Pin Trading Tips

This article comes from my new favorite Disney Blog, Disney Tourist Blog. They have a lot of really great trip reports and tips. They are also amazing photographers. 

(http://www.disneytouristblog.com/)

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     Disney Pin Trading is a popular hobby for Walt Disney World guests looking for unique souvenirs of their favorite Disney rides, Disney characters, and special events. Disney Pin Trading began during the Millennium Celebration in October 1999. Since then, Disney Pins have become easily the most popular merchandise and collectibles in all of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, with the possible exception of Vinylmations, which are now rising in popularity.
While some fervent Disney fans scorn Pin Trading (presumably because they oppose good, clean fun), there is no doubt that Pin Trading has been embraced wholeheartedly by the general public and by legions of Disney collectors.
       Pin Trading is relatively simple in practice: guests interested in the hobby and most Cast Members wear lanyards with pins attached to them. While Disney itself allows Pin Trading between guests, this is actually quite uncommon in practice. About the only time it will actually occur is if you happen upon one of the “professional” Pin Traders outside of the Downtown Disney or Epcot Pin Trading shops. Be warned, as these individuals are selling their pins without calling the transaction as much (since Disney prohibits the exchange of money in Pin Trading). Instead, they circumvent the “no cash” rule by sending eager traders inside the Pin Trading Central store to purchase specific items that they will then accept in trade. From a value perspective, these individuals are almost always ripping off casual traders. If there is a specific pin you really want that no longer is in Disney stores, I highly recommend avoiding these individuals, and instead checking eBay.

       The more common, and much more advisable, Pin Trading route is guests trading with Cast Members. Cast Members who trade can be identified by their pin-filled lanyards. If a Cast Member has a green lanyard, they will only trade with kids. All other lanyards are fair game for all guests.

TIP: As Cast Members are trading pins provided to them by Disney, they will accept whatever trades offered to them, so long as the trade is an Official Pin Trading Pin (denoted by a © Disney on the back of the pin). So don’t fret too much about a “fair” offer if you see a pin that you recognize as exceedingly rare, as Cast Members will trade any other official pin for it.
        One of the fun aspects of Pin Trading is that there are so many pins (if you’re a completionist, this can be a drawback). This means that you can go for certain categories of pins (my favorite are pins with the Epcot character “Figment” on them–although I probably don’t need to tell you that I’m a HUGE Figment fan!), and there will be plenty of different pins within that category for you to collect. Some fun options include:

• Hidden Mickeys (These are semi-common pins with small mickey heads hidden on them that are available in a series that are unique because they’re not available for sale in stores, and can only be found on Cast Member lanyards)
• Characters (Choose your favorite character and trade for as many pins containing that character as you can)
• Series (These are groups of ~4-8 pins that have a similar theme but are substantively different)
• Retro Disney (Pins featuring Disney attractions, characters, and films from years past)

TIP: Look for Cast Members with Lanyards early in the morning as they have “fresh” pins. These pins get picked over during the course of the day, but are replenished at shift changes.

One downside to Pin Trading is that it can be very expensive, as individual pin prices range from $8.99 to an upwards of $34.99! However, it doesn’t need to be nearly this expensive.
TIP: If you do your homework, and buy your pins on eBay before leaving home, you can buy groupings of assorted pins for $1-2 per pin. Prices like those make the hobby much less costly! The only caveat here is that some pin sellers on eBay sell bootleg pins, so you have to do your homework. Pins having copyright or pin trading stamps on the back doesn’t necessarily mean they’re legitimate. Make sure to check the seller’s feedback (long-standing members with near-100% feedback are generally safe), and ask the seller questions if you are uncertain. If they give an answer that deflects your original question, err on the side of caution, and avoid them. While this may seem like a lot of work, the savings are substantial (at least ~$350 for 50 pins), so it’s definitely worth checking out eBay.

