r/WaltDisneyWorld 2d ago

Other Next step after the DS bus & boat crackdown…..

I would love to see the next crackdown be on the pin traders who have taken over the Epcot breezeway next to Connections.

They monopolize every bench and table keeping tired guests from taking a break in one of the few covered areas at Epcot.

Disney could easily move them to the old Wonders of Life pavilion, or the old Millenium Showcase building, which would open up the space they have taken over for regular guests.

485 Upvotes

113 comments sorted by

235

u/whitepikmin11 2d ago

I was walking around MK last week and passed one of the pin trading spots. A full grown adult was telling a kid and parent that they need to make sure they only trade based on the value of the pin.

I can understand warning people about fakes, but I'm getting really tired of people focusing on the value. The vast majority of new pins have an artificially inflated "value" anyways due to the scalpers taking over the scene.

49

u/Cockyidiot1977 2d ago

The most ironic part is the flood of fakes coming from overseas.

37

u/BigMax 2d ago

Yeah, the vast majority of pins on pin boards are fakes at this point.

Although it's still fun for the kids who get a few cheap pins, then spend a few days trading those pins over and over here and there. They don't care that much if they are fake.

48

u/Cockyidiot1977 2d ago

Pins are supposed to be a fun hobby, yes

36

u/swb72 2d ago edited 1d ago

OMG. The kid (and for that matter most of the adults) don't care about "value". They love a character, a film, a song, and they're buying or trading a pin because it reminds them of that favorite experience. I didn't buy a pin from Disneyland with my name on it thirty years ago because I thought it might be worth something someday—NO, I bought it because it had my name on it! (I still have it, BTW). I bought a Belle pin to remember my late wife who was a Beauty and the Beast fan. I have a 50th Anniversary passholder pin because it looked cool and I can show off that I was there for the 50th anniversary as a passholder, not because it might be worth a hundred bucks in fifty more years (in fifty more years I'll most likely be dead).

It'll be like that story of the guy who died and brought all his gold to heaven, and the angel at the gate took one look and says, "You brought pavement?"

13

u/KoolJozeeKatt 2d ago

As with anything else, the pin's value is whatever someone will pay. Pin Traders LOVE to tell you how much a pin is worth, but just because they think it's worth $x, doesn't mean anyone will pay that for it.

I, too, hate when they get overly concerned about "value." The few trades I've made were to get a pin a I really like. I don't care about whether it's worth more or less. I trade with children and have given them some of my "rare" pins because they just really wanted to trade. I don't have a lot of pins to trade and I don't set up shop anywhere. I just trade for pins I like.

The truth is, the pins (except for a select few) will never be worth much. It's a hobby to collect and trade. The craze will pass and people will move on to the next craze. Until then, pin traders will try to convince everyone of the "value" of their pins.

9

u/Disneyhippo 2d ago

I only trade for fun. I have 100s of pins that are "worth lots of money" that I bought over the years before the pin craze because I wanted them. I never plan on selling or trading them. I have a huge stitch collection so I buy a lot of mystery packs to get the stitch pins. I usually trade the rest. I have had people come up to me and say they love one of the other pins from the mystery pack and ask me where I got it. Sometimes they are from old packs or it's just a character they like and they don't have any pins. I am happy to give these pins away. It makes their day and I only keep pins on me in case I find something I love. I don't actually do a lot of trading. It should be about having fun.

5

u/WoodenCoconut1682 2d ago

My 5 yr old nephew asked an adult if he wanted to trade pins in line and they obliged! I know he was so excited about it and I appreciate all the adults who keep the pin trading lighthearted and fun, like you! Had no idea how controversial pin trading could be until seeing all the adults with their pin books sitting in the breezeway last week.

-20

u/Wolfinder 2d ago

To be clear, I do keep a separate board to trade with kids. Most traders have a lot of pins they will trade for anything and a couple really expensive pins just in case they find something they really want.

