Inside Look at Disney ONE Family Pin Celebration

Michelle Senter

by , Communications Specialist, Walt Disney World Resort

Get ready to celebrate the magical, incredible and timeless bonds that make a family with the 2022 Disney ONE Family Pin Celebration! Whether it’s family you’re born into, or one that you make yourself — family is the most magical story of all.

On August 12-13, we invite you to join us at The Most Magical Place on Earth as we celebrate with a pin trading tradition. Whether it’s your first time pin trading or you’re an avid pin trader with thousands of pins in your collection, we encourage you to join us as we laugh, share and connect as ONE Family.

Ever since it began in 1999, Disney Pin Trading has been responsible for countless magical moments for both guests and cast members. Cast members like Jes Willis, the product design manager for the Disney Pin Trading Center of Excellence, often use some of their own personal pin trading experiences to make magical experiences for others.

As a shy young girl who was able to use pin trading to help her come out of her shell, Jes enjoys returning the favor. She loves getting to meet first-time pin traders and share in their experiences, including using Mickey-themed boards found in locations across the parks, resorts and Disney Springs. “Pin trading is all about community,” she said. “It’s about the engagement and experience you have, and the memories that are made from those genuine people-to-people connections.”

I was lucky enough to witness this exact connection between Jes and a first-time pin trader by the name of Brady during my last trip to EPCOT. “Brady was even more excited about collecting and trading pins after he met Jes,” said Brady’s father, a guest on his first family trip to Disney shared. “Jes does amazing work on [designing] her pins, but she also does amazing work bringing magic into people’s lives. We certainly appreciate and love the magic she brought to ours.”

In addition to designing hundreds of pins, Jes has also been part of the planning committee for annual pin trading events for the last eight years. Jes and her team are responsible for spearheading everything from designing the exclusive pin event collection to developing the theme and story behind each event.

“The inspiration of this year’s event is that at the heart, Disney is family. Disney is all about bringing people together, bringing families together, bringing friends together – from all over the world and from all different cultures,” she explained. “To show how we really are one Disney family, we’re showcasing how we’re bringing all of our brands together at this year’s event like never before.”

The 2022 Disney ONE Family Pin Celebration will also feature exciting activities including trading boards, trading areas, pin product previews, pin artist panels, trivia, games, and more! You might even get the chance to meet Jes in person and hear more about her passion for all things pin.

Click here for event details, to browse the exclusive product catalog, and register for the event where a sneak preview of next year’s theme could be revealed!

Happy trading!

Comments

  • So exicted to be going to this! I do local to Raleigh, NC pin trading events but this is my first WDW pin trading event! 🙂

Comments are closed.