Whats the scoop on trading in DL/DCA?

Hi I have friends traveling to DL in early October they need help knowing where to go to trade when they get there and as I am a WDW trader I am clueless! Is there still a guest to guest trading area (I thought there was at some restaurant??) Are there pin boards books at certain stores or hotels? any tips on where to find CMs wearing lanyard? Any info appreciated! Thanks Janet

The Mexican Restaurant in Frontierland is where the guest to guest trading is at, primarily on Thursdays and Sundays.

Mexican restaurant in Frontierland. Sometimes Aladdin's Oasis. Sunday's sometimes veterans got to the boat dock by the Matterhorn. Lanyards are almost a waste of time, all scrappers and picked over. You have to attack a CM when they come out of the cast doors.

The Mexican restaurant is called Rancho Del Zocalo. If you go through the Fantasy Faire area it will take you right to that restaurant.

markheardjr said:

Lanyards are almost a waste of time, all scrappers and picked over. You have to attack a CM when they come out of the cast doors.

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That ... is so depressing. Though it's not surprising, considering all the threads I've seen on other forums with parents gleefully proclaiming that they bought one of those infamous counterfeit lots off of eBay. Then when someone points out their error, they say they don't care, so long as their kids have fun. I guess they can't think of anything for their kids to do while at Disneyland that doesn't consist of taking advantage of people. :/

Anyway, I'm going in November and it will be a "serious" (experience everything in three days) kind of trip, but I was hoping to be able to trade casually with CMs. Very disappointing.

MaidMarian said:

That ... is so depressing. Though it's not surprising, considering all the threads I've seen on other forums with parents gleefully proclaiming that they bought one of those infamous counterfeit lots off of eBay. Then when someone points out their error, they say they don't care, so long as their kids have fun. I guess they can't think of anything for their kids to do while at Disneyland that doesn't consist of taking advantage of people. :/

Anyway, I'm going in November and it will be a "serious" (experience everything in three days) kind of trip, but I was hoping to be able to trade casually with CMs. Very disappointing.

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Yes, many tourists unknowingly buy those lots, but they also take their counterfeit pins back home until their next trip if they don't trade them all. I know MANY "pin traders" who buy those lots, rush around to trade their crap and then set up at the tables to trade the new real HM's they just got to everyone else.

We still find some good stuff on lanyards occasionally; it's just a lot harder, and takes some scrutiny. We always ask to look before trading.

Last time we were there, it seemed like there were an especially lot of lanyards on the CMs working crowd control for the parade. You don't want to get in the way of parades, but if you are along the route when they're just getting started, you'll hit a lot of them. Also there seem to be more on the CMs working in the shops on Main Street than other places.

Guest Services has a pin board at the Grand Californian; I forget whether the other hotels do. I think the Disneyland Hotel has a board in the gift shop? I don't remember about the Paradise Pier.

Hi Guys Thanks for all your help so far ! What about Frank & Sons & My D Pins are they worth a visit? Also can you go to Mickeys of Glendale or do you have to be a CM? Thanks again Janet

Carmello1123 said:

Also can you go to Mickeys of Glendale or do you have to be a CM?

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You have to be a Disney employee to visit or know one who will take you.

My D Pins is worth the visit IMO. They got a ton of cool pins. I also hear Frank and Sons is cool but I have never been there myself. As for the lanyards, you will find some good pins sometimes. I was there on Tuesday and found a Ratatoullie Candy Cane LE 1000 pin, Snow White shoe, Hitchhiking ghost HM and a couple other cool pins on cast member lanyards. There are a lot of scrappers in the park though. Most of the time they will let you take them off and look at them closely before trading.

Frank and Son is a good place to visit; there are a couple of vendors that sell pins, OE, LE, and other pins for an inexpensive price. I do wish there was a trading area where pin collectors would trade.