Disney World ticket costs are at an all-time excessive — and Disney’s Annual Cross 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 funds? And are there nonetheless stable Disney freebies to reap the benefits of?
You might need to look somewhat more durable for that discounted magic, however there are nonetheless free issues to do and accumulate 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 resorts — however when you’re on Disney World property, there’s loads of secret free stuff to search out.
Listed here are 17 of our favourite free issues to search out on a Disney trip:
1. Celebration Buttons
You don’t want a motive to take a trip to Disney World, however for those who’re celebrating an vital milestone — birthday, anniversary, commencement, new job, you title it — the journey could 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 often 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 whilst you board House Mountain.
Disney characters might even provide further 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’ll be able to reap the benefits of particular meet-and-greets at every of the parks. Every is free and lets you 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 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:
- Gather treasure playing cards (one’s signed by Captain Jack Sparrow) if you play A Pirate’s Journey at Magic Kingdom.
- Gather badges (stickers) for animal commentary 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 “all over the world” on the Kidcot stations alongside EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Talking of EPCOT, its pageant meals strolls are on no account free — you’ve received to purchase 5 meals objects at numerous meals cubicles throughout every pageant to gather a stamp — however for those who accumulate 5 stamps, you’ll be able to declare a sixth free meals merchandise. For those who had been planning to eat your method all over the world throughout an EPCOT pageant anyway, that is a straightforward Disney World freebie to say.
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.
It’s also possible to 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. Whilst you’ll pay for Coke merchandise at eating places on the Disney resorts and parks, there’s one place you may get soda at no cost: Membership Cool at EPCOT.
Membership Cool is a Coca-Cola store situated in EPCOT’s World Celebration neighborhood. Without spending a dime, you’ll have the ability to pattern eight completely different Coke merchandise from all over the world.
Be warned: These aren’t your Grandma’s Coke cans. The soda flavors should not all of the carbonated goodness you’ve come to anticipate. Probably the most divisive Club Cool flavor is Beverly, an Italian non-alcoholic aperitif.
If you need 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 movement 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 may embody a trip on:
- The historic monorail
- Buses
- Boats
- The Skyliner (gondola system)
It’s also possible to 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… You need to pay to park as a resort visitor, and you need 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 yow will discover free parking — and that’s Disney Springs. If it’s been some time because you’ve been to Disney World, chances are you’ll understand it as Downtown Disney. It’s Disney’s outside shopping center, and its huge parking garages don’t cost a price.
The catch? The free Disney parking garages are for Disney Springs customers solely. Which means 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 large waste of time.)
However for those who’re planning to spend the afternoon on the outside mall after which head to the parks within the night, you’re most likely 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 procuring is all the time enjoyable (so long as you’ll be able to resist the urge to spend), and youngsters like to snap pictures with the LEGO sculptures outdoors the LEGO Retailer.
On sure days, you’ll be able to hear reside music at Dockside Margaritas. The margaritas aren’t free, however the music is!
And at Christmastime, you might spend an entire day searching down all of the particular Christmas bushes on show, and typically Disney Springs even provides free outside health courses.
9. Dwell 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’ll be able to catch an abundance of reside leisure.
Magic Kingdom is the head of reside leisure, from a number of parades and cavalcades all through the day to the fireworks present every night time. It’s also possible to catch fortress stage exhibits every day.
Hollywood Studios is legendary for Fantasmic whereas Animal Kingdom has Competition of the Lion King and the Discovering Nemo music. Throughout every of EPCOT’s enormous festivals, you’ll be able to often catch a live performance with large headlining acts, like Smash Mouth, Boyz II Males and Air Provide.
Positive, you paid the worth 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’ll be able to catch the fireworks from a number of prime places at a number of the resorts, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Up to date Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. No theme park ticket wanted!
- It’s also possible to 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 reside piano music or to Fort Wilderness for Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long — completely free (simply deliver your personal marshmallows; you’ll pay for these at Disney World).
The BoardWalk space outdoors of EPCOT involves life every night time with road performers, and you may head to Atlantic Dance Corridor to boogie all night time. However keep away from the close by Jellyrolls dueling piano bar; there’s an $18 cowl.
10. Films
Every night time, the Disney resorts host Films Underneath the Stars. Cozy up together with your favourite snack and watch basic Disney motion pictures up on an enormous display screen outdoors. Relying on the Disney resort lodge, the film is likely to be poolside or in a clearing surrounded by bushes.
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 must board Rafiki’s Planet Watch to get there.
Earlier than the pandemic, Disney’s Artwork of Animation, one of many extra reasonably priced resorts, supplied free artwork courses as effectively, however they haven’t come again but. For those who’re excited by 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. Which means you may 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, chances are you’ll as effectively discover one that provides 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 have to do some digging earlier than your journey. It’s completely value 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 price lots 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.
Positive, 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 will likely be spent ready in line — there’s no method round it. The themed queues often provide sufficient pleasure to make it definitely worth the wait. But when you end up bored, you’ll be able to 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 also use the Play Disney Parks app within the Star Wars space of Hollywood Studios to play Batuu Bounty Hunters. The sport is a cool strategy 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 sights. 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 examine it all through the day. Primarily based on what you inform the app are your must-do rides and experiences that day, it might information you thru every Disney World park effectively. In essence, it optimizes your journey.
Pack a transportable charger. Between utilizing your cellphone for Disney Genie, to cell order meals, to snap selfies and to examine trip wait occasions, you’ll run out of battery earlier than the day’s finish.
16. Journey Brokers
Planning a Disney journey could be overwhelming. You’ve received to maintain monitor of your reserving window for eating places, you’ve received to determine which lodge provides one of the best 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 quite a bit simpler — they usually don’t price a factor. As an alternative, Disney journey brokers make their cash from Disney, and their main purpose is that will help 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 Assist
Right here’s a Disney World freebie you by no means need to use, nevertheless it’s a superb one to maintain behind your thoughts. You could find first support stations at every of the parks, and visiting one in every 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 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 matters for The PNW. He’s additionally the managing editor of print for WDW Journal — and has loads of expertise doing Disney on a funds.