Rules of the Trade

Keep the magic alive. Read the official rules and unspoken etiquette of trading.



The Golden Rules

2 Pins Per Person

You may trade up to 2 pins per Cast Member, per day. Don't pressure them for a third!

Official Pins For Official

It is good Etiquette to trade official Disney pins with official ©Disney pins. Trade Boo boo's for Boo Boo Kitties.

One for One

You give one pin, you get one pin. Cast Members cannot refuse a trade if they don't already have your pin on their board.

Good Etiquette

  • Ask First: "May I look at your pins?" is the magic phrase.
  • Point, Don't Touch: Never grab a Cast Member's lanyard. Point to the pin you want.
  • Step Aside: Once you've traded, step away from the board so others can look.
  • Help Kids: Let younger traders go first if a board is crowded.

Bad Form

  • No Scrappers: Don't knowingly trade fake/scrapper pins for official pins. It hurts the hobby.
  • No Money: Cast Members cannot accept cash or gifts for pins.
  • Don't Hover: Don't block the Cast Member from doing their actual job (cleaning, greeting, etc.).

Spotting a "Scrapper" (Fake Pin)

Scrappers are factory rejects or fakes that flood the parks. Try to avoid trading these to Cast Members.

Color: Look for "dips" in the paint or wrong colors. Weight: Fakes feel light and plastic-like. Edges: Rough or sharp edges usually mean it's fake. "Tiny Towers": Fake pins tend to have nubs on each side of pin in back, REAL pins are sharp points. Diamond: As help for looking for fakes ©Disney has started to put diamond Mickey on the back.