Penny's, Pins, and Hidden Mickey's
If you feel like you have done everything possible at Disneyland and you are looking for something new to try here are three things you can do that are fun for the whole family. The items listed in this article are things you can while walking around Disneyland without having to wait in long lines… taking in the ambience in a different, yet fun way.
Hidden Mickey's
There are currently 50 Hidden Mickey's throughout Disneyland Park. One can be seen on the Disneyland Railroad Station the minute you enter the gates into Disneyland. A Hidden Mickey is an intentional or accidental occurrence of three circles forming the very familiar Mickey Mouse icon. Several of the Hidden Mickey's are found on attractions… but there are many to be found just walking around. Look at buildings, lampposts and everything you can see for those Hidden Mickey's. Many people enjoy taking pictures of them to keep track, or you can simply do it for fun. Make a game out of it and see who can find the most Hidden Mickey's.
Of the items listed in this article, finding the Hidden Mickey's is the least expensive option. All you really need are your eyes to find the Hidden Mickey's. Of course if you take pictures then you have film and development costs; but that is completely up to you. To keep track of them without pictures you can simply use a pen and paper to lower the expense even more.
Pin Trading
If Hidden Mickey's seem too hard to find on a hot summer day you might enjoy pin trading. This has become very popular at the Disneyland Resort and you can enjoy pin trading at both Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure.
To begin pin trading you can purchase a pin trading kit at the Emporium in Disneyland or Greetings from California in Disney's California Adventure. These kits contain a lanyard to display your pins and two copies of each pin; one for you and one to trade. There are many pin sets to choose from.
You can also go to Star Traders located in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Here you can purchase pins and sit and trade with others under cover from the sun and Tomorrowland crowds. Be sure to also pick up the pin trading rules at Star Traders so you can become familiar with the ins and outs of pin trading. You will also need to pick up the pamphlet on pin-trading etiquette where pins are sold; including Star Traders.
Pin trading can be highly addictive for young and old alike. It is also a great confidence builder for young children. While it is fun for everyone, it can also be quite expensive. The pins range from around $4.50 on up over $10.00 each. You will also need a lanyard or a pin-trading book to hold your pins.
One way to lessen the cost of pin trading would be to go to Disney's Outlet Store on Harbor to buy pins. Here you will find a wide selection for minimal cost.
A few of the basic rules of pin trading are as follows:
You can trade with a Cast Member, one pin for one pin. You cannot offer a Cast Member a pin they already have; and the pin must follow the guidelines in the pin-trading handbook.
All pins to be traded with Cast Members must be metal, painted, and have something to do with Disney and must be made by Disney or an affiliate (such as McDonalds). More information on what is accepted is in the pin-trading guidelines.
Trading with another guest is a bit more relaxed… although there is one rule that absolutely cannot be broken. When pin trading there is to be no money changing hands.
If you are new to pin trading, or have a young child involved in pin trading it is best to stick with trading between yourselves and Cast Members. While pin trading is strictly for fun, some pins do have great value; and some people will not hesitate to exploit that when trading with the young or new traders. A Cast Member on the other hand will always be fair; and will help you learn the ropes.
Penny Pressing
If pin trading doesn't appeal to you then you might enjoy pressing pennies. This is also fun for young and old alike… and again, can be very addictive. A book can be purchased to easily store all of your pennies after they are pressed or if you wish to save money you can put them in a Ziploc bag.
Finding the penny press machines can be something you do on your own or you can pick up a list of penny presses and their locations at City Hall. There are currently 50 different penny presses at the Disneyland Resort; with each press putting a different picture on the penny.
The cost to press pennies is relatively small. You will need 51 cents per penny press. The penny to be pressed, obviously, and 2 quarters to pay for the penny press itself.
The nice thing about the pressed pennies is that you can just get one, you can get 10, or you can get all of them. This is totally up to you and how much you want to spend! If you decide to get the penny press book it can be purchased for around $6.00 plus tax.
Also keep in mind that if you are going to do this you need to have a good supply of quarters and pennies with you. After checking directly with Disneyland I found that they do not have rolls of quarters or pennies available; and the machines do not take dollar bills or credit cards… so you must have the coins. To get a penny from all 50 machines you will need to have with you $20.00 in quarters and 50 cents in pennies.
Current 50th Pennies Printable List Each of these three experiences can enhance your Disney fun, especially if you are looking for something new to try.