New "Pre- Pressed" Penny Machines

[MrsMcKenzie]

I find the increase in price absurd. Plus all the charm is gone from it. I'm all about technology and making things simpler, better, more convenient...but I agree with the posts that have said the pressed pennies was often about the process.

 

[Mikie]

You know, this is a great example of a dichotomy that occurs in lots of places -- is it about the journey or the destination? I mean, very few people undertake something just for the result, but to me Disney seems to have missed the point that the value of the pressed pennies [made by cranking] is at least as much or significantly more about the experience of making them as it was about the result of having them.

Yeah, I hope this one fails. I can see the benefit... I mean you take out collecting quarters in favor of $10 digital payments... but it's just horrible. I would certainly never, ever swipe my credit card in a machine to have it spit out 10 pressed pennies. The fun is in your kids picking the penny, turning the dial, then cranking it out. You're paying for the activity, not the penny.

In about a couple hundred stops at Pressed Penny machines at Disney and elsewhere, I have seen about a half dozen adult collectors stand at a machine and buy one of each design so that they could have the complete set. Otherwise it is ALL about the kid MAKING the penny, not just HAVING the penny.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hate the idea....absolutely hate it. Yes, I was an adult standing there, waiting to get a particular pressed penny. But, it was for my dd...back home. We used to spend time in the parks and resorts, looking for specific penny machines. It was a lot of fun. Now? I get to pay $1 for something that used to cost me .51! I'm tired of being offered 'collections'....most of the time I don't want everything that's in the 'collection'!!
How hard is it to get change in order to use a pressed penny machine? Geez, give a cashier a dollar bill and you're good to go. Nope, this has taken something special away from a lot of families. I'm so glad my dd is no hugely interested in them. Even last May, she would stop at one or two, and say "Nope, already have that one'' and she's 21!!! If it had been one that she wanted, she would have done it. Now? I doubt she'll even give those machines a second look.

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

You know, this is a great example of a dichotomy that occurs in lots of places -- is it about the journey or the destination? I mean, very few people undertake something just for the result, but to me Disney seems to have missed the point that the value of the pressed pennies [made by cranking] is at least as much or significantly more about the experience of making them as it was about the result of having them.

I agree 100%. It is not just about the pennies but about making them. Sometimes they lined up and sometimes not so much but that made them special.
I metal blanks never even crossed my mind but I think could be very likely.

 

[Disneyholic]

I actually don't mind this - I didn't know to bring change with me last year and of course my DD5 noticed the machines and was disappointed she couldn't get one. Now if you could pay for them with your Magic Band, I'd be ALL over it - I'll still have to remember to bring $1 bills (or be forced to get all 12 so I can use a CC).

You could have easily gotten some if you had some cash on you. The CMs at the cash registers are more than happy to give you change & will even look for the shiniest pennies.

 

[GatorMama]

As a lover of collections... It's weird to me to buy all of them all at once. That's not the point of collecting. The point (to me) is to have an experience getting each one, not to see how many you can rack up at one time.

 

[soniam]

As a lover of collections... It's weird to me to buy all of them all at once. That's not the point of collecting. The point (to me) is to have an experience getting each one, not to see how many you can rack up at one time.

I do believe each to his own. However, when DS and I get a penny, it's because we have been to that place, done that activity, or like that character. I bought some Baymax pennies off EBay, but only because we didn't know about the machine last visit. I was worried it would be gone by our next trip, and DS loves Baymax. That's the only time I have ever purchased them like that.

EDIT: I just told DS9 about these new machines. He curled up his nose in disgust and asked what good is that

 

[bostonsnana]

Absolutely. Completely. Stupid. Nothing nostalgic or entertaining about the new machine. We will not be spending our time or our money on this sad excuse for pressing pennies. Why not just order them off Ebay!

 

[larryz]

Seems just as exciting as buying the pressed pennies from Disneystore.com...

