Hi Linda!
Thanks for posting your question about pin trading at Walt Disney World Resort. Yes, pin trading is still alive and well at the Disney theme parks and resorts. I noticed many guests taking part in this fun hobby last week during my Spring Break visit to Walt Disney World Resort.
My dear friend,
Lynn, introduced me to pin trading in 2013. She and her children traded pins on their vacations as they grew up. They made beautiful framed displays of their favorite pins over the years. When I started trading pins, I quickly learned what a fabulous opportunity it provided to interact with the Cast Members at Walt Disney World Resort. I have met some really great people through conversations struck up during a pin trade. I hope you find trading Disney pins as much fun as I have.
The
basic guidelines of pin trading are as follows:
1. Only Disney pins are eligible to be traded. Look for a copyright imprint on the back of your pins to make sure they are Disney approved. You can order a
starter set at shopDisney, if you like. There are also many vendors on eBay who sell eligible pins in bulk.
2. Feel free to approach any Cast Member wearing a lanyard. Ask if you might look at his or her pins. If there's one that interests you, ask if they are willing to trade. (My proposed trades have never been refused by a Cast Member.) The Cast Member will remove his or her own pin and hand it over to you in exchange for an official pin of your choice.
3. Be sure to ask in hotels and retail sites across Walt Disney World Resort if they have a pin board. That is where you'll find the largest variety of pins.
Have fun!
Jill