Beginner’s Guide to Pin Trading at Disney World

There’s a very specific moment that happens at Disney World.

You’re walking through a shop or past a Cast Member, and you notice a lanyard or board covered in pins… suddenly you’re stopping mid-step thinking, “Wait… what is that and why do I want one?”

That’s how it starts.

Pin trading is one of those Disney extras that can turn into a full-blown trip tradition before you even realize it. Whether you’re just curious or already halfway convinced you need to start collecting, here’s the guide to everything you should know before jumping into the world of Disney pin trading.

• What is Pin Trading?
• Common Terminology
• Scrappers
• Where to Buy
• Where to Trade
• Disney’s Guidelines
• Common Etiquette
• What Pins to Look For
• How to Display Your Pins

What is Pin Trading?

In 1999 Disney launched pin trading as part of the Millennium Celebration in Walt Disney World and it quickly spread to the rest of the Disney parks. Since then pin trading has grown into a widespread hobby now enjoyed globally, where Guests and Cast Members alike can trade a variety of pins featuring their favorite characters, rides, attractions, and all things Disney.

At its core, pin trading is fairly simple. Find a pin you want to trade and swap it with another Guest or Cast Member for a pin you want.

Before you jump in though, there’s a little Disney pin trading language you’ll want to know.

Common Pin Terminology to Know

When getting into pin trading, there are a few terms you should be aware of.

• Open Edition (Rack Pins) – Pins that are introduced and sold until they are discontinued or retired.
• Limited Edition Pins – Pins with a limited number of reproductions that are set to be released
• Limited Release Pins – Pins that are only produced for a certain event or amount of time. Unlike Limited Edition Pins, Limited Release Pins can be reproduced during the release period.
• Hidden Mickey (Cast Lanyard) Pins – Pins that are only available for initial trade with Cast members. They are not able to be purchased and can be identified by the silver Mickey on the pin.
• Chaser Pins – These are pins that are part of a series and are rare or difficult to obtain.
• Mystery Pins (Mystery Packs) – These are pins that are typically packaged in a box or bag where you cannot see what is inside until they are opened. Each pack contains randomly selected pins from a specific themed collection.
• Fantasy Pins – A pin that is commissioned or produced by pin collectors, but has not been created or endorsed by Disney.
• Backer Cards – The pieces of paper or plastic backing that the pins are fixed to.
• Back Stamp – The stamp that is on the back of a pin that contains information about the pin such as copyright info, official Pin Trading Logo, and edition size.
• Starter Sets (Booster Packs) – A set of pins that are themed with the purpose of providing new Disney Pin Traders an affordable way to begin trading.
• Scrapper Pins – An unauthorized pin that has been created but not Disney approved.

Beware of Scrapper Pins

As mentioned above, scrapper pins are pins that have not been approved by Disney. Originally, these were pins that didn’t meet Disney’s standards to be released, but has grown to include pins that people make to look like authentic Disney pins and are sold for lower prices.

There are some pretty good fakes out there so sometimes it is hard to tell a scrapper from a real pin. For an awesome article about telling the difference, check out this guide by the Mouselets on how to spot fake Disney pins.

Just know that most “pin lots” (bulk pin bags) are likely going to be scrappers. This is not to say they are all fakes, just a warning to beware of this when buying pins before you go to the park.

I say all this as a warning, but I am not fully against scrappers. If I see a pin I like on a board, I’m going to grab it, whether I know it is a fake or not. If I’m looking to complete a set and it doesn’t obviously stand out as fake, then I will grab it. At the end of the day, I’m trading pins as a fun hobby, and if the pin makes me happy I’m fine with it being a scrapper.

Not everyone shares this opinion though so when you get into trading, especially with other guests, make sure you communicate with them about their opinions on trading scrappers before doing so.

So if you’re trying to avoid scrappers altogether, where should you actually buy pins?

Where to Buy Authentic Pins

If you don’t want to run the risk of buying scrappers, there are several places that you can purchase authentic Disney pins to trade inside and outside the parks.

This isn’t a full list, but it’s a great place to start.

At Walt Disney World

• Disney’s Pin Traders (Disney Springs)
• Frontier Trading Post (Magic Kingdom)
• The Emporium (Magic Kingdom)
• Disney Traders (EPCOT)
• Camera Center (EPCOT)
• Discovery Trading Company (Animal Kingdom)
• Island Mercantile (Animal Kingdom)
• Celebrity 5 & 10 (Hollywood Studios)
• Various gift shops and kiosks throughout the parks
• Most resorts (lobbies and gift shops)

Online/Non-Disney

• Disneystore.com
• Hot Topic
• Box Lunch
• Disney Character Warehouse (outlet mall in Orlando)

Once you’ve got your pins, the real fun begins – trading them.

Where to Pin Trade at Disney World

The cool thing about trading the pins is that you can do it in the same places you buy them. Keep an eye out, though, because you may see a pin board in places you might not expect (like trash cans or even traffic cones).

Before you start trading though, there are a few official rules Disney has in place.

Make Yourself Aware of Disney’s Pin Trading Guidelines

Disney has put in place specific guidelines for Guests and Cast Members trading at the parks. You can find those rules here.

These rules help keep trading fair and fun for everyone involved.

Common Pin Trading Etiquette

Beyond official rules, there are some unspoken guidelines that you should plan to follow as well.

• Look, Don’t Touch – Try not to touch a pinboard or more importantly a lanyard of a Cast Member. Ask to see it and then point out the pin you would like to trade for.
• Only Trade 2 – Only trade up to two pins per person.
• Avoid Duplicates – If a pin is already on the lanyard or board, don’t trade a duplicate to them.
• Scrapper for Scrapper – If you are going to trade a scrapper, try to trade it for another scrapper on the board rather than trading a scrapper for a licensed pin.
• Stay Organized – Keep your pins organized so that you are ready to trade and are keeping the pins in good condition for trading.
• Be Kind – When trading with Cast Members or other guests, be polite and ask if they are open to trading before doing so. If they are open to it, great, be courteous and patient and have fun trading. If they aren’t, don’t get upset, just move on to the next one. Pin trading is supposed to be a fun hobby for all involved.

Now that you know how to trade, let’s get into what you might want to look for.

What Pins to Look For

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer to which pins you should be collecting. While there are some that may be more unique or worth more than others, if it makes you happy, collect it!

For me, there are sets I liked so I started collecting them and I’m hunting for the ones we’re missing. But if I see any kind of Eeyore, Kevin, or Baymax pin that I like, I’m grabbing those as well. We also like to buy a pin with the year that we visit and for the resort we stay at for every visit we make. They make great keepsakes that don’t take up a ton of room!

Once you start collecting, you’re going to need somewhere to put all your pins, but where do you start?

How to Display Your Disney Pins

Just like what pins to look for, there’s no right or wrong way to display your pins. I’ve seen everything from corkboards to banners to binders to lampshades to pin trees. You can be as traditional or as creative as you want with this part of it.

This is what our current collection looks like and if you’d like to know more about what we’re collecting check it out here.

Hopefully this helped get you a little more confident in your new addiction… I mean hobby! Remember that just like Disney, pin trading is about the experience you have. It all starts with one pin.

What’s your favorite spot to trade at Disney World? Let me know in the comments below!