Disney World ticket costs are at an all-time excessive — and Disney’s Annual Go 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 extra cash to skip the road.
That raises the query: Is it nonetheless attainable to plan a Walt Disney World trip on a funds? And are there nonetheless stable Disney freebies to benefit from?
You might need to look a bit of tougher for that discounted magic, however there are nonetheless free issues to do and acquire at Walt Disney World Resort. You’ve simply received to know the place to look to search out these Disney freebies.
Disney Freebies to Take Benefit of on Your Subsequent Disney Trip
You might need to pay to get into the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort — plus pay to park or keep the night time in one of many lodges — however when you’re on Disney World property, there’s loads of secret free stuff to search out.
Listed below are 17 of our favourite free issues to search out on a Disney trip:
1. Celebration Buttons
You don’t want a purpose to take a trip to Disney World, however if you happen to’re celebrating an essential milestone — birthday, anniversary, commencement, new job, you title it — the journey might be much more magical. Head to Visitor Relations or an indoor merch location and ask a Forged Member (Walt Disney World worker) for a celebration button.
You’ll be able to put on this free Disney memento all through your journey. You’ll normally garner particular consideration from Forged Members all through the park, who might shout, “Completely satisfied birthday!” from throughout the trail or ask you about your new job when you board House Mountain.
Disney characters might even provide further magical interactions in the event that they spy you carrying a birthday button or a button commemorating your first go to.
2. Autographs
Talking of Disney characters, you possibly can benefit from 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’ll be able to 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 essentially the most character interactions at Magic Kingdom, however each park — from EPCOT to Animal Kingdom — presents distinctive character experiences.
3. Prizes
There are many free issues for teenagers to do in Disney parks — and a few of them even include prizes. For instance:
- Gather treasure playing cards (one’s signed by Captain Jack Sparrow) once you play A Pirate’s Journey at Magic Kingdom.
- Gather badges (stickers) for animal remark actions through Animal Kingdom’s Wilderness Explorers.
- Gather stickers on a Discovering Dory treasure hunt on the Seas Pavilion (aquarium space) at EPCOT.
- Gather numerous 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 received to purchase 5 meals objects at numerous meals cubicles throughout every competition to gather a stamp — however if you happen to acquire 5 stamps, you possibly can declare a sixth free meals merchandise. If you happen to had been planning to eat your manner 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 an alternative, 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 consuming 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 at no cost: Membership Cool at EPCOT.
Membership Cool is a Coca-Cola store situated in EPCOT’s World Celebration neighborhood. Totally free, you’ll be capable of 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 count on. 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 circulate free right here.
6. Transportation
If you happen to’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 trip on:
- The historic monorail
- Buses
- Boats
- The Skyliner (gondola system)
You can too ask Forged Members at no cost 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 trip to Scat Cat’s for a Mickey-shaped beignet.
6. Parking at Disney Springs
Free parking at Disney World? Not an opportunity… It’s important to pay to park as a resort visitor, and you need to pay to park at every of the Disney World parks. If you happen to’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, in case you are 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, chances are you’ll realize it as Downtown Disney. It’s Disney’s outside shopping center, and its huge parking garages don’t cost a payment.
The catch? The free Disney parking garages are for Disney Springs consumers solely. Meaning you shouldn’t park at no cost 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 big waste of time.)
However if you happen to’re planning to spend the afternoon on the outside mall after which head to the parks within the night, you’re in all probability within the clear to depart 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 buying is at all times enjoyable (so long as you possibly can resist the urge to spend), and youngsters like to snap pictures with the LEGO sculptures outdoors the LEGO Retailer.
On sure days, you possibly can hear stay music at Dockside Margaritas. The margaritas aren’t free, however the music is!
And at Christmastime, you might spend a complete day searching down all of the particular Christmas timber on show, and typically Disney Springs even presents free outside health courses.
9. Dwell Leisure — Inside and Exterior the Parks
Disney Springs doesn’t nook the market on stay 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 possibly can catch an abundance of stay leisure.
Magic Kingdom is the head of stay leisure, from a number of parades and cavalcades all through the day to the fireworks present every night time. 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 possibly can normally catch a live performance with massive headlining acts, like Smash Mouth, Boyz II Males and Air Provide.
Certain, you paid the worth of admission — however when you’re within the parks, stay leisure awaits. However there’s additionally loads of free stay leisure outdoors the parks:
- You’ll be able to catch the fireworks from a number of prime places at among the lodges, 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 night time simply outdoors Magic Kingdom.
- Head to the Grand Floridian Resort to listen to stay piano music or to Fort Wilderness for Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Lengthy — completely free (simply convey your personal marshmallows; you’ll pay for these at Disney World).
The BoardWalk space outdoors of EPCOT involves life every night time with avenue performers, and you’ll head to Atlantic Dance Corridor to boogie all night time. However avoid the close by Jellyrolls dueling piano bar; there’s an $18 cowl.
10. Motion pictures
Every night time, the Disney resorts host Motion pictures Beneath the Stars. Cozy up together with your favourite snack and watch basic Disney motion pictures up on a giant display outdoors. Relying on the Disney resort lodge, the film may be poolside or in a clearing surrounded by timber.
11. Drawing Classes
Animal Kingdom is filled with rides and animals to take a look at, however depart time for the free artwork class at Conservation Station. You’ll should board Rafiki’s Planet Watch to get there.
Earlier than the pandemic, Disney’s Artwork of Animation, one of many extra reasonably priced lodges, supplied free artwork courses as nicely, however they haven’t come again but. If you happen to’re involved in artwork on the resorts, hop on a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge, which has an enormous 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. If you happen to’re going to shell out for a particular beverage, chances are you’ll as nicely 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 usually a part of particular season menus, so that you’ll must do some digging earlier than your journey. It’s completely price the associated fee — 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 a whole lot of {dollars} — sure, actually. However there’s one particular Disney transformation that’s utterly free: getting sprinkled with pixie mud at Sir Mickey’s inside Magic Kingdom.
Certain, it’s only a Forged 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 can be spent ready in line — there’s no manner round it. The themed queues normally provide sufficient pleasure to make it well worth the wait. But when you end up bored, you possibly can 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.
If you happen to 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 received to pay for Disney’s Genie+ service, which helps you to use Lightning Lanes to keep away from lengthy strains for crowded points of interest. However the Disney Genie service (no plus) is free for everybody — and it’s received some useful instruments.
Obtain the My Disney Expertise app to your smartphone forward of your journey to entry Disney Genie, after which verify it all through the day. Based mostly on what you inform the app are your must-do rides and experiences that day, it will possibly information you thru every Disney World park effectively. In essence, it optimizes your journey.
Pack a conveyable charger. Between utilizing your cellphone for Disney Genie, to cell order meals, to snap selfies and to verify trip wait instances, you’ll run out of battery earlier than the day’s finish.
16. Journey Brokers
Planning a Disney journey might be overwhelming. You’ve received to maintain observe of your reserving window for eating places, you’ve received to determine which lodge presents the most effective location in your park experiences, and also you’ve received 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 an alternative, Disney journey brokers make their cash from Disney, and their major objective is that can assist you plan your journey stress-free and infrequently at a reduction. Journey brokers have entry to reductions and offers most informal vacationers aren’t conscious of.
17. First Help
Right here’s a Disney World freebie you by no means wish to use, but it surely’s a very good one to maintain at the back of your thoughts. You could find first support stations at every of the parks, and visiting certainly one of these can prevent from spending extra cash on issues like Band-Aids and Tylenol again on the resort.
You’ll discover all of the staples of your medication 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 funds.