DISNEY PIN TRADING TIPS FOR NEW COLLECTORS

If you are new to Disney Pin Trading, it can seem a bit overwhelming at first. One day you are completely oblivious to the concept and the next you see Disney Trading Pins everywhere and wonder why you never noticed them before. The kiosks and stores have racks and racks of trading pins that seem to have suddenly appeared. It's obviously quite popular and you might really enjoy it yourself, but where on earth do you begin?

The simplest way is to buy a "starter set." These sets include a lanyard and somewhere between 4 to 8 Disney Trading Pins. In most sets there are duplicates of pins so you have one to keep and one to trade. Starter sets are available at almost any Disney store or kiosk within the various theme parks as well as the World of Disney stores.

Booster sets are also a great and cost effective way to obtain pins for trading although some include pins that are so cute you may just want to keep them! Booster sets do not come with a lanyard but of course Disney offers many varieties of lanyards on their own.

In and around most of the Disney theme parks you will find areas that are dedicated to Disney Pin Trading. There you will find Disney Pin Traders and collectors on a daily basis. Most will have been pin trading for at least a few years and often you will find they have several books you can browse through. Pin Traders are usually more than happy to answer all your questions.

In almost every case however, your first Disney Pin trading experience will be with a Disney Cast Member. You will spot them in a store, at a kiosk or walking around with a lanyard full of Disney Pins around their necks. It is important to note that all the Disney Trading Pins on a Cast Member's lanyard are available for trading. The pins they wear belong to Disney and not to the individual Cast Member and they will be more than happy to make a trade with you.

Brochures that provide the most current established rules for pin trading are made available where ever Disney Trading Pins are sold. Current rules and etiquette for Disney Pin Trading include, but are not limited to the following:

• The main criteria to judge whether a pin is tradable or not is that it must be a metal pin that represents a Disney Event, Location, Character or Icon.
  
  
• Pins should be in good, undamaged condition.
  


• Trade one pin at a time, hand to hand.
  
  
• For safety, trade pins with the backs attached.
  
  
• Guests may trade a maximum of two pins with each Cast Member.
  
  
• Guests may trade only one pin of the same style with a Cast Member.
  
  
• When trading with Cast Members, Guests should offer a pin that is not already displayed on the Cast Member's lanyard.
  
  
• Refrain from touching another person's pins or lanyard. If you need a closer look, ask the person wearing the lanyard if they can bring it into clearer view for you.
  
  
• Disney name pins may not be traded with Cast Members.
  
  
• Money or gifts may not be exchanged or used in trade for a pin.
  
  
• In addition to the 12 pins on Cast lanyards, some Cast Members may wear a "Showcase" pin. These "Showcase" pins are for demonstrations to Guests and are not available for trade.
  

In the beginning you will probably be trading for whatever Disney Pin appeals to you based on your favorite character, animated films or attractions. Before long, you will begin to narrow your focus to specific categories of Disney Trading Pins, which will go a long way in helping you decide what to look for. You will then find yourself asking a trader for specific pins. In my case, "Do you have any Haunted Mansion pins from the Disneyland Resort?"

Like most other collectibles, some Disney Pins increase in value. Limited Edition pins may sell out quickly, which of course increases the demand. Some Disney Pins selling online may also bring relatively high prices and sometimes astonishing prices. Many pin traders are simply interested in collecting the most recently released Limited Edition pins and will be happy to trade one of their pins for a pin that you purchase. This can be a great way to get older pins that you like which are no longer available.

One of the most popular questions in Disney Pin Trading is, "Do you have any Cast Lanyard pins?" Cast Lanyard pins are released at random to Cast Members at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. These pins are not for sale in any of the parks and can only be aquired by making a trade with a cast member. A small Mickey head silhouette will be found somewhere on the front of Cast Lanyard Collection pins (as pictured above). The Walt Disney World pins will also have a backstamp that says, "Cast Lanyard Collection." Part of the fun behind the Cast Lanyard Pin Collection is searching for your favorite pins.

Once you get the basics down, you will find that Disney Pin Trading can become quite an addictive hobby. ;) If you enjoy the experience and see yourself collecting and trading Disney Pins in the future, there are many ways to get more involved.

For a more in depth guide to Disney Pin Trading, take a look at my other lens: