Hey there, Zara!
Thanks for bringing such a fun question our way. I love taking any opportunity to talk about my love of Disney Parks, and it sounds like your son has the same idea. Pin trading is a practically perfect topic for a school presentation, so let's see if we can pin down any specifics for your son to share with his class.
While it's often said that the first Disney pin was for The Mickey Mouse Club in 1930, jewelry and other collectible merchandise became more widely available for consumer purchase years later. Souvenir and commemorative pins increased in popularity in the decades to follow, particularly at Disneyland Resort in the 1960's-1980's. However, pin trading wasn't an official program until it was introduced during the Millennium Celebration at EPCOT, which kicked off in October 1999. As shared by Disney Parks Blog,
pin trading celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, and the rest is history (still in the making).
My family has a framed pin collection we've been working on across visits to
Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and
Disneyland Paris over the past 11 years, and it's almost time for us to start a new display. It's a colorful collection, made even more magical by the moments and memories each pin represents for us. We love checking out Cast Member lanyards and pin boards displayed in the shops (always on the hunt for a rare treasure), just as much as we enjoy trying our luck with a themed mystery box. The fun is in the surprise!
While you can find a near-endless assortment of designs to match your favorite character, attraction, snack,
runDisney event, or season, you can open up a whole new world of possibilities by trading with Cast Members, who sometimes have limited edition Hidden Sets you can't purchase anywhere else. It's also a great opportunity to connect and swap pins and stories with all the knowledgeable people who keep the magic in the parks alive.
I've spotted binders full of pins at unofficial collector trading events in the breezeway between Connections Eatery and Creations Shop at EPCOT on a few recent visits, so keep your eyes peeled on your upcoming trip. Guests can also find pin trading outside of the parks, like the
Times Square Retro Pin Event that occurred just this weekend in New York City.
I'm sure he's already familiar with the Pin Trading guidelines, but here are
a few helpful rules he might want to mention for any future pin traders in his class.
Zara, I hope this helps him pinpoint an A+ on his assignment and gets you prepared for your upcoming vacation. If we can answer any additional questions while you count down those final few days before arriving in the Sunshine State, please come back and let us know.
Magic and memories,
Amy