On the last day of a previous trip to Walt Disney World, my mom and I had an open day where we weren’t going to the parks. We decided to hop on the monorail and stop at each resort along the way to pin trade. Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pin trading with cast members using pin lanyards won’t be happening during the first part of the reopening. However, pin trading with pinboards will be available.
The first stop on our trek was the Grand Floridan Resort and Spa. There are a few locations to trade around this resort, the first being M. Mouse Mercantile.
M. Mouse Mercantile, located on the second level of the Grand Floridian, has a few cast members that usually are wearing pin lanyards. It used to have a pinboard that was brought out at select times, but we discovered that it was removed a few weeks prior after talking to a cast member.
Next, we stopped by Basin White, another shop located at the Grand Floridian, which surprisingly had a pinboard. Sandy Cove Gifts, a small gift shop on the first floor near 1900 Park Fare, also had some cast members with pins.
Most of the resorts also have a pin book at the concierge, and the one at the Grand Floridian had plenty to choose from. After trading a pin or two in the pin book, we got on the monorail and traveled to the next resort.
Next on our journey around the monorail was the Polynesian Village Resort. This resort, like the Grand Floridian, has two main shops to pin trade at, as well as one or two smaller locations.
Moana Mercantile, a gift shop on the second floor of the Polynesian, had a decent-sized pinboard with lots of pins. The cast members working at the shop also had pin lanyards on.
On the first floor, the Boutiki store had two pin-tikis (small tiki statues with pins on them) to trade with. Like most of the other locations, cast members working there had pin lanyards.
At the Polynesian concierge, they have a giant pin lanyard instead of a pin book. While there are fewer pins to trade with, it’s a unique experience.
Our last stop on our adventure was the Contemporary Resort. The Contemporary has two big pinboards to trade with, and one smaller pinboard.
Fantasia Gifts has a pretty big pinboard with lots of options. We traded a pin or two there and then headed over to the Contempo Cafe for lunch.
On our way to the Contempo Cafe, we stopped at the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) stand. Most DVC stands at the parks and resorts all have pins. Although, on the day we went pin trading, the Contemporary DVC stand was the only one at which we could find pins.
Since we were tight on time, we didn’t get a chance to visit the pinboard at Fantasia Market. They usually have a decent sized pinboard, and the cast members have lanyards.
If you love pin trading or want to get started pin trading, then this is a great way to spend an open day on your next trip to Walt Disney World.
James is a teen currently in high school from Maryland. He loves all things Disney and has been going to Walt Disney World in Florida with his family every year since 2007. He and his family are DVC members at Bay Lake Tower.
