IS MY DISNEY PIN FAKE? | A Step-by-Step Guide

A question that I very frequently come across and am asked is, "Is my Disney pin fake?" I've talked about tips and hints in quite a number of my videos for identifying fakes, but for today's video I wanted to share the step-by-step process that I go through when trying to determine the authenticity of a pin. First and foremost, you need to figure out whether the pin has even been faked. If it has been faked, you need to know a comparison of what the real one looks like. Knowing where the pin came from is also an important step.
If it's a Hidden Mickey pin, look for nice smooth enamel, even waffle pattern on the back, clear spacing between text, nice sharp nubs, etc. I wish I could provide a simple 'recipe' or checklist for identifying fake pins, but the most important component is learning how to train your eye for what to look for. Different pins have different indicators of authenticity, and a lot of the time it's not a cut-and-dry process.
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[@DisneyKittee]

THANK YOU!!! Your channel is such an incredible asset to the pin world! Bravo! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@MagicallyEmily]

Thank you as always, Becka!

[@DisneyPinsBlog]

Awesome video, Emily! Always dropping the pin knowledge and helping out our community!!

[@mariaarduini4650]

If you want cheap REAL disney pins go to an official Disney store outlet. They usually sell in packs and since its an outlet they are at reduced prices. (They also sell a variety of disney merch like shirts,toys,hats,etc)

[@marcilawson6573]

Thank you for this and all your other posts about detecting fake pins! I had no idea and now I know that a handful of my collection is most likely fake. I'm excited to grow my collection and know ways to watch out for the fakes in the future!

[@bunnykisses]

Just used this video at my recent Disney trip to avoid accidentally trading for fake pins! Thank you!

[@wrestlingwithdisney]

Thanks for spreading the good word on pins!!! Seriously I wish I knew this all at the start!

[@SimTab]

I am a starter and I've watched a lot of "how to spot a fake" video and this one is by far the best one ever! Thank you

[@mikeyha9977]

Legit love watching your videos you make understanding Disney pins easier. Do you know if you can travel with your pins in your carry on

[@MagicallyEmily]

Thank you for watching! Yes, you can travel with pins in a carry on, I would just suggest putting them in a separate bin (since TSA will likely want to check them out)

[@pineappleunicorn7729]

Why am I watching this when I only buy pins from Disney-

[@KatScratchFever123]

Nubletts! That is my new word. 🤣🤣 Honestly though, EXCELLENT video, Emily. I’ve gotten fairly good because of people like you sharing their knowledge. ❤️

[@KatScratchFever123]

And I couldn’t quite tell... but the counterfeit Minnie (14:15) seems to say EDTION rather than EDITION. Am I seeing that correctly?

[@pintrader_mcqueen9105]

Fake pins can have spelling errors

[@KatScratchFever123]

Pintrader_Mcqueen I know. I’m asking if it is really misspelled or my eyes are playing tricks.

[@pintrader_mcqueen9105]

Katherine Harrington Lol 😂. I have a pin collection on my channel

[@MagicallyEmily]

Thank you, Katherine! Yes, that Minnie pin does also have a spelling error!

[@Wonderish]

This is so helpful. I love your informational videos. Such a great resource!

[@nerd127]

It also really depends on the year. I have a 2013 pin and this was when they just started using the Mickey waffle pattern so it isn’t as clean and crisp as the newer ones.

[@shasta4107]

Thank you for this! I’ve gotten better at identifying fakes/scrappers but I’m still paranoid! I have no desire to trade at DL when we go because of my paranoia. Haha. Your video helps me a lot more understanding what to look for!

[@ozpin707]

The only pins I’ve never bought from the parks are all Scar which I got all of them from eBay. So far I think 3 our of 7 are, as the other four are very detailed and well made that I paid for above 30$ each. But I don’t plan to ever trade them so I’m ok with fakes I guess lol

[@laurduncan]

I'm not sure I agree that 100% of the pins sold in lots are fake, in the baggies. Let's think of it a different way...all of the pins are made in China to begin with...so whats to stop a factory from just printing out a few hundred thousand extra after they make the real thing? They'd be made with the same materials, same stamps, same FAC code, etc. Same thing happens with purses and wedding dresses and all kinds of other things. But IDK. I think buying the lots and trying to play the game of "spot the fakes" is fun. Most of the cast member lanyards are filled with fakes anyways, so IMO people should just do the best they can and go have fun. Personally I would never trade a pin that I purchased directly from the park anyways (unless it was a blind bag or part of some sort of set that I didn't want). The pins I purchase individually are special to me in some way...I don't buy pins I don't like so why would I trade them away?

