If you’ve ever braved a Tuesday morning at Disney Springs, you know pin trading isn’t just a hobby—it’s an event. Collectors show up before sunrise, coffee in hand, ready to chase down the newest limited editions. But if you’ve done this before, you also know how frustrating it’s been watching ride share guests walk right past you and land closer to the action.
For a long time, that “hack” made the system feel unfair. Uber and Lyft riders got dropped off much closer to Disney Pin Traders, meaning they scored wristbands before anyone coming in from the garages. The result? Early risers who drove themselves or took a bus often ended up further back in line, even if they technically arrived earlier.
Disney finally caught on, and as of September 9, things look different. Now both ride share passengers and garage guests are directed to meet at the same bridge area. Once there, Cast Members alternate wristband distribution between the two groups. In other words, no more shortcut. Whether you drove yourself or grabbed an Uber, you’ll have the same chance at getting those coveted pins.
Collectors have mixed feelings—some are thrilled Disney is listening, while others point out bigger problems remain. Resellers are still out there grabbing pins to flip online, and sellouts happen faster than ever. But this change is at least a step in the right direction.
And it’s not just Disney Springs seeing changes. EPCOT has also been testing different systems. One week it was a virtual queue through the app, the next it was back to old-school wristbands. Clearly, Disney knows this is an ongoing challenge and is trying different tools to figure it out.
For now, though, fans can breathe a little easier knowing the playing field at Disney Springs is more level than it’s been in years. Pin trading should be fun, not frustrating—and with this tweak, it feels like Disney is working to keep the tradition alive for everyone, not just those who knew the shortcut.
