Pin trading at Disney has become a culture of its own, where guests swap, collect, and hunt for rare designs across the parks, with many bringing binders full of pins to trade. Anyone can participate in pin trading, including cast members who wear lanyards guests can ask to trade from.
However, the popularity of pin trading has exploded, with groups gathering in certain areas of the theme park with binders full of pins for trade. Disney just made a major rule change that limits how the community operates within the park, which is sure to cause controversy within the pin trading community. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including airline flights expanding at Disney World and new changes revealed for the weakest Star Wars ride.
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Disneyland Makes Change to Theme Park Pin Trading
Guests who frequently participate in pin trading at Disneyland tend to hang out in groups by the benches and tables at the entrance of Frontierland. It’s not uncommon to see binders displayed on these tables and benches full of pins, ready for other guests to offer up trades. This area is the hot spot for trading because of its proximity to Westward Ho Trading Co., which is the popular theme park store for new pin trading releases.
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Over the years, Disney has worked with these groups to help manage the popularity of the hobby. Most recently, we’ve seen tables added to this area in Frontierland with signs that read “Designated Pin Trading Location” to help free up benches and move traders to designated tables instead. These have become packed with peopl.
However, Disney just updated its pin trading guidelines, with the official policy now stating: “Pins are not allowed to be displayed on benches, chairs, or tables.” The rules also clarify limits on what guests may bring into the parks for trading, noting that “lanyards and small handheld pin-trading accessories are permitted, subject to Disneyland Resort rules; however, additional decorations or attachments (such as lights, signage, or display setups) are not allowed.”
These rules appear to essentially end the practice of pin trading in this area of Frontierland, especially with guests using binders. Binders full of pins certainly don’t fit the category of either lanyards or small handheld-pin trading accessories. It’s hard to say if security will prohibit guests from bringing binders in, but the practice of laying binders out on tables or benches will now be prohibited.
We followed up with Disney directly for clarification on this rule change, and Disneyland officials shared with Mickey Visit that starting on May 19 and continuing until May 21, the pin trading location near Westward Ho Trading Company will be unavailable as it transforms into a kids-only space. When the area becomes available again on May 22, the space will be a part of the Kids Rule Summer promotion as cast members organize pin trading with kids. This means that May 18 will be the last day for the current pin trading set up.
The Kids Rule Summer promotion at Disneyland is a seasonal offering this year that is combining discounted children’s tickets with family-centered experiences, like the new Bluey show that’s already been popular with guests. Guests will still be welcome to participate in pin trading using a lanyard or other “small handheld pin trading” accessory in other areas of the resort.
It’s unclear if this area will be permitted to return to a pin trading gathering for all ages after the Kids Rule Summer promotion ends. Pin trading with open binders in this area of Fronterland may be gone for good, as this could just be a quiet way to phase out the practice. When the large groups congregate in this area, it contributes to the congestion in this already well-traveled walkway.
Will Disney World Limit Pin Trading Next?
Guests who actively participate or gather for pin trading can most often be found in the World Celebration and Connections area of EPCOT at Disney World. This is the most common spot because it’s close to the main entrance and has open pathways with benches. You can often see guests sprawled out here with open binders on the benches and the ground.
Currently, there haven’t been any changes to pin trading rules at Disney World, and the language on the website remains the same without any limitations on where to gather or what pin trading accessories can be used.
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It wouldn’t be surprising to see a similar change implemented at Disney World since the goal behind Disneyland’s updated pin trading guidance may be to reduce congestion in high-traffic walkways. This could be causing a similar issue at Disney World, especially in this area of EPCOT, which may be contributing to crowding in heavily used areas.
To view the updated pin trading language from Disneyland’s FAQ section, see the Pin Trading Guidelines below.
- Pin Trading Locations
Trade pins anywhere in the Disneyland Resort, using a lanyard and small handheld pin-trading accessories. - Limit the Items You Bring
Lanyards and small handheld pin-trading accessories are allowed, subject to the Disneyland Resort rules, but no additional decorations or collateral (e.g., lights, signage, displays, etc.) are permitted. - No Use of Benches, Chairs or Tables
Pins are not allowed to be displayed on benches, chairs or tables. Benches and chairs are for seating purposes only.
On Disney World’s Pin Trading Guidelines page, there is no similar language, only guidelines focusing on the practice itself, not locations or limitations on pin trading accessories.
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