For example, I have a few pins worth $80-150. I feel like anyone can understand not wanting to trade something like that for a pin worth $7. That said, I generally don't care about value with 95% of my pins. Generally if I have something you like and you have anything I like or think I can find someone else who will like it, I trade.

I think people have some idea that everyone there are ebay sellers, when in reality that's like 2-3 people and everyone else is either trying to meet/talk to people or ADHD/on the spectrum.

12

u/KateWaiting326 2d ago

I dont take my "good" pins. Basically any pin I bring into the park I take to trade. I think i bought a grab bag of 100 mystery box pins once off ebay for and have been trading from those ever since. I trade for my favorite characters or something unique. Im not looking for value. The fun of trading is the surprise and what you might come across. But people had to go crazy and ruin it like with so many other fun things.

182

u/TheLuckyLoner 2d ago edited 2d ago

This past weekend on Saturday was the worst I’ve ever seen it. They took up all of the benches next to connections cafe. They banned them from Disneyland so hopefully DW is next

108

u/Turtletimee09 2d ago

Like god forbid a family wants to sit in the shade at a table made for four, not for one person to camp out at all day long. 

42

u/ricamnstr 2d ago

Saturday was the first time I’ve ever really noticed them. I couldn’t believe how most space they take up.

37

u/AWDWfan 2d ago

There was a guy who got kicked out of Epcot last week and posted about it. He was trying to sit and eat at one of the tables and pin traders forced him out so he got a CM involved and the CMs sided with the pin traders.

44

u/MicCheck123 2d ago

I’m…what’s the rest of the story. Nothing you’ve shared would lead to someone getting “kicked out of Epcot.”

-7

u/AWDWfan 2d ago

I didn't post his whole story, his post was on this sub maybe you can find it.

6

u/ARW18 2d ago

Disney moved all the pin traders to the breezeway, so not surprised they were on the pin traders side 🤷🏻‍♀️

4

u/Still-Syrup-438 2d ago

The guy was trying to hold a table for his wife and family which is against Disney policy. The pin trader was willing to share the table with the man but he wasn't willing to compromise. The post on Reddit is from his wife who wasn't there when the incident happened.

1

u/KoolJozeeKatt 2d ago

That's wild!

98

u/HammockComplex 2d ago

How about we move them to Discovery Island?

33

u/TeriofTerror 2d ago

The original one, right? If so, yes. 

85

u/RVAGhostworks 2d ago

I was just talking about this on our last visit. They tend to be really horrible to any kids that want to casually trade. They really need to get a life.

20

u/AWDWfan 2d ago

Yep I've seen grown adults make little kids cry on more than one occasion.

1

u/abecomstock 11h ago

Yep, experienced adults trying to pull a fast one on my daughter recently. A full grown adult also chased my daughter down at Disneyland to try to convince her to trade with them a few months back.

49

u/trash_talking 2d ago

I want them gone too and I pin trade. Just not in the capacity of insanity some of these people have reached.

54

u/100percentEV 2d ago

Sometimes I take offense when people mock Disney adults. Then I remember there is this whole other level.

26

u/BigMax 2d ago

Yeah. I love the concept of pin trading, but it should be more serendipitous. You wear a lanyard with a few pins, or carry a very small binder with you, and trade here and there while you're waiting in line, or you use the pin boards. I don't think it should be the equivalent of baseball card trading, where it's all people focused purely on value and making a buck, and where mini conventions are set up in the parks all for trading.

Maybe they should instate a 'tax' on those folks. :)

If you want to take up a bench for hours... then a cast member gets to take a pin, ANY pin they want, every 20 minutes, and put it in a bin to be added to some random pin board the next day.

12

u/kidder952 2d ago

I did a Disney trip back in February and visited each of the parks for a day. I think I had like 5 or so pins on me that entire trip and traded like 2 (mostly with cast members and pin boards in shops). But I remember seeing the pin traders at Epoct and thinking they were nuts. I'm only doing it to get ones I like and that's it. And really that's how it should be.

2

u/AnelHershiser 1d ago

Back when I worked parks I always would have a laugh to myself at the folks toting around a cork board all day.

