Walt Disney World is truly unlike any other theme park. After all, it is the most magical place on earth! It also can be one of the most expensive. But there are so many things to love about a Disney vacation. And some of them are free! Surprised? Read on for our list the best things that are free at Disney World.

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Yes! There are Free Things at Disney World 

When most of us think about planning a Disney Vacation, we instantly start seeing dollar signs. Planning a Disney vacation for an entire family can get expensive. The good news is there are a ton of ways to save money on your next Walt Disney World Vacation along with a list of FREE things you won’t want to miss.

Read More: More ways to save money at Disney World.

Note: Even when you can’t travel to Disney World in person, there are plenty of ways to get your Disney fix while at home!

Free for Everyone

1. Celebration Buttons

Every year people from all over the world visit WDW to celebrate a variety of events — birthdays, anniversaries, girls’ trips and more. Disney helps make your visit extra special by giving you a FREE celebration button! First time visitor? Ask for a button celebrating your first visit. It makes a great souvenir.

2. Visit the Disney Resorts

You do NOT have to be a resort guest to visit a Disney resort hotel. Take a look around. Enjoy a meal at the restaurants. Just don’t head to the pool. It’s the only thing that’s off-limits to anyone who isn’t a guest of the resort. If you have an ‘off day’ during your trip, go see the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge or try the chocolate-dipped bacon at the Polynesian Resort. They’re two of the Disney hotels you should visit even if you aren’t staying there.

3. PhotoPass Cast Members Photos

You can spend big bucks for the Memory Maker package and download the photos taken by the professional photographers. Or you can hand one of the PhotoPass photographers your phone and get the same photo for FREE!

Read More: Is the Memory Maker worth the cost? 

4. Character Autographs

There are so many character meet and greets throughout the Disney Parks and they’re all FREE! Your kids will have fun collecting all of the autographs from their favorite Disney characters. Don’t forget to visit Olaf in Disney’s Hollywood Studios; you know how much he loves warm hugs!

5. Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunts

There are two free Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunts at Wilderness Lodge. You do not have to be a guest to participate. Searching for hidden Mickeys is a lot of fun or the kids and they’ll receive a special reward at the end of the hunt.

6. Disney’s Play App

The Disney Play App has interactive games that you can play throughout the park and while waiting in line. From trivia to scavenger hunts, there is a lot to discover. You’ll earn magical achievements as you put to the test your knowledge of All Things Disney.

7. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

This game is played only in Magic Kingdom. Visit the Firehouse on Main Street to sign up and receive your FREE Key Cards. You can get a new pack of cards each day. Each mission (which lasts about 20-30 minutes) is more difficult than the one before.

8. Ice Water

Ice water or a cup of ice is FREE at Disney World, inside the Disney Parks at most counter service and snack stations. If you have a refillable bottle, they aren’t allowed to fill it for you, but they will give you as many cups of water as you need to fill it up.

9. Dining Under the Age of 3

Kids 3 and under don’t eat for FREE at Disney World but they are able to dine from a parent’s plate even at buffets and family-style dining at no charge!

10. World Showcase Kidcot Fun Stops

These Kidcot Fun Stops can be found in Epcot. Kids will have the chance to discover sights and sounds from 11 different countries and make crafts that they can take home as souvenirs. This is especially fun if you’re bringing kids under the age of 5 to Disney World.

11. Complimentary Drawing Lessons 

There are now two places where you can enjoy FREE drawing lessons every day at Walt Disney World. One of those is found at the Art of Animation resort. These classes are open to all guests even if you’re not staying at the Art of Animation Resort. The second one is the Animation Experience at the Conservation Station in Animal Kingdom.

12. Stickers

When I visited Walt Disney World with my three little girls, several Cast Members offered them stickers throughout all of the parks. My middle daughter is obsessed with stickers, so this freebie was very much appreciated!

13. Parades and Fireworks

Don’t miss out on seeing the parades and fireworks when visiting Disney World. One of my favorite moments is watching my kids sing and dance as the parades go by or seeing their eyes light up as the fireworks light up the night sky. Be sure to check the My Disney Experience App to see the schedule for the parades and nighttime shows.

