Disney is one of the companies that dominate the space of collectibles. From plush toys to unique pins, there is something special about having a collection of Disney memorabilia that you can proudly display or keep forever.
Disney characters have accompanied us throughout our childhood. Whether we winced at the wicked Ursula or rejoiced at the cunning Robin Hood’s deeds, Disney’s storytelling defined our childhood.
Disney’s acquisitions and long history kept expanding its media empire with recognizable characters. Finding someone who has never watched and loved something from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, or Disney is impossible.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Disney or a beginner, collecting Disney items is a great way to share your love for Disney. If you’re looking for something unique, Disney pin collecting might be just the thing for you.
The artistry and craftsmanship of these pins are exceptional, and the sheer variety of designs is impressive. Pins range from classic characters to limited edition designs made by artists for the collector’s market. So, whatever your preference, there’s likely something to catch your eye. With new pins released weekly, a dedicated fan will always have options when adding new pieces to their collection.
This article will look at the most valuable Disney pins in the world. You’ll set your sights on unique pieces that would flush any collector’s face with envy. These pieces are extremely valuable due to their rarity and aesthetics.
The History of Disney Pins
You could buy pins at Disney parks since the first one opened in 1955 in Anaheim, California. With time, Disney kept creating more pins and stopped making the older ones. These pins started as simple souvenirs, something you brought home to cherish the memories of your visit.
Time did its thing: older pins would get lost or tossed away, making each model rarer by the day. Collectible editions would spawn to celebrate special events, such as the release of Steamboat Willie or Disney’s anniversary. While the number of models grew over time, the number of pins for each model kept shrinking, making older pins rarer.
Disney planted the seeds of the collectible pins frenzy in 1999 when Disney Cast members in Disney parks started carrying around a pin-trading lanyard. Anyone could walk up to them and ask to trade pins, to which the Cast members were obliged to agree. The only rule for the pin exchange is that the Cast member doesn’t already have a copy of the pin you’re giving them. The tradition is still going strong today.
Estimates put the number of Disney pins out there between 70,000 and 100,000. While you have a nonzero chance of collecting all of them, a few are so unique that they make the whole ordeal almost impossible. An example is the Dream Jeweled Mickey Mouse Pin, of which only 3 exemplars exist.
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Let’s see some of these ultra-rare pins and how much they sold for at auctions.
The 13 Most Valuable Disney Pins
Unless you’re a die-hard Disney pins collector, the thought of paying thousands of dollars for one never crossed to mind. In fact, it likely sounds utterly crazy to you, but in the real world, people shelled out some serious cash for rare Disney pins.
We gathered a list of the 13 most valuable Disney pins. A few of these are so unique that your chances of getting one are slim. If you want to buy one of these, prepare for a long and expensive journey through auction houses and private collectors.
Editor’s note: For some of these we had to rely on Pinpics for their sale value, but that’s not entirely accurate, as there is no source for the price they claim. So, don’t take these as Gospel – their price is more of an estimate.
Dream Jeweled Mickey Mouse – $1,295.00
The Dream Jeweled Mickey Mouse Pin is an iconic and highly sought-after Disney pin. It features a shiny gold background with a colorful red, green, and blue design of Mickey Mouse on the front. The pin also has two polished jewels on either side, adding an extra sparkle to your collection. This rare pin is perfect for any Disney fan, collector, or trader; it makes an excellent addition to any pin collection.
Disney only released 3 exemplars of this pin, making it one of the rarest in the world. That’s why it’s valued at over a thousand dollars, though no recent auctions of this piece have happened in the past decade. We suspect the actual price would be much higher if someone sold their Dream Jeweled Mickey Mouse pin today.
