I informed my friend Tarah that I had somewhat of an interest.
pins
During our latest visit to Disneyland.
The framed collection I have at home suggests otherwise regarding my seemingly moderate excitement.
As we stopped at nearly every pin trading board we encountered in Magic Kingdom and
Disney’s Hollywood Studios,
Tarah quickly came to realize this as well.
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I wasn’t being dishonest. It’s not like I see myself as part of the serious collector crowd, but I’ve always enjoyed gathering beautiful items such as stamps, postcards, decorations, and mugs. To me, it’s purely enjoyable.
It turns out, that’s everything you need for pin trading.
Here’s what you should know about the popular pastime in Disney parks.
Has pin trading remained popular?
Certainly. The celebration of Disney pin trading is marking its 25th year.
th
anniversary this year, and it’s as popular as ever.
Now, Disney carried pins long before trading came into the picture, and pin trading existed outside the parks well before that, namely at
the Olympics
, Steven Miller explained. But in 1999, he helped introduce the activity to Disney World as a way for guests and cast members to connect during the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration, and it has since expanded across Disney experiences.
“What better way to do that than trading pins, because you’re literally exchanging hand to hand?” said Miller, who has changed roles and is now a senior manager with Disney Corporate Social Responsibility. “We quickly discovered that people really liked pin trading. It was immensely popular – not just popular with our guests, but our cast members, too.”
“It just starts this great conversation with the guests that’s unique to them, which is our ultimate goal,” said Bridget Gall, general manager of Merchandise at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
I began gathering pins at Disney World’s 50th anniversary event.
th
The anniversary celebration began in 2021. I enjoyed how the pins served as tiny masterpieces, so I decided to mark a significant moment for myself—a pivotal event early in my career as a travel journalist. Gradually, my assortment expanded to include additional landmarks and keepsakes.
“The key point I repeatedly emphasize to my team is that this involves someone’s memories,” stated Jessica Willis, who serves as the Senior Manager of Product Design for Disney pins.
Are pins worth collecting?
Certain pins may be valued at thousands of dollars, yet their worth often lies in individual perception.
I possess pins from ’99, 2000, and 2001 that are linked to the special moments I shared with my family,” explained Willis, who engaged in pin trading when she was a guest at the Millennium Celebration. Although these pins were not overly pricey or rare, they held significant personal value for her, “because they represent memories. Therefore, I would never trade them; I wouldn’t part with them.
Other pins are essentially invaluable since they cannot be purchased. Instead, you acquire them through trades with cast members. Initially recognized as Hidden Mickey pins due to their small Mickey head designs on the faces of the pins, these have now developed into
Hidden Disney pins
With various icons based on the pin’s intellectual property, such as Pixar or Marvel.
They tend to emerge in phases or bursts, which provides our visitors — including locals and repeat customers — with fresh goals to pursue,” Willis explained. “During this period, guests can obtain those pins solely through interactive experiences with cast members, adding an extra layer of exclusivity.
A lot of visitors attempt to gather every pin within a particular set or sequence.
What are the various kinds of Disney pins available?
There are four categories of Disney pins accessible to everyone.
The most commonly found pins are known as open edition.
Those are the pins that you can find almost anywhere. The availability isn’t limited to a specific quantity or timeframe,” Willis explained. “These will likely offer the widest array of characters, which means you’ll encounter the greatest diversity among these open edition releases.
Next are limited-release pins.
The limited releases include pins that could be considered slightly more elaborate, or their craftsmanship might be superior compared to those from an open-edition series; however, these are only available for a restricted period,” she explained. Additionally, some limited-release pins are associated with particular theme park happenings such as festivals or special evening events.
The most uncommon pins are available only in special editions.
Limited-edition pins feature an engraved production number at the back,” Willis explained. “For instance, only 4,000 such pins might be made, and once they’re gone, no more will be produced.” He continued, saying, “Given my background in collecting, I view this as a valuable asset with potential for appreciation, so I prefer holding onto them.
The fourth category includes theHiddenDisney pins obtained through trades withcastmembers.
How to begin trading pins
Disney offers starter sets and booster packs containing several pins to help visitors begin their collection.
Mickey-head-shaped trading boards are scattered across Disney World and Disneyland. There’s usually one at the front desk of resort hotel lobbies, at Guest Services kiosks, sometimes in shops. On my last Disney World visit, I was surprised to find a pin board poolside at Coronado Springs Resort.
Many cast members also wear lanyards or pouches with pins for trading.
“You might have one or two pins on your lanyard oriented incorrectly. This practice is sometimes referred to as a blind trade,” Gall explained.
The cast members might invite their guests to participate in trivia games with the possibility of trading pins as rewards. She mentioned that at Animal Kingdom, these trivia questions could relate to animals. “Regardless of whether they get the trivia correct or not, we proceed with the trades,” she explained.
Visitors have the option to exchange up to two pins with each cast member or pin away at a dedicated trading station daily.
“I’ve often heard from numerous parents stating that it provided an opportunity for their children to approach a cast member, engage in conversations, and use pleasantries such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ This experience allowed them to express their preferences and values, ultimately helping them demonstrate their individuality,” Miller explained.
Willis added, “In this era dominated by digital communication, engaging in direct conversations becomes even more significant. It involves meeting people face-to-face and participating in candid discussions such as sharing your favorite characters or cherished memories, followed by them asking similar questions from their side.”
Can Disney employees refuse to participate in pin trading?
Yes.
As per directives shared online
Disney World
and
Disneyland’s websites
The cast members have the authority to decide if a pin can be traded based on their judgment. Provided that it is an officially recognized Disney pin, they will happily participate in the trade.
Other guests might be selective and choose not to swap if the pins you’re offering aren’t appealing to them.
What are the guidelines for Disney pins?
The pin must be an authentic Disney pin and should be in good shape.
“Metal pin bearing a
©
Miller clarified, “The Disney mark – you’ll find the copyright notice at the back.” This indicates it’s a Disney pin. Additionally, he mentioned that the trading rules remain two pins per cast member for each guest every day.
Is it possible to purchase Disney pins over the internet?
Yes. The
Disney Store
offers pins for sale online and frequently introduces new designs.
Other visitors might purchase pins from third-party sellers via platforms such as eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace, however, proceed with caution. Should the pins appear unusually inexpensive or have incorrect coloring, they could potentially be counterfeit.
To provide some context, Disney pins usually begin at $9.99 when sold in stores.
How can you determine if a Disney pin is meant for scrapping?
Enthusiasts frequently call counterfeit pins “scrappers.”
PinHQ by GoPinPro
A Winter Garden, Florida-based company specializing in officially licensed pins and trading accessories posted several indicative clues on Instagram:
- Scrappers can be created using soft enamel accompanied by painted depressions rather than hard enamel, which is typically smoothed out to a flush surface.
- Official Disney pins featuring Mickey Mouse designs stamped onto their backside extend right up to the edge, whereas counterfeit versions often include a border around such details.
- Scrap collectors might seem less shiny, more rugged, or typically of poorer quality.
I’m not overly concerned about maintaining authenticity. When I find pins I like, I get them straight from Disney, but I also pick up extras during sales online. Should I come across an appealing design on someone else’s pin display or cast member lanyard, I’ll engage in trades. This means that even if I wind up with a less desirable piece, it will still be attractive.
(This narrative has been revised to fix a typographical error.)
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
From scrappers to treasures: What Disney fans should know about pin trading
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