Underground Journal

Disney Hidden Mickey Trading Pins

The Hidden Mickey Trading Pins collection debuted in 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, Disney World, in an effort to ensure that guests could find unique pins by trading with cast members, created a line of pins that were exclusively given to pin trading cast members. These pins, then called Cast Lanyard Pins, were worn on the lanyards of cast members, and available for trade with any Disney World guest. While the Cast Lanyard Pins were quite popular, many guests were bothered by the fact that it was hard to identify a Cast Lanyard Pin, without seeing the markings on the back. Thus, Disney retired those pins, and developed a new line of Cast Lanyard Pins, that they called the Hidden Mickey Pins Collection.

These pins are still distributed exclusively to pin trading cast members, for display on their lanyards. But these pins are easily identifiable by a very small, “hidden” Mickey Mouse head (often called the Mickey ears), somewhere in the artwork of the pin. Each pin also has a stamp on the back that tells the number of pins in that collection, and which number that particular pin is.

While the Hidden Mickey’s are not considered a limited edition, these pins have become highly collectible and are very sought after. These pins can, as stated, be found on the lanyards of trading pin cast members, who receive them randomly. However, eager guests can also obtain hidden Mickey’s by purchasing the Hidden Mickey Mystery Pouch, available for sale at Disney World Resort pin trading kiosks.

Children and adults alike love pin trading, and searching for the various hidden Mickey’s is just part of the fun. For those serious collectors who are trying to amass a variety of these fun little Disney pins, the Disney website has a full checklist of all produced Hidden Mickey pins, available for free download.

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