Disney World ticket costs are at an all-time excessive — and Disney’s Annual Move program hasn’t gotten any cheaper both. You’ll pay greater than $100 an evening simply to camp at Ft. Wilderness (Disney World’s campground), and Disney did away with the free FastPass+ program in favor of the paid Genie+ service, the place you pay more money to skip the road.
That raises the query: Is it nonetheless doable to plan a Walt Disney World trip on a price range? And are there nonetheless stable Disney freebies to make the most of?
You may need to look slightly more durable for that discounted magic, however there are nonetheless free issues to do and acquire at Walt Disney World Resort. You’ve simply bought to know the place to look to seek out these Disney freebies.
Disney Freebies to Take Benefit of on Your Subsequent Disney Trip
You may need to pay to get into the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort — plus pay to park or keep the evening in one of many accommodations — however when you’re on Disney World property, there’s loads of secret free stuff to seek out.
Listed here are 17 of our favourite free issues to seek out on a Disney trip:
1. Celebration Buttons
You don’t want a purpose to take a trip to Disney World, however should you’re celebrating an vital milestone — birthday, anniversary, commencement, new job, you title it — the journey may be much more magical. Head to Visitor Relations or an indoor merch location and ask a Solid Member (Walt Disney World worker) for a celebration button.
You possibly can put on this free Disney memento all through your journey. You’ll normally garner particular consideration from Solid Members all through the park, who could shout, “Joyful birthday!” from throughout the trail or ask you about your new job whilst you board Area Mountain.
Disney characters could even provide additional magical interactions in the event that they spy you sporting a birthday button or a button commemorating your first go to.
2. Autographs
Talking of Disney characters, you may make the most of particular meet-and-greets at every of the parks. Every is free and permits you to work together together with your favourite characters, like Mickey and Minnie, the Disney Princesses, and even Pixar and Star Wars favorites.
You possibly can provide one thing for the character to autograph, however most of the costumed characters (who can’t simply signal their names) will hand out autograph playing cards, completely free. You’ll discover probably the most character interactions at Magic Kingdom, however each park — from EPCOT to Animal Kingdom — provides distinctive character experiences.
3. Prizes
There are many free issues for youths to do in Disney parks — and a few of them even include prizes. For instance:
- Accumulate treasure playing cards (one’s signed by Captain Jack Sparrow) whenever you play A Pirate’s Journey at Magic Kingdom.
- Accumulate badges (stickers) for animal commentary actions through Animal Kingdom’s Wilderness Explorers.
- Accumulate stickers on a Discovering Dory treasure hunt on the Seas Pavilion (aquarium space) at EPCOT.
- Accumulate varied mementos from “around the globe” on the Kidcot stations alongside EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Talking of EPCOT, its competition meals strolls are under no circumstances free — you’ve bought to purchase 5 meals gadgets at varied meals cubicles throughout every competition to gather a stamp — however should you acquire 5 stamps, you may declare a sixth free meals merchandise. For those who have been planning to eat your method around the globe throughout an EPCOT competition anyway, that is a straightforward Disney World freebie to assert.
4. Water
Feeling thirsty? You don’t have to purchase an costly plastic bottle of water whereas on the Disney World parks. As a substitute, simply ask any vendor promoting meals and drinks for a cup of ice water.
You can too pack an empty water bottle and refill it at ingesting fountains all through the day.
5. Soda
Water isn’t the one free beverage at Walt Disney World. When you’ll pay for Coke merchandise at eating places on the Disney resorts and parks, there’s one place you will get soda without spending a dime: Membership Cool at EPCOT.
Membership Cool is a Coca-Cola store situated in EPCOT’s World Celebration neighborhood. At no cost, you’ll be capable to pattern eight completely different Coke merchandise from around the globe.
Be warned: These aren’t your Grandma’s Coke cans. The soda flavors aren’t all of the carbonated goodness you’ve come to anticipate. Essentially the most divisive Membership Cool taste is Beverly, an Italian non-alcoholic aperitif.
