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Disney Pin Trading Tips

Disney pin trading has become a popular activity to do at the Disney parks. Part of what makes trading Disney pins so much fun is that you never know what you might find and where you might find them. We’ve been pin trading for years and have come up with some great Disney pin trading tips to share.

Disney Pin Trading Secrets & Tips

Disney Pin Trading Tips

  1. Start by buying a Disney pin lanyard before you get to the park. Many of these lanyards come with a starter set of pins. These are great because if your goal is to trade them, you don’t have to buy the most expensive set. A cheap set will do!
  2. If you want to buy several pins to trade, consider purchasing authentic Disney trading pins online in bulk. You will pay a fraction of what you would pay at the Disney parks.
  3. When you start looking for places to trade pins at the Disney parks, you will find that there are several hidden pin boards secretly located through out each of the four Disney parks as well as in Disney Springs. Ask at stores and look for them at places like kiosks and checkout counters.
  4. When you are trading Disney pins, you should always look for the rare Disney pins. Some pins are more valuable than others. These pins are typically limited edition, completer or chaser pins.

Types of Disney Trading Pins

Disney Visa Card Holder Tinkerbell Pin

Limited Edition Pins

Some pins are only released for certain events, parties, Disney Visa Card members or only for Disney Annual Pass holders. These pins are considered rare because not everyone can purchase them!

Typically these Disney limited edition pins are dated. If you see a pin with a date, it might be worth taking a second look to see if you want to add it to your own Disney pin collection.

Donald Duck Completer Pin

Completer Pins

Other rare Disney pins are completer pins. These are pins that complete a set. While most of the set might be relatively easy to find, there is always one pin that is considered the “completer.”

Disney did not produce as many of this pin and makes it harder to find in circulation.

You will know you have found a Disney Completer pin if it says ‘Completer Pin’ on the back.

Chaser Pins

If you happen upon a silver pin (without any color), you have found a rare Disney pin. These colorless pins are called ‘Chaser’ pins, are only traded by cast members!

While not as rare as the ‘Completer’ pin, a ‘Chaser’ pin can only be received through trading!

Hidden Pin Locations

Disney Pin Trading Boards & Boxes

Throughout Disney World there are pin trading mystery boxes and Mickey-themed boards.

All you have to do is find a cast member with a pin trading mystery box or Mickey-themed board and present an Official Disney Trading Pin to exchange. You may exchange up to two pins per location

Here is where you will find them.

Magic Kingdom

  • Main Street USA Emporium
  • Adventureland: Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazar
  • Frontierland: Frontierland Trading Post
  • Liberty Square: Ye Old Christmas Shoppe & Momento Mori
  • Fantasyland: Fantasy Faire & Big Top Souvenirs

Epcot

  • World Celebration: Pin Store & Imageworks (Figment Store)
  • World Nature: SeaBase Giftshop (Finding Nemo)
  • World Discovery: Mission Space Cargo Bay & Test Track SIMporium
  • Port of Entry (Mystery Pin Board)
  • Canada: North West Merchantile
  • UK: Tea Caddy
  • France: Souvenirs de France
  • Italy: Kidcot Fun Spot
  • Germany: Die Weihnachts Ecke
  • Norway: The Fjording
  • Mexico: Plaza de los Amigos

Animal Kingdom

  • Oasis: Garden Gate Gifts
  • Discovery Island: Island Merchantile
  • Dinoland: Chester & Hesters Dinosaur Treasures

Hollywood Studios

  • Hollywood Boulevard: Sid Cahuenga’s One of a Kind
  • Echo Lake: Tatooine Traders
  • Sunset Boulevard: Once Upon a Time

While these are the main places to look for pins, you will also find some at the Pin Kiosks throughout Disney World.

Disney Pin Board

Now that you know where to get your pins and where to trade them, you now need to understand the rules for pin trading at Disney.

It is basic etiquette, but if you haven’t pin traded before it is best to know what to expect.

How to trade Disney pins

Disney Pin Trading Etiquette for Beginners

  1. Ask to see the pins without grabbing on touching their lanyard/book.
  2. If you choose not to trade, thank the Cast Member for allowing you to look.
  3. If you choose to trade, let the Cast Member know which Disney trading pins you are interested in.
  4. Trade only one pin at a time with a maximum of 2 pins.
  5. Take your own pin off your lanyard, and place the rubber back on prior to handing it to the cast member.
  6. Hand them your pin and open your hand to receive the trade.
  7. Thank the Cast Member and place your new pin on your lanyard/ book
Disney Trading Pins Board for Showcasing
Corkland Shop on Etsy

How to Display Disney Trading Pins once you are home

When you head back home on vacation, you may be wondering what you can do to preserve your pins or how you can display them.

There are a few different ways to show off your Disney trading pins, but one of my favorites is with a cork board. There are plenty to purchase online and this cork board that looks like a Disney Dole Whip is definitely my favorite!

You can also find Disney pin shadow boxes and Disney pin displays.


Do you trade or collect Disney Trading pins at the park or know of other Disney Pin Trading secrets to share?

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David

Saturday 5th of March 2022

Do you have secret Pin trading locations for Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure?

Sandy Flynn

Monday 11th of May 2020

Are there secret places at Disney Springs for trading pins? If so, where??

Kristi

Thursday 21st of May 2020

Pin Traders.

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