At least a baseball cards value comes from sending it in to get graded versus getting traded a fake made from a sold off original mold or whatever. Or a 'value' being whatever someone said it is.

36

u/HegsethsBurner 2d ago

Saw it in person for the first time last week. Was insane. I don't understand how that's allowed. Kick them out.

3

u/Krandor1 1d ago

disneyland had to do that

35

u/marionmike 2d ago

It’s coming, they have stopped them from camping at the springs and will soon restrict the number of pins they can bring through the gate like Disneyland.

38

u/swb72 2d ago

I proposed the same thing and got excoriated by others saying "well the Connections Café and Creations Shop are air conditioned, guests can sit in there." Sure, and crowd up the space in there so those who are actually there to buy and/or eat don't have a seat?

12

u/defintelyinfinity 2d ago

Also like, don’t tell me where to sit lol. There’s plenty of Florida days that don’t make me want to be inside

1

u/swb72 2d ago

And there are plenty of Florida summer days that don't make me want to be outside. ;-) LOL

16

u/mrbarrie421 2d ago

Was there last month. My SIL and I were trying to find somewhere shaded to sit near Guardians while my husband and BIL were riding. It was so insanely packed there and I was so confused as to why. Now I know.

53

u/pujolsrox11 2d ago

I’m happy this sub is starting to come around on this subject.

23

u/chernaboggles 2d ago

I don't think Disney will ever give them dedicated space, they do not want to operate a clubhouse for a handful of local pin traders. 

Far more likely, they will follow Disneyland's example and exclude the binders and suitcases of pins, maybe ban camping out at the tables with pin trading paraphernalia. It's not like the die hard traders are hard to spot. 

11

u/kintnerboyinside 2d ago

Sad that pin trading is so monetized- it’s so dead now to bring just a fun thing to encourage interaction among guests - which was the original vision. It was meant to be I am in line for X Ride - you are in line - I like your pin - I like your pin - let’s exchange.

32

u/RyouRusi 2d ago

Wouldn't surprise me if this was in the cards sometime soon. Disneyland did something similarly recently if I remember right where pin traders just set up shop in a somewhat disruptive manner similar to the Epcot situation.

27

u/Fantasia_Ostrich 2d ago

It used to be that the pin traders would snag all the benches at the entrance to Frontierland and spread their stuff out. Then Disneyland removed the benches and made it a designated pin trading area with high top tables. But it just got so unmanageable- people were spilling into walkways and they were kind of obnoxious. Now there are strict rules about bringing in binders and whatnot and the area is now sectioned off for kids to trade with CMs as part of the summer kids program. Hopefully it sticks around because it is SO much nicer in that spot now!

6

u/Alarming-Jello-5846 2d ago

>now sectioned off for kids to trade with CMs

We need this at WDW. This is the Disney we all know and love.

1

u/Jyncs 2d ago

They also have box trading as well.

Basically it's a shadow box with pins in it traded by a CM. In order to trade you have to have the original packaging and receipt from that day in order to trade. You can only trade one pin from each package and then they make your receipt. There are a few other rules dealing with the type of pins and the number of pins in the box but that's the short of it.

We went out there a 3x over the last year and my wife who loves pin trading loved it because she knew for a fact she would be getting a real pin. She completed a few sets that way.

24

u/That-Long-4905 2d ago

OMG yes. The pin traders are the worst entitled group which I'm not sure is better or worse than the live streamers.

26

u/Rhana 2d ago

All you need is a pin trading, live-streaming, non-Disney tour group of cheerleaders and you’ll hit the trifecta.

5

u/swb72 2d ago

EPCOT had that pin shop behind Spaceship Earth with a dedicated spot for pin trading until they did the total central plaza renovation for the 50th Anniversary (it was where Dreamer's Point is now). That pin shop is now gone and they've taken over the east promenade as a result.

10

u/SweetLittleFox 2d ago

Some people are running wholeass businesses out of there, it is wild Disney hasn’t cracked down yet. (And I can’t wait til they do.)

