5 Costly FUN Show Bourse Mistakes to Avoid in 2026 (And How to Secure Your Spot)

5 Costly FUN Show Bourse Mistakes That Could Ruin Your 2026 Plans – And Exactly How to Dodge Them

After 50+ years of FUN shows, I’ve watched these same errors crush collectors’ dreams like a steamroller over a Lincoln cent. The 2026 bourse sold out faster than a Morgan dollar at face value, and trust me – you can’t afford these slip-ups. Let’s walk through the traps I’ve seen snap shut on unprepared attendees, with real solutions you can use today.

Mistake #1: Playing Chicken With Registration Dates

How it catches you: “I’ll sign up after the holidays…” Famous last words.

Why this hurts

The 2026 show sold out faster than a 1916-D Mercury dime at a yard sale – 18 months early! I watched three long-time dealers get locked out last year because they waited an extra week. These days, FUN registration moves at cryptocurrency speed.

Your game plan

• Circle these dates in red: Registration opens January 15, 2027 for FUN 2028
• Automate your reminders (here’s how):
  // Simple calendar reminder setup
function setFUNReminder() {
// Set alert for 1/15/2027 at 8 AM EST
Calendar.Events.insert({/* Your code here */});
}
• Bite the bullet and get FUN’s membership for early alerts

If you’re already late

• Check the waitlist every Tuesday at 10 AM EST – that’s when no-shows get reported
• Bring coffee to your next coin club meeting – table shares often get discussed informally
• Offer to handle social media for a busy dealer in exchange for table space

Mistake #2: Treating the Dealer List Like a Phone Book

How it catches you: Wandering aimlessly past table 413 without realizing it’s hosting two top specialists.

The table-sharing secret

Last year’s “575 dealers” actually included:

• Partnership tables (like the famous King/Dennis ancient coins duo)
• Mini-bourses within tables (I found a whole error coin collective on half a table!)
• Club tables acting as dealer incubators

Work smarter, not harder

“My first FUN in ’78 taught me: The real treasures hide between the lines of the floor plan.” – Walt Jennings, 42-year FUN veteran

• Download the 2026 floor plan and mark all shared tables
• Use simple highlighters: Pink = Must See, Yellow = Maybe, Green = New Vendors
• Note clusters like the Florida United Numismatists block at tables 200-210

Mistake #3: Forgetting You’re Competing With Mickey Mouse

How it catches you: Getting stuck paying $400/night for a hotel 20 miles away.

Disney’s hidden tax on collectors

Orlando isn’t just your FUN Show host – it’s the world’s family vacation capital:

• Hotel pools get booked for kids’ parties before convention blocks open
• Rental cars vanish faster than silver wartime nickels
• I once waited 90 minutes for dinner at what looked like a “quiet” steakhouse

Beat the Mouse at his own game

• Book refundable rates NOW at the Rosen Plaza or Hyatt Regency
• Set price alerts (here’s a free tool):
  // Hotel tracking snippet
const hotels = ['Rosen', 'Hyatt', 'DoubleTree'];
// Check prices bi-weekly
• Reserve restaurants through OpenTable the day bookings open

Mistake #4: Ignoring the Gold Price Rollercoaster

How it catches you: Wasting prime hours in bullion lines when metals spike.

When gold talks, FUN walks

A $100 gold surge does more than change prices:

• Dealer attendance jumps 20%+ (they smell opportunity)
• Bullion lines triple (I timed it in 2020)
• Security eyes follow everyone carrying tube cases

Market-savvy moves

• Set Gold Price Alerts: if (gold > 1950) { adjustSchedule(); }
• Visit bullion dealers right at opening or during seminar hours
• Ship metals via registered mail before prices peak

Mistake #5: Seeing Tables, Missing Communities

How it catches you: Walking past table 127B without realizing it’s an error coin hot spot.

The hidden bourse within the bourse

Every table cluster tells a story:

• Grading company neighbors attract fresh submissions
• Club tables host rising stars (I found my favorite toned Morgan dealer this way)
• Back-corner tables often hide retiring dealers with “grandpa’s collection”

The 3-Day Connection Strategy

1. Day 1: Hit your A-list targets
2. Day 2: Explore their neighbors (gold mines hide next door)
3. Day 3: Scoop up last-minute deals from departing dealers

Damage Control When Plans Fail

Missed registration? Hotel fell through? Try these field-tested fixes:

Table Access Workarounds

• “I’ll watch your table during lunch” deals
• Trading condition reports for corner space
• Offering photography services for web listings

Sleeping Savvy

• Disney Good Neighbor hotels with free shuttles
• RV shares (yes, people actually do this successfully)
• Airbnb rooms near Universal Studios – quieter and cheaper

Rewiring Your FUN Show Brain

Transform from casual collector to FUN Show architect with three shifts:

“Treat your FUN Show plan like a rare coin – protect it early, handle it carefully, and know its true value.”

1. Plan two shows ahead: Your 2026 experience starts with 2028 registration
2. Budget for surprises: Keep 15% back for “once-in-a-lifetime” finds
3. Collect connections, not just coins: The dealer who remembers your name beats any price guide

Your FUN Show Starts Now

The sold-out 2026 bourse isn’t a closed door – it’s a test of your collector creativity. Remember my mantra from 1978: “Early birds get the coins, prepared birds get the deals.” Start monitoring registration dates like a 1909-S VDB hunt, map those dealer tables like a treasure chart, and outsmart Orlando’s tourist traps. Your best FUN Show isn’t in 2026 – it’s the one you start planning today.

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