Read More: Ranking the Nighttime Shows at Disney World.

14. Wifi is Free at Disney World

Did you know that you can access complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access all of the Disney Parks and water parks? This is great since you’ll want to use it to play the Disney Play App while waiting in lines. The Wifi seemed to work just fine for running the My Disney Experience and Disney Play App. There have been reports of some dead zones but I only experienced issues with the Wifi signal when I was on the rides.

15. Transportation Trading Cards

Did you know that you can collect cards from all of the transportation options at Disney World? Just ask the driver, captain, or operator for a card and try to collect them all!

16. Explore Disney Springs

Take some time to enjoy Disney Springs during your visit to Orlando, Florida. You could spend an entire day shopping and eating at Disney Springs. You do not have to have a park ticket to visit.

Need help planning your Disney trip? Get all your questions answered from our Disney Planning & Fun Facebook Group!

17. FastPasses

Once you’ve purchased your park tickets, be sure to download the My Disney Experience App and start booking your FastPasses for the rides at Disney. You get three fastpasses a day to schedule ahead of time.

Read More: Everything you need to know about FastPass+ at Disney World. 

18. Pixie Dust 

Of course, it’s not a Disney Vacation unless you’re sprinkled with Pixie Dust, right? Did you know that you can get complimentary Pixie Dust at Magic Kingdom? Visit Sir Mickey’s to receive your FREE pixie dust. It’s sure to have you glowing all day long!

TravelingMom Tip: This complimentary pixie dust is not offered at the Main Street Barber Shop unless you’ve booked services with them.

Free For Disney Resort Resort

19. MagicBands

If you’re staying at one of the Disney Resort Hotels, you will receive FREE magic bands for everyone listed on your reservation. We love MagicBands because they make your vacation a little easier. Although the FREE magic bands are given to resorts guests only, you can still purchase a magic band if you’re staying off-site and want to use the band while in the parks.

Read More: Get answers to all of your MagicBand questions. 

20. Transportation 

There are some pretty big perks to staying at a Disney World resort hotel. One of those is the transportation to and from the airport and to and from the parks and resorts. Not only are all of these means of transportation FREE but there is also a variety of different ways to travel.

21. The Electrical Water Pageant

The Electrical Water Pageant is another nighttime display that can be seen from the Magic Kingdom during extra magic hours (another freebie available to visitors who stay in a Disney hotel) and from several resorts nearby. “A bright green sea monster leads an enchanting, twinkling musical pageant you can see and hear from locations along the shore.” For more details and the daily schedule visit here.

22. Free Movie and Campfire Sing-Along

Enjoy free movies at Walt Disney World resorts. Each resort calls it ‘“Movies Under the Stars.” Check with the front desk at your resort for the schedule or call (407) 939-2273. The most popular place to see a movie under the stars is the Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort. It includes a campfire sing-along. This freebie is available only to Walt Disney World resort guests, but you do not have to attend the ‘Movie Under the Stars’ at the resort where you’re staying. You can visit any of the other resorts for FREE.

23. Luggage Storage 

If you’re planning to check out of your resort and spend the day in the park before heading home, you can request that the resort hold your luggage until you return. In fact, during our recent stay the Coronado Springs Resort, we were able to call down to the front desk and tell them we were checking out and needed our luggage stored until we picked it up at the end of the day and they sent someone to carry it down for us.

24. Lakeside Yoga

Don’t leave out lakeside yoga when vacation planning! If you’re a guest of the Contemporary Resort or Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, then you can enjoy a 30-minute yoga class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This class is limited to 15 guests and kids are welcome to join as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

TravelingMom Tip: You might see Club Cool in Epcot’s Future World listed on many sites as a free thing to do at Disney World, but it was recently shut down as Disney prepares to renovate several areas of Epcot. Disney has not announced yet where it will be located or when it will reopen.

Where to Buy Disney Tickets

We recommend purchasing your Disney tickets through Get Away Today. Not only does the company have the lowest prices, but it also offers a best price guarantee. If you ever find park tickets cheaper, Get Away Today won’t just match the price, the company will beat it. If you call to make your purchase be sure to mention TravelingMom!