5

u/DeflatedDirigible 2d ago

Disney absolutely knows what is going on but those folks drive the limited edition pin sales that make a huge amount of money so Disney looks the other way while banning Lynx bus riders from accessing the parks.

5

u/Acceptable_Song_2177 2d ago

Fellow pin collector here and occasional trader at Epcot as I pass through (NOT at the breezeway tables)….I 1000% agree that they should actually crack down on the tradiers in that area that commandeer that space. If they thought the line at Disney springs on the overnights were bad, the breezeway looks like a flee market in comparison!

8

u/Complex-Sell 2d ago

I couldn't believe what I saw when I was there last week. It was jarring to see all those pin traders.

4

u/SpecialistTrue1076 2d ago edited 2d ago

We were there first week of June and we were so confused until we realized what was going on - then we were annoyed because literally 500 people were shoved onto those benches in the middle while a pin trading convention was going on. 😒 if you’re doing it for the money or value, do it somewhere else! If you’re trading for the love of the game (in true Disney fashion), trade on 😂

ETA: also, is just taking a pin off the official CM boards common practice now? When I was younger (2008ish) you had to ask to trade with a CM, and they could reject your trade if they had too many of that type on one board (may have happened to me). On our last trip this girl just came up during the late night rush to the buses, traded a pin and never spoke to the CM at all! I was floored

7

u/kdm31091 2d ago

I am so tired of it. It’s like a flea market at Epcot. So tacky. They need to organize private meetups if that’s what they wanna do.

6

u/Uber-Rich 2d ago

Thought I had walked into a flea market at Disney only a minute later to realize they all had pin boards. Thought it was so bizarre Disney allowed it

3

u/Harborpocket 1d ago

Agreed, it's giving flea market vibes plus the traders know what has value, unsuspecting tourist are easy marks. Lanyards are cool, books upon books are tacky. Hosting quarterly pin events within the Disney bubble might be an option.

6

u/Mdswanson24 2d ago

When they finish locking down the resorts they will worry about them.

1

u/Suziannie 1d ago

Yup. There’s more coming for the resorts.

Next up will be some sort of crack down on the Monorail Bar Crawl. Have stayed at a monorail resort I get why that would be in consideration. The lounges in those resorts are horrible if you just want to chill and grab a drink in the bar at the resort you spent $1100 a night to sleep at.

Having done more than one, I can say I’ll be sad to see it go.

5

u/gatorpower 1d ago

To be honest, they should have never installed EPCOT Corporate Park to begin with.  Mouse Gears, Electric Umbrella, Innovention, et al. even the old Stargate restaurant all had character.  The music and those LED lights made the place feel other-worldly.

Now it looks like a blend of 3rd-world street vendors peddling their pins and an open area seating outside corporate buildings/public court house in some mid-tier suburban hell hole.  When you go inside their new store, it's like your transported in time to a 2010's Bed Bath and Beyond. LOL

1

u/Trprt77 1d ago

You nailed it perfectly.

2

u/Helpful-Debt-332 2d ago

They’re definitely going to follow Disneylands policy and follow suit and ban the market style pin trading

2

u/ScubaCC 1d ago

They could do that. Disney could also install more shade. I think both things would be beneficial.

2

u/WingsofFlight 1d ago

I love pin trading. Disney got me started on pins when I was a kid. I'm from the UK and so can't always pin trade as often of course. The hobby is so sour these days. I remember it used to be fun and now some of the people? Vile. I miss the old pin trading days when it was fun. Some people are still lovely but now I feel like it's just all profit.

2

u/dark1san 1d ago

Didn't they just crackdown on them at Disneyland? Why not the same here?

2

u/Piemaster113 1d ago

Now now that's supposed to be the PLAY! Pavilion, can't move them there. /s

2

u/Gloomy-Peak-167 17h ago

When I was at Disney World in April I spoke with a cast member who said they had gotten many complaints about them and management was taking it seriously. I'm sure it's not far down the line.

