Pressed Pennies

[disneywithkids]

Hello,

I've come across several threads now about pressed pennies and even did a search but I still don't get it!

We don't have pressed penny machines in Canada and I've never heard of this before. I have a 4 year old and 6 year old and I thought they might like it, so this is what I'm not sure about:

Does it cost a quarter every time you press a penny?

Are the pennies just 'squished' or is there something printed on them to show where or when it was pressed?

Is this something that people collect across the States or is this a WDW thing?

Thanks for enlightening me!

 

[cowtownmom]

They are usually 50 cents per penny. There are a lot of places around the country that have the machines. Our zoo even has them! They flatten out the penny (kind of an eliptical shape) and press a picture on them. They are a lot of fun!

 

[karen1]

The pennies cost $.50 to press so it's $.51 including the penny. They are pressed with a character or symbol on the penny. There are 3 choices per machine and the machines are everywhere.

I believe you can get a list of all the machines in DW at the resorts or parks , but I found a checklist at
www.liss.olm.net/ec/disney/wdw/mk_checklist.html

My kids are very excited and prepared to start a big collection this Tues!!! WE,ve been saving pennies and quarters since our last trip and are hoping to conquer a lot of machines!!!!

 

[disneywithkids]

That is neat! the kids will love it!

Another really cool thing to add to the list! I am having a blast planning our trip in October.

Thanks again!

 

[Michelina]

I found an idea on the boards to attatch little magnets on the back and put them on the fridge! I've been collecting pressed pennies for years and couldn't think of what to do with them, I think that's a neat idea!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

DD loves pressed pennies.
A couple of tips: Get a pressed penny book so each time you press one you can put it right in the book. They sell these at most WDW gift shops - usually around the check out. We found a lot of people asked us at the machines where we got the book. If you want to get one prior to going to WDW - check out www.giftsofalifetime.com
Also, keep your pennies and quarters in a separate bag - but try not to use ziploc bags - mine broke in the middle of a busy gift shop at MK! This way you won't be trying to find quarters/pennies when you find a machine. I usually put 20 pennies and 40 quarters in a separate bag for DD to use for pressed ones.
You'll have to use US quarters, but I'm sure Canadian pennies will work just fine.
Some info tells you not to use newer pennies, but I've always gone through our coin jar and picked out the new shiney ones and they always worked fine.
There are also pressed quarter machines that cost $1.25. The Disney pressed penny book comes with 6 slots for pressed quarters. Usually each resort has a pressed quarter machine with the resort name on it - DD collected pressed quarters from the resort we visited.
Have fun!

 

[papagooch]

Here's a link to a Pressed Penny Museum in Washington, DC.
They give advise on what coins you should use and so forth.
http://www.squished.com/homenew/index.html

 

[epcotfan]

Actually there are pressed penny machines in Canada. I've seen them in Niagara Falls, Toronto and Edmonton.

 

[KristinU]

The reason many people like to use older penneis is that the US started using nickel in the production of pennies in 1982, so when you squish the newer pennies you sometimes get a "smear" of nickel showing through the copper. It comes down to personal preference I think.

A great way to carry your pennies and quarters around the parks is using the M&M Minis tubes - I'm guessing you probably have them in Canada too. There are even king size tubes that can hold even more, these are especially good for quarters.

Have fun!

 

[disneywithkids]

Thanks for all the great info.

I have a feeling the pennies will be one of their favourite souvenirs.

 

[AZKathy]

My DD did collected pressed pennies on our trip this past month. She has 1 1/2 books filled. She loved doing it. One more tip, use shiney pennies; they look better. WDW also has a few different covers for the penny books just in case you go hog wild.

Most ever country in World Showcase has a pressed penny machine; DD got one from each country as we went there.

 

[coachv]

We just got back and my 2 sons used the press penny machines. They bought a book to keep it in and it was ok. I used the containers that 35 mm film comes in to keep the quarters in. It is sometimes a hassle, especially if the machines are in a tight area. My kids really enjoyed it though. They also have pressed quarter machines as well. They are from $1 to $1.25 to use these. Also, use the passporter at Epcot World Showcase. This was a good thing for our 2 kids. They get to make a mask and decorate it and receive something from each country to tie onto it. Have a great time!!

 

[suei]

Our 2 boys collected pressed pennies when we visited New York City and Orlando at Easter in 2000. We bought their books at Kennedy Space Centre as nowhere else seemed to sell them then. Even now, they enjoy looking at them, and they're a great reminder of all the things we saw and did on the holiday; and they're a relatively cheap souvenir!

 

[dsnylndmom]

My 8 year old DS and my DH were on a mission at DL in both Nov. and May with pressed pennies!!! LOL They love doing this together. In fact my DH is worse than the kids, when he had a job walk in L.A. earlier this month he was right near DLR, well since I bought him a AP in May he used that to go on in and get the kids a couple of pressed pennies! The goof!

The two of them are already planning their "strategy" for getting all the pressed pennies that they can when we go to WDW in August!

We save our pennies and quarters for this and in April(when DH couldn't come)I used a heavy duty ziploc freezer bag for my coins and it worked fine.

Good luck and have fun collecting those pennies!!
Tina

 

[mathgeek]

Yes, I know you can request a complete list of locations of the different designs at Guest Services at MGM. I'm not sure about the other parks.

Last summer I saw all of the resorts as I hunted for one specific pressed penny - I think I went a little overboard, but I wanted all 7 penny designs of the Lilo and Stitch collection. But it was neat to see all of the different themes at the resorts. And I found out that you can get a half hour shopping pass for the water parks and can press pennies there as well.

I've also used both ziploc bags and the 35mm film canisters for my quarters and pennies and have had no problems with either one.

 

[poohraedopey]

Originally posted by disneywithkids
Hello,



We don't have pressed penny machines in Canada and I've never heard of this before. I have a 4 year old and 6 year old and I thought they might like it, so this is what I'm not sure about:

Sure you do! Hubby and I were in Niagara Falls recently and pressed some pennys there at the butterfly Conservatory but saw the machiens ina few other places in toronto as well like a previous poster said ! Have fun!


We loved finding the machines and collecting the pennys! The ones you crank are more fun than the ones where you just push a button! Have fun!