News / Pin Trading

Click the image above for the full collection

Entering our third month of 20th Anniversary Disneyland Paris Pin Trading releases, May 2012 sees the start of what could be two new monthly pin series for the occasion.

Mickey’s 20th Anniversary Train is the classic idea of a series of carriages, each featuring different characters, joining up to form a complete set. Whilst Mickey’s engine will cost you €19.99, the subsequent carriages appear to require a monthly investment of €12.99, all limited to just 600 editions. Similarly limited is the Jeu de Pins 20 ème Anniversaire, a €39.99 board game with collectible additional pins, all in the fabulous new “Retro” merchandise style. The first additional pin, also limited to 600 editions, features Mark Twain and Big Thunder Mountain in a retro style, for €14.99.

Slightly more affordable are the quirky “robot” pins, featuring Mickey, Donald and Stitch, available now at €8.99. A new souvenir Pin Trading collectors’ bag, in the 20th Anniversary “Signature” merchandise style, will set you back €44.99. Will you be picking up any of these new Pin Trading items?

Still, all a drop in the ocean compared to the prices (£160 and upwards) that the limited 12th April 2012 pins have been sold for on eBay. Those pins, released on the morning of the big date itself last month, were limited to 1,000 editions but still sold across the resort within hours. Reports from fans who attempted to buy the pins, risking missing the events themselves, suggested that there was no sales limit initially enforced for the €12.99 pins, leading some enterprising folk to buy whole handfulls in one sale, giving one of the few sour points to an otherwise exceptionally managed day.

Planning to celebrate the exact date of Disneyland Paris’ 20th Anniversary, on 12th April 2012? You’re not the only one. We’ve now had it confirmed that Tony Baxter will be present at the park, in person, on the heralded date. Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Walt Disney Imagineering and the original lead creative force behind Disneyland Paris, the legendary Imagineer will answer questions and talk about the history of the park during a special “Imagineering Masterclass” at Videopolis Theatre from 10.45am to 11.45am. Places are open to all but strictly limited to the size of the venue.

Given his legendary status amongst Disneyland Paris fans, having led the overall design of the park and its five key show producers — Eddie Sotto (Main Street, U.S.A.), Jeff Burke (Frontierland), Chris Tietz (Adventureland), Tom Morris (Fantasyland) and Tim Delaney (Discoveryland), it looks set to be an unmissable hour. After the presentation, which will include a Q&A for fans to put their own questions to Tony, video screens inside Videopolis will continue to play archive footage from the resort’s history throughout the day.

Also scheduled for the grand date is a special morning event held by Philippe Gas. The company CEO himself will welcome guests to the park with a personal ceremony on Town Square at 9.30am, to be followed by a much-rumoured — and now officially announced — Cast Member “flashmob”.

The exact details of this moment of music and dance remain a secret, but Cast Members have voluntarily signed up to give their time for the occasion. Park gates will open at 9.00am to allow guests into Town Square, in advance of the ceremony, with the park itself officially opening at 10am. Extra Magic Hours on this date will be held instead at Walt Disney Studios Park — but you’re not going to trade a one-off date in history for a shorter queue at Crush’s Coaster, are you?

Character fans should look out for special one-off happenings and surprises all around the park throughout the day, including appearances from some of the more rarely seen Disney characters. All of these events and times will be listed in a special edition of the park Programme.

For collectors, besides special editions of the free Park Guide leaflets which will only be available on April 12th, there will even be dated merchandise. On sale in strictly limited quantities, a “golden key” pin and both a male and female T-shirt design, pictured above, all with the 12th April 2012 date.

Those who took a gamble and booked trips to coincide with the date, having no guarantee that it would even be commemorated, have certainly been duly rewarded. And for those who hesitated, this surprising programme of events may well be more than enough to encourage a last-minute trip. But given the very late nature of this announcement, it could now be difficult — and perhaps expensive — for those who can’t easily jump on the next RER train to experience the date for themselves at just three weeks’ notice, especially as it falls within the busy Easter holiday period.

Do you plan to be there to mark the date, and experience these events for yourself?

It’s 20s across the board for this month’s Pin Trading releases. The new pins include no less than five special Open Edition pins for the 20th Anniversary, three of which feature Mickey, Minnie and Chip ‘n’ Dale in their sorcerer-themed birthday costumes for Disney Magic on Parade! and Disney’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Train. A fourth pin featuring Tinker Bell completes the set which, priced at €8.99 each, will likely feature the characters in a pin-on-pin effect. At a more affordable €6.99, you could just pick up the Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary logo pin, which is already in the hands of a few lucky collectors having been given away to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting last month.