Alice in Wonderland Pin – Disney LE100 – Elisabete Gomes – Alice in Daisies – $1,850.00
This pin was released in 2004. On it, Alice is standing amongst colorful daisies, wearing her iconic blue dress. The pin gives off a dreamy vibe and brings nostalgic memories of childhoods spent dreaming and exploring the world of Wonderland. The pin is part of the Elisabete Gomes series, a series that features artwork from renowned artist Elisabete Gomes and captures the beauty of the classic Disney parks, attractions, and characters. This series features iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Tinker Bell, and Cinderella.
It sold for a respectable $1,850.00 in an eBay auction 2 years ago. What’s crazy is that a 5-pin set of this design sold for $29 back when it was released. Talk about a good investment.
Disney WDI Mickey Through the Years Sorcerer’s Apprentice LE 300 Profile Pin
The Disney WDI Mickey Through the Years Sorcerer’s Apprentice pin is a limited-edition pin. It features an iconic Mickey Mouse wearing the famous red sorcerer’s hat from the 1940 movie Fantasia, surrounded by a vibrant galaxy of stars and planets. The pin is stamped with the “WDI” logo, which stands for “Walt Disney Imagineering”.
This pin is among the youngest on the list. It was released in 2018 as part of the “Mickey through the years” series, which features the face of Disney, Mickey Mouse, throughout the years. It sold for $1,899.00
Disney WDI – SCAR “Lion King” Villain Profile Pin – LE Limited Edition – $1,999.00
Perhaps one of the most hated Disney characters from everyone’s childhood, Scar was a nasty character in Disney’s “The Lion King.” The pin features Scar’s iconic “you can trust me” hand gesture while he’s engulfed in green flames under a blue, starry sky. The pin rocks the “WDI” (Walt Disney’s Imagineering) logo.
Only 250 exemplars of this pin were released in 2016, which makes this pin quite rare, justifying it’s $1,999.00 price.
Disney WDI MOG Heroines Princess Profile Little Mermaid Ariel LE 250 pin – $2,000.00
The Disney WDI Little Mermaid Ariel Pin is a limited-edition collectible pin, part of the Walt Disney Imagineering series. This particular pin features the beloved Disney character Ariel from The Little Mermaid enjoying the company of 2 shrimps on a blue background with bubbles and algae.
This pin is part of the LE250 limited edition series released in 2018, and its original price was $18.95. It’s another demonstration of the power of collectibles – multiplying its value by 100x in a couple of years.
LE 100 Pin 39473 Disney Auctions – Sidekicks Mulan & Mushu – $2,000.00
This pin is based on Disney’s Movie Mulan, an animated feature film released in 1998. It tells the story of a brave young Chinese girl, Mulan, who disguises herself as a soldier to save her father from being drafted into war. Along the way, she befriends her guardian dragon Mushu and learns the importance of family, courage, and loyalty. The film was critically acclaimed for its captivating animation and inspiring message, winning many awards and becoming an instant classic.
The Sidekicks pin was released in 2005 as part of the limited edition collection LE100, and it originally sold for $20.
Disney Auction Elisabete Gomes Lilo & Scrump LE 100 Pin – $2,500.00
Lilo & Stitch is Disney’s 2002 animated feature film about a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo and her alien best friend, Stitch. Together the duo must work to save their family and home from extraterrestrial forces while learning the importance of friendship and selflessness. The heartwarming story and charming characters make it a beloved classic amongst Disney fans.
The pin shows Lilo holding a sewn doll while wearing a Hawaiian costume on a beach. It was released in 2006 as part of the limited edition LE100 series, and its original price was $32.
Sleeping Beauty Elisabete Gomes Disney Auctions Limited Edition 100 Pin – $3,499.00
Sleeping Beauty is a 1959 animated classic from Disney, based on the fairytale of the same name. The story follows Princess Aurora, who is cursed to sleep for 100 years after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. It’s up to Prince Phillip and the three Good Fairies to rescue Aurora and restore peace in their kingdom. Featuring iconic characters like Maleficent, beautiful visuals, and memorable music, Sleeping Beauty remains a beloved favorite for Disney fans of all ages.
