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Disney Pin Sets

JLesgaspi — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:23:16 +0000

If you are an avid Disney pin collector, there is no doubt that you have many Disney pin sets. Your pin collection may have started with one, and by realizing the beauty and magnificence of each Disney pin you have collected, your collection has grown maybe into the hundreds or even thousands. Everyone knows that one of the most popular places to get some of the latest and greatest Disney collector pins is at the actual Disney Parks and Resorts. However, if park hopping and resort shopping is not your thing—there is an easier way to obtain these collectible pins, and you can do it all from the comfort of your home.

Disney Pin Set World of Wonderment Passholder 2010
US $19.99

Set of 6 Disney Tinker Bell Anime Action Figures 1517
US $9.99

Set of 9 Mickey Mouse Pins Disney Store Boxed Set
US $11.54

DISNEY PINS FIRST RELEASE MICKEY MINNIE SAFETY PIN SET
US $2.98

DISNEY THE LION KING PICTURE FRAMES SET 2
US $9.99

DISNEY PIN TINK CINDERELLAS CASTLE 2 PIN SET
US $2.99

DisneyDirectcom Disney Incredibles 4 Pin Set
US $9.99

JDS Mini Incredibles 5 Pin Set Japan Disney Store VHTF
US $40.00

Walt Disney Pin Set Tigger Lunch Box Thermos MINT NEW
US $3.80

DISNEY PIN VINTAGE MICKEY MINNIE SET
US $2.99

Disney Classics of Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Pin Set WOW
US $5.00

Disney Rescuers 5pc Pin Set IN BOX MINT WOW
US $5.00

Nowadays, everything can be found on the internet. Disney pin sets and Disney trading lots are no exception. There are many websites dedicated to trading Disney memorabilia and some even offer these pins for sale at prices well under market value. Sites such eBay offer Disney pin complete sets at unbelievably low prices that sometimes seem too good to be true. Sometimes these deals are in fact too good to be true, and other times they are the real deal. First, let us get to why people would go to sites like eBay to get their Disney pins or other Disney memorabilia in the first place.

A site like eBay is trusted and provides a user feedback system. This helps buyers feel secure when making purchases through their site. Let’s say you have a Disney pin set that you need one last pin to complete. You have tried all the pin trading sites, you have also called around to the parks and the resorts and nobody can locate that one single pin. There is a very good chance that eBay is going to have that one special Disney pin that you need to make your set complete. In fact, eBay might not only have the pin you are looking for, but they may have it for less than what you would pay for it at a park or at the Disney Resorts. If you buy from a trusted seller on eBay, you will not only get a good deal on your pin, you can feel secure that you are buying a true genuine collector Disney pin.

Another reason you may turn to a site such as eBay to buy your Disney collectible pins is the fact that you enjoy them, but you simply do not feel like going through the hassle of collecting them all. You will find many people selling their complete sets of Disney collector pins for relatively low prices, and some priced at market value on eBay. When you see the low prices for some of the Disney collector pin sets, you may ask yourself why in the world someone would sell them for so low. There are a few reasons. First, the obvious—they need the money. Second, they do not know the true value of the pins. Lastly, the pins are fakes; and fake pins can be found all over eBay. Disney pin collectors call these “scrapper” pins and they are far from the real deal. There are many ways to spot these fake Disney pins and eBay has members that dedicate pages to give you insight on what to look for when buying your pins.

Overall, there are many deals to be had on eBay, especially for Disney pins and other Disney collectibles. Just remember, that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always buy from reputable sellers on eBay, especially when it comes to Disney Pin Sets.

Hidden Mickey Pins

JLesgaspi — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:50:51 +0000

Since their introduction into the pin trading community, Hidden Mickey Pins (aka cast lanyard pins) have quickly become the most sought after addition to any collector's lanyard. Each one of these pins boasts a three circle silhouette of the world's most famous character, Mickey Mouse. The tri-circle formation generally appears in a solid color of silver or gold and is gently hidden in the landscape of the enamel pin. But where did the crude iconic symbol come from?

Disney Trading Pin lot of 20 Hidden Mickey LE
US $13.50

DISNEY HM RACK LE NO DUPLICATES 100 PIN TRADING LOT
US $68.50

50 DISNEY PARK TRADER PINS LOT W HIDDEN MICKEYS
US $37.00

100 DISNEY PARK TRADER PINS LOT W HIDDEN MICKEYS
US $68.95

Lot of 50 DISNEY Pins w Hidden Mickey No Duplicates
US $24.99

200 DISNEY PARK TRADER PINS LOT W HIDDEN MICKEYS
US $129.00

DISNEY pin Lot 20 Trading Cast Lanyard Hidden Mickey
US $13.50

Official Disney Pin Trading Lot of 200 w Hidden Mickey
US $129.00

Originally created as an inside joke amongst the Disney Imagineers Hidden Mickeys were hidden throughout Walt Disney resorts and parks in architecture, pathways, decor and even on the silver screen in the animated Disney movies. There have been over 600 recorded sightings of Hidden Mickeys but an official Disney guide has never been compiled. Remember that official Mickeys must be the Mickey Mouse character, must be hidden and must have been intended by the Imagineers.

