Disneyland Vends Mystery Pins: A New Era?

Disneyland is revolutionizing its pin trading scene with the recent introduction of themed vending machines. These machines, first spotted on October 1st, have appeared across Disney's California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney District, with designs matching their surroundings, like Toy Story-themed machines on Pixar Pier. The new system offers a mystery pin from a collection of 15 unique designs, including rare characters and a first-ever pin for the Small World platypus.

While the vending machines offer a novel way to acquire pins, they come with a significant price of $18 per pin. This is particularly notable as Magic Key Holders, who typically receive discounts of 10-20% on merchandise, do not receive any price reduction at these machines. This has led to speculation that the machines may be a strategy to circumvent existing discount programs.

Concerns have also been raised about potential new restrictions on pin trading. With the introduction of these machines and the ongoing popularity of completing pin sets, there's a worry that areas around the vending machines might become new congregation points for traders, potentially leading to overcrowding issues similar to those addressed by earlier trading rule changes. Disneyland's management may need to address crowd control in these new trading hubs.