Going on a trip and need some advice.

Hey everyone! I'm going on my first trip ever to disneyworld this week! I'm super excited, but I'm curious if there are people who trade in the parks and if I should bring my pin bag. I'd heard there werent as many people who did it like here. Also, for those who have traveled before, how do I deal with taking the pins? Should I put them in my carry on? Will security get upset about them? Thanks!

I hope your first WDW adventure is wonderful!!! You will have a blast for sure!!! As for your questions, I only know what I have read on here; I have never been to DLR and did not collect pins when I went to WDW when I was younger.

I know that people do trade there (if still allowed) and there are quite a few collectors in and around the area. I also have read that you can travel with your pins, but I do not remember all the details on how...search the forums for related threads (i.e. traveling with pins) and you should find multiple answers and opinions for fellow DPF friends and family!

Hope this was of a little help!

f you will be here on Tuesday the 22nd, there's a PTN going on and that's a great place to trade. The only place in the parks are the tables at Epcot, and that is mostly sharks that want you to go buy a pin to trade with them.

I've never had a problem flying with a zuca filled with pins. Just remember to allow for extra time in case they need to hand search (metal of the pins blocks the x-rays).

I can't tell you about the WDW part, but I sure can let you in on the traveling with pins part. I live in Seattle so if I want to pin trade I have to take my pins on the plane. I now have 2 carry ons just for pins. One for my pin trading books and the other is for the 1000+ extra pins I take to refill my pinbooks with.

1) Yes carry them on!!! I don't know how many pins you have, but I am sure it is more then the 300 dollars or so the airlines allow for "missing" bags. Bags and things in bags go missing all the time. Don't take that chance.

2) Most important!!! Allow extra time to go through TSA checkpoints. We usually allow an extra half hour. When you get there with your pin bag open it up so they can see what it is you have. It will just appear to be a big black blob to their scanners.

Some TSA people hate us with a passion and some really want to look and see what we have. We have even had some of those "wonderful" people ask why we didn't check them. Duh, my pin bags are worth more then a year of their pay. So yes carry them on and expect some minor hassles.

OK, first of all, I'll be in WDW the end of this week as well.

This will be my third trip to WDW trading from Cincinnati. I've never had a lack of CM's to trade with. Mostly HM, rack and booster pins on lanyards and the books/boards. I rarely trade with other people, just hate to bother people, but there are certainly a number of people walking around with pins.

Travel has never been a problem. I keep them all in a single bag right on top of my carryon. I've never been asked and it's never slowed me down (so far.) If you need anything else, shoot me a PM.

We did a trip to DL Cali last year and did carry on with the pins. TSA in Tampa had no problem, opened the zipper, flipped pages and sent us on our way. TSA at John Wayne/ OC had to go through every page and took a half hour plus before deciding it was all ok.


As to WDW trading Ferret was just there yesterday and had a small travel book with her and managed quite a few pins traded at the EPCOT tables with good experience. `In September when we were there for a week right after the 13th event we did trade with a few people even with the tables being "renovated" that week.

BE confident and know your pins, the amount of scrapper pins and outright counterfeits that fool even us long time traders is stunning. Do not be afraid to look at the backs and be sure you are happy before completing the trade. Depending on the day the "FISH" at the tables are just decent traders having a good time. If you get a bad feeling walk away.

Be sure to find Scoop Sanderson on main st at MK,, he is fantastic. Have good pins to trade him and check the backs of anything you get from him.

have a great trip!

I've heard a few mentions of "scoop". Where does he normally hang out? Anyone have a pic?

Scoop

Scoop is the "Newspaper Editor" for the Magic Kingdom. You can usually find him hanging out with the Mayor and Smokey, the fire chief. He's typically there Sundays, Tuesdays and usually Thurs or Friday. He's out in the mornings usually 45 past the hour. He sings and dances for 15 minutes and trades for 15 minutes. You do NOT need a fancy pin to trade him. Any legit Disney pin is fine (ie, an old hidden mickey). He often has AP, LE, jumbos, etc. for trade on his lanyard and sometimes he plays a trading game. He wears a brown plaid suit and a straw hat. He looks a bit like this. http://www.charlesthephotographer.com/Family/Disney/i-5t5VdvQ (see the guy on the left).

Also, he does NOT trade with strangers so you have to introduce yourself to him before he will trade with you. And he really appreciates friendliness and politeness. Here's a close up.

http://www.charlesthephotographer.com/Family/Disney/i-JJXsJ3h

Look for Scoop between Town Square and up Main St to the jewelry store. He is often with the sax band or the Dapper Dans. He sometimes comes in on the trolley. Sometimes he comes out of one of the stores. When it's busy he can be hard to spot. He's usually only around from morning thru lunch or early afternoon.

I traveled with pins in my carry on earlier this year with no problems.

Also, if you are staying on the property, check the pin boards at your hotel frequently. Although there are a lot of scrapper on there, I was pleasantly surprised that there was some turn over on the legit pins and picked up a few good ones. I also noticed a few of the good ones I swapped out left the boards quickly - so people are utilizing them frequently to trade.

Thanks. I'll be on the lookout.

If anything on my next WDW trip, I want to meet Scoop in Person... I've only ever saw him every other day during my College Program but didn't really know his backstory till after I came home...