Disney Pin Trading Etiquette

July 13, 2012 in All Posts, disneyland resort, pin trading by Courtney Bautista

Are you heading to the Disneyland Resort this summer and interested in giving Disney Pin Trading a shot? Now is the perfect time to introduce a new tradition into your family’s visits! Pin trading is about more than just collecting souvenirs–it’s an easy and fun way for kids and adults to interact with Cast Members and fellow guests while they make unique memories. When attraction queues are long or the kids need a distraction while waiting for a parade or show, pin trading is an activity that will keep them entertained–usually without a line to stand in!

If you’re brand new to trading, click here to read my previous piece on pin trading basics, including a brief history of trading and where pins can be purchased in advance, so you can start trading the moment you arrive at the resort. Here are some other important tips to keep in mind as your family heads out on its pin trading adventure.

Although Cast Members will generally trade for any pin you want and accept any pin you’re offering, there are a few guidelines about what makes a “tradable” pin. Tradable pins are metal and represent a Disney event, location, attraction, character, film or icon. Some pins from an operating participant, like Rainforest Café and ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney, are also fair game. Pins should be in good, undamaged condition and not modified from its original form. Counterfeit pins or lower-quality pins, like those made of plastic or souvenir buttons, are not acceptable for trading. Name pins, though they are official Disney pins, cannot be traded with Cast Members.

Speaking of keeping trading pins in good condition, my husband and I discovered early on in our pin collecting days that a plastic sandwich bag was probably not the best way to carry and store pins. So, aside from a pin lanyard on which you can carry “traders” readily available or display your favorite “keepers,” it’s a good idea to purchase a pin bag. They zip closed and have multiple pages for storing pins neatly and safely. The bags come in a variety of sizes and styles with designs to reflect your personal taste.

Guests may trade a maximum of two pins per Cast Member per day, and should offer them a pin that is not already displayed on the Cast Member’s lanyard. Trade one pin at a time, hand to hand, with the backs attached for safety.

Remember to respect the personal space of fellow guests and of Cast Members (and teach your children to do the same), but don’t hesitate to ask if you may look more closely at a Cast Member’s pins. They will be happy to pause and hold their lanyard out for you to peruse. If they are currently assisting another guest or working at a register, wait patiently for your turn to speak with them—even though it can be tempting to jump up and down and shout, “That’s the one I’ve been looking for!”

No one should feel pressured or manipulated into a trade, and it’s a good idea (especially for young children) to be mindful about which pins they are willing to part with in order to avoid a case of “Pin Trader’s Remorse.” It would be considered poor form to trade a pin away, realize your mistake, and ask to trade for it right back.

There are literally thousands of unique pins for Disney fans to collect and trade which vary in age, price and availability. Limited Edition and Limited Release pins, pins only sold to Cast Members or Annual Passholders, and pins only available at a certain time or to commemorate an event can all be seen as more “valuable.” Some collect sets of “Hidden Mickey” pins, which contain a small Mickey Mouse icon in the artwork. Hidden Mickey pins are also valuable because they are distributed to Cast Members to trade, so they can not be purchased. To a Sorcerer Mickey fan (like my husband), those pins might be most valuable, especially if it’s one not already in their collection.

Obtaining a valuable or sought-after pin can be exciting, but the most important rule of Disney Pin Trading is to have fun with every encounter. In the case of trading with fellow guests, a good trade happens when both parties get a pin they like and want, especially if some good conversation is had during the exchange. So, be friendly, courteous and fair.

For more information about Disney Pins and pin trading, visit the official Disney Pin Trading website. Happy Trading!

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About Courtney Bautista

Courtney is a Disney pin trader and collector, a Disney Vacation Club member, an Annual Passholder, and in constant pursuit of the next delicious thing at the Disneyland Resort. Courtney is a member of the 2013-2014 Disney Parks Moms Panel, and you can also find her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.