“It's no secret that we were sticking just about every nickel we had on the chance that people would really be interested in something totally new and unique in the field of entertainment.” - Walt Disney Pin trading started 10 years ago at the Disney theme parks. The popularity swept throughout the Disney community. In the beginning I thought it was a crazy idea but I sort of had a desire to try it out. I mean what little kid wouldn’t want a shiny piece of metal with Mickey on it. Being a huge Disney fan, my family went on a Disney cruise and on that cruise I got my first pin. From there I was hooked. I was collecting every collection I could and the amount of pins I had started to grow. To be a proper pin trader the correct materials, the etiquette, and self-control are all needed.
Materials and terms are paramount in pin trading. They have many different types and styles of lanyards. The most common lanyard is the one that goes around your neck. But even those ones have different themes such as Mickey, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tinker Bell, Haunted Mansion, and others of the type. They now have a new kind which are called hip lanyards. Traders or scrappers are the pins that you are willing to give up for other pins that you want. These can be traded with cast members (Disney employees) and other pin traders. The process of this will be explained later. When you build up your collection you run out of space for them on your lanyards. When this happens you have a couple of options. They have books that you can put them in or you can get a cork board and put your pins on there so that you can look at them and enjoy them. These are what holds the pin to your lanyard or in your book. They have the Mickey head rubber stoppers and they also have metal ones that lock in place so that they for sure do not fall off the lanyard. LE are limited edition pins. They can be anywhere from limited edition of 1 all the way up to 5000 and sometimes even more. AP pins are artist proof. There are usually only one of these pins because its the pin signed by the artist who created the pin. CM pins are only found on cast member lanyards. Well, that’s where they originate and then they are tradeable after they are found. Chasers are the mystery pins in a series that are not advertised but you find them after you buy enough out of that series. Purchase with purchase pins can be purchased when you buy $30 worth of pins and then can buy a pin for a $1. Hidden Mickey pins come out every year. There are about 5 different series for each Disneyland park and are found on cast member lanyards. They have a small Mickey head found on the pin somewhere.
Etiquette is also a very important aspect in this exhilarating hobby. You’ll be surprised but they are actually a lot of rules and formalities that go in to pin trading. There are some ways to determine whether or not a pin is tradeable. The pin should be metal and have “Disney” marked on the back of the pin. Also the pin should be in good condition. They shouldn’t be dirty or have scratches on them. The pin back should also be stable. Pin trading should be a safe experience. To do this you should trade one pin at a time. Make sure you keep the backs on the pin when you trade the pin so you don’t poke the person you are trading with. When you trade with a cast member you can only trade up to two per cast member per day. Don’t touch the pins or the lanyards of the cast member or guest because they might freak out. Some people are crazy and paranoid. That’s how addicting this can be which leads into my next topic.
Self-control needs to be present or this may get out of hand. This hobby is addicting. You may spend hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars on these little metal pins, such as my mom and I have done over the years. Pins are able to be bought on eBay, DisneyStore.com, and of course at the park. Some Disney Stores even sell pins. This can be a big problem because you’re money dwindles as you explore these different opportunities. My mom and I have driven to Disneyland just to purchase a limited edition pin. Wow. Talk about crazy people.
Materials and terms, etiquette, and self-control all are parts of being a successful pin trader. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” - Walt Disney.
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