All throughout the Disneyland Resort, you can find pressed coin machines. These machines press images onto pennies, and some machines even press nickels, dimes, or quarters. These images feature Disney characters, attractions, and more. Pressing pennies is an awesome activity to do at the Disney parks and we want to share with you some tips on how to start your Disney pressed coin collection.
GETTING STARTED
To start pressing coins at Disneyland, you need, well, coins! There are a few ways to get change. First, you can go to any merchandise register and ask a cast member for change. Second, at the Penny Arcade on Main Street, they have a change machine where you can insert a quarter and receive 25 pennies. Another option is to stop by your local bank before your visit to Disneyland and get all the change you might need to start your pressed pennies adventure. If you do go to the bank, ask for pre-1982 pennies. These older pennies are made of copper, unlike current pennies which are zinc with a copper coding. If you use pennies post-1982, you might see a streak in your pressed pennies which is the result of the zinc.
Another tip is to buy a pressed penny souvenir book. These souvenir books are available in the Emporium on Main Street and in some of the larger gift shops around the Disneyland Resort. You do not have to buy one of these books to press pennies, but it is a really neat way to keep your pressed penny collection.
LOCATIONS
There are pressed coin machines located in Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, the Disneyland Hotel, and there’s even one at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. To locate these machines you can use the Disneyland App which will show you where these machines are. If you're someone who likes to check things off as you go, you can also find a printable Pressed Coin Guide from the Disney Parks Blog.
Each pressed coin machine has different designs that are themed to the specific land or attraction where it is located. Some of our favorite machines are the ones located at the Splash Mountain exit, the elephant pressed coin machine in the Adventureland Bizarre, and the two machines in The Star Trader in Tomorrowland.
START COLLECTING
If you want to start collecting pressed pennies, we suggest choosing a specific theme or a character to collect. For example, some might want all the Disney Princess themed coins while someone else might want coins exclusive to each attraction. This will make it more fun to do this activity and you can continue collecting your coins throughout multiple visits.
DIMES, NICKELS, AND QUARTERS! OH MY!
Disneyland often rotates and retires designs for pressed pennies while they come out with new ones. Also, pennies are not the only coins you can press at Disneyland, but you can also press nickels, dimes, and quarters on certain machines. The pressed nickel machines are seasonal, so you can only get these certain times of the year, but they often have a new design each year.
Collecting pressed coins at the Disneyland Resort may not be the first thing you think of when you plan your visit, but it is something really neat to consider doing. Not only is it a fun activity, but it’s also a great souvenir to take home with you at the end of your visit. Are you now interested in collecting pressed pennies at Disneyland? Have you done it before? Share your experience with us by commenting below or take a picture of your Disney pressed coin collection and share it with us on Instagram @provostparkpass. For even more tips and secrets to help make your visit at the Disneyland Resort more magical, read some more blog posts, check out our videos on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. #ProvostParkPass