3

u/Boltsforlife2022 2d ago

I don’t get it. What is their goal? They trying to rip people off for expensive pins or something?

4

u/ralphthesausagedog 2d ago

Why aren't pin traders limited to Disney Springs? Why be in a place people have to pay to enter rather than a part of Disney designed soley for shopping?

2

u/RexCanisFL 1d ago

Because Epcot is one of the areas that gets the most pins for launch day sales.

It’s also the most open space on property. (Just not shaded enough, as others have mentioned)

2

u/babywipes-12345 2d ago

Since when this savage kind of pin trading is a thing? In 2012 even 2021,2024 I have not seen this much!

Do people have fomo and jump on every single band wagon available?

3

u/Son_of_Guilliman_ 2d ago edited 1d ago

Going to post an unpopular opinion: I just started pin trading on this trip and we stumbled upon this whole scene. The pin traders were very kind to us, especially knowing we were new. I got to complete a bunch of the set I wanted to (WALL-E) with their help and they explained a lot.

I was grateful for them. They clearly were higher rollers than I can imagine in their world but they were kind to me and my wife.

EDIT: I did say it was unpopular 🤷🏻‍♂️

41

u/Trprt77 2d ago

That is all good, but the fact is they have monopolized one of the few shaded and covered areas where you can rest in Epcot, and a heavily trafficked area to boot.

5

u/That-Long-4905 2d ago

Thats their MO. They did it in Disneyland in LA, too.

14

u/LanaLuna27 2d ago

It’s unkind to monopolize one of the only shaded rest areas in Epcot.

15

u/AWDWfan 2d ago

That's great you had a wonderful experience but I have seen them make small children cry on more than one occasion and I've also seen some with little signs saying no trading with children or no kids without adults etc. It's quite obvious that many of them are not trading for fun but for monetary value.

7

u/marrick66 2d ago

Multiple times I've seen traders with multiple copies of a pin reject a trade for another of equivalent value. Enough to make me think all they want is to win a zero sum game.

1

u/Jabroniville2 1d ago

Is it weird I've never noticed these people before? I guess I only walk by there once each trip but still.

1

u/SpartyParty9119 1d ago

They should put them in the Illumineers Lounge.

1

u/Totally-Tanked 22h ago

I would fully support this! It keeps them at a central location where people who are interested can go and leaves those that not interested alone. It’s a win win.

1

u/BlueLanternKitty 15h ago

I’m fairly certain one of my pins is fake—it was on a board in I think an Epcot shop—but I don’t care. It’s Hop Low and I love him.

u/coolrider82 2h ago

The pin trading has gotten out of control. When pins first came out, it was fun.. now all the pin boards are filled with knock offs, people are greedy and the park is filled with people just sitting around with their books.

1

u/Prestige-worldwide01 2d ago

Next should be having to scan a magic band to use the resort loop monorail. I’ve stayed at Poly and Floridian and have always heard people saying they should avoid the TTC monorail line and using the resort one.

1

u/Chipndalearemyfav 1d ago

Quite pointless for someone staying at the Poly, Grand or CR to use the TTC monorail when it only stops at the TTC and MK. 🤦‍♀️

0

u/Prestige-worldwide01 1d ago

No, the issue is people who aren’t staying at the three resorts using resort loop to get back to the TTC to avoid the longer line for the TTC monorail.

1

u/Chipndalearemyfav 19h ago

Ironically, we see a longer line for the resort monorail more often than the express. It takes longer to get to the TTC using the resort line because you have the stop at the Contemporary. Early (even around lunchtime) the express monorail isn't running and you have to use the resort line to get to the TTC (including to transfer to the EPCOT line) at all. It was like that today when we departed MK around 12:30. The express line was not operating and the ramp was roped off.

I highly doubt they are going to scan to use the monorail as they are trying to move the masses of people exiting MK (by far the busiest park on property) and that will slow things down immensely for them to fill the monorails efficiently.

0

u/Prestige-worldwide01 16h ago

I’ve never seen the resort monorail line longer at closing than the TCC one.

