For the last few years, pin trading at Disney has been my youngest son’s favorite part about Walt Disney World.
Well, until he discovered his love for Splash Mountian, which is another story.
I realized I have failed my readers when one of my friends asked on Facebook what pin trading at Disney is and should she consider it for her kids. It dawned on me that I hadn’t shared my son’s love of pin trading yet.
And for that, I am very sorry.
What is pin trading at Walt Disney World?
Now, when I talk about pin trading it is from a very low key perspective.
It was eye-opening on our last trip how serious some people get about collecting and trading pins. We met a group of people that had books and books of pins they had collected over the years.
We are not that kind of pin traders.
Here is how we got started pin trading:
We ordered a starter set….off of eBay
Look ya’ll you can get a starter set in the parks with 4 – 8 pins ranging between $24.99 and $44.99. I didn’t go that route, partially because I didn’t know how into trading my kids would be.
But mainly, because I am cheap.
In this situation, eBay is your friend, as evidenced below.
There are a wide range of lots available, so you can pick a lot that works with the budget that you are hoping to stay within.
Once the pins arrived, it was fun because my kids had a mini trading session before we even got to the parks.
Mom Tip: Don’t start with an argument. If you are buying eBay pins in bulk divide them evenly amongst your kids and let them trade for the ones that they want.
Next, you are going to want to get something to put the pins on.
Here is the thing, we found a combo lanyard/ pouch. Given the number of pins that my children have now, they need both storage options.
Having the pouch attached for storage is also handy to keep the pins that your kiddos aren’t willing to part with. However, if they know before the trip even begins that there is a particular pin they don’t want to trade, leave it home. There is a less chance of a favorite pin getting lost at Disney.
This is the lanyard/pouch combo that I ordered from Amazon.
How to pin trade in the parks
Have your kids be on the lookout for cast members wearing pins. Pin traders who are wanting to trade just need to ask the cast member for a look at their pins.
If your kiddo sees a pin that they would like to trade, the cast member will either accept that offer or ask to see a different pin for consideration.
Cast Members themselves may be into collecting pins. It is a good idea to let your children know upfront that it is possible that the pin they have their eye on might not be one that the Cast Member is willing to trade.
Be on the lookout for other visitors to the park and their pins. A trade between two Disney fans is always a possibility.
In fact, on our last trip, we ran into a father and daughter who had set up in Epcot. They had books and books of pins with thousands of pins, set up and ready to trade.
Where to find pins to purchase in the parks
Each park has at least 1 store with wall to wall trading pins, they can get pretty expensive at these spots. However, if you are on the hunt for something specific, then you might just find what you are looking for.
These pin stores also tend to have Cast Members with a wider variety of pins that they are willing to trade.
So what do you think? Do you think that you will give pin trading a try? If you have already started pin trading, is there a specific type that you collect?
If you are looking for a way to save on your Disney tickets, take a look at this link from our partners at Get Away Today and see how you can save!
