For more than twenty-five years, pin trading has been one of the most popular guest traditions at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Collectors have filled lanyards, backpacks, and binders with hundreds of tiny enamel souvenirs, each one either purchased or exchanged with Disney cast members and fellow visitors. However, recent changes within the United States Disney parks have raised new questions about what pin trading looks like in 2025 and whether the practice will continue.
Disney Pin Trading: From Cultural Phenomenon to Controversy
Disney Pin Trading debuted in 1999 and quickly became a signature part of the theme park experience. Guests sought out Hidden Mickey pins, traded with Disney cast members posted around the parks, and formed tight-knit communities in popular spots.
Over time, however, disagreements bubbled to the surface. Some visitors felt that loosely regulated trading areas resembled makeshift “flea markets,” especially in places like EPCOT’s former Future World and Disneyland Park’s Frontierland. Others criticized traders who sprawled out across seating areas or negotiated aggressively with children.
The issue intensified to the point that Tokyo Disney Resort eventually abandoned the practice altogether, reclassifying its pins as “Collector’s Pins” in 2002 and permanently prohibiting trading.
New Rules Redefine the Experience for U.S. Parks
Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort never eliminated Disney Pin Trading, but they did tighten the rules. Today, guests can still trade anywhere inside the parks, as long as they use a lanyard. Stationary displays, including large corkboards and multilayered setups, are no longer permitted.
NEW: Disneyland Resort updated its website with official guidelines for pin trading in theme parks and officially banned the use of benches to display pins.
“Benches or any other structures for the display of pins will not be permitted. Benches are for seating purposes only.”
NEW: Disneyland Resort updated its website with official guidelines for pin trading in theme parks and officially banned the use of benches to display pins.
"Benches or any other structures for the display of pins will not be permitted. Benches are for seating purposes only." pic.twitter.com/libCjfAyUQ
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) November 9, 2023
In Southern California, traders may carry only one bag no larger than 14” x 12” x 6”. Disneyland Park confines stationary trading to a single designated area near Westward Ho Trading Company and limits the activity to specified hours. EPCOT maintains similar location boundaries.
A New Development Creates Fresh Uncertainty
In November 2025, Walt Disney World Resort quietly discounted several official Disney Pin Trading lanyards across multiple parks. Designs originally priced between $12.99 and $19.99 were dropped to $10, with no purchasing limit. The discount has no published end date, and merchandise dated 2026 does not qualify.
Reports from WDWNT indicate that the offer has appeared at stores in Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. It is unclear whether Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, or the resort hotels are participating.
The timing and scale of the markdown have led fans to wonder whether the company is pivoting toward a more controlled, collectible-focused approach, rather than the open-trading experience many longtime guests have come to remember.
Is This the End of an Era?
Disney has not announced plans to discontinue pin trading, and cast member lanyards remain active throughout the parks. What has changed is how the tradition functions. Between more restrictive rules, reduced trading zones, and strategic merchandise adjustments, the experience has undergone a quiet evolution that affects every collector who brings pins to the parks.
Do you support pin trading at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