Our Opinion of Pin Trading:
       Sarah and I were once avid pin traders. Pin trading caused us to interact with more Cast Members than we ever did prior to trading, we’ve had more fun hunting “rare” pins than Hidden Mickeys on attractions, and it even got us selected as the “family” of the day in the Jammin’ Jungle Parade in August 2008! Moreover, I have found that pin designs are by far the most unique merchandise in all of WDW (extinct attractions, attraction anniversaries, rare characters, you name it!) If you do it right, it’s an incredibly cheap hobby, and it provides you with cheap souvenirs, especially in comparison to those costly and large Big Figs I had been collecting. That said, while we enjoyed it, we haven’t been active with Pin Trading in a while because we already carry a lot of photography gear when in the parks, and lanyards with pins would just be too much.
        The size of the pins is a big deal for us. We love to collect things, but if we continued to accumulate large items at our pre-Pin Trading pace, we would have needed to invest in a large warehouse to store everything. Sarah can attest to this, I have boxes upon boxes (we have storage rooms reminiscent of Citizen Kane or Raiders of the Lost Ark) bursting with Disney items that are just waiting to be unleashed, upon our future home. In this regard, especially, pin trading has been a good hobby, as our entire collection can be condensed into just a shoe box!
        That said, we haven’t become nearly as addicted to Pin Trading as many others have; it can become just as expensive and space-consuming as collecting other Disney pieces, as Disney churns out tons of pins on a monthly basis all with varying price points, designs and edition sizes to satiate all of those interested in Pin Trading. The hobby has become so popular that Disney holds special conventions dedicated to Pin Trading each year, and that several websites devoted to following the collectibles have sprouted up. While you certainly don’t have to become that enamored with the hobby, sometimes it’s difficult to resist: I’ve heard of many unassuming Disney fans getting hooked and spending substantial amounts of money on the hobby.
         However, if you commit to only buying a limited number of pins via eBay prior to the trip, and stick to that plan, you can have fun without getting hooked. With this plan, you might even find yourself spending less on souvenirs!
What do you think of Disney Pin Trading? Are you a fan of it or not?

Disney Buttons

I found this article on Chip & Co (chipandco.com). I love getting the buttons. They make you feel a little extra special. 

One of the most popular pieces of advice given by savvy Disney travelers is to get your “Disney Button” .  You may ask what could possibly make you want to look like you work for a restaurant chain while visiting Disney?  Well, Disney is its own little “World” and wearing Disney Buttons and Mickey Ears on your head are all OK.  So here is the dish on Disney World Buttons.

What are they?

Well, they are a 3 inch round button provided by Disney at no charge to you.  They promote different occasions you might have come to Disney to celebrate.   Currently there are buttons available for the following:

• First Visit (Can be personalized)
• Happy Birthday or Feliz Cumpleanos (Can be personalized)
• Happy Anniversary
• Just Married
• Just Engaged
• Family Reunion
• Generic “I’m Celebrating”

More info after the jump…

Where do I get one?

• If you’ve notated your special occasion on your resort reservation its likely they will have ready for you when you check in.  If not, ask at the concierge desk and they will make up a button for you.
• Guest Services at Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios or Epcot.
• City Hall at the Magic Kingdom

What do I get with my button?

A little extra pixie dust is all I tell everyone to expect.  Everything after that is a bonus!  Cast Members will go out of their way to wish you a “Happy Birthday” or other occasion when they notice your button.  Here are some other perks we’ve gotten over the years:

• The button itself makes a cool souvenir, make sure they redo the writing as you finish your trip.  It can get a little rough-looking after a few days.
• A special dessert (cupcake, ice cream, etc.) at a table service meal.
• Signed birthday cards from the characters at a character meal.
• Stickers handed out randomly by cast members.
• Fast passes to a particular ride
• Balloon Bouquets from the resort
• Extra attention during a live show

What are the rules?

There are no hard and fast rules for getting a button.  While Disney gives them out freely I think it ruins the magic if you take a button just to get free stuff.  That being said, I don’t think it has to be your actual birthday or anniversary to get a button.  If you are in Disney celebrating the occasion then make sure everyone knows it!  My son’s birthdays are 6 weeks apart and when we celebrate at Disney we go in between both their days.  They both get a celebration button of course!

