What's the story behind coins dropped throughout "It's a Small World?"

[bbump]

I have taken 7 trips to DW and during our last trip in 8/07, we noticed TONS of coins dropped into the water throughout the entire "It's a Small World" ride. It was funny because throughout the whole ride we kept looking into the water to see the clusters of coins through the various "countrys". To join in the fun, Hubby, DD and I tossed a coin into the water during the ride. (I tossed a coin in Italy, one of my Nationalities)

But...does anyone have the story behind dropping coins into this ride? Do the coins ever get taken out and donated to a charity or something?

Any urban legends?
(Such as money going to food for the dolls when they come to life at night? --ha-ha!)

 

[SwhJess]

I would guess...and I've always assumed...that it's just people doing the "make a wish and toss a coin in the fountain" thing. Only it's not a fountain. Pretty much anywhere there's any body of water at WDW someone has felt the need to make a wish.

My sister and I always joked when were little that the job we would want at Disney World would be the person who cleans out the coins. Just keeping 10% of the collection would probably be a pretty penny. Pun intended.

 

[my3disneygirls]

I never saw the appeal of tossing perfectly good money into a body of water. My hubby says I'm no fun, but Disney is getting enough of our money without me throwing it down a rat hole. This is why my girls hit up dad for change throwing.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

From the Anita Answer column at AllEars.net:

The coins dropped into Cinderella's Wishing Well in the Magic Kingdom go to charity. All other coins eventually collected from waterways, ponds, moats, fountains and rides are usually too deteriorated to use as currency by the time they're fished out of the water.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I never saw the appeal of tossing perfectly good money into a body of water.

I know - I don't get it either. I understand the idea of making a wish and tossing a coin in a well or a fountain, but it seems people throw money into pretty much any and all waterways...

 

[allisonswonderland]

WEll that is interesting to know that they wait that long to clean them out and they are too deteriorated....what the heck is in the water....hahaha

 

[suzimar57]

i'm surprised to learn that coins can deteriorate....

 

[Iri920]

We were one of those people throwing coins into the water. My son loves to throw coins in any body of water so we usually have a few pennies for him. I always tell him to make a wish and then throw it in, it makes him happy.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

i'm surprised to learn that coins can deteriorate....

I don't know how accurate Anita Answer is in this case, but you gotta remember that there are a lot of chemicals in the water eating away at those coins.

 

[Andyjo0930]

We were wondering the same thing on out trip last month and if you look closely at the bottom, you can see where coins were, and how they have rusted in the water, so they are removed eventually.

 

[wendyri]

I don't know if I would throw money in the water to make a wish..I'd rather wish upon a star

 

[Kaler131]

My DS4 tossed coins in the water at IASW too! My sister and I were talking about it while we were on the ride a couple of weeks ago and wondering just how much $$$$ was in the water.

 

[Mickey's_Ghost]

I never really noticed the coins in IASW I was just trying to figure out when the ride would be over

 

[Danemom]

I don't get it .
I waited in line for EE last week and watched the people tossing coins into the outdoor Yeti shrine. No water there - just the chance to make it land in a cup or something, I guess. I had two thoughts on it - people complain about Disney finding so many ways to get your money but some people literally just throw it at them and I can't believe people don't jump in there and help themselves.

 

[wendyri]

I don't get it .
I waited in line for EE last week and watched the people tossing coins into the outdoor Yeti shrine. No water there - just the chance to make it land in a cup or something, I guess. I had two thoughts on it - people complain about Disney finding so many ways to get your money but some people literally just throw it at them and I can't believe people don't jump in there and help themselves.

OMG thats so funny that you mention that...we were thinking about jumping down there and grabbing as much coins as we could but there was too many eyes watching us

 

[jenelope]

I thought I remembered seeing a plaque at IASW saying coins were collected and donated to Give Kids the World.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

We were one of those people throwing coins into the water. My son loves to throw coins in any body of water so we usually have a few pennies for him. I always tell him to make a wish and then throw it in, it makes him happy.

You let your son throw coins in IASW? WHY? It's not a wishing well.

 

[bbump]

I thought I remembered seeing a plaque at IASW saying coins were collected and donated to Give Kids the World.

That would be really neat!!!

(Much better than "food for the dolls when they come to life" fund)

 

[JennyG]

Any urban legends?
(Such as money going to food for the dolls when they come to life at night? --ha-ha!)

Okay, need to remember not to ride this at night!!!

 

[mking624]

You let your son throw coins in IASW? WHY? It's not a wishing well.

I would assume that if this were such a big deal to Disney and wasn't allowed, we would see something indicating that coins are not allowed to be tossed since I'm sure Disney realizes that by leaving the coins there, it sends a message that it's ok to toss them in.