How many pins to start trading? About This Page:

[viator80]

My two boys, 7 and 3, will be surprised at Christmas with a Disney vacation for February. Anyway, my question is how many pins should I get them each to start trading? Is 12 a piece enough/ too much? I have no idea. This will be our first Disney trip!

[Dave Marx]

Welcome viator80!

As young first-time traders, I suggest they trade only with Disney cast members. All those trades are one-for-one, so if they start the trip with 12 (a decent number), they'll finish with 12. At their age, it's really a matter of trading the pins they have for pins they like better (favorite characters, etc.).

12 trades is more than enough for them to discover if they're interested. If they become interested, they'll probably want to buy additional pins at Disney. In that case, they'll likely be collecting those, rather than trading.

And, if your older boy becomes interested and the younger doesn't (which seems quite likely at his age), older brother may end up with closer to 24 pins to trade.

[hockeyguysmom]

I think 12 should be plenty! Most of the starter packs at the parks seem to have 6 pins I think. My boys started trading a couple of years ago and the older (who is 8 now) picks a type of pin every trip that he wants to look for, usually pirates. The younger (now 6) just goes for what he likes, he trades over & over again while we are in WDW always looking for something new. Enjoy and have fun surprising your guys!

[viator80]

Awesome! Thanks! I can't wait

[cgai729]

Hi all, i've always wanted to trade pins, but i feel like being an adult, I would be taking something away from the kids. Do you trade pins as adults?
thanks

[Dave Marx]

Originally Posted by cgai729

Hi all, i've always wanted to trade pins, but i feel like being an adult, I would be taking something away from the kids. Do you trade pins as adults?
thanks

Absolutely! Most traders are adults (although over the years, it's been skewing more towards the kids). There are many CMs who wear kids-only lanyards, so the kids always have good opportunities. And it is about trading, it's not a one-way transaction - It's not just a matter of guests dumping "junk" pins on the CMs. Guests often are trading pins of equal or even greater value. In other words, an adult may be leaving something good behind for the next kid to snag.

In my case, I still have a lot of Millennium Celebration pins that were purchased at close-out price, but are still well worth having. (I trade for specific characters, and unusual items that strike my fancy). You won't find the pins I have much in circulation, so when I put one out there, I'm sure someone else is going to think it's cool.

[SARH7]

I think my daughter's first pin trading trip I got her 20. She kept a few of the ones I got her but traded all the rest. She really enjoyed it and once she traded away the ones she didn't want, she wanted to keep trading, but didn't want to get rid of any of the ones she'd acquired! LOL!

[cgai729]

thanks dave

[Haleyboo99]

Welcome to the boards! We all love pin trading and collecting pins. 12 should definitely be enough for them!

[athenagwis]

When we went on our first trip to Disney last year, I used a reputable eBay seller and brought 25 pins each. My son had a blast and ended up with a few extra of ours. I would suggest checking out eBay and maybe you cn get a few more pins for the same price.

Cheers!
Rachel

[EddieCVS]

We started my daughter off with a lanyard with pins we bought at a cart in Epcot. We also bought her a couple other sets she liked.I think she started off with about a dozen pins.

[viator80]

I've bought one lot on eBay and just bought another, I couldn't resist. Can't wait! We're not going until feb. but these will be a surprisechristmas gift. I requested "boy" type pins from the seller. (no princesses) Guess I'll see what we get when they come in! Thanks for all the suggestions!

[JanetCatherineB]

My kids 10,9,7 all love pin trading and we never have enough pins to trade. Luckily my youngest will trade a pin and then see a different one she likes and trade the one she just got for a different pin. We started with the "starter sets" and added from there.

This trip I stocked up over time and got them each about 20 new pins to trade. Lets hope thats enough. I like to get DL pins and take them to WDW. It always surprises a CM or a kid to see how the pins travel so far.

I don't buy from ebay as I was a former CM at DL and I just can't do it. HA HA. That being said, I don't blame the ones who do because there can be some great deals out there and not ALL pins are fakes.

[Carousel96]

Adults trade too!
I started because I got tired of looking over my daughter's shoulder, wishing she'd take "that one."
I'm a trade-for-what-I-like trader, so I only deal with Cast Members.

[DisneyDaddy]

Trading is for every one, kids have special traders cast members with blue (I think) lanyards only trade with kids. Otherwise it's a great way to spend time talking with CMs.