Making Disney Pin Trading an Adventure

 

by Lisa Green 

 

We’ve been collecting and trading Disney pins for about 10 years.  On that one visit to Walt Disney World where we first took notice of all the adults and children wearing pin-filled lanyards and saw all the fun and clever pins for sale – well, we jumped right onboard!  Once we figured out how to make pin trading and collecting into a game – like a scavenger hunt, we became even bigger fans!

Yes, I know what you’re thinking – it’s another Disney trick to get you to part with your money – and you have a point.  If you let it, the cost of buying pins can easily amount to a significant chunk of change.  I’ve been to some pin trading events (at WDW resorts and on Disney Cruise Line) and there are people who have spent thousands of dollars and many, many hours accumulating impressive pin collections (I imagine some of them have similar amounts of Beanie Baby or Pokémon items, as well).  All things in moderation is my motto!

Rather than break the bank, our family likes to make Disney pin trading into more of an adventure than a passion.  We each pick out several pins from our existing collection that we’re willing to part with before we leave for Walt Disney World (so we have some to trade away).  We think about any series of pins we have that may be missing one or two pins to complete the set and decide what we’ll be hunting for.  For example – when we were at WDW a couple of weeks ago, I was looking for the last Orange Bird pin I needed – the “flying” Orange Bird.  Everyone knew what to look for and, like a scavenger hunt, we all looked for that one pin until it was found (by Raymond on a Cast Member’s lanyard in Animal Kingdom).

Raymond and Joseph were looking for Jessica Rabbit pins – old or new, to buy or trade – and they managed to find a couple to add to our collection.  Megan just wanted a Frozen pin – any one would do.  This proved the most difficult challenge of all!  After chasing down several leads – most of which were fruitless, we finally found some Olaf pins early one day in Magic Kingdom (I’m sure they sold out later).

Hunting for a particular pin adds another level of fun to a Disney vacation!  Whether at a Disney park or on a Disney cruise, we all get into the spirit of the hunt and, by doing that, we’re able to keep our pin purchases from eating up our entire souvenir budget.

Do you collect or trade Disney pins?  What are your favorite pins to find?
Just getting started with pin trading?  See this post for tips. 

This article was originally posted on Lisa's Living a Disney Life Blog.
She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LivingaDisLife and on Twitter at @life_of_green

Please be sure to check out Lisa along with me and David Hodges on The Disney Exchange Podcast!

Disney Pin Blanket

by Gaylin

Since I have posted on social media about the blanket I use to display my Disney pin collection, I realized it is about time I post it here.

The stores at Walt Disney World often have a promotional item, buy X amount of product and the promotional item is offered at a really reasonable price. This blanket was one of the promotional items during a trip, I think in 2007. When I saw it, I realized I could use it to hold my pins.

I brought it home and sewed a curtain sleeve at the top, bought a curtain rod and voila, a great way to put them on display and a great way to have easy access to them when I want to wear a pin.

When I first started using this, I had way less pins, I told myself I would stop buying pins when the outside edges were filled up . . . we all know how that went. At the rate I buy pins, I may need to buy a stronger curtain rod because this blanket is getting heavy!

I am glad I saved my Extra Magic Hours bands, as well as the Not So Scary and Christmas party bands, they make a fun addition to the blanket. I use the ends of the rod to hang lanyards so all my Disney pin accessories are in one place.

This corner of my blanket has all my tour pins attached to it, I never wear them since they would be hard to replace.

Anyone have anything like this? How to you store your pins? Do you wear them or just buy them for display?

Disney Pin Collection

by Gaylin

One of the things I do buy, collect and trade from Walt Disney World are the pins. I love pins! I wear one often and every now and then I go wild and wear 2 pins!!!

On a trip in 2009, at two different parks, I saw men wearing their collections! As big of a fan of the pins as I am, I would not do this. First off, these vests would be very hot to wear! Second, you couldn't sit down and lean back comfortably and I am all about being comfortable on vacation.