[@CoreyFiasco]

Fantastic video ! Great tool for people who are buying / Trading. Zip-a-dee-doo is the Becket graders of Disney pins! :)

[@MagicallyEmily]

Thank you, Corey!

[@ToontownAndCpenguin]

This helped, thank you. I've been on the fence about buying a pin because the only listing for it is $50 & I don't want to have it in my hands after paying that kind of money only to see it's fake. I checked pin pics & not much info is listed on it in general, I guess the toonfest pins are kinda obscure? They're pins for Disney's Toontown Online that you could get during Toonfest in Disneyland. There's 3 on the list I want but I can't find one selling anywhere so between the two I want most, Flippy or a Bloodsucker, I decided to go with the Bloodsucker. I'm just nervous on making the purchase because it's a lot of money for a pin.

[@rightbrainliz]

Great video Emily! Thank you for passing along all your Disney pin knowledge, these videos are always so informative!! :)

[@MagicallyEmily]

Thank you :)

[@malloryblackstar5388]

This video was so helpful!!! My pin-paranoia is cured!!!! 😄

[@sandrathedisneyaddict6278]

Thank you so much. I always turn to you for advise. Sometimes it's so hard to find a picture of an authentic L/E pin. I had one of Aurora and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong with it, (had a feeling it was fake due to the too good to be true price)...then I finally found a pic of the authentic pin. I felt so stupid when I realized they didn't have her lips pink! they were the silver with no pink fill in it....a very important detail, but I overlooked it. Thanks for all the videos you make for helping us out with that.

[@MagicallyEmily]

Oftentimes the hardest part is finding a comparison of one you know is real! Thankfully crowd sourcing on the social media outlets is helpful!

[@aritillery4641]

This video helped me pick out some of my fake disney pins in my collection! thank you so much and i love your channel!

[@lesliefranco5501]

🤯 Thanks this video helps. Just started pin collecting October this year. 🤷‍♀️

[@jordanmasterton1442]

Leslie Franco me too aha x

[@bonnieapplewright2516]

It's kind of sad how prevalent the fake pins have become. I had a tradition of buying a pack of new, real pins every time I went to the park and trading them at the boards- looking now I'm realizing that probably 90% of my pin collection is fake, despite having only ever purchased real ones.

[@OzzieIicious]

One thing is they do say pins with yellow eyes are scrappers. I have a Diamond Decades sea serpent and he is supposed to have yellow eyes help

[@christinecrawford]

Thank you Emily!! This is super helpful information! 😄

[@yerslaw]

I am trying to tell if the pin i bought is fake. It looks real from the details she describes but it has a defined empty space on the back where is looks like a fac number should be (its from 2017). The only picture of the back i can find to compare to is the pin trading database, & that image also has that same blank area on the back. Is that a reliable site? & do pins sometimes have these blank?

[@ToiSauce]

This term is often used incorrectly in social media. I’m speaking out 😂. It’s not “quality control,” necessarily, it’s definitely quality or lack of quality. In order so be able to positively say lack of quality control, you’d have to know more information about the manufacturing and inspection process. Because of the high quantity and low value the sample sizes allow for the oversight of the defects shown here in the authentic pins. Naturally cost cutting is a factor and many others. I digress...

[@ohscheisse2192]

Hello, I’m new to pin collecting and just found your video. Do all pins have nubs? I just purchased the new Jack and Sally Halloween countdown pin and it has two large pins where the backs go but no nubs at all. I hope I didn’t buy a fake.

[@101babolat]

Hi, does Pinpics still show if the pin has been faked? Can you show an example of this?

[@mary-janeholmquist864]

Wow such great information, I have learned so much from you, thank so so much!!!!

[@abbymoore2895]

OMG!!! I have that tank top! My mama got if from target for me!!! (:

[@TwinkleBellTerryn]

What a great video! Excellent job!

[@CrackingCody]

Sadly I collect only LE pins, with WDI profile pins and the Windows of Magic/Evil series, both of which are VERY costly and are faked occasionally

[@jonnyboy7885]

Great video Emily. Tons of great info!

[@GapingLotusX]

I bought the Hong Kong ghost character booster pack but I think they are fake. They don't glow ( I thought maybe because they were exposed to too much light) but the backs are also pretty smooth and no serial number.

[@user-vb7iv2wj7g]

Thank you! I am a pin newbie and this vlog is very educational!

