Can someone explain pressed pennies?

[MamaLema]

First trip to WDW in Sept. I don't want to waste time with autographs and I don't know if we can finish the Epcot passport. The pressed pennies sounds like something my kids would like to do. Where do I get more info?


"Mommy, we're gonna drive HOW long???"

 

[beavismom]

The pressed penny machines are located throughout the parks. Each machine has a few different designs to pick from. You put in your penny and 2 quarters and then turn the crank and the design you pick is imprinted on the penny. It is one of my kids favorite souveniers.

There are also quarter machines, and I think even a nickel machine or two. I am sure there is a list of locations somewhere, but you can usually find them in the gift shops that rides empty into.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

You'll see them all over the parks and at the resorts - particularly at the gift shops, and such. Each machine usually has a choice of three different designs, with characters and all, and each machine is different -- so there is plenty to choose from! Of cour$e. It is fun for the kids.

You can also pick up a pressed penny book in any of the gift shops and it's a nice way to hold the pennies. I believe the books were about 6.50 plus tax. We didn't bringthe books to the parks. We just added the pennies in when we got back to the resort each day.

How old are your kids? They might want to do the autographs when they see others doing it. Why do you say you won't want to do the autograph thing? You could pick up cheap books at home and just use them some of the time -- we never really waited on long lines to see characters - but when we did see a character and my kids were going up to say hi and get a photo, they got an autograph. It's not a must do - but I wantedt to mention that your kids might get curious when they see others doing it. Other parents have mentioned that happening on these boards.

Also, we got the Epcot paspports. We didn't make a big deal baout getting them stamped in each country since my kids were already doing the Epcot masks, but there were lots of cool stickers for each country. My kids would work on their passport stickers during meals. It kept them busy and it was educationsl - we would talk to them about the different landmarks represented in the stickers.

Anyhow, all three things are fun. Whichever you choose to do with your family, your kids will enjoy!!

 

[MamaLema]

Thanks for the info. My boys will be 1, 5, and 7 at the time of our trip, so its really more for the older two. The only reason I don't want to do the autographs is because I think there will be long lines and it will eat a huge chunk of our time. Am I wrong or does it depend on the attendance that day?

I guess I don't want to do the autographs, passport, pin trading, pressed pennies all on one trip because it's our first trip and I don't want to overdo it.

 

[eeyore45]

My dd is 7 and she did the pressed pennies... I suggest you bring a roll of "shiny" pennies - and have lots of quarters, in advance, that way its one less thing they have to "whine" about!! She felt very much in control, when she looked at the stores and wanted souveniers, she had her money ($50) to spend, or she could get a "pressed penny" - it worked like magic!! and I did buy the book, and kept it at the hotel and at night she'd like to remind me what we did at the park, and how that penny will remind her of it!!

Sometimes she'd want all 3 choices, sometimes just one - I didnt give her a choice on the quarters ($!.25 I think) if she wanted a pressed quarter, she'd have to use her money!!

Also, dont be surprised sometimes the lines for the characters were short - we went in August...

and if you do a character breakfast (like Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary hotel) you'll want autographs!

 

[scoutsmom99]

Here is a link to all of the pressed penny locations at WDW
http://allearsnet.com/btp/pennylist.htm

 

[Broken8ball]

When we went in July, I took small snack zip-lock bags and filled them with $5 in quarters and the matching number of shinny pennies (cleaned them myself). The kids carried their bags in their fanny packs (from the DIS of course) and could stop and get a pressed penny whenever they saw the machines without having to ask about it. It cut down alot on the "Can I have this" since they were getting lots of things each day. I had a bag ready for each park day so they always had plenty of quarters.

Guest relations in each park can also give you a paper list you can carry around with you. Epcot, I think, also has a master list of all the machines in WDW

 

[daisax]

You want to use pennies from the 70s or earlier (mostly copper) since the later pennies are made with a greater percentage of zinc and will show when pressed.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by MamaLema

I guess I don't want to do the autographs, passport, pin trading, pressed pennies all on one trip because it's our first trip and I don't want to overdo it.

We generally do all of them as it keeps the kids focused in the "less thrill" parks. They can also look at their collections to kill time on line.

Lastly, I find with all of those things, I can stay clear of the gift shops (except for me of course ) as they feel they have plenty of soveniers.

JMHO
Sandy