Pin Trading - 2 minute intro

If you don't know what Pin Trading is... here's a quick intro: It's a way to keep your kids (or yourself) busy while not riding an attraction, while also spending more than you want on little cloissonne pins. Actually, if your tired of waiting on lines and would like to talk to Disney cast members, pin trading is great. Basically, you can trade pins with any cast member carrying pins (unless their pins are on a green lanyard, who are restricted to trading only with children.) The cast member will trade any pin with you, one for one, so long it's an official Disney pin, and s/he doesn't already have that pin already.

If you start pin trading in the parks it can get quite expensive, even if you start with the starter kits in the shops, because any talented kid can make a dozen trades in a couple of hours.

I'll give tips another day on how to save money on pin trading, and how to get better trades, but I'll start with this tip:

Don't pin trade on your first trip! Pin trading, along with character greetings, are designed to keep you busy and off of the attraction lines. While it can be great fun, make sure you get your attraction rides in. If one or two members of your party are pin trading, the clock ticks and the lines get longer. There's so much to do at Walt Disney World, don't get sidetracked and miss that ride on the Tower of Terror or Space Mountain. Save pin trading for a second or third trip to WDW. Don't worry, it makes money for Disney, so it will be around for your next trip.