In order for you a full serving of your favourite Coke from across the globe, head to the Coca-Cola Retailer Rooftop Beverage Bar at Disney Springs. However the Coke doesn’t stream free right here.
6. Transportation
For those who’re staying at any of the Walt Disney World resorts, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Pop Century, and even the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, transportation across the resort is completely free. Your day at Disney World would possibly embody a experience on:
- The historic monorail
- Buses
- Boats
- The Skyliner (gondola system)
You can too ask Solid Members without spending a dime transportation playing cards whereas aboard. These Disney freebies make nice collectibles to commemorate your journey.
Whereas it doesn’t get you to any of the parks, there’s a free boat that runs the Sassagoula River between Disney Springs and Port Orleans Resort. Catch a experience to Scat Cat’s for a Mickey-shaped beignet.
6. Parking at Disney Springs
Free parking at Disney World? Not an opportunity… It’s a must to pay to park as a resort visitor, and it’s important to pay to park at every of the Disney World parks. For those who’re flying in from out of city, it’s cheaper to rearrange journey from the airport to your resort and simply depend on the free Disney transportation throughout your keep.
Nevertheless, if you’re heading to Walt Disney World Resort by automotive, there’s one place the place you could find free parking — and that’s Disney Springs. If it’s been some time because you’ve been to Disney World, you might realize it as Downtown Disney. It’s Disney’s out of doors shopping center, and its huge parking garages don’t cost a price.
The catch? The free Disney parking garages are for Disney Springs consumers solely. Meaning you shouldn’t park without spending a dime at Disney Springs, catch a bus to one of many Disney World resorts, after which take one other bus to the parks. (Disney doesn’t actually police this, however no matter your ethical code, doing this to keep away from $20 in parking charges is a large waste of time.)
However should you’re planning to spend the afternoon on the out of doors mall after which head to the parks within the night, you’re in all probability within the clear to go away your automotive on the parking storage for the day.
7. Disney Springs Leisure
There are many free issues to do at Disney Springs to fill your day. Window purchasing is at all times enjoyable (so long as you may resist the urge to spend), and youngsters like to snap images with the LEGO sculptures outdoors the LEGO Retailer.
On sure days, you may hear reside music at Dockside Margaritas. The margaritas aren’t free, however the music is!
And at Christmastime, you possibly can spend a complete day looking down all of the particular Christmas timber on show, and generally Disney Springs even provides free out of doors health lessons.
9. Stay Leisure — Inside and Outdoors the Parks
Disney Springs doesn’t nook the market on reside leisure and your Disney World ticket unlocks extra than simply curler coasters and darkish rides. Whether or not you’re in Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you may catch an abundance of reside leisure.
Magic Kingdom is the top of reside leisure, from a number of parades and cavalcades all through the day to the fireworks present every evening. You can too catch citadel stage exhibits every day.
Hollywood Studios is known for Fantasmic whereas Animal Kingdom has Competition of the Lion King and the Discovering Nemo music. Throughout every of EPCOT’s big festivals, you may normally catch a live performance with massive headlining acts, like Smash Mouth, Boyz II Males and Air Provide.
Certain, you paid the value of admission — however when you’re within the parks, reside leisure awaits. However there’s additionally loads of free reside leisure outdoors the parks:
- You possibly can catch the fireworks from a number of prime places at among the accommodations, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Modern Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. No theme park ticket wanted!
- You can too catch the free Electrical Water Pageant on Bay Lake every evening simply outdoors Magic Kingdom.
- Head to the Grand Floridian Resort to listen to reside piano music or to Fort Wilderness for Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Lengthy — completely free (simply carry your personal marshmallows; you’ll pay for these at Disney World).
The BoardWalk space outdoors of EPCOT involves life every evening with road performers, and you may head to Atlantic Dance Corridor to boogie all evening. However keep away from the close by Jellyrolls dueling piano bar; there’s an $18 cowl.
10. Films
Every evening, the Disney resorts host Films Below the Stars. Cozy up together with your favourite snack and watch traditional Disney films up on a giant display outdoors. Relying on the Disney resort resort, the film may be poolside or in a clearing surrounded by timber.
