Did you know that you can trade pins at Disney World and Disney Land? While Disney pins have existed for much longer, Disney pin trading as been a cherished park tradition since 1999. Disney pin trading just celebrated its 25-year anniversary last year! We’ve been pin trading since our first visit to Disney World together in 2020. It’s a fun and interactive way to add a splash more Disney magic to your trip. If done strategically, it can also be a cost-effective, though fare warning that it is TOO easy to get carried away. If you’re interested in trying it out, this post outlines the official rules of Disney pin trading, some general etiquette guidelines, and some timely resort policy updates. This is everything you need to start trading with confidence!
What Makes a Pin Tradable?
First and foremost, Disney pin trading means pins must officially be Disney pins. That means it needs to have the ©Disney copyright stamp on the back. What’s fun here is that Disney pins do not need to come from the Disney parks (referred to as “parks pins.”). BoxLunch, Loungefly, and several other brands have officially licensed Disney pins that are also tradable in Disney Parks. Generally, pins should also be undamaged. We’ve seen a little flexibility here as long as a trader is transparent about flaws or defects.
What cannot be traded:
- Non-metal materials (rubber, plastic, epoxy-coated)
- Brooch-style or safety-clasp pins
- Personalized name tags
- Exclusive Cast Member award pins (service awards, etc.)
Official Disney Pin Trading Rules
- 2-Pin Limit: Guests may trade a maximum of 2 pins per Cast Member or trading board per day. If you see more than 2 pins, you may have to ask a friend for the biggest favor ever!
- 1-for-1 Exchange: All trades are a direct pin-for-pin swap. You cannot buy a pin from a Cast Member or a trading board. You are also not allowed to do a multi-pin trade (i.e. “I will trade you one of my better pins for two of these moderate pins on the board.”).
- No Duplicate Trades: You cannot trade a pin that is already displayed on a Cast Member’s lanyard/pin pouch or board.
- Cast Member Discretion: Cast Members make the final determination on whether a trade meets criteria. If they think the pin is fake or flawed, they have the right to turn down a trade.
It’s worth noting that all of these rules are specific to Disney pin trading with Cast Members and/or off of official boards. The rules do not apply when trading with other park guests. You can trade as many pins as both parties want, do multi-pin trades, etc. with non-Cast Members. There are a couple of official/unofficial locations where pin traders gather in some of the parks (i.e. the breezeway in EPCOT).
Park Etiquette & Safety
While some of these guidelines may go without saying, it’s worth being explicit. Never touch a Cast Member’s lanyard or board without asking first. When trading with a Cast Member, let them take the lead. We’ve been at some boards where the Cast Member prefers to remove a pin from a trading board themselves and then asking us for the traded pin. In these situations, we don’t even touch the board. This is also low-key for safety. The backs of pins are sharp! Also remember when doing trades with other guests, it’s all completely voluntary. Be respectful if someone doesn’t want to trade.
Disney Pin Trading Park Policy Updates
Disney pin traders are not allowed to set up displays of their pins. In previous years, folks had been able to occupy a park bench, for example, and lay out all of their pins for trade. This is not longer permitted. Keep things mobile. Use lanyards, or our personal favorite would be pin boards. The go-to for most Disney pin traders are GoPinPro supplies. We like to use mini-boards for pin trading. Nicole and I each load up one of these (fits 8-10 standard sized pins) for each day we’re in the parks. They don’t take up too much real estate and the boards keep us safe from poking ourselves with pins.
Pro-Tips for Beginners
We strongly recommend avoiding “scrappers,” or fake pins. Tragically, most of the trading boards in Disney World are full of fake pins. Before diving into Disney pin trading, read up on some tips to spot scrappers and do your best to avoid them. Real Disney pins are very well made, and we like to maintain the integrity of the tradition. In getting started, we recommend buying official starter sets or mystery packs either directly from the park or from shopDisney. This ensures the pins you’re trading are authentic. If you go the Hidden Disney route, be careful! It’s really easy to spend WAY too much money trying to complete the sets.
Conclusion
While there’s a lot to be mindful of with the rules and avoiding scrappers, pin trading is really fun. It gives you a chance to interact with Cast Members and guests. Many Cast Members even have secret pins that you will show in exchange for correctly answering a Disney trivia question! One of our favorite memories from our last trip was a trivia question from a cast member about what color Robin Hood’s hat was. Shockingly, Nicole was wearing a Robin Hood hat and was literally wearing the answer! What’s your favorite pin trading memory? Let us know in the comments!
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