Hello Everyone!

[Jeremiah Sheffield]

Hi, I just got hired by Disney World and start in May. I am really into pin trading in other settings but am new to the Disney scene. I'm looking to build a decent collection before I show up and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Sithathoriunet]

Hi! So fun that you're going to be a cast member at WDW!
I'm so glad you found us, there is some wonderful information here on the forum, and so many friendly collectors and traders.
Advice wise, I would say the two most important things are to decide what themes you want to collect (to keep things in check, it's easy to go overboard) and to avoid purchasing large pin lots from the bay or Amazon. They are all fakes.

 

[momin.ator]

Hi Welcome. There are a couple of people on here who also work there so they might be able
to help you.

 

[Ajk]

Welcome to the Forum! Why are you looking to build a collection before you start? As a Disney employee you will have access to the most sought after pins after you start. Not to mention your employee discount on regular pins. So if I was you, I would just dive in once in the job.

At that time, you will have access to pins only Cast Members get access to - specifically, Disney Employee Center (DEC) and Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) pins. They generally each do a release a month. They are available online with heavy competition so you may or may not manage to get pins from any given release. I suggest that if you do manage to get any, get any/all that you can. Because they are limited in distribution and quantity (generally Limited Editions (LE) around 300 or so) they are in high demand and you will be able to easily trade any you don't want for great pins that you do want.

There is also an employee store where pins are sometimes clearanced and could be a great place to great traders on the cheap.

Enjoy your new role and collecting!

 

[firechief18]

Jeremiah, welcome to DPF.

 

[Jeremiah Sheffield]

Welcome to the Forum! Why are you looking to build a collection before you start? As a Disney employee you will have access to the most sought after pins after you start. Not to mention your employee discount on regular pins. So if I was you, I would just dive in once in the job.

At that time, you will have access to pins only Cast Members get access to - specifically, Disney Employee Center (DEC) and Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) pins. They generally each do a release a month. They are available online with heavy competition so you may or may not manage to get pins from any given release. I suggest that if you do manage to get any, get any/all that you can. Because they are limited in distribution and quantity (generally Limited Editions (LE) around 300 or so) they are in high demand and you will be able to easily trade any you don't want for great pins that you do want.

There is also an employee store where pins are sometimes clearanced and could be a great place to great traders on the cheap.

Enjoy your new role and collecting!

I just love pins. There's an annual conference that I've attended for the past 6 years where they trade pins associated with there state and I always try to get a full map. Since starting that, I've just been obsessed with pins in general so I guess I'm just eager to dive in. But I'll take your advice and hold off till I start.