How to Spot Fake Disney Trading Pins

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Learn how to check Disney pins for authenticity at the Parks & online

Co-authored by Jessica Malerman and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: February 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Signs of a Fake

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Challenges of Spotting Fakes

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Scrappers vs. Counterfeits

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Where to Buy Real Pins

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Video

Believe it or not, it's often easier to find fake Disney pins than real ones—even if you're pin trading inside one of the Disney Parks! This happens because other companies try to recreate authentic Disney pins to make a quick buck. These counterfeits can be poorly made and easy to spot, or so close to the original that they're challenging to tell apart. Don’t worry—in this guide, we'll cover the best ways to improve your odds of spotting fake pins, explain the difference between scrappers and counterfeits, and much more.

How can you tell if a Disney pin is fake?

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An illustration of a fake disney pin compared to a real disney pin.

The enamel coating has dips in it.
The Mickey waffle pattern on the back has a border around it.
The nubs next to the pin post are tiny, blobby, or missing.
The words on the back are hard to read.
The pin feels thin and light.
The small details of the design are inaccurate or poorly executed.

Section 1 of 4:

Signs That a Disney Pin Might Be Fake

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The enamel coating has dips or ripples. When you look at the front of a fake Disney pin under the light, you may be able to see ripples in the surface. If you run your finger over the top, you can sometimes feel these dips. This is one of the easiest ways to tell that a pin isn't authentic Disney.^{[1]
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- Real Disney pins: On an authentic pin, the enamel coating is smooth. When you rub your finger across it, the surface feels flat with no dips.^{[2]
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The Mickey waffle pattern on the back of the pin has a border around the edge. On the back of a fake Disney pin, the Mickey waffle pattern often ends abruptly before the edge. This leaves a noticeable border. You might also notice the waffle pattern is inconsistent. The ears on the head might be too far apart or too close together, or the pattern isn't uniform.^{[3]
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- Real Disney pins: All Disney pins made after 2008-2009 have a distinctive Mickey head waffle pattern on the back. The pattern repeats continuously and spans edge to edge with no visible border.^{[4]
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- Exceptions: Authentic Disney pins can sometimes have a border on the back around the edge. For example, the Star Wars Hidden Disney pins from 2020 have a border on the back. But in most cases, you won't see a border at all.^{[5]
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The nubs on the back of the pin are tiny, blobby, or missing. On a real Disney pin, the nubs are supposed to be about half as tall as the main pin post and spaced evenly apart. A fake pin might have nubs that are super tiny. They might also be fat blobs and missing that distinctive conical shape. Some counterfeits are missing the nubs altogether.^{[6]
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- According to some Disney fans, their real Disney pins don't always have nubs on the back. If your pin doesn't have nubs, but everything else checks out, it might still be authentic!
- Real Disney pins: The tops of the nubs are cone-shaped, and they're shorter than the post, but still tall enough to be noticeable. They're also spaced evenly apart, with the post centered between them.^{[7]
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The logos and words on the back are missing or hard to read. If the pin trading logo, the Disney brand name, FAC number, or the "Made in China" logo is missing, that's another sign the pin is a fake.^{[8]
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Research source} Additionally, if the words on the back of the pin are hard to make out, it's probably because the letters or words are too close together.
- Real Disney pins: You should notice the Disney logo on the back, as well as the words "Made in China" and the Disney pin trading emblem with a sunburst outline. The letters should all be neat, clear, and easy to read, with no awkwardly short or long spaces between the letters or the words.^{[9]
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The pin feels thinner and lighter than other Disney pins. If possible, compare the pin you think is fake with an authentic one that shares the same design. If you notice the real one is thicker and feels heavier in your hand, that could be the confirmation you need that the other one is a cheap counterfeit.
- You can also weigh the duplicate pins on a scale. If one is lighter than the other, it could be a fake.
- Real Disney pins: An authentic Disney pin is somewhat thick and feels substantial while you're holding it. This is a sign it's made with high-quality materials and attention to detail, which Disney is known for when it comes to their pins.^{[10]
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Small details are inaccurate or poorly executed. Disney is usually meticulous about the little things, which is what makes their pins so special. If, for example, you see a hidden Mickey head with ears that look like they're touching, or a character whose eyes are filled in with one color when they're not supposed to be, those are both red flags.^{[11]
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- Real Disney pins: The devil is in the details, and it's here that you can often tell a real Disney pin from a fake one. For example, a hidden Mickey head should be perfectly proportioned, with the ears not too big, too small, too far apart, or too close together.^{[12]
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- Another place to look for small, accurate details on a real Disney pin is in the eyes of a character.
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The colors are slightly off or completely inaccurate. If your Disney pin is the wrong shade or color for its character or theme, it might be fake. Keep in mind, though, that some real Disney pins are the wrong color because of manufacturing errors, or because they're part of a special line of pins in which the colors are different on purpose.
- Real Disney pins: The colors are accurate for the character or theme. For example, an authentic Princess Tiana pin will be pale green, not Kelly green or emerald green. A Mickey Mouse pin might be bright red and mustard yellow, but not usually magenta and pale yellow.^{[13]
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- Exceptions: Some authentic Disney pins in the same design feature slightly different shades of the same color. This is simply a manufacturing error and not usually intentional. The difference might be noticeable, but it's not stark.
- Not sure what your Disney pin is supposed to look like? Search for it on PinPics, the unofficial Disney pin database, and compare it to the photos in the database.

