Collecting Official Disney Trading Pins
But it's so much fun! Whether you're thinking of trying it on your next trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland or you just need some tips to support your pin trading habit, read on!
[Pin photos throughout this lens courtesy of Pin Pics.]
What's Here
Getting Started | Spotlight Pin | Learn the Lingo | Pin Trading Etiquette
Get a Lanyard | Problem Pins | Tomart's Pin Trading Guide
Buy Trading Pins | Rare Disney Pins for Sale | Pin Bags & Books
More Disney Pin Trading Websites | Limited Edition Pins
Comments | Spotlight Pin Archive | Like this Lens?
Getting Started
Everything you need to know before you start your new pin trading hobby.
- Learn the lingo.
- Scrappers? Danglers? LE250 Free-D Mystery Spinner? Huh???
- Review pin trading etiquette.
- No pushing, no shoving.
- Get a lanyard.
- A place to hang your pins.
- Educate yourself about problem pins.
- Stay away from scrappers.
- Buy some traders.
- The more the better. With any luck, you're going to run out.
- Get a pin bag or book.
- Maybe not now, but soon.
Spotlight Pin: Lanyard Peeker Disney Pin Series
This style of Disney pin is a fun idea for showcasing your favorite Disney character on your lanyard. The pin goes on the lanyard backwards, so the the character looks like he's peeking around from behind.
The 7-pin open edition series was released at DLR on February 24, 2008. The characters featured are Mickey, Minnie, Stitch, Donald Duck, Goofy, Tinker Bell, and Chip & Dale.
Add this lens to your favorites, and check back for the next spotlight pin, coming soon!
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Learn the Lingo
Glossary of Disney Pin Trading terms
- Back Stamp
Identifying information on the back of a pin. May include copyright information, country of manufacture, release year, edition size, and the official Disney Pin Trading logo. - Hidden Mickey Pin
A Cast Lanyard pin. Refers to the small Mickey Mouse-head silhouette found on the face of most Cast Lanyard pins. - Cast Lanyard
A lanyard worn by a Cast Member. The pins on a Cast Lanyard are available for trade with Guests. - Scrapper
An unauthorized pin made from a genuine Disney pin mold that was not destroyed by the manufacturer when Disney discontinued production of the pin. - Dangle Pin
A pin with a separate piece that hangs from a small chain or loop. - Slider
A pin with a separate piece attached that can be moved back and forth across the base piece. - Cast Lanyard Pin
A pin that cannot be purchased and can only be obtained through a trade with a Cast Member. Cast Members are given these pins to put on their lanyards for trading with Guests. They are not given to Cast Members for them to keep for themselves. - Cast Exclusive Pin
Different than a Cast Lanyard pin, these are offered for sale to Cast Members only. - Spinner
A pin with a piece attached that spins 360° - Pin Pics
Unofficial site (www.pinpics.com) featuring an extensive database of photos and background information for tens of thousands of pins. - Shark
A "professional" pin trader. You'll find them around Disney pin trading tables with multiple lanyards, large pin books, and even rolling cases full of pins. If you don't know your pins, and you try to make a trade with a shark, you will probably get taken. - Surprise Release
Also called a Mystery Pin, this is a pin for which no details are revealed until before the pin is offered for sale. - Company D
Cast Member-exclusive retail locations behind the scenes at the theme parks. - Holy Grail
The hard-to-find favorite pin that is an individual trader's most-wanted trade. - GWP
Gift With Purchase. A pin is sometimes offered free with a minimum purchase at resort or theme park shops. - Free-D
A pin with a rubber embellishment. Acronym for Fastened Rubber Element for Extra Dimension. - Fab 5
The big guys: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. - WDW
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Includes the four major theme parks, Downtown Disney, and the Disney resort hotels. - DLR
Disneyland Resort in California. Includes the Disneyland Park, Disney's California Adventure, resort hotels, and Downtown Disney. - MNSSHP
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, the annual after-hours Halloween celebration at Magic Kingdom. Usually runs about 20 nights in September and October, with new pin releases each night.
Cast Lanyard Pins on eBay
Cast Lanyard pins are those that are not sold to the public and can only be obtained through a trade with a Cast Member.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byReview Pin Trading Etiquette
No pushing, no shoving.
- Don't try to trade fake or unofficial pins. Review the information on scrappers, and be sure to buy your pins from reputable sources.
- Trade up to two pins with each Cast Member, and don't offer a pin the Cast Member already has on his lanyard.
