Pin trading at Disney Parks is a beloved pastime that blends collecting, socializing, and a sprinkle of magic. Guests can exchange official Disney pins with cast members or fellow enthusiasts, creating a unique way to commemorate visits. With themes ranging from classic characters to limited-edition holiday designs, there’s a pin for everyone. Trading is simple: approach a cast member displaying pins, and exchange one of yours for a pin from their collection. This interactive tradition fosters connections, surprises, and cherished memories. Whether you're hunting for a rare find or just starting your collection, Disney pin trading adds extra magic to your experience.

How do I start in Disney pin trading? 

Getting started with pin trading at Disney is easy and fun. First, purchase a starter pack of official Disney pins, available at shops throughout the parks or online. My Magical Disney Shopper offers great deals on pins here! These sets often include a lanyard, making it easy to display your pins for trading. Look for cast members wearing lanyards or pin boards and ask to trade—just remember, pins must be authentic Disney pins to qualify. Some collectors also trade with fellow guests, though this is optional and based on mutual interest.

When trading, it’s helpful to understand the difference between  Limited Edition and Limited Release pins, as they add excitement to the hunt. Limited Edition (LE) pins are produced in small quantities, often ranging from 100 to 5,000. These pins usually commemorate special events, anniversaries, or park milestones and are highly sought after. Each pin is stamped with its edition size, making them valuable collectibles.

Limited Release pins, on the other hand, are available for a short time but are not capped by quantity. These pins might celebrate seasonal events, movies, or themed merchandise drops. While not as rare as limited edition pins, they’re still popular for their unique designs and exclusivity.

Limited Edition:

Example: A "Disney Festival of the Arts" pin would be considered a "Limited Release" as it's only available during that specific festival, while a pin with a production limit of 500 pieces would be considered "Limited Edition".

Starting your collection with open-edition pins is a good idea, as these are widely available and less valuable, making them perfect for trading. As you become more experienced, you can aim for the coveted limited edition or release pins to grow your collection.

Make sure that you don't purchase bulk pins from website like eBay where many pins are known as "scrappers". You will typically see these pins for less than $1/each and are essentially the "rejects". Scrapper Pins are Disney pins that did not meet the quality standards, so they were pocketed/tossed/thrown away instead of sold within the parks as normal. Per Disney's standards, these pins are technically fake/counterfeit pins as they were not a part of the original run of pins and are often made with different metals, off colors, different pin nubs, different back stamps, typos, or enamel fill issues.

Here at My Magical Disney Shopper, we pride ourself on sell 100% Authentic Disney Pins direct from the parks.

Have a Pin-Tastic time and collect your favorite character pins for Disney pin trading. Check out the brand new collection with new pins dropping every Tuesday! Happy trading!