Disney World Just Removed a Longstanding EPCOT Pin Trading Tradition
But Why the Sudden Change?
There’s a spot in EPCOT that, to the average guest, might look like just another busy sidewalk. But to Disney pin traders, it’s sacred ground. For years, fans have gathered right outside the Pin Traders shop, trading tiny, glittering pins that represent everything from classic characters to obscure park references.
So when Cast Members began asking guests to pack up their collections and relocate—without warning or signage—the reaction was confusion and heartbreak.
Why is Disney quietly cracking down on this beloved pastime? And what does it signal about the company’s evolving relationship with guest traditions?
Disney World Pin Trading: A Community Cornerstone Disappears
You didn’t need to know about pin trading to stumble across it. Near EPCOT’s Pin Traders gift shop, you’d often find clusters of guests with pin books sprawled open on the ground or tables, laughing, negotiating trades, and showing off prized collectibles.
It wasn’t just a place to swap souvenirs. It was a grassroots community that fostered connection—between families, between strangers, and across generations of Disney fans. And best of all, it happened naturally, just steps from a shop filled with the newest releases.
But this week, that changed.
Disney Moves Pin Traders Away From the Shop
Without an official announcement, Cast Members are now telling guests they can no longer linger outside Pin Traders with their pin books or trading bags. Instead, they’re being redirected to the nearby breezeway between Creations Shop and Connections Eatery, where tables now host a quieter version of the once-bustling scene.
When guests posted the location on social media, we saw traders adjusting to the new location, setting up their collections and chatting across breezeway tables. Though the spirit of trading remained, the energy—and visibility—was notably different.
What’s Behind the Sudden Change?
We spoke with Guest Relations and Cast Members to understand the reasoning. The move appears to be tied to a mix of logistical and policy-related concerns.
First, space. The area outside Pin Traders often gets congested, especially during peak hours. Large groups gathered on the sidewalk with open bags can slow traffic, block store access, and create bottlenecks in a high-traffic zone.
But there’s another issue—solicitation.
Guests at EPCOT No Longer Allowed to Pin Trade Outside Shop, Possibly to Deter Solicitation
Guests at EPCOT No Longer Allowed to Pin Trade Outside Shop, Possibly to Deter Solicitationhttps://t.co/JxpNGKj2dk
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) May 17, 2025
According to Guest Relations, some guests were reportedly asking others to enter the store, purchase specific pins, and bring them back for a trade. This practice flirts with the line between trading and selling, and goes against Disney’s pin trading policy, which prohibits using retail purchases as leverage for trades.
By relocating trading farther from the shop, Disney appears to be reducing the chance of solicitation-related problems altogether.
Will Guests Be Banned?
Rumors among the trading community quickly circulated that guests might be banned from the parks if they continued setting up outside Pin Traders.
However, Guest Relations confirmed to Inside the Magic that guests are not being banned—they’re simply being asked to move. Cast Members are enforcing the rule calmly but firmly, and while guests are still welcome to casually trade throughout the park, the days of sidewalk setups in front of Pin Traders are over.
At face value, it might seem like a minor shift. But pin trading at EPCOT has long been more than a casual hobby—it’s a core memory for many. It’s a tradition passed from parent to child, a reason for fans to return to the park again and again, and a rare example of an activity not driven by apps, Lightning Lanes, or purchases.
Disney’s decision to regulate where—and how—guests trade speaks to a bigger trend: increased control over organic guest behavior.
While Cast Members continue to offer pin trading throughout the parks, and while new pins are now available at kiosks like the ones in World Celebration Gardens and Disney Traders, some fans worry this signals a future where unofficial meetups and traditions are squeezed out in favor of structured, controlled experiences.
What’s Next for Pin Trading at Disney World EPCOT?
For now, the breezeway is the new home base for those looking to display and trade pins. The tables offer comfort and shade, and Cast Members we spoke to said the area may be better suited for organized setups in the long run.
Still, the community’s reaction has been mixed. Some welcome the more spacious and accessible setup, while others mourn the loss of the vibrant culture that once buzzed outside the Pin Traders storefront.
One thing is clear: Disney pin trading is still alive—but it’s evolving, and fans will need to adapt with it.
