If you know, me, you know I’m always up for a challenge. So when my dear friend and fellow Disney Parks Blog author Erin Glover challenged me to a Disney Parks Blog Pin Trading Challenge at Disneyland Resort, I said, “I’m in!”
What would the challenge entail? Erin and I headed into Disneyland Resort with rarely seen Disney Parks Blog pins in hopes that we could make some great trades with Disney fans and take part in some of the fun activities and trading opportunities available. You truly have to see this for yourself!
As you can tell, we had a lot of fun trading, and we only visited a handful of locations. There are so many more places you can go. Remember you can also trade with any cast member and other guests.
Disneyland park
- Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree
- Disney Showcase
- Emporium
- Little Green Men Store Command
- Westward Ho
- 20th Century Music Co.
Disney California Adventure park
- Fly ‘n’ Buy
- Julius Katz & Sons
- Radiator Springs Curios
- Seaside Souvenirs
- Tower Hotel Gifts
- Disney Pin Traders
- World of Disney Store
- Resort Hotels
I always say, Pin Trading is as easy as 1-2-3. There are just a few things to remember. Here are some guidelines on Disney Trading to help get you started. Tip: Keep an eye out for Hidden Mickey pins, generally found on Disneyland Resort cast member lanyards.
My own personal tip on trading: I always say trade for pins that mean something to you, whether it’s a favorite character, attraction or icon. Trade for things you love. Pin trading can be fun by yourself or with the entire family. It’s a great way to meet new friends, visit with old ones and share stories. Remember, Disney pins and trading are popular at many of our Disney Parks & Resorts.
Now, back to business, the competition is still on and we need your help! Both Erin and I are convinced we each have the best pins on our lanyard, so share your comments with us and let us know who you think has the better pins.
Comments
I love doing this kind of challenge. I like to head into the Parks with a dozen pins to trade and see how much I can “trade up” by the end of the day. Usually I wind up with a lanyard full of pins that I like much more than the pins I started out with, and it’s so much fun to keep an eye out for hidden gems throughout the day. I’ve never thought to do a competitive challenge though. Maybe my sister and I will have to give that a try next time!
As for your challenge, I’ve got to vote for Erin’s pins. Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Prince Phillip and especially Goofy win the comparison for me!
michelle. kicking it old school!!!!
I would go with Erin. Orange Bird pins are always awesome.
Looks like tons of fun! I think both Michelle & Erin got some great pins so I think it’s a tie. By the way you posted a location called Souvenir 66 in California Adventure. Where is that or is it the same place as Radiator Springs Curios? Keep up the good work. I love your blogs 🙂
Hi Cara! Souvenir 66 is now known as Seaside Souvenirs. You can find it just past The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction.
Brian and Karen from San Jose say Michelle is the clear winner.
Per Karen, nothing beats Ariel.
And is that a well deserved Disney Legacy Award name tag?
Brian and Karen! Great detective work. It is indeed a Legacy name tag. Thanks for the vote!
I vote for Michelle she has a Duffy pin she wins in my book.
#25 1/2 – Erin Glover
Thanks! I will certainly focus on the photo and video teams the next time I’m at the parks. The meet-up option isn’t possible since I’m at work during the day when they are announced.
Being an avid pin collector myself, I was wondering, that is a pretty cool looking pin. Are they available anywhere or only via trade, like Hidden Mickeys, etc?
My husband and I started the pin trading a couple of years ago when we first started dating and we have created a tradition. We go empty handed and buy a lanyard with a mystery set at the park then come home with the lanyard full of pins we love!
I’d say it was a tie – I loved the pins on both lanyards!
Susan, what a fantastic idea! Very fun! We’re so glad you enjoy pin trading as much as we do.
That was such a fun day. I got to be in a video!! I traded with Michelle at the wheel in Big Thunder Ranch, so I’m going to vote for her 🙂
Karen, you were such a trooper! I’m so glad we got to meet and trade!
Tough tough but there’s a pin I love that Erin got so I’ll pick Erin.
I vote for Michelle. Great pins! Fun video to watch.
What a awesome idea and so so happy to see that Pin Trading is still going strong!!! We have been trading since the very beginning & still wish there was more events and surprise pins at the parks like they used to have (we had so so much fun)!! Hoping they surprise the East Coast WDW – Love It – Would say Erin won 🙂
It is so subjective to determine what makes a good pin. Is it the character, design, origin, rarity, or value? Maybe for some it is based on how the pin was obtained. If I got a pin from either Michelle or Erin I know it would have a very special meaning for me! 😉
For me the winner is the person who had the most fun during the challenge. Looks to me like both of you had a good time doing this challenge.
For these reasons it is impossible to pick a winner . Both of your pins are great! Choosing who’s pins are better is totally unnecessary.
Thanks for sharing this video!
p.s. I don’t know how long it’s been, but congrats to you Michelle on your Legacy award. Very fitting and well deserved!
Thank you Roger! Receiving the Legacy Award was quite an honor. Erin and I had a blast filming this video! As you know, Disney pin trading is a tradition, and holds a special place in many of our hearts.
Vote me in for Michelle’s pin trading fan club!
Love this idea of challenging each other, but I think since we all have our favorites, everyone wins with pin trading. Michelle has more of my favorites. I did find a Disney Parks Blog pin when I was there in August and I was so happy I scored that one. Each of my family members have pin boards in our bedrooms and when we get homesick for Disney, I organize a Disney night. We put on our Mickey ears, I make Mickey waffles for dinner, we draw Disney characters on the driveway with chalk and we each visit the other’s pin boards and talk about our favorites, and sometimes even trade! You really can bring some of the magic home with you!
Martine! I agree with you too! Everyone does win with Pin Trading. The vote looks pretty close, my guess is, we’ll tie!
