My Year Long Hiatus

Hey everyone,

It has been a long time since I have posted a blog here! It has been a somewhat stressful year, went through some job changes and completely ran myself ragged between work and volunteering, so much that my health was compromised. I took a step back from many things in life, unfortunately this was one of them. I have since made things more stable and am progressing back into the things I am passionate about, and Disney is one thing I am very passionate about.

Together my wife and I have teamed up and started a blog together! We have started Exploring The Kingdom and our blog can be found at explorethekingdom.blogspot.ca! We have started an Instagram account posting pictures from our three previous Walt Disney World trips! (instagram.com/exploringthekingdom). Please check them out and share our love of Disney!

2015 was a pretty up and down year, I really missed Disney World as we did not get there this year. I really missed the pin trading. But throughout the year both myself and Alice have worked really hard and we are happy to be returning to Disney World in January 2016! I have dusted off the pin collection and ordered some more for trading. I look forward to escaping the cold Canadian winter again and head to sunny Florida!

So please join us as we are driving this year to Disney and will be videoing our travels and time at Disney World.

Stay tuned for more!
Happy Trading
-The Pin Boys

Walt Disney Presents...

This is one of my favorite pins, it's from the Disney Store when they sold pins. It's #7 of the 100 Years of Dreams series.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Two Worlds: Tarzan & Jane

My wife is a big fan of Tarzan, so when we managed to come across this two worlds Tarzan & Jane pin, we had to get it. It is from a Disney Store Magical Moments series. It's to bad the Disney Store doesn't sell pins anymore.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Movie Rewards Pin

You heard that right, even the Disney Movie Rewards has pins you can get with your reward points. I can't believe I forgot to post this pin when I got it a month ago. It is a jumbo pin featuring Mickey Mouse, and is exclusive to only Disney Movie Rewards and has the movie rewards logo in the bottom left corner. It even comes with a stand.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Pin Feature: My 1st Visit

Today I am showing you the pin I got on my first visit to Walt Disney World, and is one of the pins that got me started on my collection. It is from 2012 and is the 1st visit pin they had for sale in the pin store at Downtown Disney.

 

I have some special exclusive pins in the mail from the Disney Movie Club, so stay tuned for those as I will post pictures of them when I get them.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Studio Store June 2014 Pin Release/Event

Here are the pins coming out for June at the Disney Studio Store in Hollywood. Information about the event can be found here: Disney Studio Store Facebook Page

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Revenge Of The 5th

Today is the revenge of the 5th, so I am featuring my get a taste of the darkside Disney pin. It has a stormtropper eating a Mickey shaped ice cream treat.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

May The 4th Be With You

May the 4th be with you, today I thought it would be fitting to feature the emblem of the Republic Disney Pin. This pin came in a set 7 different Star Wars emblems.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Studio Store May Pins

Here are the pins coming out in May at the Disney Studio Store!

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Cruise Line Exclusive Pins

The 2 new pins are a Disney Cruise Line Exclusive. The first one is a Captain Hook pin, with the tag line "Smooth and Seaworthy, you'll be hooked on the quality". The second pin features Grumpy, with the sayings "Salty and Bitter" and "Strong and Stout". These pins have been available since April.17th on Disney Cruise Lines.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Pin

Since the Seven Dwarfs Mine train will be opening in 2014, Walt Disney World has released a pin to celebrate. It features Dopey and Grumpy riding one of the mine trains. It can be purchased here.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Captain America Disney Pin Out Today!

Today a Captain America Disney Pin is being released in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, for the upcoming theatrical release of Captain America:The Winter Soldier. I wish I could get my hands on this limited edition pin.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Studio Store April Pin Release

Here are the pins coming out for April at the Disney Studio Store in Hollywood.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

March Flower & Garden Pin Release

Here are a set of 5 pins that have been released for the Flower & Garden festival at Walt Disney World.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Pin From China

I managed to get this Pirates of The Caribbean Disney Pin, which is actually a Disney Pin from one of the China Parks. I thought it was cool and had to get it.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Found this $15 Pin Trading

In my trading at Walt Disney World, I managed to find this pin, which is a $15 retail priced pin at Disney World. And yes it is real!

