I love a good deal and in the past I’ve covered a lot of ways to save money at Disney. Splitting dessert, shopping at the dollar store before your trip, packing snacks – there are so many to save money on your trip. But what is better than free? Nothing! Free souvenirs and experiences at Disney are bountiful if you know where to look.
Here are my top 15 favorite free things at Walt Disney World.
Transportation: If you are staying at a Disney resort, transportation to and from the airport is free when you use the Magical Express bus. Taking a taxi can cost you more than $30.00, so this is defitinely as awesome perk to take advantage of. Once you arrive at your resort, Disney provides free transportation to all of their parks. Whether you choose to take the bus, the monorail, or a boat – it’s all free!
Movies Under the Stars: this is something that is available at every Disney resort. Each night, usually pool side, each resort hosts a Movie Under the Stars where you can curl up and relax while watching your favorite Disney classics. Grab some snacks and enjoy the show.
Electrical Water Pageant: this music and light show takes place nightly on the Seven Seas Lagoon. If you are staying at Contemporary, Grand Floridian, or Polynesian you can step out on the lawn of your resort (or watch out the window if you room faces the lagoon) and watch the spectacle. If you aren’t staying at these resorts, you can catch it from the bus loading area at Magic Kingdom too.
Package Delivery: if you hate lugging around your purchases all day, Disney has you covered! Every store at Walt Disney World can either hold your items for you at Guest Relations until the end of your day, or ship your purchases to your resort – for free! The only stipulations are that you cannot ship any food items (fudge, cotton candy, etc.), and in order to ship to your resort, you cannot be checking out the previous day (to ensure that your packages have time to arrive before you leave). I use this service all the time!
Wifi: All Disney parks and resorts now have free guest Wifi. No more data overage charges once you get back home. Yay!
Disney Resorts H2O Products: Every single night before I go to bed, I squirrel away all of the travel size toiletries that Mousekeeping left that day. The next morning, when they see that I don’t have any products, they leave more – it’s like FREE magic! These make for good (and practical!) souvenirs.
Celebration Pins: Everyday at Disney is a reason to celebrate, so show off your celebrations with free pins. You can ask your resort front desk or go to Guest Relations at any park and ask for them. They have pins for everything from birthdays, to first visits, to anniversaries, to family reunions, to engagements/weddings/honeymoons, or just a simple “I’m Celebrating” pin so you can fill in your own occasion.
Park Maps: As I’m leaving the park I always grab a few (ok, a handful) of park maps on my way out. These are great souvenirs and I love to use them in scrapbooks and shadow boxes to highlight our vacation memories. If you are crafty, you can even make hair bows or coin purses with park maps.
Stickers: it seems like Cast Members are always handing these out – and I always take them! Use the free Mickey Mouse stickers in photo albums, or tuck them into lunchboxes for little magic once you are home.
Photopass Photography: these photographers are located all throughout the parks, in prime picture opportunity locations. They will take your photo for free and load it on to your magic band where you can review and purchase it later. They will also take your photo with your own camera or phone for free! No need to always have one family member missing from every picture, Photopass Photographers are more than happy to make sure everyone is included.
Water: Thirsty? No problem! You can get FREE water at any Quick Service dining location – just ask. I also like to bring a water bottle with me and refill throughout the day at drinking fountains. Why break the bank buying $3.00 water bottles all day when you can stay hydrated for free?
Club Cool: Head into Club Cool (located in Epcot’s Future World) to try samples of different Coca-Cola products from around the world. If you are travelling with a first timer – make sure to have them try the Beverly! You can have as many samples as you want for free at the serve your stations in the middle of the store.
Art Classes: Head over to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for free art classes teaching you how to draw some of your favorite Disney characters. These sketches make great souvenirs and it’s a nice way to get away from the hustle and bustle for the parks for a moment.
Wake Up Call: You can schedule a wake-up call with your resort and a Disney character will call you to you wish a good morning. What a fun way to start the day!
Pin Trading: The pins aren’t free, but the trading is. And really, the trading is the fun part! During our last trip I had so much fun hunting for pins and talking to all the different Cast Members.
Like I said, there are so many free things at Disney! Whether you are traveling on a tight budget or just love a good bargain, Walt Disney World is great for making magic. What are some of your favorite freebies at Disney?
Monica is an Alumna of the Disney College Program. When she is not walking down the middle of Main Street USA you can find her wandering the World Showcase, or enjoying a Dole Whip while racing to her favorite attractions. When she is forced to endure life outside of Walt Disney World, you can find her in Ann Arbor, Michigan where she lives and works. You can visit her Disney lifestyle blog here.
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Pin Trading seems to be dying. I think that the Magic Bands, having done away with the need for a lanyard has really but a dent in the pin trading. I am a huge pin trader as are my nine grandchildren. We did not find a lot of people wearing lanyards. The plus side is that the hotels and stores had a nice selection. Every store has a book, you have to ask to see them, and every resort has a board, some have specific times for trading others are open when the stores are open. Cast Members still have the lanyards and are always ready to trade. I also saw a Board along the walkway in Animal Kingdom with two cast members standing bye
You were lucky. When we went we were told we had to go to City Hall to get a map, but they didn’t have any either. I guess it was because we went during “off” season!!!
they had park maps right inside each enterence at Disney World in June 2015 (my last visit)
We were in the Parks in June (2015) stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside. No more wake up calls with Disney character.
I thought they did away with the park maps. When I was there in September, they were not available.
I thought Art of Animation closed?
At certain times they have artists in Epcot at The Art of Disney and they will sign your stuff at no additional cost to you.
During Star Wars Weekends, actors will take several pictures with you for no cost to you.
During Food and Wine by the cranberry bog they handed out free bags of dried cranberries.
Fireworks from Disney Spring hotels. If your on your last day and you don’t have a pass you can see the fireworks from select Disney Springs hotels. I stayed at the Best Western and I had three different fireworks for my viewing pleasure.