Hi there, Dawn! Walt Disney World has always had pins available for purchase in the theme parks; however, it wasn't until the Millennium Celebration that Disney Pin Trading officially got its start. I remember buying my Mouseketeers their first lanyard with a pin starter set, and I quickly learned all the tips on Pin Trading Etiquette. Now, every time I approach a Cast Member, I always scan their pin collection, which can be on a lanyard around their neck or hip, or they might even present them on a pin display card for you!
Pin Central is the main hub for pin traders at
Epcot, and it's the best place to find Limited Edition pins (note that Pin Central is relocating to a temporary spot at the Camera Center below Spaceship Earth in early December). Although I couldn't get confirmation that what you saw there in April was an official event, I did "
pin down" some exciting information for you!
Every fall since 2000, Walt Disney World Resort has hosted an annual Pin Trading event at Epcot's World ShowPlace Pavilion. Each yEAR, the event has a theme; this yEAR's was "FairyTails," and all the pins had a furry friend with a tail. I've hEARd that the theme at the 2020 event is "Celebrating Twenty Years of Disney Pins." The best place to go for registration information is the
Merchandise Events page on the Walt Disney World website. Currently, they are displaying news about upcoming pin releases, but sometime in the spring, they will update it with information on the 2020 Pin Trading Event. This yEAR, the registration link opened on May 7, and it sold out the same day! I'd also suggest following the Disney Pins Blog website for up to date news.
I hope this helps, Dawn! If there's anything else we can help you with, remember we're all EARs!
Eean