Kristen, I still remember the trip when all my Mouseketeers had to have (according to them) a lanyard and Mickey pin starter set, and then that started the obsession for the next several trips as we discovered the experience of Pin Trading with Cast Members!
Disney kicked things up a few notches a few yEARs ago when they launched
PinQuest: A Pin Collecting Scavenger Hunt in the theme parks on both coasts. My friend and fellow panelist, Brandy, showed me her daughter's map, decoder pin, and lanyard from the PinQuest she completed in Magic Kingdom Park in 2016. This is the ultimate pin collectors dream because you EARn six limited release pins while following clues through the park to become a Disney QuestEAR! Last October, the scavenger hunt returned- this time at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and it sounds like it just ended a couple of weeks ago. I spoke with a Cast Member recently, and she wasn't sure when or where the next PinQuest would be, but it sounds like pin collectors of all ages are anxiously awaiting its return. Although it's only a limited time event, Walt Disney World still has information about it on its
Merchandise Events page.
I'll keep sleuthing for information, Kristen, but in the meantime check out the
Disney Parks Blog where they often release information about new and exciting events in the parks!
~Eean