Easy Guide to Pin Trading at Walt Disney World for Families
Disney pin trading is one of those magical extras at Walt Disney World that can be a fun add on to your trip! This is a great activity for families, as every person can have their own lanyard and be watching for pins that are special to them. If you’ve never done pin trading before, this easy guide to pin trading at Disney World will help you get started with our favorite tips to pin trade with kids of all ages!
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Keep an eye out for Cast Members wearing lanyards covered in Disney pins and pin boards at locations throughout Disney World.
Whether you’re visiting with kids or just love collecting Disney memorabilia, pin trading is a simple way to add an interactive experience to your vacation!
What Is Disney Pin Trading?
Disney pin trading is a popular activity where guests trade Disney pins with Cast Members throughout Walt Disney World. It officially began in 1999 and has since become a beloved tradition for guests of all ages. There’s no sign up required and no age limit! Kids, teens, and adults are all welcome to participate in pin trading.
Once you have a Disney pin, you can trade it one for one with a Cast Member at designated pin trading locations across the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.
I’ve been collecting and trading pins since it started in 1999 and have enjoyed carrying on the tradition with my own kids! While some people can get quite into the collecting, there is a way to do it at a casual level. Collecting what you enjoy and focusing on your favorite characters and Disney attractions for pins to keep.
How to Get Started with Pin Trading
Getting started with pin trading is very simple. All you need is at least one official Disney pin. These can be purchased before your trip from DisneyStore.com or during your vacation at stores throughout Disney World.
Our favorite starter pin option is to get the starter pin sets that come with a lanyard and multiple pins. These are available at merchandise locations throughout Disney World. Especially shops like the Pin Trading Shop or World of Disney at Disney Springs will have a great selection to choose from!
There are also gift shops towards the front of every theme park that will carry these pin trading lanyard sets as well!
Our favorite shops to check for pins in the theme parks:
- Emporium Shop at Magic Kingdom
- Creations Shop at EPCOT
- Mickey’s of Hollywood at Hollywood Studios
- Discovery Trading Company at Animal Kingdom
Having multiple pins makes trading more fun and gives kids the freedom to choose which pins they want to trade. Personally we like to keep 5-8 pins on our lanyards. With some being favorites that we are planning to keep on one side of the lanyard, and a side just for “traders” that the kids know they plan to try to trade.
We like setting a pin trading limit for the day. That keeps kids focused on a specific number of pins to trade.
Additionally, you may just want to purchase the pins to collect them without doing any trades!
Where to Trade Pins at Walt Disney World
You can find pin trading opportunities in many locations throughout Walt Disney World. Pin boards are set up in all four theme parks, Disney Resort hotels, and Disney Springs locations.
Look for Cast Members wearing pin lanyards or Mickey shaped pin boards set up near shops, guest services, or resort front desks. Some locations use mystery pin boards where the pins are hidden until you choose one, making the experience even more exciting for kids.
Disney Pin Trading Rules You Should Know
Disney keeps pin trading rules simple so that everyone can enjoy the experience:
- Pins must be authentic Disney pins
- Trades are one pin for one pin
- Trading is free once you own pins
Cast Members are always happy to help explain the process, especially for first time traders or younger children. We find it to be a great experience to help shy children interact with adults. And it’s also is great for kids that love talking to adults as well!
Over the years, Disney pins have had a lot of “fakes” flood the secondary pin market. And for this reason we don’t recommend finding pins on eBay or Amazon. (Although Amazon does have some great bags and accessories, like locking pin backs!) Be aware, that these fakes often make it onto pin boards at Disney World.
So if this is a concern that you do not trade for a fake, it is recommended that you research markers of a fake pin prior to your trip!
Adding Pin Trading to Your Disney World Vacation
Disney pin trading is an easy and fun way to add extra magic to your Walt Disney World trip. It’s a neat activity for families to find collections of pins while you are there! And an interesting way to do a scavenger hunt throughout Disney World!
With just a few pins to start out and a little curiosity, this is a fun “side quest” available inside Disney World theme parks that both kids and adults will enjoy.
We have these additional articles below to help you with planning for your trip!
Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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