LE of 200. so thats probley y.

[Keith]

I wouldnt mind collecting... but its hard to work out a set to try for.

Is there a nice christmas set I could try and complete?

[DisneyMad]

I dont know Keith, but I would recommend something to the UK residents... try and pick up Disney Store UK pins - they're not available in the US, and even the 'professional' traders like them. I had the phonebooth Mr Incredible pin that slides up on me one day, and a good five or six people asked me to trade - I just said they were my little brothers (cuz I'm 22!)

If you do trade with the professionals, they will often ask you to trade for the newly released limited edition pins - and they aren't allowed to (or arent supposed to) ask for your receipt if you pay by cash (so they can go back and swap them when youre gone).

I went to Florida in August with no intentions of getting hooked... in what, three months? I've acquired 107 pins. I'll be going to DLP next year, then florida in 2007. By that time, I plan on having quite a collection.

PS - best place to hit cast members for pins is in Disney Quest, as you have to pay to get in! Cast members in that area in general have alot of cool pins, as its not the most popular place. Lastly, I think you're limited to the amount of pins you can trade with a CM at once - it may be two.

[kiltedwarrior]

Ive also just recently started collecting pins. Picked up a few from some of the grand gatherings last year and decided to buy a lanyard on my most recent trip to display them on, aswell as a couple more pins to fill it up a bit :hehe: (a pop century pin and a 50th Celebration one) Well, i definately found myself checking out the pins wherever i went, could easily find myself on the pin trading bandwagon soon :D Was lucky enough to be in the MK when the annual pass pins were released so had to pick one up also.
No matter how hard i looked though, i couldnt find a Robin Hood pin. However, i checked out the offical Disney pin trading web-site and discovered there are some available :woohoo:

[duck dude]

TO FIRST TIMERS:remeber to watch out for silver back pins because they stink get gold back ones and the CMs will trade you anything. happy hunting