Especially nice is the “postage stamp” set of six pins and a lanyard to celebrate the anniversary, while the “20” is even carried over to this year’s traditional season pins, beginning here with the €12.99 Cheshire Cat pin for spring 2012. Tinker Bell, that ubiquitous pin favourite, completes the releases with a €14.99 pin which opens up to reveal her sitting on a pot of gold — for St. Patrick’s Day, of course!

The next Pin Trading Night will be held in La Cantina at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe from 6.00pm on Friday, 30th March. These are free events, usually with special Limited Pins on sale, where you can meet and trade with fellow collectors. Reservations are now also open for a Walt Disney Studios Pin Event on Saturday, 28th April. Limited to 300 people, the €35 entry fee includes buffet dinner within Restaurant En Coulisse. You’ll need to call 33 1 60 30 60 53 to book.

Here’s something we haven’t done for almost two years — monthly Pin Trading releases! July 2011 will see a varied assortment of styles, with the obligatory Bastille Day pin joined by two new Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides pins, some new “VIP” three-pin sets and a lanyard and booster pack of four pins with a cupcake theme. A Star Wars pin event will take place at the Disney’s Hotel New York convention centre on Saturday 16th July from 11am to 3pm.

Click the image above for the full pin releases poster.

Here’s the full release list:

Saturday, 7th March 2009

Disney Princesses Booster Pack (4 pins)
€18.00

Ariel pin
€6.00

Bolt (Volt) limited edition pin
Limited Edition x900
€12.90

High School Musical 3 booster pack (4 pins)
€18.00

Friday, 13th March 2009

Phantom Manor Pin Event — Now Fully Booked!

Exclusive pins released at this event:

Phantom Manor limited edition double lanyard
€15.00

Tinkerbell Stretch Room limited edition pin
Limited Edition x900
€12.90

Tinkerbell Bride limited edition pin
Limited Edition x900
€12.90

Stitch Phantom limited edition pin
Limited Edition x900
€12.90

Stitch Pin Trading Event limited edition pin
Limited Edition x400
€10.90

Chip ‘n’ Dale Pin Trading Event limited edition pin
Limited Edition x400
€10.90

Phantom Manor Pin Trading Event jumbo limited edition pin
Limited Edition x400
€39.90

Saturday, 21st March 2009

Spring 2009 limited edition pin
Limited Edition x900
€11.90

Bolt pin
€6.00

Cars starter kit (pins + lanyard)
€19.90

Saturday, 28th March 2009

Mickey Magical Party limited edition pin
Limited Edition x1200
€10.90

Minnie Magical Party limited edition pin
Limited Edition x1200
€10.90

Mickey’s Magical Party Medal pin
€6.00

Mickey’s Magical Party Balloon pin
€6.00

And here are the artworks:

(click to enlarge)

First — the pin releases:

Saturday, 17th January 2009

Stitch European Invasion: Greece
Limited Edition x900
€10.90

2009 Lanyard
€7.90

High School Musical 3
€6.00

Saturday, 24th January 2009

Fab 4 Spinner 2009
€8.90

Mickey & Minnie 2009
€6.00

Mickey 2009
€8.90

Angry Donald Duck
€6.00

Saturday, 31st January 2009

Walt Disney Series: Mousketeers
Limited Edition x900
€11.90

St Valentine’s Day 2009
Limited Edition x900
€12.90

Next — this month’s Pin Trading Night:

Friday, 23rd January 2009

Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe
in La Cantina/Rio Grande Bar
from 6.00pm onwards

Finally — engrave this date in your calendar. More information will be “dug out soon”…

The only two general releases for the month are as follows:

Saturday, 30th August 2008

Mushu 2008
Reference number 209401008071
Price 6.00 Euros

Walt Disney Series No. 4: Snow White
Reference number 209501008027
Limited Edition x900
Price 11.90 Euros

But the major happening will be the Pin Trading Day on Saturday, 30th August. This not only involves special trading areas and meet-ups organised just for pin traders, but –usually — the giving away of a free pin and display board at the park entrance. Then, you’re free to collect around five or six other pins — each available in a set boutique around the park — to complete the set.

Just arrive at the park on 30th August to take part! But be sure to get there early — the special exclusive pins will only be on sale from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Saturday 12th July 2008

Bastille Day 2008 (Rémy in Paris)
Limited Edition x900
Price 11.90 Euros

Stitch Europe Invasion No.5: Spain
Reference number 209501008037
Limited Edition x900
Price 10.90 Euros

Walt Disney Series No.3: The Band Concert (Mickey in Technicolor)
Reference number 209501008024
Limited Edition x900
Price 11.90 Euros

Wall-E (Pack of 4 pins)
Reference number 209501008066
Price 18.00 Euros

Mickey Summer of Champions 2008 Flags
Reference number 209401008068
Price 6.00 Euros

Mickey Summer of Champions 2008 Logo
Reference number 209401008069
Price 6.00 Euros