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Pin Collecting Continues at Walt Disney World Resort With Disney’s Magical Moments Pins

The next generation of pin collecting has begun at Walt Disney World Resort with the introduction of Disney’s Magical Moments pins as a part of the resort’s yearlong 100 Years of Magic celebration.

The twinkling, interactive pins are designed to bring a sprinkle of pixie dust to guests. Each pin is about an inch and a half in length and includes 10 to 20 sparkling lights. As guests make their way throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks and resort areas, their pins will magically react to various events and encounters. From interaction with all of Walt Disney World Resort’s spectacular parades to special moments in favorite attractions, Disney’s Magical Moments pins allow guests to become part of the Disney show -- literally.

Disney’s Magical Moments pins interact with such enchanting experiences as:

Mickey’s triumphant victory over the forces of evil in the “Fantasmic!” nighttime, laser light show at the Disney-MGM Studios.

Practical Pig’s transformation of his float’s lights from sparkling white to an array of colors in the “SpectroMagic” nighttime parade at the Magic Kingdom.

When Hopper from “A Bug’s Life” sends spiders down on unsuspecting guests of the “It’s Tough to be a Bug” 3-D show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

“Guests will discover Disney magic in ways they never thought possible with Disney’s Magical Moments pins,” said Roger Holzberg, senior show producer for Walt Disney Imagineering. “There is one pin representing each of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks and one for the 100 Years of Magic celebration overall. Each pin is designed to create the same magical moments; but there are more than 75 different variations of experience. So there will always be something new to uncover.”

Pin Collecting and Trading

Shopping and swapping their way across property, Walt Disney World guests have turned pin collecting into a bona fide craze. Guests bring bags, lanyards and vests full of their favorite pins to the theme parks to view and trade. Walt Disney World cast members wear special pin trading lanyards, and guests are encouraged to check out cast members’ collections and offer trades.

"Disney’s Magical Moments pins are wonderful additions to our guests’ pin experiences,” says Jim Greene, merchandise manager for global projects at Walt Disney World Resort. “Visitors come from across the country and around the globe to trade pins with both cast members and other guests. And these pins will draw them into entirely new adventures of a lifetime.”

The resort offers a huge collection of “core pins” featuring attractions, resorts and favorite Disney characters, priced between $6.50 and $8.50. Walt Disney World Resort also releases limited edition pins to commemorate special occasions and holidays, and to mark events in resort history. Pin trading stations are located at each of the four theme parks, the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment complex and Walt Disney World Resort hotels. At scheduled times throughout the day, the stations have pin trading sessions where guests gather and trade pins with other enthusiasts.

Some fun facts about pin trading:

Walt Disney World Resort releases more than 350 new pins per year including 10 to 12 limited edition pins, 10 to 12 core pins and 5 to 10 special event pins per month.

There are more than 80 locations on Walt Disney World property that sell pins including 40 Official Pin Trading Stations.

Disney Auctions (http://www.disneyauctions.com) presented by eBay has auctioned a two-pin set featuring “pin trading” Mickey and Minnie which sold for $2,200, making it one of the rarest Disney pins around.

Collectors line up hours before the selling starts to purchase their favorite pins. Some limited edition pins sell out within 30 minutes, including the “Born to Shop Minnie,” a pin featuring Minnie Mouse participating in one of her favorite pastimes -- shopping.

Walt Disney World Resort hosted Disney’s first-ever pin festival called Disney’s Pin Celebration, Aug. 9-12, 2001.

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