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.

Christmas Comes Early

I am so excited about the new line of Christmas ornaments that have arrived. There are a bunch of new ear hat themed ornaments on the Disney Store website. www.disneystore.com

The new ones are $19.95 and they are all double sided. The price is a little steep, so I am not certain that I will be buying any.

Here are some of my favorites! Belle, Tangled, Wall-E and Mater.

Something New at the Disney Store

I was browsing the Disney Store website the other day and I came across some pretty surprising things.

I found the most expensive items that I have ever seen on this website, a whole line of gold jewelry!

Here are some of the pieces that are available and their prices.

14 Karat Gold Swirl Earrings $938

Diamond Petite Icon Mickey Mouse Ring -- 14 Karat Rose Gold $1,050

Diamond Icon Mickey Mouse Ring for Women -- 14 Karat Rose Gold $3,625

Diamond Icon Mickey Mouse Necklace $5,063

I think that these pieces are stunning and beautiful. However, I would never pay this much for any of them! I don't know gold, so these may be pretty fair prices. These will go on the list of things I  would buy if I was rich ;-). 

I wish I could have a list of how many people actually bought this kind of jewelry. They are very beautiful and nothing like what Disney has offered before. 

Why It's OK For Adults to Wear Mickey Ears

This is me, wearing my new Mickey Ears. I haven't owned another pair of Mickey Ears since my parents got me a pair for my first trip when I was 6 months old. I used to think that they were kind of dorky and that I would look weird. 

I bought these because I love everything England, these were the perfect ears for me. I was so excited to put them on and I did not take them off the whole day.

Reasons for Adults to Wear Mickey Ears~

1. So you can act like a kid again.

2. To show that you are a big Disney fan.

3. To express yourself with the ears that you chose.

4. To look more festive at the parks.

5. To show people that you do not care if you look like a dork.

I loved wearing my Mickey Ears mostly because no one cares! Disney is the one place where you can dress like a "dork" and act like a kid and you can turn around and see 50 other adults doing the same thing. Disney is a place where you can act like there are no cares in the world. You can be free of all the stress of life. You are free to wear your Mickey Ears proudly and not be afraid of looking silly. 

Here are some of my favorite ears from the Disney Store website, but there are many more to choose from.

Pirates of the Caribbean Ears $16.95

Birthday Ears $16.95

Baseball Ears $16.95

Tower of Terror Ears $16.95

My Favorite, Little Known Disney Movies

These 3 movies are some of my favorite Disney movies. They were never the most popular ones. They don't have any attractions tied to them of any merchandise either. I love them and hopefully after this post you will go out and watch them!




The first movie is The Sword in the Stone. It is the tale of the soon to be King Arthur. Arthur meets Merlin and his life is forever changed. He learns all about magic and the world around him. Eventually he pulls the sword out of the stone and becomes king.

I love this movie because of the historical values to it. I have always been intrigued by medieval history and the story of King Arthur is one of my favorites. The characters in this movie and pretty wonderful too. My favorite is Merlin. He is just so quirky and funny, but he really cares about education. 

My next movie is Treasure Planet. It is the classic story of Treasure Island but with a futuristic twist to it. It takes a troubled kid and send him off on an adventure that will turn his life around. He will meet pretty amazing characters along the way and learn a lot about himself in the process. 

I love this movie because while it is the same story that Disney has used before (Muppet Treasure Island), it is way different! The space theme and the quality of characters is what makes the movie. There is a lot of comedy but a lot of learning as well. The main character changes so much that you begin to root for him towards the end. 

The last movie that I love would be The Black Cauldron. It is very unlike most Disney movies. It is kind of creepy because of the Evil Horned King and dragons and witches and skeletons. The goal is to hide the cauldron from the king so that he can't release his army. A young boy must rescue his pig (who can see where the cauldron is). Along the way he meets new friends who agree to help him defeat the king and get his pig back. 

I love this movie because it is so different from everything else that Disney has done. I like the dark and creepy factors of this movie. There are a lot of happy parts too. The main character starts out with only 1 friend and by the end of the movie he finds 2 more and a love interest. 

I think the fact that these aren't the most popular Disney movies adds to their charm. Just because they didn't get great feedback when they first came out doesn't mean that they aren't great movies. Even Disney can have some flops, but if these are the kinds of stories that grab you, then I hope I gave you a new favorite movie to watch!

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!!

New!: It's a Small World Purses

This article was taken from Chip and Co (I tweaked some stuff). I just thought that it was really cool and decided to share it!

"LeSportsac and Disney Consumer Products announced today the launch of the Disney It’s a Small World by LeSportsac collection featuring handbags, totes and accessories that combine the bright aesthetic of LeSportsac with inspiration from the mid-century artwork of Disney artist Mary Blair who created the whimsical look of the beloved Disney theme park attraction “it’s a small world.”

Disney It’s a Small World by LeSportsac collection includes five seasonal deliveries, each inspired by a specific country. In addition to celebrating a country, each delivery will be anchored with a Signature Tote and a colorful print that pays tribute to the unique facades and architectural works of Disney’s “it’s a small world” Theme park attraction. The collection kicks off with a celebration of Tahiti that includes two graphic totes and a range of 12 styles in two vibrant prints.

“Our collaboration with LeSportsac pays homage to the magical experience of “it’s a small world” while continuing the legacy of the message behind one of Disney’s most beloved theme park attractions,” said Robert Oberschelp, director, Disney Collections, DCP. “Walt Disney’s vision is as powerful and true today as it was when he first shared it with the world.”

The Disney It’s a Small World by LeSportsac Collection is available online at LeSportsac.com and at all LeSportsac flagship boutiques worldwide. LeSportsac is also available at better department stores and select specialty stores."

As of 6/1/2012 these bags are now for sale at http://www.lesportsac.com/smallworld/

Making Your Car Stand Out

How many times have you seen a plain, black Mickey antenna topper on someones car? Haven't you ever wondered about the many different styles that Disney has to offer? Not to mention the other wide range of products for your car.

The most common thing that people have are the antenna toppers.
This is the one that I bought a couple of trips ago.

I got this one not so that I would just have something Disney on my car, but because it means something to me. 

Every time we go to Disney, we always get the "biting Mickey's ear off" picture. It has become tradition over the years. So when I saw this, I had to have it!

On my last trip I bought myself this sticker:

I talked myself out of it on my last trip, because it is $7.95. I told myself that this trip, if it was still there, then it was a sign and I had to buy it ;-)

I love it! These are the only two decorations on my car and I am so happy that I got them. 

Here are a few of my favorite toppers and car accessories that are available at

www.disneystore.com

I love that this one is a window cling so that it doesn't look like you are going to Disney World all the time.

I hope this inspires you to dress your car up a little bit. Of course, there is a bigger selection at the parks but the on-line store has some really cute things!