Section 2 of 4:

The Challenges of Spotting Fake Disney Pins

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Newer pins aren't as well-made as they used to be, according to fans. Some Disney fans claim that pins aren't made with the same quality and detail they used to be. This makes it easier for counterfeiters to produce fakes and harder for fans to tell the difference, since quality used to be one of the main differentiators.
- Still consider the quality of a pin when assessing whether it’s real or fake, but keep in mind that some newer, authentic pins might still have quality issues.
If Disney decides to make a new run of an existing pin, the factory may change the design slightly. Some pin traders might mistake the change for a sign of a counterfeit, when in reality it's an authentic new run or a new version of an old design.
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There are more fake Disney pins than real ones. Some pin traders say that anywhere from 90-99% of pins at the pin trading tables in Disneyland are fake. They say it comes from people buying bulk lots at discount online and then using them to get better pins in the Parks. If true, this makes it even harder to sift out the real pins!
- Bottom line: You can't always be 100% certain your Disney pin isn't fake. The only way to know for sure is to buy one from the Disney Parks or a licensed retailer.

Section 3 of 4:

Scrappers vs Counterfeit Disney Pins

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Scrappers are real Disney pins with defects that were accidentally circulated. During the manufacturing process, some Disney pins come out with slight defects, like a flaw in the paint on the front or a misalignment in the lettering. Disney tries to scrap these pins (hence the name), but some inevitably make it through and into the Parks and the stores. The differences between a scrapper and a "perfect" pin are often small, making it hard to tell which is which. For pin trading purposes, however, scrappers are considered just as "fake" as counterfeits made by non-Disney companies.^{[14]
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- Think you know your Disney? Find out by taking our fun "Am I a Disney Expert?" quiz!
In contrast to scrappers, fake Disney pins are usually easy to spot. Non-Disney companies copy real pin designs and try to pass them off as authentic to make a quick buck. But they make them with less and cheaper material, which causes them to feel thinner and lighter. They also tend to leave more inaccuracies and inconsistencies, like dips in the enamel coating on the front.^{[15]
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Section 4 of 4:

Where to Buy Disney Pins to Avoid Fakes

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The Disney Parks, hotels, and licensed retailers Buying pins directly from Disney is an almost 100% foolproof way of getting the real deal. Find new, authentic Disney pins at the shops or hotels in Disneyland or Disney World, in Disney Stores, and at retailers licensed to sell Disney-themed merchandise. If you can't go to a Disney Park, look for real Disney pins on Amazon or BoxLunch. Some people also report finding them at Walmart!^{[16]
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Be cautious when buying pins from third-party marketplaces. Buying pins from eBay, Mercari, and other third-party websites increases the risk of getting fakes. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy pins from these places, but you should be cautious and carefully analyze the listings. Look for photos that are well-lit and that show multiple angles (including the back) of the pin.
- It's also a good idea to check the seller's rating and reviews.
- Avoid buying pins in bulk, especially if the price seems too good to be true! The pins in these lots are probably scrappers from the factory.