20+ Free Things at Disney World You Shouldn't Miss Out on Any Longer
As the saying goes, Walt Disney World (WDW, as we like to call it) in Orlando, Florida, is the "Happiest Place on Earth"—and we'd be the last people to disagree. But it can't be denied: Disney happiness doesn't come cheap!
As of 2024, tickets start at $109 and go as high as $189 (depending on park, the time of year you're visiting, etc.), and when you're traveling with your family, that grand total can indeed get grand. Here's a secret though: Once you've paid the price of park admission, there's actually plenty inside that's free. Really, we mean it! You just need to know where to look.
There are some things, of course, that don't require much of a hunt—the fireworks, festivals, and parades, for instance—but did you know about the free drinks at Club Cool? (Crucial during Florida's scorching summers.) Your child can even get an actual sprinkling of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique-worthy pixie dust—without ever stepping inside the salon.
Add concerts, chocolates, and The Nature Conservancy's Disney Wilderness Preserve—a stunning, 11500-acre preserve just 40 minutes south of Lake Buena Vista—to that list, and you've got quite the money-saving scavenger hunt laid out for you.
Don't miss out for much longer—scroll on for the best Disney World freebies.
Transportation
Buses, monorails, boats, skyliners—no matter how you choose to travel around Disney, if it's on a Disney mode of transportation, it's free!
Celebration Buttons
These are always a delight! Disney's three-inch "celebration buttons"—which can be found at a number of guest relations locations throughout the parks—are free pins that help you celebrate…well, quite literally anything. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and first visits each have designated pins, but there's also a general "I'm celebrating…," pin, which lets you fill in your celebration of choice. Once you put it on, cast members will know to congratulate you (so sweet)—and, when they can, go the extra mile to make your day extra special in other ways too.
Pixie Dust
You've probably seen little princesses and princes leaving the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique dressed like royalty and absolutely doused in that fine, fine glitter known as pixie dust. Well, if the $100 base package price isn't quite your once-upon-a-dream, there are two places where anyone (regardless of age) can get dusted for free: Sir Mickey's and Bonjour! Village Gifts, both located in Fantasyland.
Character Meet and Greets
Yep, all traditional meet and greets are free once you're inside the park! But heads up: The printed photos are not...unless you're a Disney Visa cardholder. Cardholders are eligible for a free Disney character "meet and greet" at EPCOT's Innoventions, complete with a complementary 5 x 7 souvenir photo.
Non-Professional Photos
Here's a little hack for you! Just like you never have to pay for character meetings, you also don't have to pay for the pro photos. You can simply ask the photographer or one of the nearby cast members to take a few photos on your phone or personal camera, guaranteeing that you get the shot without having to pay for prints.
WiFi
All of Disney World's parks offer free WiFi, so you always have reception to post your magical memories!
Soda Samples
Disney calls EPCOT's Club Cool its "Coke"-tail bar, as it only features Coca-Cola products. And here's the fun twist: Those Coke products are from around the world! Even better? They're all free to sample.
Disney Springs
WDW's entertainment complex, Disney Springs, is free for anyone to visit, whether you're vacationing at the parks or just a local looking for a good night out. There are restaurants, shops (some of which have items exclusive to Springs), shows (like Cirque du Soleil), and more, all centered around the Lake Buena Vista for an aesthetically pleasing scene. And while you're visiting...
Ghirardelli Chocolate
If you visit the Springs, make sure to stop by the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop. Each guest is handed a free square of their delicious chocolate on the way in! (BTW, that's per visit, so if you happen to leave and come back...)
Dessert on Your Birthday
Okay, this one's not a 100% guarantee, but if you dine with Disney and a cast member knows you're celebrating something (like a birthday), they'll often bring you a dessert—on the house. (They don't call it the Happiest Place on Earth for nothin'!)
Water
...because Florida can get capital H-O-T hot! While there's plenty of bottled water to buy at every turn, most restaurants and quick-service kiosks will give you a free cup of ice water if you ask.
