Hey there, Regina!
I was so excited to see your question because I also started pin trading at Walt Disney World recently and I’m happy to share all about it!
Regina, you do not need to buy pins before your arrival. You can find pins available for purchase throughout
merchandise locations at Walt Disney World Resort. Starter sets are available, which can consist of a themed lanyard and a set of pins, for example, Princess-themed or Star Wars-themed. There are also sets of pins and lanyards available for individual purchase, so you can create your own “starter set.” When I started pin trading on my recent trip, I found a lanyard that I liked and a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed pin set! Pins are also sold individually and in “blind boxes,” which means you don’t know exactly which pin you will get until you open the package after purchasing. Your trip is several months from now, so you may find pins and starter sets available to purchase on
DisneyStore.com, if you would like to have them ready for your trip- sometimes pins are included in the current sales!
There are
official Disney Pin Trading guidelines, Regina. I've listed a few here for you to keep in mind.
-Only official Disney pins may be traded, and Walt Disney World Cast Members may determine that a pin is not an official pin and decide not to complete the trade.
-Please ask to trade first. You will see pinboards throughout the parks and Cast Members wearing lanyards to trade. Please approach the Cast Member and kindly ask to trade.
-You may only trade a maximum of 2 pins per Cast Member or trading board per day.
Pin trading is what you make of it, Regina. Personally, I let my heart guide me and trade for pins of characters or attractions I like. My other family members will try to complete collections, which can mean searching for less common pins throughout the parks. There are also Cast Members who add additional magic to pin trading by asking trivia questions or offering a blind trade, which means you don’t know what pin you’re trading for!
My family has had a lot of fun with our pin-trading adventures. For my kids, it has added another activity as we walk between attractions, and it’s a great way to interact with Cast Members. This year is the
25th Anniversary of Disney Pin Trading, so now is a great time to start!
I hope this was helpful, Regina. Pin trading is for all ages so I think this is the perfect addition to your multi-generational vacation. If you have any more questions, about pin-trading or any other planning, please
come back to see me at planDisney!
Kaitlin