Hmm I didn't think to check the Disney store Their used to be one a couple minutes from me but it closed, which I don't understand because it was ALWAYS busy I'll have to look into that and the website you posted :)

Yeah, the fakes are what I'm kinda hesitant about when purchasing on ebay That was kinda why I was interested in other sources P:

I love the Haunted Mansion! I wish I live close to Disney D:

It's my favorite ride! I do love living so close. I'm also planning my first visit to Disneyland in California for next year. :)

The Haunted Mansion ride was my first Disney world ride!!!! I should definitely have gotten a pin.

Oh yeah, we always go on that ride, no matter how long the wait is haha I've been wanting to go to the one in California, too Let me know how it is!

That's awesome! :) I was too young to remember my first ride. I remember being terrified of HM the first time I went on it haha.

I do too! It was closed last time I was there, I was so disappointed.

I was like, fifteen or sixteen when I went for the first time. I could never forget!

I go to visit my family in Kissimmee florida and when I go to Disney I have bought a few pins, I don't plan to trade them though I love all of mine but they are probably lost somewhere in my room.

Yeah that's the only thing about pins I only tend to be attracted to the ones of my favorite characters, so I'm not really out to complete sets. I have a feeling once I do start getting into pins again, I'll only buy bulk pins to trade for the ones I really want haha

Same here, the pins I picked out already meant a lot to me and where themed towards the rides, I love my tower or terror and rockin roller coaster pin.

I've never actually gotten to ride the rockin roller coaster! Every time we go the line is about an hour and a half wait :/ I'm too scared to ride the tower of terror though xD I love roller coasters, but the idea of dropping like that x_x Eck :x

tower of terror was what I was most afraid of and it ended up being my favorite ride at Disney :) You should give it a try you never know!

I'll work up the courage to ride it the next time I go! I'll take your word for it P: At least if I don't like it I'll have tried it at least once xD

Exactly! I went this past summer and loved those two rides! I never got to ride them before because I was still little and scared, that was back when the park was still named MGM! wow times flies!

I know right?

Did you hear they're taking down the Mickey's Sorcerer hat? I didn't catch what they're putting in its place, but I also heard they're redoing A LOT of the park. Kind of upsetting and exciting at the same time

If you go to a Disney park, you can buy what are called Hidden Mickey pins. They come in packages so you can't see what they are. If I remember correctly, they are $7.95 for 2 or something like that? You can buy them in a lot of the stores where they also sell pins. You can try to collect the different Hidden Mickey pins if you like them, but usually people will trade them with cast members. Cast members will trade you anything as long as it isn't already on their lanyard. You also can't trade with them more than twice a day. They also have a pin board you can trade pins for in stores, sometimes, like the pin store on Main Street in Disneyland USA. Not all cast members wear the lanyard, or are available to trade, but you can find a lot of them! Usually they are pretty nice about it even if you aren't a little kid, although I once heard one cast member say "Geez, I shouldn't have taken out my lanyard!" after a few people went up to him and asked to trade.

(You can do this on a Disney cruise too, just buy some of the clearance pins to trade with cast members!)

I usually buy a few packs to trade and then buy the other pins that I like. I've really only seen other Hidden Mickey pins or cheap pins on cast member lanyards but it's still fun to look around for things you like. Or, pins from some of the sets. I found one for my Zodiac sign and one for It's A Small World, one of my favourite rides, and a Duffy bear pin! Didn't even have to buy sets to look for them.

This is making me nostalgic for my Disney trip this past summer... Have fun for me!

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for all those tips! I'll definitely have to make use of those my next Disney trip!

I've always been kind of iffy about talking to the cast members about trading (social anxiety x_x), but with everyone telling me how fun it is I'll have to give it a go :)

It's a Small World is my favorite ride too <3 I've seen some of those Zodiac pins online and they look really cool, so I'll have to look into snagging some of those too :D

@ Mindi I actually discovered it from a cast member on the Disney cruise I went on!

Also: some stores only sell certain pins. A cast member who was working the store near the Toy Story Mania game in California Adventure said that some pins are exclusive to certain stores. I think it was the slinky dog pin and something else.

I usually go up to them when it looks like there isn't anyone else asking them questions. Something like "Hey, do you want to trade?" then trade pins and say thanks and leave. Thankfully, I've only experienced good things trading with cast members so all is well.

I would start trying to trade your pins right away because you can always buy multiple packs. Plus you don't always see cast members you can trade with but it's fun to keep your eyes out! I've noticed that there are usually cast members or boards with pins at stores or stands, you'll see less cast members with lanyards who are working rides and the like.

It's something I'd definitely recommend people try, especially since the price is cheaper per pin and it's a fun experience trying to trade for different ones. :)

[EDIT] Sorry, I thought of one more thing! If you have a heavy pin like the Grape Soda UP pin, buy pin backings from Michaels or Hobby Lobby or something. A cast member remarked that the regular pin backing isn't strong enough to hold the pin if you're going to wear it, so you can buy a stronger pin backing elsewhere.

Oh cool, I never knew that only certain pins are in certain stores

I figured they'd be more likely to trade if there wasn't too many people around haha Poor things are probably bombarded all the time it's nice to have a breather

Do you think that they'd accept the trade with a different pin backing? Or is it really the pin they're after and not so much the backing?

For cast members, I don't think they'd be too bothered about it. People lose pin backings all the time, you would think - but you can buy extra pin backings too. For pin-traders, perhaps they would be bothered about it but I'm really not sure.

The few times I've asked, they've not been busy at all so I don't think they mind. I wonder if they're sort of given the lanyard to wear as part of work or if some of them are their own pins.

Hmm I might have to just save the Mickey pin backings for trading and bring them with me and use the sturdier ones for my own use Win win for everyone xD

Hmmm, you'd think they'd provide them with pins, especially in the event that they end up with a lot of unwanted pins? I dunno though, I'd be interested in finding out, but that's only because I'm nosy haha