[@spaghettikat1964]

I know this is an old videos so I probably won't get a response but I'm going to go ahead and try. Does anyone know how to find out what the back of a pin is supposed to look like? I've looked up the particular pin I'm concerned about and the enamel and colors look the same from what I can tell. The only thing that made me suspicious was that the waffling on the back seems really light compared to other authentic pins I have. Also it doesn't have nubs and idk if that's an automatic guarantee that it's fake or if occasionally Disney pins dont have them. It's frustrating to me that places like pin pics only show the front of the pin

[@laurduncan]

So the problem is that the real pins have different backs from each other, so there's no easy way to guarantee a fake vs a real. I bought 3 pins at Disney World in the parks last week. One has waffling and no nubs. One has waffling and 2 nubs. One has no waffling and nubs. The waffling on the pin I have without nubs is SUPER light compared to the waffling on the limited release star wars pin I got. They look 100% different on the back. The one with the super light waffling is the Inside Out pin mood spinner (#114212) it's a super nice heavy duty pin, but the back looks nothing like my other purchased-directly-at-the-park pins.

[@LeahTackles]

YES!!! Thank you so much 👏👏👏 Hugely helpful!!!

[@Cheyanne605]

Aww..I started pin trading the first time today..and I traded and got fakes. I wouldnt care if I absolutely loved the design..but not too happy trading a 6$ pin for a pin 50 cents....also would be sad if I gave a fake pin to someone either. It is so hard to tell! I got one that totally stuck to a magnet today....eek! What a bummer!!!

[@anthgrl07]

Thanks for this! I have been collecting for years but I usually buy all of mine at the stores in the park so I know they are real. I have been pins trading with my niece and nephew recently. I only trade for stitch pins (so I don't find many, real or fake) but i have noticed some feel cheaper. I am going to go check some of the ones I traded for and kept. Thanks is again

[@juliansoto8329]

I heard there were Facebook groups who could help identify fake pins for us, does anyone know what groups.

[@MagicallyEmily]

You can do a FB group search for "is my pin fake," or you can also ask in any of the large trade/sell groups!

[@juliansoto8329]

Zip-a-Dee-Doo Disney Alright thanks!

[@anniegarcia7716]

I dont have the Disney backing, i have a disney it is animal kingdom, iam not a collector, but i do want to put some of my pins for sale online.

[@eftelingandmore]

I bought some on Etsy for a good price (not cheap I mean). They were advertised as real pins, but they seem fake, or at least, a couple. Sadly I can't find a lot of pictures (of the backs) of the ones I have. :(

[@monicalenahan5829]

If I bought pins at hot topic or box lunch are those authentic trader pins? Thank you in advance

[@owl8610]

Yes they are real they are owned and licenced by Disney they are tradable

[@user-yo2kz5vz4q]

Also like to point out some pins had super small Mickey head... Which was very noticeable that it fake, rite

[@MagicallyEmily]

Many authentic pins now have Mickey heads of various scales, size/form can only be used if you know it looks different from the authentic version

[@laracox2728]

Thank you for the info!

[@pintrader_mcqueen9105]

Has the 2018 HM pins been faked for WDW?

[@user-yo2kz5vz4q]

Pintrader_Mcqueen was told that the HM 2017 that been release 2018 had been faked... whether it's the baking Set, The Big feet, etc... that Emily and others been looking for the legit Genuine HM pins

[@pintrader_mcqueen9105]

I'm just asking considering i'm going this weekend

[@MagicallyEmily]

You can actually check by following the video steps! Do you see any of them being sold on eBay direct from Hong Kong in many listings for $0.50 shipping? If no, then they're not yet faked!

[@garygiles3464]

I like you educational pin videos, please keep it up.

[@LauraTwoPointO]

Great video!

[@TheDeluche]

Wow so majority of pins from cast members are counterfeit?? I feel like Disney should train their casts better 🤷‍♂️

[@fistiria]

They don't want to ruin the magic. If a kid comes up to a cast member with a fake pin, they're going to trade to keep them happy. They start every new day with real pins on their lanyard but those quickly get swapped.

[@illcomics]

Omg! I have those ears you were wearing!🙀😽

[@natjones7182]

I have this adorable Disney pin but its fake :(

[@eggtoasti]

Oh, well I just found out all my pins are fake lol

[@user-yo2kz5vz4q]

To the point... these days I don't know if N, S, F, P, etc are legit Genuine pins are they extremely fake/scrapper pins... those laser printed/engraved serial number are legit. Rather it's Paris, HKDisney, Tokyo, DSSH, etc... I don't want to flood yurs and other admin for all the pins serial number and pix to see all my pins are legit Genuine pins.

[@MagicallyEmily]

The type of FAC number varies by type of pin. If a pin is faked with a stolen mold, it will have the same FAC as the authentic. Most fake pins won't have a printed FAC number, but I'm seeing more and more of them that do. In all, the FAC number generally holds very little useful information.

[@KaseysKorner]

Wow! Had no idea! If you have a chance, come check out our channel and subscribe too! xo

[@WPUpioneer]

You probably have as many ears as my fiancee