Anyone have a button I didn’t mention above?  They’ve changed over the years and some come and go.  Want to share your button stories?  We would love to hear from you!

Mickey Mom is a mom to two boys, loves going to Disney for their birthdays and has never worn a button at Disney World.

Disney By the Numbers

I found this on Pinterest a while back and thought that it was something really cool to share.

(click to enlarge)

Disney's PhotoPass Review

    This is strictly my opinion about the Photo Pass options. I will not be going into every single detail about the packages and all that. If you want all of the logistics, here is the website.

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/

    Disney's Photopass is a photo system that you use throughout the parks. You are given a card from the Photopass photographer.

  The photographer scans this card after every picture that they take. This is only used with characters and the iconic photos in front of the castle.... You do not have to use the card, the photographers will still use your personal camera.

  There are also things called magic photos, which incorporates a character into the photos.

  This is my photo with Tinkerbell. The photographer poses you and you see the final outcome on the computer. 

   Once you get home, you register on the Photopass website to see your photos. They also add extra ones in there of the characters by themselves. A big issue with the website is that your photos only stay on the website for a limited amount of time. Once that time is up, your photos are gone. 

     Now, my big issue and the reason why I will never by my professional photos are the prices. For a photo cd of all of your pictures, it costs $169.95!!!  Not going to happen, when the photographers will use my own camera to take the pictures. 

     The picture above, I print screened on my computer. Doing this, means that my photos will come out a little blurry and smaller than if I bought the real picture. I am aware that it is essentially cheating, but I am not paying an insane amount of money to buy my photos. I meet all of the princesses and the photos taken with my camera came out the exact same ways as they did on PhotoPass. 

     The pictures are beautiful and the extra characters are awesome, but not worth so much money. I will stick to printing my own pictures at home. 

Below are comparisons between my photos and a PhotoPass photo.

Above: This is the photo taken with my camera

Above: This is the PhotoPass picture. Remember, I took this from print screen so it is blurrier than it would be. But still, the same picture.

Some Things I've Learned

I am in the middle of planning my first ever trip to Disneyland CA, and my first time in California. I will be going in August with one of my best friends for the D23 Expo. (Expect a bunch of fun updates). We are doing 2 days at the Expo and 3 park days. I wanted to get the most out of the parks since I do not know when I will get there again.

Here are some of the biggest differences I have seen so far:
(all photos found on Google)


1. You can only ride the Monorail if you have park tickets! This is because the Monorail has a stop in Tomorrowland.

2. You have to get a Fastpass to get a seat for The World of Color. That is just crazy, so we will be getting that first thing! Not to mention, it is standing only. 

www.disneytouristblog.com

3. In my guidebook, they label the food as, Table Service, Fast Food and Snacks. Walt Disney World labels are Table Service, Quick Service and Snacks. The fast food part is confusing because it could be a sit down place or a quick service place.

4. Everything is so compact that you can see everything right next to each other. If you stand in the middle of the map (below, on compass) you see, Disneyland on your left, Californian Adventure on your right and Downtown Disney behind you. It's crazy to me that you really don't have to travel much to get everywhere like Disney World. 

5. The last point is that I am learning just how different the two parks are. There are a lot of the rides that are the same but even more that a very different. I can not wait to go on everything!

5 Common Mistakes That Tourists Make

I took this article from Chip & Company. This is a new blog that I have found within the past few months. They have amazing Disney tips and news articles. They also have giveaways all the time for pretty awesome prizes.

This article is called 5 Common Disney Park Touring Mistakes. Enjoy the tips!
http://www.chipandco.com/2012/07/5-common-disney-park-touring-mistakes/#more-76562

There are a lot of “mistakes” tourists make at Walt Disney World.  Many of us come home from a Disney vacation and think “Next time I’m going to do this differently…”   

Here are 5 common mistakes that tourists make.  Perhaps we can learn from others mistakes and avoid a possible mishap on our next Disney vacation.

