NEWS: Traditional Pin Trading Returns Throughout Disney World

Last November, pin trading between guests and Cast Members returned to Disney Springs but not the entire Walt Disney World Resort. Finally, pin trading is back throughout all of Walt Disney World. Learn more below.

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Libby Champion:

Today is an exciting day, Disney pin traders! We know you’ve been waiting for even more ways to trade Disney pins, and starting today, you can once again trade with cast members using lanyards and packs across all of Walt Disney World.

Whether you’re a Disney pin aficionado or want to start your own collection, there are many ways to make your visit special with Disney Pin Trading. Not sure how to get started? Wondering where to trade? Well, you’re in luck – no one knows Disney Pin Trading better than our cast members! We caught up with a few of them to get their top tips and tricks.

1 – Keep your eye out for exclusive pins.

“Designing the Hidden Disney pins with my team is such a joy! I love seeing them on guests’ lanyards and around the parks. It’s such a great way to get in on the fun.” – Jes, Disney Consumer Products

Did you know there are Disney pins that are exclusive for cast member trading for a limited time? It’s true! Eagle-eyed guests may find pins from new Hidden Disney pin sets while trading across Walt Disney World. Each set contains five standard and uniquely themed designs.

Later this year, a retail mystery pouch will be available with the original five pins, plus a sixth pin in each set — known as a “chaser” pin. For those who love an even bigger challenge, within the retail mystery pouch there will be a NEW element this year with the introduction of a “super chaser” pin in one particular set — an even rarer find!

2 – Don’t be afraid to ask!

“I can tell when guests are interested in my pins and want to trade, but they’re not sure how to ask. Don’t be afraid to approach cast members and ask to see our pins! We LOVE talking pins with our guests.” – Albert, EPCOT

When you spot a cast member with a pin trading board or wearing a special pin accessory, be sure to ask them how you can join in the fun with Disney Pin Trading.  Or if you’re already an avid trader, tell us about your favorite pin and we’ll share a story about ours, too!

3 – There’s a pin for every special memory.

“Most of the Disney pins in my personal collection are to remember my vacations, and they remind me of the people I love. I have a Winnie the Pooh baseball pin that reminds me of my dad and it’s so neat to be able to look at that pin and remember our trips to the parks.” – Katie, Magic Kingdom

Disney Pin Trading isn’t just about collecting pins; it’s about capturing the unforgettable moments of your Disney adventure. Whether you want to commemorate your first ride on Space Mountain, or remember your favorite Disney snack (turkey leg, anyone?) – there’s a pin for that!

4 – Embrace the chase.

“I’ve been part of the Disney Pin Trading family for almost 25 years, and my favorite guests to trade with are the ones who are “chasing” a certain pin or character. Sometimes I’m able to help them find that tough-to-find pin, and it’s the best feeling in the world.” – Wayne Moore, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

44-year cast member Wayne has been a Disney pin trader from the very beginning, and guests come from far and wide just to trade with him! Wayne takes pride in helping guests “chase” that elusive pin they may be missing. Searching for that one pin may be frustrating at times, but don’t give up – it may just turn up where you least expect it!

5 – It’s easy to get started! 

“Disney Pin Trading is such a fun experience and I love how easy it is to start. I always recommend new pin traders get a starter lanyard and pin set. There are lots of different designs and pins to choose from!” – Zach, Disney Springs

New to Disney Pin Trading? Welcome! You’re joining a special community of pin traders that goes way back (actually, we’ll be celebrating the 25^th anniversary later this year!). Getting started is a breeze and you can find pins and accessories at one of our many pin shopping locations across Walt Disney World or at DisneyStore.com.

I don’t know about you, but these tips have made me more excited than ever to pin trade! For full Disney Pin Trading rules and guidelines, visit DisneyWorld.com.

Looking for a little pin-spiration to kickstart, or add to, your collection? Visit one of our Walt Disney World pin shopping locations and keep your eyes pinned to DisneyWorld.com for the latest Disney pin trading news. Happy trading, everyone!

RELATED ARTICLE: 8 Things You Need to Know About Pin Trading at Walt Disney World

by Kristin

Pin trading has become quite popular for thousands of guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort. What is pin trading, you ask? This is where you have an official Disney pin, and you trade for another official Disney pin. There are so many different pins that you won’t believe what all you could see in the parks. If you are looking into pin trading, here are eight things you definitely need to know.

8 – Purchase pins to use for trade.

Pin trading can get expensive, especially once you realize how addictive it is and just how many pins you will want! It is much more cost-effective to purchase pins specifically for trading. One way to save on pins is to buy the packs of pins at the parks. They end up being about $5 a pin, which is cheaper than the cheapest individual pin you can purchase. Check out the Disney outlet stores as well. You can also find various lots on eBay that make the cost per pins as low as $0.50 or $1.00 per pin, but you will want to be careful and make sure that they are authentic Disney pins. Read seller reviews and ask questions to make sure they are exactly what you expect to receive.

7 – Who you can trade with.

Well, anyone! Anyone willing to trade, that is. All cast members with pins will trade with you. You can trade a max of two pins as a time with each cast member. Remember that cast members with green lanyards will only trade with kids, but all of the yellow/gold lanyards are fair game for everyone. You can also trade with any guest; just be aware that they aren’t obligated to accept the trade as cast members are. Even groups will hang out around pin trading shops and within Epcot that love to pin trade with other guests and show off their collections.

6 – Determine what you want to collect.

There are many, many collections, characters, attractions, movies, etc., that you can choose from to collect. Think about what your favorites are or what sparks interest in you to want to collect them. Maybe you want to collect all of the pins from a particular collection, perhaps you want to collect anything Donald Duck, or maybe you are like the rest of the nation with Frozen Fever, and you collect anything that is from the movie Frozen. It should be something you are passionate about, and get excited about the hunt to find the next amazing find.

5 – Do your homework.

Many great articles and even books show pictures of the different collections and individual pins, along with their values. It is an excellent idea to do these reviews as you are deciding what to collect. This also helps give you background and education on what to look for when you are out in the wild.

4 – Know your pin locations.

Each park has a primary pin location, which is a great place to look for exclusive pins for the park and to run into other pin traders. Pin Traders in Disney Springs is by far the most significant pin location in all of Walt Disney World and the best place to start when looking for pins to purchase or something specific you have your eye on. This is also a popular place for pin traders to hang out in hopes of trading with cast members or with other guests.

3 – Look for special pins and exclusives.

There are limited edition pins that are released for various events and seasons. There are pins for the Halloween party, the Christmas Party, holiday sleigh rides, Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and many more. If there is a special event, you can count on pin(s) exclusive to the event. There are also cast unique member pins that are not available for purchase and are only found on cast member lanyards. They have a hidden Mickey somewhere on the face of the pin, which signifies that they are one of the exclusive cast member pins.

2 – Be polite.

Be sure to be patient and kind to the cast members. They may be busy interacting with other guests or completing other aspects of their role, so exercise patience when waiting to trade with them. Be polite and ask, “May I see your pins?” or “May I trade with you?” and have a pleasant exchange with them. It is amazing at the number of guests who will sometimes forget their manners or forget to treat them like the friendly people that cast members are.

1 – Get creative with displays.

So your vacation is over, you’re back home, and you have all of your pins that you are incredibly proud of. Now what? Now, you work on creative ways to display your collection so that you know they are safe and you get to look at them regularly. You can get tons and tons of ideas on Pinterest. One of my favorites is displaying them on a corkboard; even better if you cut the corkboard into a Mickey ear shape. You could also put them in shadow box frames to display on the walls. There are so many things you can do, and they are a great way to pay homage to all of your hard work!