- Hands off! If you need a better look at a pin on someone's lanyard, ask, don't touch.
- Be respectful of a Cast Member's job responsibilities. If someone is working a cash register with a line of guests, wait your turn.
Get a Lanyard
A place to hang your pins
When visiting Disney property, most traders wear their pins on a lanyard. A pin trading starter set, which includes a themed lanyard and several pins for trading, is a great place to start if you're new to trading.
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There are a lot of unauthorized pins available for purchase on eBay and through other sources. Some are obvious, made with materials and images of poor quality, like the Belle pin at right. Others are very well made and nearly indistinguishable from the originals they copy. If you plan to buy traders on eBay (and you should), look very carefully at auction descriptions and photos and seller feedback to be sure you are getting real Disney pins that are tradable with Cast Members.Another potential problem is pins that are too common. When trading with a Cast Member, you will need to offer a pin that is not already on the Cast Member's lanyard. There are certain pins, such as the Millennium Dancer and Kodak pins below, that were produced in such large quantities that you will have trouble finding anyone to trade them with.
Keep reading for tips on how to avoid problem pins when buying traders on eBay.
Check the seller's feedback. Of course this is always a good practice on eBay, but it is particularly helpful when looking for high quality traders. Many very busy pin sellers have lots of feedback comments with complaints related to fake pins.
Avoid pin lots with large quantities of the same pin. You have to wonder what is up with these... Why does a seller have so many of the same pin? They are probably scrappers or too common to be traded easily.
Don't bother with the really common pins. The Millennium Dancers, the blue Kodak pins, and the Cuties (babyish versions of the Fab 5 and Pooh characters) are found on too many Cast Member lanyards.
If it sounds to good to be true... If you find a listing for a lot of pins with a Buy It Now price of $1.50 per pin, a photo of a bunch of popular Cast Lanyard-exclusive pins, and a description that states that you "may receive some of the pins pictured" and maybe some others not pictured, hit the back button, fast.
When buying traders on eBay, the best defense against bad pins is research. Pay attention, and you can get great traders at reasonable prices.
Tomart's Disney Pin Trading Guide Book
Tomart's 6th Edition DISNEYANA Guide to Pin Trading (Tomart's Illustrated Disneyana Catalog & Price Guide)
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 11/27/2009)
Released in June 2007, this is the first new edition in over two years of the ultimate Disney pin trading guide. With updated prices and a new focus on pins from the theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, and World of Disney, the Tomart's guide is great for browsing pins and discovering your holy grail. This book is loaded with pin pictures, which makes it a little overwhelming if you're searching for a specific pin but also makes it perfect for browsing and exploring.
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Buy Some Traders
The more the better. With any luck, you're going to run out.
At $6.95 or more per pin, buying pins at Disney parks for trading can get very expensive. Plan ahead and get your traders on eBay before you go. Just be sure to read the tips on avoiding problem pins first!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byMickey's Mystery Pin Machine
Mickey's Mystery Pin Machine arrived at Epcot on September 6, 2007. For $5, you can play a game and win a pin. The gameplay involves rolling a ball back and forth against gravity to try to get it in the hole at the top. You get three balls per play, and regardless of your success at the game, you win one of a collection of new pins that are exclusive to the game!Mickey's Mystery Pin Machine is expected to be coming soon to more Walt Disney World locations.
Search for Hidden Mickeys in between pin trades
Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets, 4th Edition
Amazon Price: $9.32 (as of 11/27/2009)
Been on all the rides six times each? Facing the long lines of a day at Magic Kingdom during Spring Break? Make all your time on Disney property more interesting by searching for Hidden Mickeys, the icons that Disney Imagineers have snuck in to just about every ride, restaurant, and resort they have designed. This book will give you some hints and challenge you to find them all.
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Rare Disney Pins for Sale
Available now at auction on eBay!
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Check out these sites for research, news, and forums.
- Disney Trading Pins for Sale at Pinfreak
- Pinfreak.com lets you cut through the clutter on eBay to find Disney pins for sale. You can browse for pin auctions by character, movie, theme park, ride, or event. Pinfreak also lets you search for a specific pin for sale and shop for pin trading bags and guide books.
- Official Disney Pin Trading
- The official site for Disney pin trading. This is a good place to see upcoming pin releases, promotions, and official pin trading events.