Yes, I did ask permission to take the photos and talked to them about their collections. The older gentleman with the red/black vest said it weighed 12 pounds! Now that is dedication. Also his wife made these vests and while you can't see from the photos, the black squares have a Mickey head embossed in them.

Anyone else noticed people wearing their collections? Would you?

Trip Report: October 11th-October 17th 2014 - Part 5

by Nick

Wednesday, October 15th

I woke up with a sore throat and felt run down, but was otherwise fine. But I know, when I get that twinge in the back of my throat, a cold or worse isn't far behind.

This was our at sea day and we had nothing planned. We decided to have breakfast at the Royal Palace, which started at 8am.
While we waited for it to open, we took a walk around the Dream taking photos of Halloween decorations as well as the beautiful morning, which would turn gray and rainy later in the day.

One of the reasons I'd wanted to have breakfast at the Royal Palace was I wanted to take photos, which I hadn't done on our previous visit the evening before.

There are many nice touches, honoring the Disney Princesses.

Even the backs of the chairs featured icons paying homage to the princesses.

Breakfast was standard fair. I had the Disney Cruise Line Breakfast trio which consisted of a Waffle, Pancake, and piece of French Toast as well as bacon. I also asked for a side of sausage. Barbie had the Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancake, and a hashbrown. Savory and Sweet for both of us.

We then returned to our stateroom to pack. We both agree, in the future, a 4 day cruise is not long enough. It felt like we had just gotten settled in, and it was time to pack and get off the ship.

We decided to check out the Animation, Creating a Character program at D Lounge. It was a lot of fun. A Cast Member showed clips of Disney Animated movies, as well as Walt Disney.

In between clips, we were shown how to draw Stitch...

...and Olaf.

After this class, we grabbed a snack in Cabanas. Barbie headed back to the stateroom to nap, while I signed up for a Mixology course located in the Skyline Lounge, in the adults only section of the Dream, known as The District.
It was really a great bit of fun, and, as another participant pointed out, at $15, the cheapest way to get drunk enjoy alcoholic beverages on the cruise.
We made 5 different mixed drinks, and I'll write a full review of this highly recommended experience, as well as the Skyline in a future post.

 

I returned to our stateroom and showered. This was Formal evening, and we both decided, as we had packed already, that we would skip dinner at Animator's Palate, as we had breakfast scheduled there the next morning.

We went to the 6:15 show of Disney's Believe in the Walt Disney Theater. This was by far the best show we'd seen on this or our previous Disney Cruise.
The story of a daughter who believes in magic, and her skeptical scientifically minded father, who is helped to see the error of his ways by the Genie and many beloved Disney characters, it has many a touching and memorable moments, and this is the only show we've seen that I honestly would say is not to be missed.

Right after the show was pin trading with members of the crew, and we got a few great pins from different Disney cruises around the world.

Immediately following this we watched The Pumpkin Tree come alive in the Lobby Atrium, the culmination of the Halloween on the High Seas events. Please stop back Friday for a more in depth look at the Halloween on the High Seas events that we attended.

When we returned to our stateroom for the evening, I called guest services to find out what time we should board Magical Express in the morning. I was told no later than 8:50am.
Our second seating breakfast at Animators Palate was at 8am. As I didn't really think it was actually feasible to eat, disembark, and find our luggage in 50 minutes, I asked if we could please change to the earlier 6:45 seating. I was told no. So, we decided we'd skip that meal as well, and just have breakfast in Cabanas, which we were told would only be a continental breakfast, which, I admit, made me a little perturbed. So we never did get to Animators Palate this trip.

Not the best ending to a cruise, but at least I would be happier about the selection at Cabanas the next morning, as it was more extensive than I'd thought it would be.