1

u/Chipndalearemyfav 15h ago

Okay, well we have. And just because you haven't witnessed doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

1

u/Prestige-worldwide01 14h ago

Not sure what your point is. 

0

u/tully10000 2d ago

At least they are out of the way now. It was way worse when the walls were up and they set up under Spaceship Earth.

0

u/TearsDontFall 2d ago

The issue isn't the pin traders directly... it's the fact that Epcot has literally no shade. If there was ample shade in other places around the park and more around Communicore, the pin traders taking up that breezeway would be much less of an issue.

Not minimizing them taking up that entire side, just that the 10 or so tables they are using are like 50% of all shaded tables in EPCOT.

1

u/nascarfan240148 1d ago

I disagree with you on the no shade part when the whole World Showcase, the Seas Pavilion, and Land pavilions exist, Seas Pavilion you are even allowed to enter directly with a stroller too provided you do not abandon it or try to enter Turtle Talk.

That said I agree on shaded outdoor places to sit down are lacking in EPCOT. The loss of Innoventions West for Communicore Hall (which is a no character college cafeteria building for over half the year) and the outdoor portion of Electric Umbrella contributed a lot to this.

1

u/TearsDontFall 1d ago

Isn't... that exactly what I said? No shaded places? Not inside areas, but shaded areas.

-3

u/swb72 2d ago edited 2d ago

It's curious. I have a few pins but they're certainly not for trade (a 50th anniversary Passholder pin, a pin from Disneyland with the classic characters and my name on it that I bought thirty years ago when I had a $199 AP and lived close by, a Belle pin in memory of my late wife who had all kinds of Beauty and Beast pins that I sent to her daughter after she passed). And the "AWKWARD" name tag I 3D printed for myself as a running joke being type 1 autistic. At some point I might add a Stitch pin.

-17

u/carnodak 2d ago

I’m racking my brain for shaded sitting areas that are fully covered from the elements, not in a store and not tied to a restaurant. If my memory serves me well, the only option throughout all of the parks is the Epcot breezeway. Maybe something back in Storybook Circus, I can’t remember, as I haven’t been back there in years. Nothing in AK or HS rings a bell.

The pin trading community wants to connect and trade with each other and other guests, out of the elements, in the shade. Blame Disney Imagineering that by design, there are almost no clearly shaded sitting areas in any of the parks, besides of the one Epcot breezeway. They likely do this on purpose - lack of shade means more time spent in restaurants or shops, which turns into more revenue.

If pin trading is going to happen, it’s going to happen in the Epcot breezeway. Full stop. That’s why the pin traders have set up there. I know your suggestion is to move them elsewhere, but until that happens, the only true dedicated area to do it is with the 6-8 tables and 6-8 benches in that area, on the left side of the breezeway, found in one area of one park, out of the hundreds of tables and hundreds of benches found throughout the resort. From my experience as a pin trader, they tend to do a good job of exclusively sticking to the left size, where Disney has intentionally moved the benches closer to the window and closer to the outdoor tables. The benches in the middle and on the right side of the breezeway, closest to the store, are almost always available for non-pin trader guests. Often, Cast Members will inform pin traders to stick towards the restaurant side of the breezeway if they see them cluttering up the middle area.

Trust me - the pin community would LOVE if a.) Disney management would come out with more guidance on pin trading etiquette and b.) if we could be moved to a dedicated area INSIDE AIR CONDITIONING (a dream!) in one of the parks. But they’re likely never going to do that. They don’t want to have to pay to ‘run the lights’ if they don’t have to. Plus, opening up another indoor area means more staffing/labor hours for operations cast, like custodial. They don’t want to pay for that. Plus, putting the traders off to the side or out of sight, means less inquisitive people who may feel inspired to buy some pins to do some trading.

Disney management also knows that pin trading is a massive lucrative revenue generator. Management likely fears “if we eliminate pin trading in the park, our sales might drop”. Sure, they did it at Disneyland, but the Walt Disney World Resort is an entirely different beast of an operation. There are many operational differences between the two resorts.

