Question about the smashed/pressed pennies

[sacteach]

I'm going to DL Tuesday and Wednesday this week and wanted to make some smashed pennies. I just started geocaching and thought it would be a fun and inexpensive item to put in the caches.

I have about 60 pennies, but not very many quarters. I'm going on the assumption that it still costs 51c. Are there vending machines to get quarters? Do the penny machines take credit cards now - it seems that everything does these days!

 

[laura&fam]

I'm not sure if they take quarters now or not, but it was a pain when we went last to have to wait in line or even find somewhere to get change. I'd get some quarters if at all possible and know you're good.

Oh, also we tried to take new shiny quarters. Not that it really matters because the kids have touched them so much now they're all dark and dull anyway.

 

[sacteach]

I wasn't planning on pressing the quarters, just using them to pay for the pressed penny. If I remember correctly (haven't done it in a while), you put in 2 quarters and a penny. But, I did try to find the shiny pennies to use!

 

[laura&fam]

Oops, I meant shiny pennies. It must be getting late.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Yes, they are still .51.........(2 quarters and the penny that will be pressed). No credit cards.

 

[bumbershoot]

There aren't change machines *everywhere*, but I've seen enough around to be happy. But I'd still run to the bank and get a roll, just to start with.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

There are a lot of pressed penny machines in the Penny Arcade on Main Street and I would be surprised if there was not a change machine in there or at the very least someone to get quarters from. We typically pack a plastic tube from M&Ms minis which fits quarters very well, then we stack the coins inside: two quarters, one penny, two quarters, one penny, etc. Also, word is that pre-1983 pennies are best because they are pure copper so you won't get silvery streaks once they are squished.

 

[labattblue]

Also, word is that pre-1983 pennies are best because they are pure copper so you won't get silvery streaks once they are squished.

Great tip!

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/fun_facts/index.cfm?flash=no&action=fun_facts2

 

[Minuet888]

Hi,
Yes it is still 51 cents. We got back earlier this month and for son reason my 3 year old son was obsessed with the penny machines. He got so many of them we had to buy the little Disney penny storage book.

 

[pixiewings71]

My DD9 loves pressed pennies, we always get a roll of quarters for her and we clean our pennies by soaking them in peroxide. Which reminds me that I need to start soaking pennies for our next trip. Anyway, there are change machines around, there are 2 by the shooting gallery, some in the penny arcade, I've seen them in DCA but can't remember where.....the pressed penny/nickel/dime/quarter machines do not take credit cards, only coins. The pennies are $.51, the others vary and I can't remember exactly how much they are. Oh and you can get a list of the machines thru the parks and the hotels from City Hall. DD9 has been working on this for our last 2 trips and she's still working on them.....she has 1 book that's almost full and she will get the Tink book when her Mickey book is full.

 

[sacteach]

Thank you for all of the great information. I was able to round up 50 quarters and 25 pennies for the trip, so that will be a good start! I'll have to check the dates and use the pre-83 pennies first.

 

[Canyon girl]

I roll all the change that I get. As I roll the pennies, I take out the older ones (I stick with older than 80) and put them aside for our next trip. I already have nearly a roll of the older ones for Sept. Also, don't forget that there are some pressed nickel machines. I think it is a nickel and 4 quarters? There is a really cute Wall-E one.

 

[Eeee-va]

One more little tip--if there's a particular penny you really have your heart set on, make sure that you do it as early as possible (certainly Tuesday instead of Wednesday). I got the Wall-E set of pressed nickels on Friday or Saturday night, and Sunday night the machine had an Out of Order sign on it as I left the park. It was just fine on Monday, but if you wait until the last night for your favorite, you may not be able to get it.

 

[pixiewings71]

There are actually penny, nickel, dime and quarter machines. And I think that Naomi is right, I think they are $1.00 to press the larger coins, DD did the Wall*E nickels, they are so cute!!!

 

[Minuet888]

One more little tip--if there's a particular penny you really have your heart set on, make sure that you do it as early as possible (certainly Tuesday instead of Wednesday). I got the Wall-E set of pressed nickels on Friday or Saturday night, and Sunday night the machine had an Out of Order sign on it as I left the park. It was just fine on Monday, but if you wait until the last night for your favorite, you may not be able to get it.

Where was the Walle machine? my son LOVES Walle (and the pressed pennies) but we didn't see a Walle one? aawww

 

[pixiewings71]

Wall*E is pressed nickels, not pennies, it's inside the arcade on Main Street.

 

[Aussie Princess]

I collected pressed pennies on our last trip to DL and im quite obsessed with it i have them from all over the world now.

There is a machine near buzz lightlight ride in the shop in fact and then tonnes in Main Street..

A great and inexpensive keepsake for my travel diary