Hiya, Nicole! I'm so glad you found the second star to the right and followed it on to us here at planDisney!
I'm so excited to hear that you'll be visiting
Walt Disney World Resort in just a couple of weeks! You'll be arriving just in time for some truly memorable experiences, such as celebrating
The Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration. Be sure to take some time and discover the glowing
Beacons of Magic in each of the parks, which light up the night in new and surprising ways!
But enough about that, let's talk about souvenirs! If you're anything like me and my pal Ariel, I love to find gadgets and gizmos a'plenty while I'm in the middle of The Most Magical Place on Earth! It sounds like you're a big fan of the Charmed in the Park charm bracelets that have previously been offered in various merchandise locations. I totally understand why - this is a great way to collect extra special baubles that represent your magical vacation!
I stretched my magic wand as far as it could possibly reach and connected with my fellow panelists who have recently visited the parks to check if they've seen these charms recently. Unfortunately, we believe that these charms may not be available just yet. I'm sending you some faith, trust, and pixie dust that they magically appear at the time of your trip! But if not, never fear! I have an alternative idea that might give you that same joyful feeling of creating and collecting your prized possessions.
Nicole, have you ever heard of Disney Pin Trading? This is a fun way to collect your favorite souvenirs! My husband and I love to collect pins that represent each trip. The first time we rode the monorail, we were so lucky to also find a monorail pin! When we experienced Star Wars: Galaxy's edge for the first time, we were able to trade for a Jedi Mickey pin. We like to purchase special lanyards that hold all of our pins, but there are even special
backpacks and
bags that can show off your treasures!
If you're interested in pin trading, here's what I recommend: come to the parks prepared with Disney pins that you're ready to trade. You can either get a
starter set from shopDisney or you can find Disney trading pins from other online retailers. At each park, you'll be able to ask a Cast Member to see their pin board at the cash register inside most merchandise locations. You can also find pin trading locations by looking for signs in the parks, or even stop by
Disney's Pin Traders in Disney Springs! My best suggestion would also be to purchase
locking pin backs because my pins tend to sneak away from me while I'm on rides and attractions.
Here's my pro tip: bring along a few extra pins that you're willing to part with. Whenever I'm at a pin trading station, I always find a kid or two who's very excited to learn about pin trading but didn't come with any pins. I like to hand them some pins that they can trade and keep. As much as I love experiencing the magic, I love sharing the magic with others even more!
See ya real soon!
Michelle