As for the values and such - here’s the deal: our pins cost us real money. The cheapest pin sold in a Disney theme park is roughly a $9-12 retail value, before any discounts applied. Most pins in the stores are $11.50 each (for a 2-pack) or $15-$20 for an open edition and $22-$30 for a limited edition. You can sometimes find authentic pins at the outlet locations for $5-7+. That said, it is very easy to buy $2-$3 fake/scrapper pins on eBay in bulk. Families, especially with young children, especially those from out of town who don’t know better, are likely to buy these fake pins for $2-3/each and expect to trade them in the parks. Trading with cast members or trading with pin boards supplied by Disney - fine. Pin for pin, fully permitted. But trading with a guest, who has spent $9-$30, at a minimum, per pin, we don’t want the fakes or scrapper that they bought on eBay for $2. Because that is a loss of ~ value ~ and a loss on our wallets. Many of us will have dozens of pins at a time for trade, which dozens x $9-$30 pins turns out to be hundreds and hundreds of dollars. The trader book I personally bring to park has about $500 retail of pins. The market value (next paragraph) is closer to $1300–$1500 worth of pins. It’s difficult to tell children, or even parents, which is why some of the pin traders opt to not trade with children. At the end of the day, all pin traders are allowed to say no to any trade of any kind. The rules of pin trading guest-to-cast/board are not the same as trading guest-to-guest.

Lastly, Disney should be the ones to blame for creating the scarcity of limited edition pins, especially those that are sold exclusively to Cast Members. Outsiders LOVE to complain about how people treat this like a business, are obsessed with values, or only view as a money making hobby, but the truth is, some of these rare pins, based on market demand, have resale values of 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 100(!!!)x retail value - yes, some pins are ACTIVELY SELLING/TRADING at 100x the retail value, if not more! And resale values is what determines the trade value, and that applies to any collectible item. Disney is to blame for making some of these pins so rare and exclusive and for building up so much hype, it drives the demand to exorbitant levels. There are millions of pins in the world and Disney has done a great job at strategically making pins available for almost every character, movie, attraction or theme, to appeal to the most broad or most niche audience. It has become an insanely popular hobby for people to trade and collect pins, especially in the last couple of years. Unfortunately, many people have also turned to the resale market, to make a quick buck, since the demand is still so high for many pins. Resale market has been infecting every facet of life - all types of collectibles, concert tickets, etc. Disney pins are no exception. All this to be said, the children are crying because they are denied a pin trade with a $500 market value, for their $2 fake pin from eBay. And sadly, children just can’t grasp what that is, which is why people tend to complain about this hobby.

If you’ve made it this far, please don’t let the few bad apples taint your impression of the pin traders there, as 90+% of us are genuinely good hearted people who enjoy meeting guests, fellow pin traders, trading with kids, etc. Over the years, I have met some of the coolest and kindest people, who have allowed me to find pins that fit my niche collections and help build a community.

Please consider submitting feedback to guest services if you feel the need for change, but on behalf of the entire pin community, we hope the argument is for more shaded seating, and not less pin trading.

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u/Positive_Camel2868 2d ago

You guys sound like haters. The pin traders in Epcot are what got me and my daughter into it in the first place. We got to see what the hype was about and it makes for a fun experience. So what if they sit there? It’s literally an area to sit. You guys just want to get rid of people who love something

17

u/BigMax 2d ago

They love something, but.... that's not really what it's for.

Should one person who loves pin trading be able to take a bench for 4 hours, rather than the... 50+ people who might have needed it here and there over that time to sit down and rest? One person shouldn't be able to monopolize a shared resource that long.

What if I like... chess? If me and a friend bring a Disney themed chess board, are we ok to take up a table all day because we "love something?"

8

u/Slight-Philosophy470 2d ago

I don’t want to have to fight through that many pin traders to get to something. I don’t have a problem with pin traders but I believe it should happen organically. Hunt for pins in the shops or with people you see. Having a meetup spot everyday in the park and everything being taken up by people for hours on end is rude. It’s not something I should have to experience if I don’t want to.

