An Introduction to Disney Pin Trading with a Toddler
Collectible pins have been in Disney theme parks and resorts since the very beginning. But it wasn’t until October 1999, during the Millennium Celebration, that pin trading first occurred. Now, more than 2 decades and 60,000 pins later, collecting and trading pins remains one of the most beloved Disney pastimes and traditions. It’s something that unites people from around the world who all share a common love for Disney.
To begin pin trading, you’ll need to purchase at least one Disney pin. Pins can be found in all Disney theme parks, resorts, Disney Springs, and other authorized retailers. Be careful where you purchase your pins from. According to official Disney pin trading guidelines, the pin must be metal and have the “©Disney” on the back in order to be considered authentic.
Pricing varies for collectible pins. Typically, any type of “limited release” “special collection” or “seasonal” pins will be more expensive, so keep that in mind! Disney uses a color-coded pricing structure for collectible pins. Each color represents a specific price, and rather than seeing a dollar amount on a pin, you’ll only see the color. Located somewhere on the display will be a chart outlining what price point each color represents.
Once you’ve selected at least one pin, the next decision will be how you want to display, store, and/or carry them. Options range from a lanyard, bag, book/binder, display board and many more! One of the easiest and most travel-friendly options would be a lanyard. Disney sells a seemingly endless variety of lanyards. Here are some of our favorites:
We chose to purchase both a lanyard and a small pin display book. The plan is to use the lanyard for active pin trading and the book will be for the memorable pins that we want to keep. The lanyard is something that easily fits in the diaper bag.
Now that you have your pin and lanyard, it’s time to start pin trading! FInd a cast member in any of the Disney theme parks, resorts, or Disney Springs area and ask if they have any pins to trade. Sometimes, you’ll see cast members holding pin display boards in a store or near an attraction. Don’t forget about speaking with other guests too! People visit Disney from around the world. Not only is it a great way to meet some fellow Disney lovers, but you might just find some pretty cool pins too!
Toddler-Friendly Pin Trading
Pin trading is already a fairly toddler-friendly activity. However, I took a few additional steps to ensure that my son had a safe and enjoyable time finding pins. I’ve outlined those steps below:
Pins vary in size, but they all have a small, rubber backing that does come off. I keep this in mind, and limit my toddler’s handling of the pins, just out of an abundance of caution. My husband and I actively supervise him when he’s holding a pin. Once our newly acquired pins have been placed on either the lanyard or in the pin collection book, I store them someplace he can’t easily reach on his own.
Pin trading has become a fun way for my toddler to feel more independent and express his likes and dislikes. Since he’s still so young, I let him pick out anything he likes that catches his eye. Utilize the process of searching for pins to practice simple phrases, gestures, and even to emphasize sharing. For example, you can explain how a particular pin was theirs, but now they’re going to share it with someone else so they can enjoy it too. In return, they’ll get a different pin that they can enjoy.
For kids that are a little older, you can make pin trading like a scavenger hunt. Ask your kids to find you a pin that is a specific color, shape or character. If you’re buying a new pin, you can take advantage of Disney’s color coded pricing and tell them they can pick out anything they want that has “silver” on the back, for example.
Pin trading and collecting has become one of my family’s favorite Disney activities. I know that when my tots get older, it will be fun to look back on the pins we’ve collected over the years!
I hope this guide with some tips on how to get started pin trading and how to make it more toddler-friendly helps you and your tots enjoy pin trading and collecting as well! Be sure to visit my pin trading page regularly for updates on our toddler-friendly pin trading adventures and see how our pin collection grows!
Have any other toddler-friendly pin suggestions? Be sure to leave a comment down below!