 

[mort1331]

My 2cents, not upset about the increased cost, they could convert the old to take 3 quarters. Not that I am giving them suggestions. But as everyone else says its great when my DD4 "helps" old dad crank the handle and the warm penny pops out.
As a side note, they have those other ones that press quarters, Never got one, its not the same. The girls love getting the pennies, and Dad loves keeping them when we get home. Going to be a great little gift when its college time and they ask me for tuition help...lol

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

Hate the idea....absolutely hate it. Yes, I was an adult standing there, waiting to get a particular pressed penny. But, it was for my dd...back home. We used to spend time in the parks and resorts, looking for specific penny machines. It was a lot of fun. Now? I get to pay $1 for something that used to cost me .51! I'm tired of being offered 'collections'....most of the time I don't want everything that's in the 'collection'!!
How hard is it to get change in order to use a pressed penny machine? Geez, give a cashier a dollar bill and you're good to go. Nope, this has taken something special away from a lot of families. I'm so glad my dd is no hugely interested in them. Even last May, she would stop at one or two, and say "Nope, already have that one'' and she's 21!!! If it had been one that she wanted, she would have done it. Now? I doubt she'll even give those machines a second look.

Pretty sure my husband will be the same way as your daughter. When he was younger his parents didn't necessarily have the money for big souvenirs so this was something he could get and feel like he was getting something. Now, he likes looking for characters he doesn't have but I highly doubt he'll be putting his money into these machines...

 

[Disney Khi]

This is so disappointing! DD likes to make these if she sees a design she wants, and I like to get her a souvenir that costs .51. I don't think she will be very interested in a touchscreen machine, and I'm not spending a dollar on it.

 

[Alicatt]

Does anyone know if they starting replacing the old machines yet? I'm still hoping to get some of the old, cranked ones in January. We've been collecting pennies all year. As we get close we clean them and put them in the tubes. One for my son and one for my daughter. That's part of the fun. I have a bunch of pre-trip traditions like this and would hate to loose this one.

 

[dizneegirl]

There are only 2 of the new machines that I'm aware of, the princesses at HS, and Frozen at DD. I highly doubt they'll replace all the old ones with these.

You can find a pretty good comprehensive listing of what's available where at presscoins.com.

 

[katibosch]

Oh no! The pressed pennies are one of my daughter's favorite things to do!

 

[Lisann]

Everyone take a quick five minutes and write to Guest Services and tell them of your disappointment. They will listen. It has worked for me before, and if we all write, well...maybe they will reconsider these new machines. We can dream...and isn't there a song with the words..."a dream is a wish your heart makes".....

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

I am hoping that they do not replace all of the traditional pressed penny machines. Somehow it became a special thing that my boys made pressed pennies with their Grandpa ONLY. No one else. It was a special that he showed them and they did together- with Grandpa helping them turn the crank. Ever since the first time the boys bring the pennies from their piggy bank and Grandpa brings the quarters. It is such a special Disney memory for them. I hope it doesn't have to stop.

 

[dreambuilder1928]

I hope they don't replace all the pressed penny machines. I do collect them and always keep the clean older pennies as they keep their shape when pressed. Plus, the cost of the penny is going up with those machines. It'll cost $0.83 per penny if you get the 12 for $10. The only thing good about those machines is you can get all the pennies at once and now have to carry all those lose change.

I am in college now, but I remember carrying my pressed pennies in an M&M tube and looking up ways to clean dirty pennies (ketchup and toothpaste are both great options btw). I recently came across a bunch of my old pressed pennies and was planning on making some more when I go to WDW next. I wish people like me, who have those memories, and future generations of munchkins, could do it the same way. But I guess this is the new way. *sigh* I really don't think the price increase is necessary. I highly doubt that Disney is hurting for money, especially not enough to increase the cost of stamping a little design on a penny.

p.s. Does anyone know if these new machines would solve the problem of putting the pennies in backwards? A lot of mine have the Lincoln Memorial smeared on them because I put the penny in the slot the wrong way.

 

[Ladyfish77]

I'm hoping they keep the original machines. Let those who want to do it all at once use the digital machines. Keep the original machines for the fun of the hunt and the great memories. I just took an 18 and 19 year old to Hershey park--guess what? They made pressed pennies for a souvenir.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

We're adults, we love collecting the pressed pennies at WDW. We already have a collection of pennies saved up and ready for pressing in September! So, not a fan of this change! We love pressing them ourselves and putting them in our WDW penny collection book. DH just said the other day that we need to get the roll of quarters for our trip soon. Sigh I mean, really, do they need to digitize ever ding dang thing?