Not too long ago we visited the new Walt Disney World Store that is off-property (actually much closer to the Universal parks) over on International Drive. During that initial visit we found a pressed penny machine that was previously thought to have been retired, and you can read about that here. The store wasn’t as big as I thought it would be, and the selection is the same as we can find in many of the parks so I wasn’t really anticipating a return trip.

However that changed just recently when I was informed that a new collectible medallion machine has been placed here.

After arriving I parked in the nearby lot and headed inside. Disney is pretty well known for their circulation of merchandise. If you see something you like, it’s probably best to pick it up at that time because you just never know if it will still be there the next time you visit. Unfortunately it seems like this store really didn’t change much since my last visit. They still had a nice selection, but just nothing new was standing out in my eyes.

That is until I found the Collectible Medallion machine along one of the side walls near the DVC Riviera Resort model we checked out last time.

The machine cabinet is a pretty standard design with a wood grain exterior. It does match its look to the nearby pressed penny machine. Since this store is almost like a welcome center, I would have loved to see a vinyl wrap with images from all the different parks or even just covered in Disney characters. Something to help make it stand out a bit more, this is a pretty plain looking machine.

Although I guess it’s what’s inside that we are really interested in anyways. This machine has four new designs, one for each of the Theme Parks. Magic Kingdom with Mickey and Pluto, EPCOT with Donald and Daisy, Hollywood Studios with Goofy, and Animal Kingdom with Minnie. Each also has the park icon included in the image.

The image on the reverse side of each coin are all the same. It shows off Mickey with his arms stretched out, the Walt Disney World logo across the top, WDW Logo on the left side, ’71 (opening year) on the right side, and around the circumference of the coin are all of the park names. You will notice that each coin is a different color which I think is a nice touch and helps differentiate between them. In my opinion I really like the Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom medallions best with their almost tarnished matte look to them.

Will we see any more machines at this store, I don’t think so although that’s what I said last time so who knows. If they do add any more, or replace the designs available I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as it happens. Keep on Collecting!

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In a previous post we review the dated 2024 Medallion Set that you can read here. There are a few other non-dated mini-sets that we are going to be reviewing. First we checked out a Winnie the Pooh medallion set you can read here, second was the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs medallion set you can read here, and we conclude today with the Marvel Avengers numbered set. Below we will explain where each of the coins can be found, photos of the machine and of course beautiful photos of the medallions themselves. Enjoy and Keep on Collecting!

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#1 Captain America – Disney Springs Pin Traders

The first medallion in this set is at Disney Springs inside the big Pin Traders store. There is only one medallion machine (but a few penny machines) so this one should be easy to find. Medallion number one features the First Avenger Captain America.

#2 Iron Man – All-Star Sports Resort

Next we travel over to the All-Star Sports resort. Heading inside the main lobby building you will find this machine inside the World Premier Food Court. Medallion number two features Iron Man.

#3 Thor – All-Star Sports Resort

A short walk or drive away is the All-Star Sports resort. This time we still head inside the main lobby building, but the medallion machine will be along the main hallway wall just outside the Game Point Arcade. Medallion number three shows off the God of Thunder Thor.

#4 Hulk – Contemporary Resort

For the next medallion we head over to the iconic Contemporary Resort, also known as the resort where the monorail goes right through the building. You will need to head to the Fourth Floor Concourse, to the right of the monorail security check, past the arcade and you will see it up against the wall with a pressed penny machine. Medallion number four has quite an intimidating image of the big green guy, Hulk.

#5 Black Widow – Disney Springs World of Disney Machine #1

Back over at Disney Springs we head inside the giant World of Disney Store. There are two medallion machines here, we are looking for one of them near the check out area on the side closest to the “Lego Store”. Medallion number five features the deadly assassin Black Widow.

#6 Hawkeye – Disney Springs World of Disney Machine #1

Don’t go anywhere, we are sticking with this same machine for medallion number six that has a design of Hawkeye.

#7 Vision – Disney Springs World of Disney Machine #2

Now we need to head a little further inside the World of Disney store. This second medallion machine is near the large t-shirt section of the store up against a wall. Medallion number seven will have an image of Vision. We will be back to this machine shortly.

#8 Black Panther – Polynesian Village Resort

Time for a little island time so we head over to the Polynesian Village resort. In the main lobby building, just head up to the second floor and the machine is located just outside the Moana Mercantile store. This machine has medallion number eight featuring Black Panther.

#9 War Machine – All-Star Music Resort

Inside the All-Star Music Resort we find the medallion machine outside the Note’ Able Arcade inside the main lobby building. This has medallion number nine featuring the heavily armored War Machine.

#10 Ant Man – Disney Springs Pin Traders

We have to head back over to Disney Springs to the Pin Trader store for medallion number ten that showcases Ant-Man.

