Pin Trading at Walt Disney World is one of the popular Disney souvenirs at the Disney Parks and a great way to add some extra fun and magic to your vacation.
What is Pin Trading?
Pin Trading is available at both Disney World and Disneyland Park. Cast Members wear lanyards that contain a selection of Disney themed pins. Guests are able to trade their Disney pin(s) with the Cast Member. Each Cast Member has a different selection of pins, so it’s always fun trying to find that specific pin you want.
The Rules of Pin Trading
- Guests can trade up to two pins per Cast Member, per day
- Pins should be in good, undamaged condition
- Guests should offer a pin that is not already displayed on the Cast Member’s lanyard
- Cast Lanyards should display a minimum of 12 pins
How To Trade Pins:
- Approach the Cast Member and ask to see their pins
- Inform them of the pin that you would like to trade for.
- Present your pin to the Cast Member with the back in place. They don’t care which pin you give them as long as they don’t already have the pin on their lanyard.
- If a cast member has a green lanyard, they will only trade with kids under 12.
Pin Trading Tips
- You can purchase pins from Ebay before your Disney trip. Just make sure that the seller has positive ratings and their auction is for OFFICIAL DISNEY TRADING PINS with MICKEY RUBBER PIN BACKS and the Official Disney Pin Trading back stamp. (I like this seller)
- Â The starting price of Pins available for sale at the Parks is $6.95.
- Disney Springs is a great place for trading pins. Almost every Cast Member wears a lanyard.
- If a Cast Member has a pin on backwards with the back showing instead of the front of the pin, that is their mystery pin. You can trade for it, but you can not see what the pin is before you receive it.
- Most resorts have a Pin Trading Board that is brought out at specific times during the day. The board usually contains around 100 pins and you are allowed to make 2 trades.
- Certain locations in the parks have either Pin Trading Boards, Duffy Bears wearing pins or even a stroller full of pins. I know there is a Duffy Bear in the Pin store in Frontierland and a stroller with a Duffy Bear at the stroller center at Epcot.
Do you have any Pin Trading tips and tricks? You can also read this Pin Trading frequently asked questions post.
Learn more about souvenirs in the Walt Disney World parks.
I was just wondering if there was a book about pins? How do you know what all pins are out there? For example, if you would like to find one that you would like to collect how do you know what pins have been made? I hope you understand what I am trying to say. Thanks.
Can you recommend any ebay sellers that you have purchased from in the past?
Can someone please tell me if there are any pin trading boards in Disneyland, CA? or are they just at the resorts in Walt Disney World? Thanks.
Some great ideas!
Thanks so much. I’ve already started collecting official Disney pins for trading, as well as some I’m keeping.
Hi Kristin- A while ago you had in your training guide information about Pin Trading with your recommended person of who you have bought pins from on ebay. I see that you have taken that down. Do you not think that ebay person sold realy Disney pins? Just curious as I purchased some from him and I am still learning how to figure out which ones are authentic and which are scrappers. Thanks for any help.
Honestly it’s been so long that I don’t remember. I didn’t take it down but it might have gotten lost.
We just came back from Disney 2 weeks ago and we loved pin trading. It was soooo much fun!!. We had gone to Disney many times before but we didn’t know about pin trading, you are the one that I learned this from so I must say Thanks!!! We bought the pins on e-bay and brought them with us. I think we only had one original pin left by the time we were done trading. So much fun!!!! We got almost all of the puffles and if we were going to buy the set it would have been $29.99 so it was a great deal!!!
I have an idea for how to display your pins when you get home! I use an art canvas. We have painted a few and stapled fabric to a few. I have also put a thin ribbon around the edge before too (red, white, blue for Fourth of July weekend etc) Then you can put the pins where you want them, push them through and hang the canvas for display! My daughter has several “pin boards” of her own!
I would also like to know more about scrappers. I looked into buying pins through ebay but I was too afraid to buy a fake.
I’d really like to do this witih DD while we’re in WDW in the fall but am very nervous about getting “scrappers” when buying on e-bay. I’m not even sure I would know the difference and I would feel so bad if I traded them at the parks (also how do I know I’m getting a “real” one at the park?).
Scrapping has gotten so good that there is no guarantee you won’t get a fake pin. Just always look over the pin for imperfections or misspellings on the back.
If you go to Downtown Disney, make sure you go to the world of mickey store at 1:00, they have their pin book set up. I think it was in front of the alligator but I’m not sure. It was in the room where the pins are. You can do 2 trades and they have lots of mystery pins.
Is this at Downtown Disney in California or in Florida?
Most of the resorts have a Pin Trading time certain days of the week. We usually stay at POFQ and their trading time is around 5:30 in the lobby. You can trade with other Disney Guests. Also, don’t forget to check with the DVC Cast Members. They often have lanyards with pins to trade.
Have a Disney Day,
Michele
As we go through the gift shop at POFQ each morning we ask to see the pin board. They will get it out for you.
My son had a hard time giving up one to get one so we took pics of every pin so that he could later see which ones he had even if he traded them. Oh and put the back on the pin before handing it over. I almost stuck someone in my excitement to get a pin
Be very careful buying Pins on Ebay. Even fake pins have the Mickey Backing on them. Most Ebay sellers don’t show you the stamp on the back and even that is being faked now. If you go on the Disboards.com they have a list of sellers to watch out for and also a list of sellers to buy from. There is also a website you can go and see the actual pin from Disney you are buying looks like and they will tell you what to look for on the pins so you know if it is a fake or not. Most lot pins have fakes all through them. Also there are cast members wearing fake pins because people buy on ebay.
Wow, I had no idea about this!
We always stop at Guest Relations when we enter the different parks and ask to see their pins. They graciously bring out their big book of pins and my daughter always finds a treasure.