It wasn't until the 3rd Lanyard pin series when designers began to add the simple Mickey icon to the pins' designs. In 2007 Disney redubbed the series "Hidden Mickey Disney Pins" and 94 of the most popular designs were reissued. They are also known as cast lanyard pins. As with any new craze beware of counterfeiters. Official pins have quality colors that have borders or outlines and a heavy metal base. Counterfeit pins, as a general rule, are made cheaply and weigh less. Be sure that the pin has the official Disney trademark logo stamped on the back. Some pins also have additional information on the back such as the year produced, edition number and whether the pin is a limited edition. Always get your pins from an official Disney pin location to help avoid these knock offs. If you can't make it official selling point for Disney Pins the next best place to find official Disney Pins is Ebay. Just look for lots of good feedback to pick out the trusted sellers. Happy hunting!

Types of Disney Pins

JLesgaspi — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:18:08 +0000

Disney pins come in almost as many different shapes and sizes as there are colors in the rainbow. Disney artists work constantly to design and create new pins with features that are sure to delight and intrigue collectors of all ages. Over the years, they have come up with several different styles of pins, each one more striking than the next. With some many pins to choose from, anyone is certain to find one that speaks to him.

Lenticular Pins

These Disney pins are adorned with at least two images. As the pin is tilted one way or another, a different image is displayed. Although these pins have been created with countless different subjects, the eerie quality of images shifting from one to another lends itself particularly to pins featuring the Haunted Mansion attraction or one of the Disney villains.

Slider Pins

Slider pins feature a component of the pin that moves across the rest of the pin. In some cases the piece will slide back and forth; in other cases the piece moves up and down. In almost all of the pins, however, the motion is used to simulate motion the pin’s inspiration makes. For instance, the Disney pin that honors the Tower of Terror attraction includes two moveable elevator doors. These doors are reminiscent of the motion of the ride’s doors as they open at random intervals.

Spinner Pins

Another Disney pin with motion, spinner pins have a component that rotates freely from the rest of the pin. Sometimes, the spinning piece is a flat piece that spins in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion similar to the gears in a clock. Other times, the spinning piece rotates on an axis to reveal a front or back side.

Light-Up Pins

This fun take on Disney pins uses a little extra Disney magic. When turned on, these pins feature tiny bulbs that emit light. Popular in night scenes, villain eyes, and many other applications, light-up pins are sure to attract attention. A replaceable battery powers the special effects in these pins.

Flocked Pins

Flocked Disney pins have a texture that the other pins don’t possess. The process of flocking involves attaching a type of pulverized wool to the surface of an object to create a fuzzy texture the object wouldn’t normally possess. Flocked pins usually exhibit a design that entails a furry component. One particular flocked pin features Mickey Mouse adorned in a Santa Suit. The fur of his suit is embellished with white flocking.

These types of Disney pins merely scratch the surface of the vast array of pins available today. Glitter pins have a unique sparkle embedded in the finish of the pin. This finish lends itself to the pins that feature winter motifs or one of Disney’s princesses. Hinged pins are jointed to fold and unfold. Charming locket pins make use of this mechanical function. Jumbo pins are noticeably larger than the other pins. As techniques used to decorate these tiny collectible continues to expand who knows what the next generation of Disney pins will look like?

Cast Lanyard Trading Pins

JLesgaspi — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:15:45 +0000

In order to promote Disney pin trading between resort guests and resort employees (referred to as cast members) Disney Productions began releasing a collection of pins and Disney lanyards to cast members. Pins in these collections came to be known as cast lanyards. Disneyland and Walt Disney World both have their own versions of these pin releases, but either one is sure to delight guests at both resorts.

TINKER BELL AT SUNSET Disney Cast Lanyard Pin
US $3.28

DISNEY pin Lot 20 Trading Cast Lanyard Hidden Mickey
US $13.50

WDW Disney Cast Member Lanyard Pin CHIP DALE FALL
US $.99

WDW Disney Cast Member Lanyard Pin CINDERELLA CASTLE
US $1.85

OMALLEY DIAMOND CHARACTER Disney Cast Lanyard Pin
US $3.00

WDW Disney Cast Member Lanyard Pin BUZZ LIGHTYEAR CAR
US $.99

Disney Cast Member Lanyard Pin JIMINY CRICKET TOPIARY
US $2.50

Disney Cast Member Lanyard Pin NEPHEWS IN SCHOOL BUS
US $1.04

SMILING CHESHIRE CAT Disney DLRP Cast Lanyard Pin
US $4.25

DISNEY CAST LANYARD CHARACTER KITE DAISY DUCK 2004 PIN
US $1.88

Disney Cast Member Lanyard Pin CLARABELLE COW Beachball
US $.99

BAMBI DIAMOND CHARACTER Disney Cast Lanyard Pin
US $13.53

Cast lanyards were originally released at Walt Disney World in 2002. A new series, or group of pins, is released each year to introduce new pins to this line of pins. Initially, Disney pins in this series had the words “Disney’s Cast Lanyard Collection” imprinted on the backside of the pins, but this method of identification became obsolete after the second year.

