My family just got into pin trading on our last visit to Walt Disney World, and had a great time with it! If you have kids a little on the shy side it's a great way to encourage them to interact with the cast members. Here are some pin trading tips:
All Parks - every park (and Downtown Disney) has a Guest Relations that will show your their pin book if you ask. You never know what pins a cast member might have on their lanyard (some cast members have a holder at their hip they have pins on). So if you're curious, ask to see their pins! Also, some of pins cast members have are Hidden Mickey's - pins with a small Mickey Mouse icon included on the front of the pin. The back stamp also indicates it’s a Hidden Mickey pin. These are only available by trading.
Resorts - Art of Animation had a great pin selection for sale in their store (called the Ink & Paint Shop), the store also has a pin board they bring out twice a day (usually once in the morning and again in the evening), and the cast members have pin lanyards. The front desk also had a pin board they brought out a couple of times a day. We were also told the arcade had a pin book or board, but we didn't check this out this time.
We heard the Contemporary has two gift shops next to each other. One is against the wall and the other is out in the middle which is the middle of the other gift shop and the arcade. This middle gift shop has a pin board is available. Haven't checked this out yet.
Magic Kingdom - in my opinion, the best place for pin trading, although the Ink & Paint Shop in the Art of Animation was pretty awesome. Besides all of the pin lanyards worn by cast members everywhere, here are some spots we found or heard about:
Frontier Trading Post - main pin location for the Magic Kingdom. They have a ton of pins for sale and the cast members had a bunch of awesome pins on their lanyards. They have a pin washboard, cowboy hat, and bear with pins also.
Magic Kingdom Bus Area - didn't get to see these pin boards, but I asked one of the drivers and he said they're usually located by the boat boarding area. This is supposed to be a treasure trove, I'll try to find next trip.
Sir Mickey’s has a shield with pins.
Big Top Souvenirs in New Fantasyland has popcorn displays with pins on them at many of the checkout areas. When you walk in ask to see the popcorn.
Main Street Confectionery has an oven mitt with pins, but we didn't check this out.
Stroller rental area
Hollywood Studios - main pin trading was with cast members, but here are a a couple of other possibilities:
Rockin’ Rollercoaster photo pick-up area has a drum with pins on it.
Sorcerer's Hat - main pin selection for sale at the park. There is supposed to be a pin game (you get 1 minute to look through their pin book and pick 2 pins for trade) here if you ask, but cast member didn't know about it when I asked.
Animal Kingdom - as with Hollywood Studios, main pin trading was with cast members. I heard Animal Kingdom stroller rental has a pin stroller, but didn't have a chance to check it out. If it was like the pin stroller at Magic Kingdom, you'll want to check it out.
Heard that the gift store outside of the park gates (right beside Rain forest Cafe) has a pin trading board and a pin trading vest.
Magic Kingdom, Guest Relations
Hollywood Studios, Guest Relations
Pin Drum, Rockin’ Rollercoaster photo pick-up area
Pin stroller, Magic Kingdom stroller rental area
Big Top Souvenirs, popcorn displays with pins
Sir Mickey’s, shield with pins