11. Drawing Classes
Animal Kingdom is full of rides and animals to take a look at, however go away time for the free artwork class at Conservation Station. You’ll need to board Rafiki’s Planet Watch to get there.
Earlier than the pandemic, Disney’s Artwork of Animation, one of many extra inexpensive accommodations, supplied free artwork lessons as properly, however they haven’t come again but. For those who’re involved in artwork on the resorts, hop on a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge, which has a large assortment of museum-quality African artwork for guests to discover, freed from cost.
Animal Kingdom Lodge additionally has a number of savannas to take a look at. Meaning you will get your fill of animal recognizing with out paying for a ticket to the park!
12. Glow Cubes
Drinks at Disney World are costly, whether or not you’re ordering a cocktail or a mocktail. For those who’re going to shell out for a particular beverage, you might as properly discover one that gives a free glow dice.
These reusable light-up ice cubes are supplied in choose drinks throughout the Disney parks. They’re typically a part of particular season menus, so that you’ll have to do some digging earlier than your journey. It’s completely price the price — including a glow dice to a cocktail again at residence can immediately transport you again to your Disney trip.
13. Pixie Mud
A princess makeover in your baby at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique can value tons of of {dollars} — sure, actually. However there’s one particular Disney transformation that’s fully free: getting sprinkled with pixie mud at Sir Mickey’s inside Magic Kingdom.
Certain, it’s only a Solid Member sprinkling some glitter in your hair. However on a Disney trip, some whimsy and make-believe are OK, even for adults.
14. Video games
A lot of your Disney World trip shall be spent ready in line — there’s no method round it. The themed queues normally provide sufficient pleasure to make it definitely worth the wait. But when you end up bored, you may obtain the free Play Disney Parks app for some enjoyable video games. A few of them are associated particularly to the queues you’re in, like Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom or Soarin’ at EPCOT.
For those who paid for a MagicBand+, you may as well use the Play Disney Parks app within the Star Wars space of Hollywood Studios to play Batuu Bounty Hunters. The sport is a cool option to work together with Galaxy’s Edge (the title of the land) and put your self into the Star Wars saga.
15. Disney Genie
Prefer it or not, you’ve bought to pay for Disney’s Genie+ service, which helps you to use Lightning Lanes to keep away from lengthy strains for crowded sights. However the Disney Genie service (no plus) is free for everybody — and it’s bought some useful instruments.
Obtain the My Disney Expertise app to your smartphone forward of your journey to entry Disney Genie, after which examine it all through the day. Based mostly on what you inform the app are your must-do rides and experiences that day, it may possibly information you thru every Disney World park effectively. In essence, it optimizes your journey.
Pack a transportable charger. Between utilizing your telephone for Disney Genie, to cellular order meals, to snap selfies and to examine experience wait instances, you’ll run out of battery earlier than the day’s finish.
16. Journey Brokers
Planning a Disney journey may be overwhelming. You’ve bought to maintain monitor of your reserving window for eating places, you’ve bought to determine which resort provides the very best location in your park experiences, and also you’ve bought to grasp bizarre Disney jargon like “Park Hopper” and “Boarding Group.”
Disney journey brokers make it lots simpler — and so they don’t value a factor. As a substitute, Disney journey brokers make their cash from Disney, and their main objective is that will help you plan your journey stress-free and sometimes at a reduction. Journey brokers have entry to reductions and offers most informal vacationers aren’t conscious of.
17. First Support
Right here’s a Disney World freebie you by no means need to use, nevertheless it’s a very good one to maintain behind your thoughts. Yow will discover first assist stations at every of the parks, and visiting certainly one of these can prevent from spending more money on issues like Band-Aids and Tylenol again on the resort.
You’ll discover all of the staples of your drugs cupboard right here: cough drops, painkillers, bandages, chilly meds, tissues, you title it. There are additionally on-site nurses in case you want medical consideration.
Contributor Timothy Moore is a author and editor who covers banks, loans, insurance coverage, journey and automotive subjects for The Penny Hoarder. He’s additionally the managing editor of print for WDW Journal — and has loads of expertise doing Disney on a price range.