With the beginning of the release of the third series of pins, cast lanyard pins were marked with a small, black Mickey Mouse head on the face of the pin. These “hidden Mickeys” eventually led to the series being renamed as the Hidden Mickey Pins Collection. Regardless of the name attached to this collection, this series of pins are still released to cast members to trade with guests at Disney properties.

The Disneyland Resort also began releasing its own series of cast lanyards in 2002. This series of pins is substantially smaller than the series of pins released at Walt Disney World, but a special offering of “hotel” pins are also available at the Disneyland Resort. In fact, visitors to the Disneyland Resort are given two of the “hotel” pins to give them a jump-start on their pin trading. Like the collection distributed at Walt Disney World, however new pins are added to Disneyland’s Hidden Mickey Collection on a regular basis.

Encouraging young guests to take part in the fun of Disney pin trading takes on a special importance at Disney properties. Children who are visiting Walt Disney World or Disneyland have extra opportunities to trade with cast members. Some cast members are issued specially-colored lanyards that designate them as being available to trade with guests between the ages of three and twelve only. At Walt Disney World these lanyards are green; at Disneyland these lanyards are teal.

One type of pin is commonly confused with pins from the Hidden Mickey Collection. These pins, referred to as cast member pins, are not released to cast members for trading with guests. Instead, these pins are available for sale to cast members only for their own personal use. Frequently, these pins make their way onto the secondary market making them available to avid pin collectors.

The distribution of cast lanyards to cast members has definitely made an impact in the prominence of trading between guests and cast members. Even guests who visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland often are sure to find a new pin or two thanks to the frequent releases of new pins in the Hidden Mickeys Collection. Disney pin collectors young and old will enjoy the benefits of the cast lanyard program whether they are just beginning their collection or adding to a well-seasoned collection.

Recognizing an Official Disney Pin

JLesgaspi — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:27:29 +0000

Disney pin collectors who have been trading pins for any length of time know how important it is to make sure that the pin they are considering trading for is eligible for trading. No trader wants to find out later that he’s been taken advantage of. He wants to know that each pin in his collection is an official Disney pin.

There are several different signs a collector can look for to confirm that the pin he is looking at is an official Disney pin. Although none of these features alone will confirm beyond a doubt that a pin is “real,” the presence of two or more of these features adds a great deal of credibility to the pin in question.

Many of the features of an official trading pin can be found on the pin’s back. The Disney copyright mark is always a good first indication that a pin is eligible for trading. However, the serious collector should know that some pins do not have the Disney trademark. Vintage pins from the 1960’s or 1970’s may have no mark on their back. Some of these pins may also have the words “Walt Disney Productions” stamped on the back. In general, though, collectors who are trading pins inside a theme park should expect to see the copyright mark on the back of any prospective pins.

Official Disney pins also tend to have the iconic, rubber Mickey head as its back. Certainly, most of the pins sold today feature this style of attachment. However, internet traders or collectors looking for a vintage pin can also expect to see “squeeze” backs, tie tack backs, and even screw on backs. Pins released before the 1990’s simply have the old-fashioned back similar to those used on brooches. Collectors should have an idea what style of back the pin they are interested in should have.

Pins touted as limited edition pins should carry its number on the pin’s back side. For instance, a pin that is one of a run of 500 pins should include a marking that tells the owner where the pin fell in the sequence of 500. If that marking doesn’t not include the sequence number, the pin is probably not an official trading pin.

Finally, no discussion of the authenticity of a Disney pin would be complete without pointing out the existence of "scrapper” pins. Scrapper pins are often manufactured by the same companies that manufactured the licensed Disney pins. These pins were created in excess of Disney’s order quantity or or did not meet the standards required of a Disney
pin. The manufacturer in these situations, however, did not destroy these unauthorized pins. Instead, they are sold on the market.

Fortunately for pin collectors, scrapper pins can look visibly different than their official counterparts making it easier to distinguish between the two types of pins. The method of display for these pins also lends a tip towards separating the two. Scrapper pins are often sold in bags rather than being displayed on the traditional card seen in Disney Pin Trading shops or Disney stores.