The pin shows Sleeping Beauty sleeping on her bed while kissed by the moonlight. This is right before the iconic moment when the prince steps in to wake her up with a kiss. This pin was released in 2005 with an original price of $45.
Disney pin le 100 Mickey Sorcerer Vs Dragon – $3,985.00
Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Dragon is a segment of the 1940 Disney film Fantasia. The eight-minute sequence features Mickey Mouse as an apprentice sorcerer who, with the help of a dragon, uses his magic powers to animate a broomstick and cause mischievous havoc around his teacher’s laboratory.
The pin shows Sorcerer Mickey in a battle of magical strength vs the dragon. The dragon’s flames are clashing with Mickey’s magic, with both sides trying to overpower one another. The Sorcerer Mickey vs Dragon pin was released in 2006 as part of the LE100 series with an original price of $55.
50 Years’ Service Award Pin – $4,295.00
This is easily one of the rarest pins on the list. A 50 years’ service award pin is reserved to those who have worked for Disney for 50 years. That’s a long time to be working for a single company, especially since the company is barely 100 years old.
There is only one pin of this type for sale right now, priced at $4,295.
Disney Sorcerer Mickey broom stick dancing Pin Trader’s Delight
You’ve probably noticed by now how impactful Fantasia has been on the world of Disney pins. The movie still holds its own now, in 2023, so it only makes sense that any memorabilia from it would be held dearly by its owners.
This pin features Mickey and the broom that helps him by carrying around the buckets of water necessary to fill up the cauldron. Film runs through the pin’s borders. It is selling on eBay for $4,999.
Disney DLR Girls Reveal Conceal Mystery Rapunzel Chaser – $7,999
Rapunzel is a classic Disney fairytale about a young girl with magical, long blonde hair. After being kidnapped as a baby by an evil witch, Rapunzel is locked in a tower until she is rescued by Flynn Rider. With the help of her newfound friend, Rapunzel embarks on an adventure to discover the truth about her past and fulfill her destiny.
Surprisingly, this pin does not belong to a limited-edition series. It was released in 2010, and you could buy an entire set for $19.95 in Disneyland, California. Shockingly, its value multiplied by almost 400 times in about a decade. It’s a testament to the power of collectibles.
Disney 2015 Jumbo Pin Tree Animal Kingdom LE500 – $10,000
This is a particular item on this list, as it’s a set of 3 pins. The Jumbo pins were released as part of the limited edition LE500 series in 2015 and were only available at Disney World.
These pins feature some of the most beloved characters from the Disney franchise – Simba. Mickey Mouse, Nemo, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Chip n’ Dale. The main attraction of the series is the Jumbo tree, an artificial tree located in the Animal Kingdom at Disney World. It stands over 130 feet tall and is covered with more than 800,000 twinkling lights. Visitors can even take a ride to the top of it.
Wrapping Up
People are shocked when hearing for the first time about the prices of some Disney pins. It’s unexpected and almost unbelievable. However, once people understand the history and culture of pin collecting, they quickly learn that this is a hobby rooted in passion and nostalgia. From limited edition pins of beloved characters from classic movies like Snow White to rare vintage pins from Disneyland’s early days, Disney pins offer something for everyone.
For those looking for a unique way to show their love for Disney, pin collecting is an ideal way to do so. With so many different designs and styles available, pin collectors can express themselves creatively and uniquely. Whether you’re looking to start your own collection or find a unique piece for someone else, Disney pins offer something special that cannot be found anywhere else.
Collecting Disney pins is about making memories and enjoying your time with a beloved hobby. The most important thing to remember when collecting Disney pins is that they should be fun. With new designs being released every year, there’s always something new and exciting to discover. Don’t be discouraged from learning your favorite pins are common. They should be your favorite because they represent something you care about, not because they are valuable.
Although it can be challenging to find rarer Disney pins, the hunt for them makes collecting even more enjoyable. Happy pinning!