Other parts of the trip report:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three 
Part Four

Your Disney Pins-What to Do Next (from 10/14/11)

By: Barbie

So now you love pin trading as much as I do. It can really enhance your whole vacation experience, right? But now you're home and have a sack full of pins and you don't quite know what to do; put them away in a drawer or suitcase until your next trip; absolutely not! Let me give you some options that I have found to keep the magic alive longer.

My first option was to put my pins into pin bags, designed especially for Disney pins. I found some on ebay and I found my favorite one at a thrift store! Into these books went many of the pins, categorized and lovingly placed. I pull them out and add to them on occasion. My husband calls this "Pin Joy."

Another option is to go to your local arts–craft store and buy a stretched canvas which you can hang on the wall. Poke your pins through the canvas and replace the backings. Here is my Pluto board and a close up of it.


You can make designs out of your pins, maybe a hidden Mickey head even, and presto! Instant artwork! I have canvases hanging all over my workplace wall and everyone who comes over loves to check out my pins! I even got a few co-workers hooked on pin trading. Does that make me a pusher? Here's my Mickey board. I wanted to make a Hidden Mickey head, but didn't have enough room with all my pins, I decided to add photos of our Disney vacations to the boards instead.

Here is a side view of my Stitch board. If you like this idea, remember to get the stretched canvas with the wooden frames.

If you have limited wall space, or already have artwork up on the wall, you can use the pins in place of thumb tacks on your bulletin board.


Many people use a single pin as jewelry on their lab coats or clothing, rotating the character daily depending on their mood. One lady wears her lanyard as her ID holder. She is hardcore!

Photobombed by Rafiki : Story Behind the Photo

There are actually many photos from this experience that could have taken the "lead" up above there, but I feel this fun picture of us being photobombed by Rafiki really exemplifies the amazing time we had on this trip in January of 2007.

Like many great experiences we've had at Walt Disney World, this one began with Barbie asking a Cast Member at Disney's Animal Kingdom if she could see his pins. While she was looking at his pins, the CM, Joe, asked if we'd ever seen Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade, and would we be interested in being IN it!
Well, of course we said yes!
He told us when and where to be, and we met there at that designated time.

We were given pith helmets and vests to wear, and then sat and chatted with other families that were chosen to be in the parade that day.

We were put in the lead ride vehicle with Rafiki, and we really threw our all into waving at the crowds and dancing in our seats.

 The view from our seats!

I managed to get this great shot of Barbie, as an amused Cast Member looked on! We were beyond enthused!

Because we were in the first vehicle, after the parade had run it's full route, we were able to enjoy the rest of the entire parade from backstage!

Yet another wonderful experience thanks to a wonderful Cast Member.
As I've said it time and again, they are the ones who really make the magic! Thanks Joe!

How I Started Disney Pin Trading

by Jill:

It all started with this Tigger pin, a gift from my friends Nick and Barbie.
 

I was instantly hooked on pin trading. I decided to stick with the theme of Hundred Acre Wood characters, to keep the crazy to a minimum, and I then began my hunt.

Cast members with a green lanyard are only allowed to trade with kids. But pin trading is meant for everyone and most of the characters were easy to find by trading with other cast members.

After you leave Walt Disney World, Ebay and your local flea market are great places to search for more pins.

I'm a socially awkward introvert, but even I find this to be not only a fun thing to do, but also an easy way to break out of my shell and talk to people.

My husband even joined in the fun looking at lanyards and pin booths for our favorite characters.

There is a ton to do and see at Disney World. Pin trading was a great addition to our trip. I highly suggest getting into it.

Thank you Nick & Barbie for introducing me to Disney Pins! 

Pins From The Walt Disney Family Museum

I picked these wonderful pins up in June when I visited The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

My wife collects Pluto and Mickey pins, so I bought the first 2 for her.

This Pluto pin cost $13:

Mickey was $6.50.

My favorite pin of the 3, the man himself, Walt Disney, also $6.50:

For a review of The Walt Disney Family Museum, please check out this post.