This past fall, a pressed coin machine was installed at Disney Cruise Line’s terminal at Port Canaveral. There are a total of six designs to collect, including one for each ship and one featuring Castaway Cay. The last design is a general DCL design featuring Captain Mickey and a cruise ship.
The coin press machine consists of two separate coin presses, each with three unique designs. The set on the right features the classic ships the Magic and Wonder along with a Castaway Cay penny.
The set on the left includes the Dream class ships with the general Disney Cruise Line penny design with Captain Mickey.
Each pressed penny costs fifty-one cents. The machine includes a built-in change machine to get quarters, but you will need to bring your own pennies.
If you are planning ahead, bring at least 16 quarters and 8 pennies to aquire a complete set of six pressed coins. I would suggest looking for pennies that were minted prior to 1982. Newer pennies are copper plated zinc which as you can see the zinc becomes visible once pressed.
My math above is not wrong, the calculation if for 8 pressed pennies as I am building in an insurance policy for two more pressed pennies in the event there is an error during the press which as you can see below can happen. If all goes well, which it did for us, you can get two more coins to give to your friends when you get home.
For a grand total of $3.06 you can get the complete set of Disney Cruise Line pressed pennies. I think this is one of the best and most affordable keepsakes you can purchase to commemorate your Disney Cruise. Plus, it is fun to watch & do!
That is really neat. Thanks for sharing!
Great! Where is it located in the terminal?
Between the check-in desks and the gangway entrance on the left.
A Shame Canada no longer has pennies as would be a nice collection
I’m sure you can find a few pennies as you make your way to Port Canaveral.
We’re going on a Mediterranean cruise this summer, will there be any opportunity to get the pressed pennies?
The penny press is only installed at DCL’s own terminal at Port Canaveral.
Are these accessible when you disembark on your last day?
No, they are only accessible on embarkation day.
Funny, I was hoping there’d be a spot to do this – my DD 7, loves these things! Thanks!
Scott, Great post on something so many (myself included) would miss in the rush to board! Thanks I will have my $4.08 ready on the next trip (I love insurance plans).
I was told to use shinny new pennies…now I have to search for 1982 or earlier pennies. Thanks for the info!
I have great success with newer pennies that have the shield on the back instead of the monument building. I use pennies that are new and uncirculated. They do not produce the marble vein look of zinc showing through. They do allow zinc to show trough in some spots depending on the press setup and design. I have tried the pennies prior to 1982 and I have not been happy with them personally. For me they are too dull. I have tried cleaned pennies prior to 1982 also with the same poor results.
Also, for this location you have to be a paying guest as this machine is located behind the security checkpoint. So, if you are not going to be traveling on a cruise don’t bother trying to get the pennies. I say this because I live near Port Canaveral and was going to try to go there just for the pennies to help complete my Walt Disney World penny collection.
Thank you! I just ran out to the bank today and loaded up on change just so I can get these pressed pennies at Port Canaveral. Bummer, its not in a public space for non Disney cruise travelers. Well, I have to save my change for something else now.
Good luck. The last 2 trips through Port Canaveral, the machines have been half working or completely out of order. Which stinks because you only get one opportunity to get them pressed during a cruise.
Are there still no machines at the Miami port?
To my knowledge there are no machines at PortMiami. This is primary due to fact the terminal is not exclusive to DCL. Therefore, it is unlikely they would have a machine as it would need to be put in storage on non-turnover days.
Is there any hopes of getting a disney cruise pressed penny machine on the ships prior to March 9, 2020? This is our 2nd Disney Cruise and we go with our whole family. We missed the machines somehow in 2015 when we sailed from Port Canaveral on the Dream and This cruise we are on the Magic from Port Miami. There will be 14 of us and I was hoping to get some for each of us. This vacation is special for us because our boys are both in the military and our daughter also lives out of state. Our grandchildren will also be with us too! We don’t get many whole family vacations or holidays! Thanks so much for taking time to read and/or respond! Sheryl and John
Sheryl, I wouldn’t expect to see the pressed penny machines showing up on the ships, or at Port Miami.