A recent Walt Disney World Resort vacation came with an unexpected souvenir purchase after a simple interaction with a pressed penny machine resulted in an accidental charge. During their time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a Disney Fanatic team member and their family discovered that leaning against one of the park’s popular souvenir machines could cost guests.
While waiting near the entrance to Kilimanjaro Safaris, just minutes before the start of an Up Close With Rhinos Tour, the family was left with no seats to rest on. They settled on leaning on a pressed penny machine that no other Disney Park guests were using. Little did they know, this innocent gesture would soon lead to a surprise purchase.
After a few minutes, the machine began to hum, and out came three pressed pennies. Moments later, an alert from their banking app confirmed that they had been charged over $3 for the coins.
The culprit? A tap-to-pay feature built into the pressed penny machine. One of the guests had a debit card in their backpack, and the machine’s credit card reader, sensing the card through the bag, processed the payment for all three penny designs. This system only dispenses the complete set of pennies with a card purchase, so since the machine didn’t need the guests to select a design, it automatically completed the transaction without any input.
Walt Disney World Resort was quick to issue a refund after the bank contacted them, but the experience serves as a cautionary tale for future visitors. Be aware of where you lean when passing by souvenir machines during your visit. You may end up with more than you bargained for, especially if you’re carrying a tap-to-pay card.
Pressed penny and souvenir coin machines are found throughout Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the Disney Resort hotels, each offering unique designs. But be careful where you stand, or you may find yourself leaving the parks with unintended souvenirs.
Have you mistakenly purchased a pressed penny or souvenir coin at Walt Disney World Resort? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
