Hi Douglas, and welcome back to planDisney! Pin trading is one of my favorite activities at Disney World, so I’m always excited to talk about pins! I love to hunt for the characters I collect, like Figment and Pluto.
Not only is pin trading still alive and well at Disney World, but it’s also the
25th anniversary since it officially began! You’ll find opportunities to trade pins throughout the Disney World theme parks and
resort hotels. Many Cast Members wear
pin lanyards around their neck or at their hip on a crossbody strap. Recently, I’ve seen some Cast Members with backwards pins (where you just see the black rubber Mickey backing). Sometimes this means it’s a mystery trade, and other times they’ll ask you to answer a trivia question to be able to trade for that specific pin, which is lots of fun!
You can also find pins on boards, most often near the register in gift shops. But keep your eyes peeled, because you never know where you might spot one! I’ve seen them on snack kiosks in the theme parks and even spotted a pin board at the Walt Disney World Store in the airport.
Since it’s a milestone anniversary, you might even find some special Hidden Disney pins on the boards and Cast Member lanyards. On my last visit, I found a pin with Mickey Mouse that said 25 Years of Pin Trading, which is a really cool keepsake to commemorate the celebration!
If you need extra pins for trading, many gift shops at Disney World sell starter sets that come with a lanyard and a few pins. There are also lots of different themed mystery boxes that are great for stocking up.
In addition to trading, I always like to buy a pin related to something I did on that particular trip. Usually, I’ll stop into
Frontier Trading Post in
Magic Kingdom,
Pin Traders - Camera Center in
EPCOT, or
Pin Traders in
Disney Springs, which has an impressive selection.
I hope that you find lots of fun pins during your next visit! And if you have any other questions, you’re always welcome at planDisney.
Happy trading!
JoAnna