It started innocently enough. A trip to Walt Disney World booked through Disney Travel gave each of us a free pin to keep or trade.It was the infamous 2000 Ribbon Dancer Pin. My husband and I gave our sons our pins so they could keep one and trade the other. The dancers were traded and after many more pin purchases, our family was hooked. 
By our next trip my kids were official Disney pin traders and armed with a dozen or so pins purchased on sale at the Mall of America Disney Store. They loved trading with WDW cast members and had all of the pre-bought pins traded away by the end of the first day. After that we were back to the pin stands and spend a bundle on new pins for their collections.
By our next pin trading…I mean vacation, I had about two dozen pins for them each to trade bought from online sales at Disneyshopping.com and a dozen extras for the boys to trade for me. Again, most pins were traded within the first few days but we had discovered Hidden Mickey pins. So the kids were searching for specific pins on the cast member lanyards. This took more time and made the vacation a hunt. We did have to buy a few souvenir pins but not as many as on previous trips to the world.
Last summer we had another Disney adventure and the boys (and Mom) were well stocked with about 35-40 pins each. Again, they scoured the park to complete Hidden Mickey sets and add to their collections. Even though they had enough to last the trip, they think maybe 50 each is a good number for next time.
Pin trading adds to the fun and anticipation of a family vacation but heed this warning: It is very addicting!
By our next trip my kids were official Disney pin traders and armed with a dozen or so pins purchased on sale at the Mall of America Disney Store. They loved trading with WDW cast members and had all of the pre-bought pins traded away by the end of the first day. After that we were back to the pin stands and spend a bundle on new pins for their collections.
By our next pin trading…I mean vacation, I had about two dozen pins for them each to trade bought from online sales at Disneyshopping.com and a dozen extras for the boys to trade for me. Again, most pins were traded within the first few days but we had discovered Hidden Mickey pins. So the kids were searching for specific pins on the cast member lanyards. This took more time and made the vacation a hunt. We did have to buy a few souvenir pins but not as many as on previous trips to the world.
Last summer we had another Disney adventure and the boys (and Mom) were well stocked with about 35-40 pins each. Again, they scoured the park to complete Hidden Mickey sets and add to their collections. Even though they had enough to last the trip, they think maybe 50 each is a good number for next time.
Pin trading adds to the fun and anticipation of a family vacation but heed this warning: It is very addicting!
Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales
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