I am a HUGE lover of everything Disney. I’ve been countless times and I am always planning my next Disney vacation. Because I love Disney so much {and everything travel related}, I became a licensed travel agent. Now, not only do I get to plan my own family vacations and trips, but I get to help others plan theirs as well. I find that most of the time, my clients become friends and we feel almost like family.
To be honest, I used travel agents before becoming one myself. What I’ve now learned from being in the business is that all of us are not alike. Some of us provide the basics, such as booking your vacation and nothing more, while others, like myself like to help you plan your vacation full of memory making experiences, like Pin Trading.
While some experiences may have additional costs, I choose to include some things that I personally pay for to ensure that my guests can have the experience without additional costs to them. One of those activities is pin trading. Honestly, I had never even pin traded until last month when my friend Amy and I took a girls trip with just the two of us at Disney. She had purchased some pins, and within moments of watching her trade, I was hooked. And that, is how I began adding pins to my guests documents and goody bag now for each Disney client I book.
I came home and immediately started including them in my guests packages, because it’s fun and it is something memory making that I can help introduce my clients to ~ just as my friend Amy did for me.
What is Disney Pin Trading? {from Disney.go.com}
Disney Pin Trading is an exciting, interactive experience where our Guests can trade Disney pins with our Disney Cast Members and other Guests. It’s fun for the whole family and CREATES cherished “pin pals” to last a lifetime! Start a new collection or exchange pins for the ones you’ve always wanted.
How can I experience the magic? {from Disney.go.com}
It’s simple and fun! Just visit Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort or Disneyland Paris, locate a Cast Member wearing a lanyard with Disney pins and find a pin you’d like. Then present another Disney pin to the Cast Member in trade. Bringing home the magic is that simple.
“The Trading Tradition” {from Disney.go.com}
Disney has always offered collectible Disney pins in each of its parks, but with the kickoff of the Millennium Celebration in October 1999 at Walt Disney World, we began a new tradition of Disney Pin Trading. Now thousands of Guests trade each day with our Cast Members as well as other Guests throughout the parks and resorts. Like sharing Disney stories with your children and grandchildren, sharing pins is a delightful tradition for each generation. Mark the beginning of the century with pins you love and memories you’ll treasure.
Which ones should I collect or trade? {from Disney.go.com}
The fun of Disney Pin Trading is in the amazing variety. Find YOUR FAVORITE pins to personalize your Disney experience. Guests of all ages can hunt for favorite characters, attractions and features. Whether it’s the Little Mermaid or Mickey Mouse you seek, pin hunting is guaranteed to add thrills to your Disney adventure. Go find the pins you want and make some new friends! It is all up to you! Have fun! Disney Pin Trading is a great way to share the magic and bring home wonderful Disney memories.
There is an etiquette to Disney Pin Trading as well, but it’s not overly stuffy or problematic so even young children can participate in the fun. I’ve attached a great synopsis I found online How To Pin Trade Etiquette. Feel free to print it and to take it along or to share it with family and friends.
I include a few pins for each family to get started trading while on their vacation and they make the magic and memories from there. It’s fun to see all the different pins and to see which ones each person in the family likes. It’s especially fun to each get a lanyard while at Disney and then each collect a pin from each visit to make a memory of that trip. We’ve had a lanyard since our visit in 2010 which was my husband and sons first visit and every trip we get two pins to commemorate a memory making moment from that trip. It is especially fun now, to look back and remember why we chose those particular pins and to laugh at the memories.
Do you plan memory making activities like pin trading during your vacations? I’d love to hear your tips, tricks, and hints!
