Yes, Walt Disney World can be expensive…but there are a few things you can get or do for FREE! Here are my Top Ten:
10. Water – Bottles of water currently cost $2.50, but you can get free cups of water at any counter service location – just ask.
9. Celebration buttons – At the front of every park, at the resorts and Downtown Disney, they will give you a button to show what you’re celebrating. It can be anything from a birthday or anniversary to a first visit or family reunion.
10. Water – Bottles of water currently cost $2.50, but you can get free cups of water at any counter service location – just ask.
9. Celebration buttons – At the front of every park, at the resorts and Downtown Disney, they will give you a button to show what you’re celebrating. It can be anything from a birthday or anniversary to a first visit or family reunion.
8. Trading cards – In the Magic Kingdom you can play “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom” in which you pick up free trading cards at the Fire Station and use them in a scavenger hunt of sorts around the park, attempting to defeat villains. The cards are yours to keep and many people collect them. Similarly, you can collect a souvenir map in Adventureland and play the game “A Pirate's Adventure ~ Treasures of the Seven Seas.”
7. Campfires – Many of the resorts offer nightly campfires with storytelling and sing-alongs. While the experience is free of charge, refreshments may be purchased – or you can bring your own.
6. Movies Under the Stars – Most, if not all, of the Disney resorts now offer nightly outdoor movies. As with everything, you should check the resort activities guide as there are sometimes changes in schedules.
5. Kidcot Fun Stops – While you do need a park ticket for this one, you can take away a free souvenir from Epcot. Each of the 11 countries around World Showcase has a Kidcot Fun Stop where kids can color and decorate a cardboard character on a paint stick (currently it’s Duffy). They also stamp the sticks with each country’s “passport” stamp.
4. Passports – During the Flower & Garden (Spring) and Food & Wine (Fall) Festivals at Epcot, they offer free Passport booklets. The Passports serve as a guide to show what’s available at each festival location. When you visit any of the locations in the booklet, they will stamp your Passport. Note: you do not have to purchase anything at the food booths to get your passport stamped.
7. Campfires – Many of the resorts offer nightly campfires with storytelling and sing-alongs. While the experience is free of charge, refreshments may be purchased – or you can bring your own.
6. Movies Under the Stars – Most, if not all, of the Disney resorts now offer nightly outdoor movies. As with everything, you should check the resort activities guide as there are sometimes changes in schedules.
5. Kidcot Fun Stops – While you do need a park ticket for this one, you can take away a free souvenir from Epcot. Each of the 11 countries around World Showcase has a Kidcot Fun Stop where kids can color and decorate a cardboard character on a paint stick (currently it’s Duffy). They also stamp the sticks with each country’s “passport” stamp.
4. Passports – During the Flower & Garden (Spring) and Food & Wine (Fall) Festivals at Epcot, they offer free Passport booklets. The Passports serve as a guide to show what’s available at each festival location. When you visit any of the locations in the booklet, they will stamp your Passport. Note: you do not have to purchase anything at the food booths to get your passport stamped.
3. Ghiradelli Chocolate – At the Ghiradelli shop in Downtown Disney they hand out those delectable little squares of filled chocolate! You never know which flavor they might be sampling on any given day, so you might discover a new favorite!
2. Art classes – At Disney’s Hollywood Studios you can take an art class from a Disney artist! I discussed this in a previous blog as it’s one of my favorite things to do. After a 25-minute class, you will walk out with your very own drawing of a Disney character. You never know which character they’re going to teach in any given class and it may be surprising to learn how well you can draw when you’re talked through it step by step!
1. Entertainment – Whether it’s in the parks or at Downtown Disney, you can be entertained by some of the best talent anywhere around. Yes, you need a park ticket to see the shows and concerts in the parks, but you can also see and hear some amazing performers at Downtown Disney and Boardwalk. School music groups of all ages perform on the Dockside Stage – some of my favorite trips have been with talented high school groups. Restaurant locations also have wonderful entertainment like the Irish dancers at Raglan Road and street performers at Boardwalk.
2. Art classes – At Disney’s Hollywood Studios you can take an art class from a Disney artist! I discussed this in a previous blog as it’s one of my favorite things to do. After a 25-minute class, you will walk out with your very own drawing of a Disney character. You never know which character they’re going to teach in any given class and it may be surprising to learn how well you can draw when you’re talked through it step by step!
1. Entertainment – Whether it’s in the parks or at Downtown Disney, you can be entertained by some of the best talent anywhere around. Yes, you need a park ticket to see the shows and concerts in the parks, but you can also see and hear some amazing performers at Downtown Disney and Boardwalk. School music groups of all ages perform on the Dockside Stage – some of my favorite trips have been with talented high school groups. Restaurant locations also have wonderful entertainment like the Irish dancers at Raglan Road and street performers at Boardwalk.