Pin Trading About This Page:

[Lilianna]

In everything I've read or heard, pin trading is between CMs and park guests, but what about between park guests? If we have a line wait, I thought some trading might help pass time for the 6 yr old. Anyone ever traded guest to guest?

[DebiDebiDebi]

I have traded with guests on occation, but overall have found that experience to be less than desireable. Have encountered several "rude" folk who love to tell you why your pins are less valuable and desireable than yours...and that has been after they have approached me to trade. I stick with the friendly CMs!!

[Lilianna]

I'll keep that in mind, Debi.

[Carousel96]

We stick with CMs because they have to trade.
My DD wanted to trade with another park guest when she was about 6 and he said no because her pins weren't "good enough" and his were all "more valuable."

[Lilianna]

Seems to be a running theme with the park guests.

I was actually thinking more of helping my 6 yr old trade with another kid in line.

[TuffyCO]

My kids have traded with others a few times and one time my DH nearly got run down by someone wanting a pin we had (it finished his collection and was just a trader to us). All the times we have done it has been okay, but make sure your kids are aware that CM's have to trade whereas guests do not. As long as they understand that give it a try. I can't believe people are so rude to say their pins are "more valuable", geez what happened to being polite and saying something like the pins are special to you or there aren't any you want to trade right now.


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[Papa Mouse]

I agree with Stefani (TuffyCO).

Over the years when this subject comes up with everyones experiences, pros and cons. there is a fact that very seldom is mentioned and your children should be aware of is the fact that many, many adults whom wear lanyards with pins are not pin collectors. They are adults whom love a character and possibly a particular ride, etc. and enjoy pins.

Not being pin collectors they purchase theirs pin from the pins shops and wear them proudly on a lanyard around their neck as pin collectors do. This is why you see the good pins" on their lanyard. They paid more money for them. You will see such adults and pins in the parks.

How much did you pay for your child's pins? Probably not nearly as much as the non pin collector. So why do you expect a higher priced pin for the cheaper ones bought in lots?

I have seen several children ask these adults if they would like to trade pins and in each case with a surprise look on their face (the adult) they politely smiled and said no thank you. The children are diaappointed, of course, because they probably have already seen a pin that they assumed will be traded and if young enough they might not understand it because all the CMs will trade any pin freely. Remember that children are not generally aware of the quality and prices, only it's a one for one trade.

A few years ago Disney was passing out a double set of pins labels as something like one for me and one to trade. They were nice Tinkerbells with tiny colored rheinstones. A small boy waiting to trade with a CM (with his parents) came up to me and wanted to trade for a small Tinkerbells that he liked which to me I should have thrown away. I asked him what he had to trade and he showed me another Tinkerbell which was larger, very nice and for his mother. Instead I showed him the rheinstone Tinkerbell which I think mom had bought (not a trader). No way, he wanted that tiny one "for his mother". In the meantime mom was trying to talk him out of the trade without results. He was here to trade and wanted the Tinkerbell I had. I had to duck to miss the daggers mom was quietly throwing at me. I told him being it was for his mother I would give it to him. His mom was out of dagges until the kid said, NO, I'm suppose to trade. Mom found the daggers and I ducked again. I traded with the boy but while he was hiding it from his mother I slipped the pin back to mom which immediately went into her purse. As one would say, "she was a happy camper."

Let your child know in advance that it is only the CM adults whom do the pin trading with children. Yes I know, there are exceptions.

[Coop]

DH had a child come to him to trade while on the bus. It was a simple trade and it made the child happy - no harm. We usually trade with CM's but DH was happy to trade with another guest.

[Lilianna]

I would totally trade with a child if they asked me, but I wouldn't encourage my child to trade with an adult. As I said, I was thinking more of kid to kid trading while waiting in line.