Festivals
As we mentioned, you do need to pay the price of admission to experience some things—including Disney World's truly glorious festivals—but the festivals themselves do not increase the price of your ticket, so we consider them a perk. Just look at the detail on Encanto's Miracle for EPCOT's annual International Festival of the Arts! EPCOT also hosts the Food & Wine Festival (a favorite for bachelorette parties) and the beloved Festival of the Holidays, while greater WDW celebrates both Autumn at Walt Disney World and Holidays at Walt Disney World—both with truly magical décor and themed activities.
Parades
Does anyone do parades like Disney? We'll answer that for you: nope! The music, costumes, and floats, all of which glide onto the scene carrying Disney's beloved cast of characters, are top-notch. The only cost once you're in the park? A little time away from the rides. (But you might just be ready for a break from those!) And yes, during the holidays, the parades are themed.
Fireworks
Not to sound like your favorite Disney soundtrack on loop (Moana, anyone?), but again, when it comes to fireworks, no one is doing it like Disney! The Magic Kingdom's latest show, "Happily Ever After," features not only fireworks, but also lights, lasers, and special effects. That includes projections that not only dress the castle, but all of Main Street, U.S.A., making any spot you snag a visual feast...at no extra cost.
More Night Shows
Of course, while the Magic Kingdom's fireworks display may be the most iconic of WDW's evening shows, it's certainly not the only one. EPCOT boasts "Luminous: The Symphony of Us" over its lagoon, while Hollywood Studios has two night shows: "Fantasmic!" (Mickey fights for the fate of the world!) and "Wonderful World of Animation," which projects clips from a slew of Disney films over it's recreation of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Leis
Polynesian Resort guests get a lei at check-in, but here's a secret: Anyone who visits the lobby can get one. All you have to do is ask! Disney's leis are made without fake flowers, making them durable for repeat wearings through the park—and a trip home in your suitcase.
Concerts
All of those EPCOT-based festivals we mentioned? So many of them feature free concerts, featuring big stars: Simple Plan, Smash Mouth, Boyz II Men, Hanson, to name a few. All of the concerts are first come, first served, so get there early to score a prime spot.
Broadway-Caliber Shows
Want to see Beauty and the Beast without paying Broadway prices? Head to Hollywood Studios. Its theater on "Sunset Boulevard" puts on Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, a 30-minute take on the Broadway production, complete with all your favorite songs, five times a day.
Wilderness Explorers Scavenger Hunt
If you love Up, this one's for you! While visiting Animal Kingdom, make like young Russell and become a Wilderness Explorer—one on a scavenger-style hunt to find all the animals in the park. For every animal you find, you get a "badge" (i.e. a very cute sticker) in your booklet. If you complete the challenge, you'll have a booklet with a whopping 30 stickers to take home.
Disney Wilderness Preserve
Did you know that just 20 miles south of Orlando, Disney has a Wilderness Preserve? Well, now you do! The Preserve boasts over 12,000 acres, all of which is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals. Take the Preserve's 2.5-mile hike, and you'll get to see a lot of that wildlife up close—at zero cost to you. (However, they do welcome donations to keep doing the important work they do!)
Campfire Sing-a-Long
Get ready to belt it out! Every night, Fort Wilderness hosts a Chip and Dale-themed marshmallow roast and sing-a-long—and you don't have to be a guest of the Fort to attend. You should also be ready to snap a pic with Chip 'n' Dale (who do meet and greets on site) and watch a Disney classic (on a large screen nearby). FYI: Disney's Port Orleans-Riverside also does a version of this seasonally called "Campfire on de' Bayou."
Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours
Now this one's a little more specific: Anyone staying at a Disney World Resort hotel (and a few select Disney-area hotels too) gets free early entry to the parks, which is excellent for beating the crowds. Plus, if you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort (and a few additional select hotels), you can also enjoy free extended evening hours on select nights. All around, a pretty good reason to stay on property!
Movies Under the Stars
Another WDW resort guest perk! No matter which one you stay at—the Grand Floridian, the Caribbean, or any of the All Star resorts—you and your family can take in movies under the stars. Each hotel has its own schedule and its own movies. Some even have snacks! All are free.
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