Okay so I’m that Disney pin nerd who spends way too much time hunting for those super rare pins. Last month I was like “enough with the common ones” and decided to figure out how the heck people actually score the grails. Here’s exactly what went down:
The Wake-Up Call
Started at Epcot with my basic lanyard thinking traders would throw rare pins at me. Nah. Spent two hours getting nothing but scrappers and 2015 castmember pins. Felt like a total rookie when some dude in a Figment hat flashed a hidden Mickey set I didn’t even know existed. That’s when I realized I needed intel.
Stalking the Spots
Next day I camped out near Magic Kingdom’s City Hall like it was my job. Watched where cast members with the big pin books went during shift changes. Turns out they rotate locations every 90 minutes! Made friends with Brenda, a manager who’s been trading since 2008. She whispered this:
- Resorts are goldmines – Grand Floridian and Polynesian get wealthy guests dumping grails
- Rainy afternoons = rare pins – fewer traders competing when it pours
- Ask for their “specials” – most keep rares hidden unless you ask nicely
The Pin Boards Grind
Took Brenda’s advice and hit three resorts back-to-back. Polynesian’s board was mostly junk but BoardWalk had a LE 250 Ariel pin just sitting there! My hands shook doing that trade. Later at Animal Kingdom Lodge, some kid traded me a chipped Cinderella for my Pascal pin. Didn’t realize till later it was a vintage 2005 cast exclusive. Felt like I robbed him.
Trading Post Secrets
Disney Springs trading post is brutal. Saw five people sprinting toward a new board like Black Friday. Got pushed aside by a lady with a binder thicker than my mattress. Learned to:
- Go mid-week when pin groups aren’t raiding
- Trade cast members before they stock boards – caught Sarah unpacking and snagged a Stitch constellation pin
- Bring “bait” – used shiny new Lion King pins to lure traders
What Actually Worked
After two weeks of this madness, my grail haul included a haunted mansion portrait pin, that LE Ariel, and three hidden Mickeys cast members swore were “impossible to find.” Real talk? The magic formula is:
- Scout resort boards RIGHT after check-out time (11am-1pm)
- Trade during parades/fireworks when everyone’s distracted
- Carry backups – traders ignore cheap pins but go nuts for limited editions
Still haven’t found that damn pink elephant grail though. Next trip…