Report: Disneyland's First Pin Workshop
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As Becky described the basic characteristics of a cloisonné pin, "You’re looking for a solid, metal pin… usually fairly thick… they’re not plastic… they should be smooth and flat, like a table top… but if you run your finger over it you should be able to feel the ridges between the color and the metal." She also explained that "Non-tradable does not equal undesirable, because we know that there are a lot of pins out there that are very, very desirable but at the same time may not be tradable."

Examples of Tradeable Pins Click for a larger version of this picture (749 X 941. 103K)	Examples of Non-Tradeable Pins Click for a larger version of this picture (615 X 831. 78K)

Non-tradable pins are typically plastic or epoxy coated so they have a very smooth surface, or if they are of a solid color as cloisonné means "color", or if they have very distinct ridges so they feel like "a waffle", or if they are made of rubber or neoprene. All pins are still tradable between Guest and Guest, the new guidelines apply to trades between Guests and Cast Members. Becky joked, "Guest to Guest anything goes, as long as no money is exchanged."

She explained that the direction of the new etiquette came from their desire to make trading fair to guests again, "It’s really about making trading fair again for our guests. Keeping all the pins on a Cast Member lanyard as close to equal value as is possible. So you’re not making a trade of an $8.50 pin for a $0.50 pin. It’s all about making pin trading fair and equitable for out guests again."

Becky also took some time to go over a few rules of Disney Pin Trading Courtesy, "for our Cast Members and our Guests… What we ask is that if you want to see someone’s lanyard or someone’s pin, ask before you reach for it." She explained that a basic rule for personal space is an arm’s length between people, and a lanyard is considerably shorter than that and it can be uncomfortable and intimidating to enter that space without permission. She also went over a few rules for Guests trading with Cast Members, "Cast Members all across the resort are wearing lanyards… but, it’s not the only thing they’re doing. They’re also loading an attraction, greeting guests, ringing up a transaction or serving food, please let them know that you want to make a trade and then wait until they can get to you."

Mystery Pins
"We are going to be introducing a mystery pin. The mystery pin will be introduced one a week, somewhere between Sunday and Saturday. Now, this pin can be introduced any day of the week, but also any time of the day, and at any pin location in the entire resort. So, that’s Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure the hotels and Downtown Disney. We’re making you work. What we really wanted to do was introduce some fun back into pin trading." She joked, "We’re all in pin trading because it is a fun sport. And it really is a sport. You’re running from location to location… it is very much a sport out there." She joked about seeing traders "running to locations throughout the park, dodging through crowds, running to pin releases."

The pins will be a limited edition of 1,200 pieces, back-stamped with the words "mystery pin" on the back (except for the first one released as there was a problem with the back stamp). Each Guest will be able to buy 5 pins, and the entire edition of each edition will be sold only at one location, with this the Cast Member at the register can keep track of which guests have been through the line. A hand stamp will also be used to keep the pins more available to a greater number of Guests. The price point for the pins will be in the $6.50 to $8.50. They will be a mixture of character pins, attraction pins, event pins and resort specific designs.

The first Mystery Pin - released May 30th at the Downtown Disney pin cart

Becky laughed, "There are only three people on the planet who know what these pins are and where they’ll be released. And there’s no bribing me." No one else will know, no other Cast Members, Super Traders or Pin Traders. "No one knows until I show up to a location with a box and say ‘Here’s your mystery pin, start selling.’" The promotion will run for 14 weeks - until the end of September. "We know that it’s going to be hard." Becky explained, "And we want to make it hard. And we want to make it fun because you guys have asked for something fun. So we’re going to give this a try and see what we can do... I don’t know how I’m going to sneak to a location, that’s going to be absolutely impossible, but it will make it fun."

"There are going to be more people who do not get these pins than people who will get these pins, to be real honest with you." Becky noted, "But, that’s the fun of the chase and that’s the fun of pin trading. That’s what started everybody in pin trading is really that desire to get that really hard to get pin… we know that nothing’s ever going to be fair and that not everybody’s going to be able to get these pins… But, we’ve definitely made it equally unfair to everybody. Everybody has an equally bad chance and an equally good chance of getting this pin." Adding, "If everyone could get one it wouldn’t be collectable, it would be a souvenir."

Gift With Purchase Pins
Becky explained that they were continuing this program, but beginning in July the GWP pins will go from a Disneyland only program to expand into DCA. It will still be the first Sunday of the month, and each park will have the same pins and the same map. Downtown Disney and the Hotel stores are not going to be participating in this program. "I think it’s the cutest one we’ve ever done. It is cute, I can tell you that." She also explained that it’s this first Sunday promotion that is also a good indicator that there will be new pins released, including any limited edition and seasonal pins.