1. Not having a Plan.  This is likely the biggest mistake that many people make.  They get to the park, grab a park map, and then huddle around it figuring out what they want to do.  Talk about wasting time!!  Filling out this Disney Planning Itinerary Chart before your trip begins actually ‘forces’ you to look at the park maps and get familiar with the layout of each park.  This ends up being a very good thing, as you’ll know right where to go and you won’t be looking at a map feeling lost.  It will also solve the problem of “Where should we eat?!”  Plan as much as you can ahead of time, but don’t try to plan every single minute of your day.  Give some wiggle room.  You don’t really have to fill out a chart, you can design your itinerary however you like.  But having some sort of plan will save you a lot of time in the parks!

2. Wearing the same pair of Shoes.  If you’ve got 2 pairs of decent shoes to walk in, bring them BOTH.  Alternate wearing those pairs of shoes every other day.  This will help with sore feet, blisters and other discomforts from all the walking that you will be doing.  Also, avoid bringing a brand new pair of shoes that aren’t broken in.

3.  Not using the Photopass Photographers.  Even if you didn’t purchase a Photopass plan, you can still use the Photopass Photographers!  They’ll give you a card, free of charge, and load up all the pictures that they take for you.  It’s fun to look at the pictures on your computer at home after your trip.  You can also hand YOUR camera over to the Photographer and they’ll be happy to snap a picture of you with your family.

4.  Not taking a break.  When someone in your party becomes tired, grumpy or too hot – take a break!  Find a quiet spot (preferably indoors and out of the hot sun), sit, relax and eat a snack – or even a full meal.  This usually helps everyone “recoup” and re-energize so they are able to move on.  If you’ve got little ones with you, an afternoon break back at the resort (including naps) is great!

5. Wearing too much Sunscreen.  What?!  I’m not saying don’t wear it, I’m saying apply it once in the morning while still in your hotel room, then leave it at the hotel.  It’s one less thing to carry!  It’s true that avoiding the harsher elements of direct sunlight is wise and necessary, but avoiding the sun all together, and therefore, not getting enough direct sunlight on our skin, is even more problematic.  Our bodies produce Vitamin D with sun exposure (UV-B rays to be exact).  This sunshine vitamin can help protect us against a host of diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.  Those with low levels of Vitamin D are at an increased risk for heart attack.  It’s important to get an adequate amount of sunlight for its vitamin D-boosting benefits.  The list of benefits continues to increase as more research is conducted on Vitamin D and the amounts we need.  So, it just might be okay to let your sunscreen “wear off” in the late afternoon or evening and soak up a few rays.

For more check out his article How not to get burned at Disney World for more info.

This “list of mistakes” isn’t comprehensive – there are certainly many many more mistakes one could make.  And these “mistakes” certainly aren’t no-no’s for all; if you’ve got a pair of shoes that work for you day after day – wear them!  If you’re extra sensitive to the sun and you know you need all the sunscreen you can get – slather away!  It’s just helpful to know what could be a possible mistake and how to avoid that problem if possible.  Are there any mistakes you’ve made at the parks?

In addition to writing for Chip & Co., Terri also writes for her own blog Walt Disney World Hints.  You may follow the WDW Hints page on Facebook for even more Disney tips!

What I Bring Into the Parks

We leave for Disney on the 15th so I am in the process of packing all of my stuff. I figured that I would show everyone what I pack to tack into the parks.

This is my backpack type thing that I wear inside all of the parks. 

This is my vinylamtion cross-body bag. I wear this one to Downtown Disney and the road trip down to our hotel. 

Inside the backpack, it is actually pretty roomy. I can't even feel the Hidden Mickey book. The blue thing is my water bottle. It is plastic and kind of fills up like a balloon. You can freeze it too, so that's why I love it. Plus, it is so light that I can just hook it to the back of the bag and it doesn't give me a problem.

I always have band aids because no matter what kind of shoes I wear, I get blisters. I keep wet wipes in my bag because it is June and I sweat. It is nice to feel fresh when you are surrounded by smelly people. My biggest OCD type tendency is my use of deodorant. I can not stand it if I smell, so it is always in my bag. 

