It's been great reading these! Sorry in advance for the large photos (no idea how to shrink them).
1. What got you into pin trading?
Pins are little pieces of memories I bring back home. Admittedly, I'm more of pin buyer than pin trader, although I'm hoping to do more trading.
2. What was your first pin OR the first pin you traded FOR?
I bought 2 pins at the same time: Villains bad boys and Villains bad girls....this was back in 2001 or 2002. I really wanted something different for a souvenir, and saw these pins at the Disneyland Emporium. They were in velvet boxes, and I love villains! I still have them, and villain pins are still my largest theme in my pin collection.
3. Pin that means the most to you and why?
Like others, the zaps are awesome. The most recent one I received was from David/docfish2u from the zap-a-palooza.
Other pins that mean the most are my 1[SUP]st[/SUP] pins to a Disney place. The story above details my 1[SUP]st[/SUP] pins from Disneyland. What really kick started pin collecting for me was the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] pins I bought at WDW which were 6 prince pins from the Magic Kingdom princess ball event. I didn’t go to it, but they were released to the public afterward, and I bought all of them at Epcot. You can probably guess which 6 they are in my lanyard.
My 1[SUP]st[/SUP] time to DSF/DSSH, I bought their pin bag with logo pin.
My 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and only time to Star Wars Weekends at DHS was in 2010. Amazing experience – I tracked down every single pin that was available for that event in 2010 – the frame set, box set, TESB jumbo, and went way out of my shell asking strangers if they could buy me the AP pin and DVC pin, enticing them with extra cash. The strangers did not want the extra money and were glad they could get it for me since I was so excited/determined. I did it, and I love this collection.
4. Any other amazing pin story you would like to share? (If not disregard this question)
Story 1: My partner and friends took me to Club 33 for my 40th birthday. They gave me the Club 33 logo pin as a physical reminder, and I kept the pen that they put with the bill. I, of course, then bought as much as I could from the case. As an AP, I'm fortunate to go to DLR often, but this is hands down my most memorable time at Disneyland, and although I don't need the pin to recall that day, looking at the pin makes me smile that much more.
Story 2: At the last D23, my friends and I (same ones from Story 1) were in line for the pop-up Disney store. I was in line but left to go get food, bathroom, etc. My friends made it in (I didn't get back in line), and we were texting about what pins they had in there. I had the cash so I told them to get me a Star Wars pin set and the Art of Jasmine pin set. I was waiting at the exit, and they surprised me with the Elsa Swarovski crystal pin! I assumed it was sold out already, and it actually was. One friend was looking for a bracelet, and the cast member went in the back to look. The cast member came back with the bracelet and other things in a basket to put back on the shelves. My friend saw the Elsa pin in the basket and asked if that was being held for someone. She said no as she just found it in the back in a pile of go-backs, and so my friend got it for me. I was screaming with joy!