- Pin Pics
- Pin Pics is the best place for pin research. This site includes a huge database of pins, with pictures, stats, and background information on each pin. Keyword search and pin group features make it easy to identify pins or find pins within a theme. Registered members can create a list of the pins in their personal collections, view other members' collections, and arrange trades with other members.
- Dizpins News and Information
- Top features at Dizpins include detailed monthly lists of new pin releases sorted by location, pin trading event schedules, and discussion boards for pin traders. Sign up for the Dizpins Alert Mailing List for email updates on Mystery pin releases and Dizpins news.
Limited Edition Pins on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byThe Best Disney World Guide Book
The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2010 (Unofficial Guides)
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/27/2009)
This Disney World guide has EVERYTHING. I've been to Disney World dozens of times, and still every time I pick up this book I learn something new. Whether you're planning your first trip or your 20th, this book has the best information on where to stay, what to eat, and how to plan your days so you won't miss a thing.
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Get a Pin Bag or Book
Maybe not now, but soon.
A typical lanyard can comfortably hold around 15 pins. If you plan on building even a small collection, a pin bag or book is the way to go.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bySpotlight Pin: What Time Is the 3 O'Clock Parade?
My personal favorite. The question is an inside joke among Cast Members. Sure, it's insulting, but it's oh-so-clever!
This pin featuring Chip and Dale is a limited edition Cast Exclusive surprise release. Only 500 of these pins were released, and the release was not announced before the sale started on March 5, 2004 at Company D. Cast Members could buy the pin for $5.00, and they were sold out in three days. If you ever see this one, get it!
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Donald Duck is in trouble again... This Limited Edition pin features Donald Duck chasing after one of his nephews, who is making a mess of some wet paint. The Wet Paint pin was released at Magic Kingdom on January 31, 2001 as a Mystery Pin with a limited release of 1000 pins. It sold out quickly and is now extremely rare and highly sought after. A recent eBay search for this pin found one listed for $175.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bySpotlight Pin: Star Wars Weekends 2007
In honor of Star Wars Weekends 2007 and the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars, this spotlight pin is a Limited Edition sold at Jabba's Hut at the Disney-MGM Studios beginning June 1, 2007. The design is based on a poster from the original release of Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope, with Mickey Mouse, light saber in hand, playing the part of Luke Skywalker.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bySpotlight Pin: The Year of a Million Dreams
The Year of a Million Dreams has been a blast so far at the Disney parks, and the fun won't stop for another whole year. Cast Members at the parks have been making dreams come true for random guests with surprises ranging from a special role in a parade to a night in Cinderella's Castle Suite.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bySpotlight Pin Archive: Disney Dollars 20th Anniversary
Disney Dollars turned twenty years old in 2007. To celebrate the occasion, this Limited Edition pin was released at the Walt Disney World Resort on October 2, 2007. The pin features Mickey Mouse holding up a replica of the original 1987 $1-denomination Disney Dollar. This pin has an edition size of 500.Learn more about Disney Dollars and Disney Dollar pins
Spotlight Pin: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2007 Jumbo Pin
Santa flies over Cinderella Castle and Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto look on in this jumbo pin commemorating Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2007. This pin had a Limited Edition run of 1500 and was released on November 12, 2007, at MVMCP.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byMore Disney Lenses
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Disney Pin Storage: Pin Trading Bags, Books, & Boards
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If you're addicted to Disney pin trading like my family is, at some point you'll need to figure out how to store all those pins. This page takes a look at your options for pin trading bags, books, albums, and cork boards.
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Comments, Suggestions, Requests, Complaints...
Bring it on!
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- fanfreluche fanfreluche Aug 9, 2009 @ 10:24 am
- Love it!!
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- JziE JziE Apr 6, 2009 @ 2:18 am
- like em feel em love em
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- ..... ..... Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
- I have about 37 [in reply to lauren]
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- EverythingMouse EverythingMouse Sep 17, 2008 @ 11:08 am
- Of course this is a subject close to my heart. I have been collecting pins for about 5 years and have about 250 now.
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- funcoolcollectibles funcoolcollectibles Jul 15, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
- Good job! 5 stars!
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Getting Started | Spotlight Pin | Learn the Lingo | Pin Trading Etiquette
Get a Lanyard | Problem Pins | Tomart's Pin Trading Guide
Buy Trading Pins | Disney Pin Collections & Rare Disney Pins
Pin Bags & Books | More Disney Pin Trading Websites | Limited Edition Pins
Comments | Spotlight Pin Archive | Like this Lens?
by Freaknoodles
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