The black strap is for my glasses. This way I can see everything and do not have to worry about my glasses flying off. It is nice to be able to see and experience the more intense rides. I also keep a bunch of hair ties in bag in case one breaks.

Not pictured are various items like pens and snacks. I also keep my phone and wallet and all that in my bag. If I have any pins or vinylmations to trade, they go in the bag too. I tend to over pack, but the backpack is so nice that it does not feel heavy. It also has a side pocket for some of the smaller stuff. 

Of course packing is different for everyone. I usually pack the same things every time I go to Disney. It seems to really work for me. I love that Disney lets you bring snacks in too. It really helps if you don't want to spend $10 for a quick lunch.

I can't wait to leave for Disney! The packing continues!!

The Famous Dole Whip

 On every single blog or forum about Disney, I have heard rave reviews about the Dole Whip. I finally tried one this year and this is my opinion of it.


You can purchase the Dole Whip at Aloha Isle Refreshments. It is located in Adventureland. If you keep walking past Aladdin's Magic Carpets you will see it on the left. If you walk by Pirates, you are going in the wrong direction. A Dole Whip is basically a float with pineapple ice cream and pineapple juice.

Photo Credit

You can order a Dole Whip two ways, either have the just the ice cream in a cup or eat it as a pineapple juice float.

Photo Credit

I had the float, it was pretty good. In all honesty, its just pineapple ice cream and juice. It tastes really good, but I didn't get why people were so excited about it on the blogs. It is a definite must try food item though. I really did love it and will be ordering one when I go back to Disney.  

10 Tips for Staying Cool at Disney World This Summer

I took this article from Chip & Co. because it is really informative. Since the next time I will be going to Disney is in June, I thought that this article was perfect for me to read.

1. Do not stay at the parks from open to close. Really. It is just too much. Nothing makes me sadder than seeing little ones with beet red faces and sweat pouring off of them, sitting in their strollerscrying, as their family waits in yet another line in the Magic Kingdom. Don’t do it. Plan for a break back at your room every day. Whether it’s to go to the pool or take a nap (and we’ve done both) everyone will really be much happier if you do this, when you return to the parks in the evening.
2. Consider which are the outside attractions and which are indoors and air-conditioned, and plan accordingly. As in, do the outside ones first thing when it is coolest…or later in the evening after sunset. Plan to be in as much air conditioning as possible after 11 a.m. Keep in mind that those air-conditioned places are good for naps too….
3. Think about the rides/attractions that are wet and will cool you off, and plan for those as well. By that I mean that when it is hottest and you really want to go on Splash Mountain to cool off…so will everyone else. Plan your Fastpasses accordingly.
4. Have access to lots of water to drink. Bring water bottles with you and refill if needed. We have often frozen them overnight, and then put them in the backpack frozen the next morning. It’s also a great way to cool off the back of the person carrying the backpack.
5. Mister fans are great. Save some money by getting some at home to bring with you. And remember to bring extra batteries.
6. Really think about touring the parks with the weather in mind. For example, World Showcase is just not the place to be in the heat of the day. As much as I love that area, it is just miserable walking in the sun around the lagoon, because there is not much shade. World Showcase is an evening place for us in the summer. Animal Kingdom is another park where I would very carefully think about how long I wanted to be there during the heat of the day. Seriously, even the animals know to take it easy in the afternoon there….so you will truly see more of them if you go early or go late.
7. Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. Really. You will get a lot more done when crowds are lower first thing (because most people do not want to do this), and will be in perfect shape to have lunch and then leave for your break (see #1) just as everyone is arriving for the day.
8. Prepare to use lots of sunscreen. Bring it from home because it is much cheaper than buying it at the parks.
9. Know where the First Aid Stations are in each park in case someone gets overheated and needsassistance, and keep an eye out for where you can go inside to cool off quickly if needed: gift shops, food court, Hall of Presidents etc.
10. Remember that Florida has pools everywhere for a reason.