It opens up and has some classic pictures of Mickey Mouse and a great picture of Walt and Mickey in the middle.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Trade With Scoop!

My wife also got to do a trade with Scoop Sanderson, this is the pin she got.

It is a beautiful pin from the opening of New Fantasyland in 2012.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Pin Trading Is Everywhere!

On my recent trip to Walt Disney World, I wrote down some of the lesser known places to pin trade. One of the most common ones, but easily forgotten is that all 4 parks have a pin trading book at guest relations. Along with guest relations at all of the parks, you can go to the stroller and wheel chair rental area and each park has a pin trading stroller.

Here is the breakdown of some of the lesser known places:

Hotels

Pop Century - At the Pop Century resort, in the Everything Pop store at the main counter, there is a pin board that is open at certain times in the day.

Coronado Springs - At Coronado Springs resort, in the Panchitos Gifts store, at the main counter in the center they occasionally have a pin trading rubik's cube.

In the back of Panchitos Gifts, there is a wall of pins for sale, at the counter next to that, they have a pin trading Pinata.

Contemporary Resort - At the Contemporary Resort, when you enter or leave Chef Mickey's, there is a pin trading board at the host stand.

In the Fantasia store, at the counter they have a pin trading board in a drawer.

Parks

Magic Kingdom - At the host stand in Tony's Town Square, there is a pin book to trade with.

In Frontierland, at the Frontierland Trading Post, there is a pin board available anytime to trade with.

At Big Top Souvenirs, in New Fantasyland, they have fake popcorn with pins on them you can trade with.

Epcot - At the host stand in Coral Reef, there is a pin board to trade with.

In Norway, at the Puffins Roost there is a pin board to trade with.

At the Traders store, in what would have been the Africa section of The World's Showcase, there is a pin book to trade with.

Hollywood Studios - In the store at Rockin' Roller Coaster, where you can purchase a photo of yourself on the ride, they have a drum with pins you can trade with.

At the entrance of Muppet Vision 3D, if you ask the person working, they have a pin board they can bring out for you.

Animal Kingdom - The gift store outside of the park, right beside Rainforrest Cafe, they have a pin trading board and a pin trading vest.

The first cart on your left, just past the Oasis at Animal Kingdom, on the other side of the bridge, they have a pin book you can trade with.

These are just some of the places I found on my trip, I'm sure there is lot's more. If you know of a place I did not mention, feel free to leave a comment below. Remember also, Disney likes to change things, so some of these places might change.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

Disney Studio Store February Pin Release

Here is the pins being released in February at the Disney Studio Store.

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys

4 Parks 1 Day!

My wife and I equally love Disney World and one thing we always wanted to accomplish is doing all 4 parks in 1 day. This trip we finally planned to accomplish this goal. We started in Animal Kingdom and rode Expedition Everest. We then made our way to Hollywood Studios and rode Rockin' Roller Coaster, we had a 80 minute wait for that one. Then after Hollywood Studios, we walked over to Epcot and rode Test Track. It was another long wait, but it was totally worth it. The speed of Test Track is amazing and when you whip around the corner at 65 mph, there is no better feeling.

Once through Test Track, we hoped on the monorail and headed for our finishing point in the Magic Kingdom. Once in Magic Kingdom, we made our way to Space Mountain. What better way to finish the day with one of the most iconic rides at Disney! It was a tiring day, but a very exciting one. We made sure to get our picture taken at every park that day.

I guess the next goal to set our sights on is all 6 parks in 1 day, well that wont happen for awhile. Also, yes, there was plenty of successful pin trades that day!

Happy Trading

-The Pin Boys