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DISNEY DOLLARS DISCONTINUED
On Thursday May 12, 2016 Disney announced that it was discontinuing its longstanding Disney Dollars program as of May 14 (yesterday). I
couldn't locate the announcement on the firm's web site, but here's an article from the Orange County Register.
-Editor
Disney Dollars, a popular souvenir item and an in-house currency at Disney parks, will no longer be sold. A Disneyland statement confirmed on Thursday the once popular currency, which could only be used at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, would be terminated effective Saturday. The Disney Dollars currently in circulation can still be used. “It's a testimony to the enthusiasm and heart of Disney guests and collectors that Disney Dollars remain collectible today,” the Disneyland statement said. “We continue to offer many ways to collect cherished Disney memories in tangible ways.” Gift cards and other forms of payment made the Disney Dollars obsolete. Disneyland's first president, Jack Lindquist, invented Disney Dollars because of the Anaheim and Orlando theme park's growing popularity in the mid-1980s. The first runs were unveiled and circulated on May 5, 1987. “We set the criteria that our Disney money would always be tied to the price of the U.S. currency, so if a dollar is worth a dollar, a Disney Dollar would be worth a U.S. dollar,” Lindquist said in his memoir, “In Service to the Mouse.” “That way, the money could be spent in the parks, the same way U.S. currency is.” Disney Dollars featured pictures of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other characters. They were sold at the theme parks in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20 and $50. Disney Dollars were produced with the same level of security, “care and concern as any other currency,” Lindquist said.
People on this fan site reacted to the news. -Editor
Montica writes: Disney is losing some magic with this decision. I hate to see what happens next. They will guickly become an everyday business if these decisions continue. It's the little things that make the magic real. Joe P. writes: They haven't promoted them in a long time. They used to display them at the ticket booths and in the guide maps. I haven't seen them since they went to the new ticket booths when DCA opened. Elizabeth writes: Wow! I guess the world is ending! Disney is discontinuing Disney dollars. I didn't know they still made them! Gheese people, really? The magic is gone! I guess we should all just stop going! Sher writes: It would have been nice to have more notice than 2 days. Disney should have made that announcement earlier. I found out on May 12th and went to WDW on May 13th at 2:00 and City Hall was already sold out and so was the GF and Contemporary, but got to the Polynesian and David at the front desk said he only had 7 five dollar bills left. If I had known before hand I would have bought more. A 2 days notice of something being discontinued isn't enough time. These make great Christmas/Birthday gifts to our family and friends. Sad, they won't be getting them from us anymore. To read the complete article, see:
Well, at least we now know what a complete set consists of. Or do we? Have disney Dollar issues been comprehensively cataloged anywhere?
I know there have been some coin show exhibits and articles in numismatic publications. A quick search of the ANA's archive of The
Numismatist turned up 94 results for "Disney Dollars" beginning in July 1987. -Editor
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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