I totally agree with not staying from opening til closing. It really is just too much, even for bigger kids/adults. For one, your feet hurt. No matter what kind of shoes you are wearing, your feet will hurt after walking all day. Even to this day, we still take a mid-afternoon break back at the hotel. We take naps, eat lunch or swim. It is a good refresher so that you can go back to  park and start all over again. 

Here are some really cool products from the Disney Store, that will help keep you cool. Always remember to stay hydrated and listen to your body!

How to Pin Trade

I first started pin trading this year. I had always bought the pins but never traded them.
This is the article where I got all of my information on pin trading:

Official Disney Pin Trading


Here are the main rules that I found on the site:

Guidelines For Guests

"Disney Pin Trading is magical fun for the whole family!  The most important guideline
to remember is to have fun collecting or trading the Disney pins you like.
• The main criteria to judge whether a pin is tradable or not is that it must be a metal
pin bearing a “©Disney” mark on the back that represents a Disney Event, Place or
Location, Character or Icon.
• Pins should be in good, undamaged, tradable condition.
• For a safe trading experience, please trade one pin at a time, hand to hand with pin
backs attached.
• Guests may trade a maximum of two (2) pins per Cast Member, per day.
• Please refrain from touching a Cast Member’s or Guest’s pins or lanyard.  If you need
a closer look, kindly ask the Cast Member or Guest wearing the lanyard if she or he can
bring it into clearer view for you.
• Monies, gifts or receipts may not be exchanged or used in trade for a pin.
• When trading with a Cast Member, Guests should offer a pin that is not currently
displayed on the Cast Member’s lanyard.
• Pins from other business units of The Walt Disney Company (i.e. ABC, ESPN) are
accepted for trade.
• Operating participant pins that show a Disney, Disneyland® Resort, or Walt Disney
World® Resort affiliation are accepted for trading.
• Plastic pins, rubber pins or other non-metal pins are not accepted for trading.
• “Personalized Name” pins are not accepted for trade.
• “Broche style” or “clasp pins” are not accepted for trade.
• Disney Service Award pins, Spirit of Disneyland® Resort pins, Partners in Excellence
pins or Cast Member costume pins (i.e. Host/Hostess Badges, Disney Trainer) are not
tradable"

At first, I was a little nervous about pin trading. I will only trade with cast members because I only trade my Hidden Mickey pins, that most guest collectors probably aren't looking for. The Hidden Mickey pins are the ones that come in a mystery box. You get 2 pins for $12. Then you can trade for the more expensive ones. I always kind of felt bad for taking expensive pins and giving cast members the Hidden Mickey pins, but I got over it when I realized that this was part of their job and that they probably got discounts on their pins anyways.  Here are all of my pins (before my trip in June at least).

This is my lanyard to trade. It is so much easier to have a specific lanyard (or something) to keep track of all of the pins that you have traded for or want to trade with. 

This is my lanyard of newer pins. I have some on here that I traded for and ones that I bought on my last family vacation.

These two are just a random sampling of pins from all different trips. 

This is my oldest lanyard. It has some of my first pins and a couple pins that were my Grandma's but not Disney official for trading. 

I have gotten some pins from E-Bay, but you have to be really careful about scrappers. Those are fake pins that you can not trade at the park. This website has some guidelines about scrapper pins:

Known Scrapper/Counterfeit Pins

I hope that you have enjoyed my guide to pin trading. It really is a lot of fun, and I treat it as kind of a free souvenir. I hope you find some good ones on your next trip!!

Have You Ever Noticed....

The windows of the Emporium in Magic Kingdom?? 

The Emporium is the largest gift shop in Magic Kingdom. It is located right at the start of Main Street USA, on the left side when you walk in. It is made up of different rooms for each category of items (girl's clothes, housewares....) 

On my trip in April, I came across these windows. I remember them being decorated for Christmas, but I did not know that they were decorated during the off-season. The cool thing about these are that they move. They dance or fly and some other things too. 

These were taken at night, so that explains the off quality of them. I hope you enjoy them and check them out the next time that you are in Disney!!