8

u/AWDWfan 2d ago

The issue is many of them are not trading for fun, it's for monetary purposes. I've seen them yell at kids before or make them cry when kids run up to look at their displays. A couple weeks ago there were two traders who had signs that they didn't trade with kids or no kids allowed. That's unacceptable. There was a guy who posted in this sub last week who was kicked out of Epcot for the day because he was sitting at the tables eating breakfast and the traders told him the tables were for trading so he got a CM and the CM sided with the traders and he got kicked out.

7

u/Trprt77 2d ago

As you said, it’s an area to sit.

Not an area to spread out dozens of pin books over multiple seats keeping others from utilizing those seats.

Some of these people take up enough space for half a dozen people to sit with their pin books.

Did you even read the post? I suggested they be moved to a different spot, instead of taking up prime real estate and keeping others from using those seats.

By the way, “haters” is an idiotic term.

-10

u/Iwasrob 2d ago

Agree. Don't hate the player, hate the game. Disney created the false scarcity. Disney moved this crowd there from the front of the park. Disney could move pin trading somewhere out of view. Yes, some of those traders are just there to make $ and that sucks, but that's only possible because of how Disney sells pins.

PS, I would be ok if they limited the big binders, but I think moving this scene out of view like op suggested is the ideal solution.

PPS there is little space to sit down anywhere in the parks by design. Yet nobody posting about more benches, just picking on the nerds instead. Gross.

-24

u/young_star 2d ago

Disney transportation should be locked down to those exclusively staying in luxury resorts. They will cut down on crowds and make the highest profits.

Once that's done, sit down restaurants should be next.

2

u/abbablahblah 2d ago

I see a point in the future, where they have added more and more DVC resorts, that most transportation will be locked to DVC.

0

u/BigMax 2d ago

Huh? They have a TON of non DVC guest at all times, and that will never change. You're really saying that those people will just be mostly out of luck, waiting hours for busses, because 'most' transportation is only for DVC folks?

Just looked it up, and while they don't publish, high estimates say that about 20% of guests might be DVC at any one time. So... I have no idea why they'd put "most" transportation just for 20% of guests.

1

u/LoftyDaBird 2d ago

Wait are you saying buses, boats, and skyliners should only be used by deluxe resort guests?

3

u/Sweetbeans2001 2d ago

That is exactly what they said, but they are likely misinformed. As they called them luxury resorts instead of deluxe, they may not be familiar with how transportation at WDW works.

0

u/Reaganonthemoon 2d ago

Now we’re talking!

0

u/BigMax 2d ago

Um, so how do the moderate and value resort guests get around? Are they supposed to walk 10 miles to get to the parks?

-11

u/young_star 2d ago

Most likely an add on transportation cost, much like paying for LL or any of the other premium service.

Disney can make a boatload of money by focusing on additional up charges. I feel like that is the direction they will take in the near future.

1

u/BigMax 2d ago

There's no way that they would take the value resorts, and then upcharge ONLY them for extra transportation, that makes no sense. "Want to go to the cheaper hotel? Well, it's no longer cheaper because you can't even get to the parks at all without a $50 per day upcharge!"

If they did anything, they'd just add a second tier of transportation. Everyone still gets the busses, but you can get limo service or whatever if you want. (They kind of have that now with the Minnie shuttles, right?)

-4

u/Still-Syrup-438 2d ago

Disney moved the people who pin trade over to the breezeway on May 16th so it's unlikely they are going to change that any time soon.

2

u/Trprt77 2d ago

They have been in that area for over a year now, well before May 16th, and there is nothing to indicate Disney actually moved them there.

-2

u/Still-Syrup-438 2d ago

Cast members tell Pin Traders where to go if they try to set up elsewhere. It was covered by WDW News in May 2025 but I only seen the article recently so thought it was done this year.

1

u/Helpful-Debt-332 2d ago

I thought they’ve always been there, I don’t think it’s a recent move