What Is Disney Pin Trading
If You’re Not Pin Trading at Disneyland, You’re Completely Missing Out
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There's a world of wonder to be had at Disney parks. Whether it's the attractions, memories, or opportunities to meet characters that bring you back each year, there's always something new to discover. In part that's because the park gets routine updates — Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party anyone? — but there's always a chance to unearth something new. Like the Pin Trading program.
After participating in it for a few years, and realising how few of my Disney-loving friends knew about it, I reached out to Steven Miller, merchandise communications manager for Disney for the scoop. Read on to see how you can get involved in a whole new secret part of the park.
What exactly is pin trading?
Trading is a fun opportunity to create friendships, meet characters, and, of course, collect pins while you're at the park. As long as you have a legitimate Disney pin to give away, you're welcome to participate in the program. "Pins should be metal with a "©Disney" mark on the back of the pin," said Miller.
How do you get started?
The best and perhaps easiest ways to begin your career as a pin trader is to pick up a starter kit like the Star Wars: The Last Jedi Pin Trading Starter Set ($30). It comes with a lanyard and four pins.
Where do I go to trade?
You can trade at any pin trading area of the park, or if you spot a cast member wearing a lanyard of pins, feel free to trade with them as well. You'll often find more unique pins when interacting with staff. "Guests may trade up to two pins per cast member, per day. There are plenty of opportunities for trading as we have thousands of cast members wearing lanyards with pins daily," Miller said.
Are there "hot" pins that everyone wants?
It's totally up to you, but some serious traders have their eyes on the prize. "Some pins have a finite edition size, meaning that once the pin sells out, it is no longer available," said Miller. "Others may want to build a collection based on a favourite character such as Figment from Epcot or Disney Villains.".
Disney Villains Pin Set — Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ($15)
What's the goal?
That's really up to you. Some people collect and trade pins as a means of having a unique experience while at the park — participating means you can spark up a conversation with strangers, cast members, or even characters. "We've heard guests say the interactions with cast members are the most enjoyable part," added Miller. And there's a discovery element that makes hunting for specific pins feel like an adventure. "Other pins, such as Hidden Mickey pins, are fun to search for," revealed Steven. "These pins are periodically issued to cast members to use for trading with guests. They are identified by the small Mickey Mouse icon found in the artwork on the front of the pin."
