Howdy, LeighAnne.
Welcome to planDisney! I'm always excited to help a fellow Texan, so thanks for boot-scooting on by to ask this question. With only days to go until your vacation to
The Most Magical Place on Earth, I imagine you're barely able to contain your anticipation. You have so much to look forward to on your trip, including the
50th Anniversary Celebration festivities and my favorite annual event, the
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Now that I've given you even more to be excited about, let's see if I can rustle up an answer for you.
As a seasoned Disney Pin Trader myself, I'm happy to hEAR you are interested in pin trading on your upcoming trip. I'm elated to report that pin trading is happening at Walt Disney World Resort - cue the happy dancing! There are
new, exciting ways to pin trade, including Mickey-themed boards and mystery trading boxes. With the Mickey-themed boards, you simply point to the pin you want to trade for, and the Cast Member will switch the pins out for you. For the pin trading mystery boxes, you tell the Cast Member which numbered drawer you want to trade for. They will show you the mystery pin that's hidden within. You can then choose to go ahead and trade for that pin or not. Pin trading locations can be found throughout all
four theme parks,
Disney Springs, and select
Disney Resorts Collection hotels and should be designated on guide maps.
I am also pleased to report that
Character Dining is available at
select dining locations but in a modified way. Previously, you could hug your favorite Disney pals and get pictures standing next to them. Currently, you can wave to the characters and take photos with them from your table. While the experience is slightly different, it is no less special or memorable. We recently dined at
Garden Grill Restaurant with the modified Character Dining experience and still had a blast interacting with Mickey, Pluto, and Chip 'n' Dale from a distance.
LeighAnne, I hope your magical trip is everything you've dreamed of and more. If you have further questions, please
stop back by planDisney so I can lasso some more answers for you.
Happy trails to you,
Alyssa