Ways to get involved?

Hi everyone! So I'm really excited to start pin collecting. One of my favorite things about collecting in general (I also collect some vinyl toys) is trading with others and making friends in the community. What is the best way to get involved?

I live in San Diego so am fairly close to Disneyland. I am saving money to hopefully get a year pass. Are there any local events in/near San Diego or pin trading groups? I'd love to meet fellow traders! I am going to San Diego Comic Con this year and I believe there will be a pin trading night right? What is the best source for finding about about pin trading events (official or unofficial?)

Also, what is a good way to get a solid bunch of pins for trading? My problem is I've been buying pins I like off of ebay (after reference checking the seller and researching the pin's scrapper history)... but because I like them I don't want to trade them XD haha. But to buy an expensive pin to trade when I could have just bought a pin I wanted seems silly. I of course don't want to buy a 'lot' from ebay since they are almost always scrappers and fakes. Is it best to buy a starter set at the park then trade with cast members to try and bulk up my collection?

I keep hearing about DSF pins. I live about 2-3 hours from the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop depending on traffic. I was thinking of driving there for some of there releases to try and meet people and get a pin. How early do people start lining up? DO you have to pre-order is is a first come first serve kinda thing? If you could direct me to information on how DSF works I;d be very grateful!

Also, my impression of some LE pins is they release them at the parks? So, if I got a year pass, I could go to Disneyland to obtain some right? Sorry for my newbie questions! Just trying to understand the different aspects ) I saw you could order some pins online from Disney Store. D they ship them to you or do you picket hem up at the park? Only WDW or Disneyland too?

Thanks guys! I really appreciate any insights

Welcome to pin trading!


Be careful. Pin traders bite.


If you are looking to get some good traders, go visit Disneyland and check out the pin shops both in the park and outside (including Downtown Disney and the various Disneyland Hotels). DSF is also a good place to pick up traders. Their Facebook page will let you know when releases are. If you are looking to buy a "bulk" of pins to start up your traders, check out the For Sale threads here on DPF. Usually very reliable sellers and you can check their references as well. You can find some great prices and pins for cost as well. If you happen to be by Disneyland, check out My-D Pins. It is a small shop (about 10-15 mins. away from the park) that is FULL of pins and collectables. You can buy "trader" pins, simple rack pins for $2. They have lots of pin boards and full of cases filled with pins. They make sure that they do not cary scrappers/fakes. Good place to pick up some traders before heading to the park.


Regarding GSF:


At the end of the month, they release their flyer for the following month. On the flyer you will find the date and time of the release. A few days before the release, Disney Studio Store Hollywood (their official name) will post on their Facebook page the line up rules. They sell the pins based on a raffle system. They will announce what time you need to be in line in order to obtain a wrist band. This wrist band does not guarantee you a set of pins. It guarantees you a chance to draw for the pins. Once all vouchers have been passed out, they will announce how many people are in line so you can gauge your chances. Then you walk up to a large drum and they hand you a voucher. If your number falls within the "you get to buy a pin" set of numbers, you can buy the pins. If your number is above that, your chances of getting the pins gets smaller.


Example:


On Friday May 30, they will be releasing 3 LE 400 Maleficent pins. The flyer says they will start selling the pins at 6am. A few days before the release they will announce what time we must be in line and what the buying limit is. Lets pretend that flyer has come out. It says we must be in line by 5am and the limit is one pin per person. Thus, voucher numbers 1-400 are guaranteed the pins. As long as you are in line before the cut off time of 5am, you are GUARANTEED a wristband for a chance at the pins. But you are not guaranteed the pins. You go draw a voucher. You draw number 321. You are guaranteed a set as you are within the fist 400. But what if you drew 631? Well, chances are there will be nothing left but you can wait to see if there is when your number comes up. You line up per your voucher number and enter the store.


I hope that made sense.


If you're looking for pin trading events, official and unofficial, join up some Facebook pin trading groups (I can point some out to you). Sometimes people post their private events there. There is also a Pin Gatherings section of the forum where you can find events coming up.


sometimes DisneyStore.com comes out with exclusive pins that you can only buy from the. They ship to your home. Their "Theme Park Exclusive" pins are the same ones that they sell in the park. They ship them to you, not the park. Your AP will help you enter the park to buy pins. Don't forget that the Downtown Disney Pin Traders shop next to the Monorail also gets LE pins so you may not need to enter the park if you are just going to buy an LE pin.


http://www.disneyparksmerchandise.com/pins posts what new pins are coming up at the parks.


I hope this helps. If you have any questions or if I need to clarify, please let me know. It is a lot to take in. Hopefully the forum helps you explore pins and that you find some amazing deals.

Let us know if you plan to go to any DSF releases so I can say hi!

- Alex

Alex brought up all good points!

There is no pre-orders available for DSF / GSF. You can buy pins through phone/mail 2 weeks AFTER they're released, but popular releases usually sell out the day (or by the day after); so it depends on what you want - the "popular" pins or the not-so-popular ones. If you collect something like Winnie the Pooh or Bambi, which isn't as popular as Tangled or Frozen, then you might be safe waiting til you can order them 2 weeks after (if you don't mind waiting and don't want to drive to Hollywood). If you collect the popular movies, then you'll have to brave your chances and come down to GSF during their releases.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks so much for the advice!

When I am finally able to go to Disneyland, I will definitely stop by the shop you mentioned to pick up some traders and browse their wares.

I am planning on doing the May 30th Maleficent Soda Fountain pin release as long as I can get the time off of work and a friend to go with me. I figure at least I will be able to meet people and maybe do some pin trading in line even if I don't get lucky enough to win a pin spot.

I've been looking up some Facebook groups. I did find an event this May 17th in Long Beach that I'd like to go to if I can get the day off work or swap shifts with someone.

Thanks for the info! It is a bit overwhelming trying to get your footing in a new collecting sphere, especially such an established one as Disney! haha

I give this advice to all new people that come here. This place can be magical, but you get out of it what you put in. If you just hang out and don't contribute you probably won't get much out of it. There is nothing wrong with that path, but if you are here to get to know people, get to know people. The more you interact the more others get to know you. I hope you have as much fun here as I do!!!

Oh and the biggest piece of advice I can give you is be patient. If you are in a hurry and get dissapointed easily you won't be here long. Think of it as a marathon not a sprint. The older or hotter the pins you want are the harder it can be until you get them. If a pin was meant to come to you it will. Most of the time not as fast as we would like. :lol: