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Disney World Pin Trading

by Random123

Do you recommend Disney World pin trading? Do you have any tips or suggestions? Is this expensive? Thanks!

Dad’s it’s not my cup of tea Answer

Random123,

For some people Disney World pin trading is a passion. I’m not one of those people. But, I do know a little about it.

Disney pin trading didn’t even start until around 1999. It started growing in the 2000’s. It has become one of Disney’s most popular cast interaction games.

Pin trading has become a big deal at Disney World. Every area of all the parks has at least one pin selling station. (Yep, that’s right folks, Disney sells the pins and makes money on them. I don’t mean anything bad by this, it’s just reality.)

Several Disney cast members wear lanyards that have pins on them which they will trade for your pins. (Cast members are more likely to trade with younger children than adults.) Ride operators are not allowed to wear pin lanyards.

Disney has actually printed a brochure on pin trading etiquette. Here are some of the tips –

  • To trade a pin with a Disney cast member, the pin must be made of metal and have a representation of a Disney character, park, attraction, icon, or other official affiliation.
  • Additionally, the pin must have a Disney copyright on its back.
  • Guests must trade with Cast Members, one pin at a time, with the pin back in place (pins have functional sharp posts)
  • Guests can make up to 2 pin trades per cast member per day
  • Refrain from touching another person’s pins or lanyard, ask to see the pin so they can bring the pin into closer view
  • The pin that is traded to the cast member cannot be a duplicate of any pin they already have on their lanyard.
  • No money can change hands on Disney property in exchange for a pin.

These are just a few of the tips in the brochure.

Pin trading can be expensive. Pins sell for up to $500.00 on Ebay. You can also buy cheap pins. Pins are sold in the parks and in the resort hotels. Most cost less than a dollar, but some run as much as $75.00, yes for one pin.


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If you are a collector, or would like to introduce your children to collecting, Disney World pin trading can be a great way to get started. It’s fun. It allows you to interact with others. It can be done fairly cheaply.

Maybe one of these days Old Dad will try it out.

Comments for Disney World Pin Trading

Feb 26, 2012

 Chip N’ Dales


by: Anonymous


I have been collecting pins along with my parents for awhile. we are each into different themes. I’m into Chip and Dale while my mom is into tinker bell and my dad is into more of an old school type of pin, such as Hercules or The Lion King.

Anyway I just wanted to know what types of pins you all had and if you wanted to do some online trading. I’m looking for some Chip N’ Dales and am looking for a good trade or just a good conversation on pins. If anyone wants to trade or just chill and talk about some pins then I’m that person.

Nov 21, 2011

 Great for kids who are too old for the characters


by: Julie


Pin trading at Disney started in our family when our oldest child was at that odd age when waiting in line for a visit with a princess was getting a little boring. Our youngest is now 14 and all the kids love to trade.

We live very near Disneyland Paris. That park isn’t quite as heavily into pin trading as WDW but they do a good job most of the time. I have noticed that sometimes the cast members refuse a trade if the pin isn’t what they want. That customer service you see at WDW just hasn’t transfered to Paris!

We bought some very cheap pins in bulk on eBay once and most of them were fakes. We chose not to try to trade those with cast members for the real ones because that would have been so dishonest. If someone is selling “20 pins for $15” then you know they probably are not real. On the other hand, you can get some deals with the real pins for around $2 each on eBay.

Anyway, pin trading is fun for our kids and they love interacting with cast members. Give it a try!

Nov 14, 2010

 To clarify


by: Anonymous


Pin trading can be a lot of fun. Just to clear up some of your facts. Cast members are required to trade pins with any guest and give no preference to kids over adults, the only exception to this is that there are special lanyards that cast members wear that are tradeable only with kids, but most cast members wear lanyards that are free to trade with anyone. Also pins can be very expensive, if you plan ahead you can get some great deals on ebay (less than $1 per pin) but once you hit the park you won’t be able to find any pins cheaper than $6 a pin. Pin trading is a great way to cut down on souvenir costs. When I go into a store I’m scanning for cast members wearing lanyards instead of scanning the shelves for some ‘must-have’ souvenir.

May 31, 2010

 Pin Trading


by: Todd


When went to WDW for the first time in 2008 and noticed the pin trading – mostly kids. We were there for only 4 days in 2008 so we bought my son (7 yrs old at the time) a lanyard and just a few pins – just to keep – not to trade.

When we returned in 2009 we bought my son 15 pins on Ebay for about $20.00 (all Disney tradable pins). When we arrived at WDW he began trading with cast members and other guest – he was able to trade the 20 pins from Ebay for 20 pins we wanted. The cast members are required to trade with the kids and are really great about it. The kids pick what pin from the cast member and the kids also get to pick what pin they what to give up – pretty sweet deal for the kids.

My son was looking for the last pin of a set he was collecting and had ask a cast member to trade with him – she didn’t have the pin he was looking for but she made it her mission to find it for him. She took him by the hand and walk around the stores that were connected on main st at WDW until she found it for him. That’s just how it is at WDW – nothing but the best for their guest.

We’re returning in Sept this year and we’ll be buying more pins on Ebay for my son to trade (now 9 yr old) he can’t wait.

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