I vote for Michelle…good variety.
Miss Harker for the win!
Because I am a HUGE Mickey & Pluto fan, Michelle gets my vote!!!
It looked like both Erin & Michelle had a blast with all of the trading.
Thanks to you both for making it fun for the guests.
I can’t wait to go back and trade a few of my own!
Thanks Bob! I can’t wait until I get to do yet another ‘challenge’ with Erin. I’m ready!
We saw you filming this in February. We wanted to trade with you, but we forgot our pins at home. We were bummed!
I think Erin wins, I’m loving that Disneyland pin! Sorry Michelle!
The largest pin trading location in W.D.W., located in Downtown Disney Marketplace, had never heard of a Disney Parks Blog pin. As for the winner of the pin trading challenge, the man with his shirt covered with them!
Skip – Sorry, but Disney Parks Blog pins are not for sale in stores. You can usually get one at a Disney Parks Blog meet-up or from a member of our team (especially the photo and video teams here at Disneyland).
I vote for Michelle! It’s all about Pluto for me. =)
Thanks Anthony! I’m a fan of Pluto too!
Trick question: Everyone wins with pin trading! That being said, Erin won.
Right on both, Jon! 😀
Sorry Erin, but you have 2 Orange Bird pins, although different, it’s the same character. And Puffles are everywhere and super easy to get. Michelle wins because of her 12 unique pin and that cool Monorail pin she captured.
No love for the Horizons boot? 🙂
Michelle wins!
I say Erin won, nothing beats the orange bird!
Team Harker, for sure!!
While Orange Bird is a classic, my Loyalties lie with the Disney Bear so I have to go with Team Harker on this one! Go Michelle!
Thanks Eric! I’m partial to Duffy the Disney Bear too, as you can see from some of my posts.
Erin and Michelle, you both have great pins, I just can’t choose… so I guess I’ll have to vote for Poncho, the Pin Trading donkey!! (But if I had to pick between Erin and Michelle, Michelle wins for the Duffy pin.)
Hi Rachel! I think I would have to second your vote for Poncho. Besides getting to hang out with Erin and take part in this fun challenge, Poncho was my favorite too!
I think ERIN WINS! But, like I tell my kids, just trade for the pins you like and don’t worry about if they’re rare. Good job to you both.
Because we love the Mickey, Pluto and the Monorail, my wife Nicole and I choose Michelle’s lanyard of pins.
Excellent choices! I hope you have fun the next time you are visiting the Resort. Don’t forget to pin trade!
What a fun time it looks like you both had; wished I was there to trade with you too! I think Michelle won for sure 🙂 Any chance to get one of those Disney Blog Pins? How do I go about getting one? Thanks and would love to see another Trade day 🙂
Shannon – Though our fabulous Disney Parks Blog pins are not for sale, we sometimes distribute them at Disney Parks Blog meet-ups. You may also be able to get them from members of our team – especially our photo and video teams when they’re shooting in the parks.
Go Michelle! Great pin collection!
Thanks Eddie!!
Michelle Harker wins for sure! Amazing pins!!! WOW!!!
Thanks Richard! I was pretty partial to the pins I had on my lanyard to! Thanks for voting!
I’ve passed my love of Disney pins onto my children. Now, every time we go to Disneyland, we wear our pins and are ready to trade with anyone! To help out with the ease of trading we wear only the pins we want to trade. Those other loveable (& to us non-tradable) stay home on display. After many years of collecting, my first trade happened only last year. A young girl stopped me in a bathroom in CA Adventure and wanted to trade. Since I only had on pins I wanted to trade she was very happy that she could pick anything she wanted as a trade.
As far as who won between Michelle and Erin, I’d say it’s a tie!
I’d like to go with a tie as well. But time will tell! Thanks for voting!
Well, I’d have to say Erin might take it. not one but TWO Orange Bird pins on the West Coast! As well as Mickey Silhouette and what looks like a Celebration pin from a few years ago. Sorry Michelle!
Woo! Thanks, Oleg!
My vote is for Erin’s pins! Orange Bird pins all the way!
I actually got a couple of the blog pins at a past Meet Up event although I can only find one of them!
Is there any way to get a Disney Parks Blog pin? I would love to have one for my pin collection.
Disney Parks Blog pins are definitely hard to come by and rarely found on lanyards. But it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for.
I vote for Erin. Not an impartial choice, cos I traded for all 5 Orange Bird pins on my last trip to Disneyland. Love them. By the way, how do we score one of those lovely Blog pins?
Thanks, Christopher! I was pretty excited about those Orange Bird pins. As for the Disney Parks Blog pins, you can only get them from members of our team – they are not for sale. We sometimes distribute them at Disney Parks Blog meet-ups, and some members of our team (like Paul Hiffmeyer and Shannon Swanson) carry them when they are shooting photos or videos in the park. I sometimes have a few on me, as well!
I think Erin wins, dang I wish I was there, I would have traded for one of those Disney Parks pins. I am going to Disneyworld in a few weeks, hopefully I will find one there.
Wow, that looked like a lot of fun. If it were me, I’d say Erin won with her pins. But my daughter, who loves to collect and trade pins, would probably say Michelle since she has Ariel and Duffy!
On the basis of the two Orange Bird pins, I say the win goes to Erin!
Erin’s pins for the win!
Andrew! Who’s side are you on? Just kidding!
Oh my, this looked like so much fun! I love love love pin trading! How can I get one of those great Disney Parks Blog Pins??? That would have been a special trade! My pick for best pins was Michelle. She had Mickey, Pluto, and Ariel…my favorite trio for pins! Really fun post, thanks for sharing!
What a GREAT idea!! We love to pin trade but never thought of having a challenge. This would be a lot of fun.
We met so many great Disney fans/traders! We definitely had a lot of fun!
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