Accessorize Disney Style: Nana’s Guide to Disney Pin Lanyards
For over 20 years, pin trading and collecting has engaged excitement in Disney Park guests of all ages. It has quite honestly been one of the favorite activities for every member of our family during our visits. But equally important to choosing a favorite character or an attraction pin, is selecting the iconic Disney lanyard to showcase the prized pins when strolling along Main Street USA. Disney Lanyards are the perfect accessory for safely displaying cherished enamel treasures if attached properly. And the right lanyard will also reflect your unique style. So how does one start to trade and collect Disney Pins? As pin enthusiasts, we suggest starting at the basics and the first thing everyone who trades pins will need is a lanyard. So, we created Nana’s Guide to Disney Pin Lanyards to get you ready to trade pins in your unique Disney style!
Guide to Disney Pin Lanyards – Options to Choose From
Disney lanyards come in a plethora of colors, fabrics and styles of to match your magical mood. Whether you want a standard Disney Pin lanyard featuring a basic flat woven fabric strap or one with a printed festive design, there’s a lanyard for you! Most will open near the base and the strap sides are securely fastened together by a strong piece of Velcro. This allows you to remove your lanyard full of pins quickly because personal items must be secured on many Disney Park attractions. Lanyards are designed to be customized by adding collectible Disney trading pins, medallions and pin-back buttons available for sale throughout the parks. Keep an eye out for special edition lanyards featuring unique limited release designs too. These are often tied to specific park events or anniversaries.
Not all pin traders want to wear a basic lanyard strap so there are plenty of options. One alternative is a smaller square lanyard placards that looks a bit like a mini pin board. This is a newer way to display a handful of pins while trading in the parks. And these can be clipped to a backpack or belt loop to be easily accessible. Many cast members wear these small pin trading boards near the waist, so they can be visible to park guests view while working.
Choose Lanyard with Style AND Comfort
Another unique style is the double wide lanyards. These hefty straps do provide ample real estate for extensive collections and allow a pin trader to show off a wide or jumbo pin, however it’s not recommended to wear the double-wide style at the park. Remember that pins are enameled metal and quite heavy. Imagine having to haul around dozens of pins on a long Disney day! It can become a challenge. A heavy pin lanyard can really turn a fantastic Disney Park experience not so magical fast! Therefore, we recommend sticking to the standard one-inch-wide strap and carrying no more than 12-16 pins.
Guide to Disney Pin Lanyards – Selecting a Lanyard
Picking the perfect Disney lanyard is an opportunity to show your love of Disney! Consider your needs and style preferences. Do you want a basic traditional lanyard or fully decked out Disney showpiece featuring a favorite character? Standard woven canvas or cloth ribbon lanyards are affordable starter options or go for the upgrades and select one with leather trim, designs or characters.
Length and Width Must be Considered
An important note in Nana’s Guide to Disney Pin Lanyards is to consider the lanyard length. Years ago, I was given my first lanyard starter kit and found this out the hard way. The affordable pin trading starter kits include lanyards; however, these often are designed for children and so are several inches shorter than the standard length used by an adult. It does get a bit awkward for the average sized adult to view the pins on a short strap when looking down to trade. And shorter lanyards leave less usable space for pins. It is not ideal to wear pins attached to the strap where it sits around your neck. Child sized lanyards will only accommodate about 8 pins comfortably.
Ultimately the choice of color, pattern and any special features are a matter of up to you. You can choose the basic black strap (or other solid color) similar to the ones worn by most cast members as this keeps the focus on the pins. Or select a color with a small print to highlight a love for Disney Princesses, Pixar Characters or show your dark side with a lanyard featuring Disney Villains. Since lanyards are relatively affordable some people will have a wide selection of options and switch them daily depending on parks and activities. Changing up lanyards to match your outfit during your vacation is a fun way to keep the magic alive throughout the entire trip!