#11 Wasp – Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Inside the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa’s main lobby building, head to the second floor and the medallion machine is located near the doors to the Monorail station. At this machine we find medallion number eleven featuring Wasp.

#12 Falcon – Disney Springs World of Disney Machine #2

We certainly have been all over Disney property with this set and here we are finishing it up back at Disney Springs inside the World of Disney Store at the machine we visited earlier. This time we can collect medallion number twelve with Falcon.

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Inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom as you walk towards the park icon The Tree of Life there is a large gift shop to the right called the Discovery Trading Company.

This has always been home to a few pressed penny machines, but their locations over the years have moved around a bit. They also had quite a selection of designs available including most recently a few from the Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary Set and a smaller Animal Kingdom 25th Anniversary set.

With both of those celebrations completed it was only a matter of time before the coin designs were replaced. Thankfully for us collectors that time has finally come, and even better, we didn’t get old designs returned instead brand new designs.

Previously these machines could be found inside the store, but in the last couple years they have been moved outside and kind of tucked away in a corner. It’s across from the Doug & Russell from Up! meet and greet area if that helps narrow down the location.

I always enjoy seeing this wall of penny machines, and just look at those cabinet designs they are incredible. Over on our Youtube channel I created a video about my Top 5 favorite Disney Pressed Penny Machine cabinets which you can check out here, and these were among them. But you’ll have to check out the video to see where they placed.

Each machine didn’t get a full set of new designs, instead just one or two designs. First up let’s check out the machine all the way on the left. The center design with the Animal Kingdom park logo has remained unchanged. The other two designs are brand new and include a fun image of Timon holding some bugs titled Jungle Grub. The third design is of Asha, Valentino and Star from the new movie Wish.

The middle machine has also left the center design alone which displays the Harambe Elephant. The other two designs are new including Doug from Up! with a squirrel on his head, and a coin with Explorer Mickey on it.

The final machine all the way to the right has kept two if its designs. The first has Randall monster from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc and has been available here for a long time. The center design is part of the current 2024 dated set with an image of The Tree of Life. The last design is the newly released one and has Donald’s three nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louis.

There you have the new pressed penny designs over at the Discovery Trading Company gift ship. I’m always happy to see new designs released and I think these latest ones are a great addition. Plus you can get up close to these amazingly detailed cabinets and I always say high to the large crabs sitting on top holding their own pennies to press. Keep on Pressing!

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Summer has arrived and Universal Studios has officially opened their new Tribute Store which is always a unique experience. In previous versions they have had special medallions, but they were absent from the Holiday store so we will have to cross our fingers that the machine has returned.

The store has again returned to the Hollywood section of the park. There was talk about it returning to the New York section by the Mummy attraction but that seems to not be the case.

Each Tribute Store usually has a theme and this one is no different. This version is setup to be kind of like a retro strip mall that contains a Mega Video Rental Store, the Mega Castle Arcade and a Tribute Theater.

When you first enter the store you find yourself inside the Mega Video Rental Store. The employee desk is incredibly detailed and scattered with all sorts of easter eggs. The walls are lined with faux video tapes to rent and are of some actual Universal movies, plus a few Halloween Horror Night exclusives.

The second area is the Mega Castle Arcade decked out with plenty of black lights and neon all along the walls. There are some arcade games available and this is also where you will find the sweet treat counter.

Many of the snacks here are similar to previous versions just updated with different decorations. I loved the way these cake pops looked celebrating E.T. Jaws and Shrek.

The arcade is also home to a brand new collectible medallion machine. The cost has remained unchanged (unlike Disney) and are $5 each or you can get the full set of four designs (or four of one design if you like) for $15 which I think is a great deal. All four designs have the same design on the reverse which is just the Universal Studios Florida globe logo and copyright information along the bottom.

The medallions this time around I think have really great designs with plenty of little details. First we have a Jaws coin with large Shark mouth, Bite Me, The Original Amity Island, Beaches Closed. So many little nods to the movie this was is really great. Next is a Back to the Future design with the Delorean in flight and 1985 across the bottom along with a few Hazard logos you may recognize. Third is of E.T. with his healing finger and Phone Home in the center. Lastly is the iconic ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters.

Now I know we have the coins and probably just want to leave, but the last room in the Tribute Store is themed like a Movie Theater lobby. Decked out with some classic Coming Soon posters, and plenty of merchandise.

This room was fun and each wall was decorated for a different movie, E.T. , Ghostbusters and Back to the Future. There were some amazing decorations up high along the perimeter of the ceiling but honestly most of the merchandise in this area I’ve seen before and in other Universal stores.

The arcade was definitely my favorite room and brought me back to weekends when I was much younger spending hours and hours playing video games. Thankfully there was much less smoking that there was in the old days, and we got this great set of new collectible medallions. The Tribute Store will be around through the end of July and early August at the latest but then it will be transitioned into the Halloween version so don’t take too long in visiting and getting your set of coins.

Keep on Collecting!

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