Arranging Disney Pins on Your Lanyard
Planning an interesting arrangement of pins to trade is not only eye catching, but can also spark Disney magic! Your colorful character pins arranged by a theme on a lanyard is a chance to share your love of Disney with other park goers as they admire your creativity. Connect with other collectors while waiting for a monorail or show to begin. Imagine wearing a bright pink lanyard that showcases all your favorite princesses from Cinderella to Belle and Jasmine to Tiana. Or a bright red strap full of Disney Villains or Star Wars characters. My favorite would be a black strap showcasing the antics of Chip and Dale!
Pin Trading with a Plan
Disney pins are designed like a tack pin to be a breeze to remove and trade on the go. While this is wonderful for frequent traders, it can cause lost pins. There are accessories available for sale including replacement and locking pin backs. Nana’s Guide to Disney Pin Lanyards recommends keeping a few locking pin backs on hand for special pins you do not want to lose or trade. Also keep several regular rubber Mickey shaped pin backs just in case you lose one while exploring and trading. Check your pins often throughout the day to assure they are secure.
Are you curious about what those metal rings at the base of Disney Pin straps could be used for? Many lanyards have a very strong metal loop at the end near the Velcro closure. The loop is a way to add MORE Disney style! Pin Lanyard Medals are fun for the wearer and collector. These large embellishments can be a lightweight vinyl card holder or a lanyard enamel medal that looks like a dual sided giant pin! Medals come in your favorite Disney Characters and some will have special features that can range from gems to glitter to lights!
Caring for Your Disney Pin Lanyard
With reasonable care our beloved lanyards will last for years of memories. Clean gently with a soft damp cloth and avoid submerging in water. When not trading, store in a dry padded bag or box to prevent scratches or tangling.
Inspect periodically for damage or loose pins that may fall. Re-secure pins carefully. If fraying or tears appear, trim loose strands and reinforce stitching when possible. For extensive repairs, third party customization services can restore our treasured accessories.
Most of all, embrace each scuff or scratch as a badge of honor from magical adventures shared with new friends. Our lanyards tell beautiful stories!
Popular Places to Purchase Disney Lanyards
While shopping in the parks is going to offer the best selection, ShopDisney.com is a good alternative as a starting point to finding the perfect lanyard. The online store often has several official Disney pin lanyards options, including some of the limited editions found in the parks. Make sure to sign up to receive notices of sales as this is a good way to pick up authentic affordable pins for trading too. However, the park gift shops will give you the most extensive selection. Ask cast members about the newest releases and limited editions. If you are in Orlando or Anaheim with limited time, opt for a quick stop in Disney Springs or the Disneyland hotel gift shop. These shops can offer an extensive array of official Disney lanyards and pins. And sometimes they have a board available to pin trade too!
For older exclusive pin lanyards, check out resale sites like Marketplace and eBay to find a favorite lanyard design. Not all items are being resold are authentic Disney so be cautious when prices are extremely low. Always consider a seller’s ratings and reviews and check out product images closely before making a purchase.
PRO TRAVEL TIP – Pack an empty lanyard for your vacation. As you trade and collect new pins, arrange on this lanyard to tell the story of your Disney adventure from the first day to the last.
Disney pin lanyards are a proud way to display your Disney side and the memories that bring magic and joy. Wear them every day throughout your trip and to share the treasured memories and experiences discovered along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions – Disney Pin Lanyard
Q: How many Disney pins can comfortably fit on one lanyard?
A: While a standard lanyard can hold 18-24 pins, the size of the pin makes a difference on how they fit. You want the neck area pin free to be comfortable wearing. Too many pins makes the strap heavy. My recommendation is no more than 16-20 for wearing at the park.
Q: Where can I buy retired or limited edition Disney lanyards?
A: EBay, Etsy, Marketplace and even Craigslist are resources for older pins and lanyards. Hard-to-find Disney pins can be fake, so do your homework before buying.
Q: What makes Disney lanyards different than those worn for other reasons?
A: Iconic characters, designs and themes of course make Disney lanyards magical. But official Disney lanyards are stronger and wider to accommodate pins. Strong woven canvas prevents sagging, tearing and flipping from pin weight. They often are reinforced to keep Velcro secure and strong loops for the stylized Disney lanyard medals.
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