17 Things To Do At Disney World That Nobody Talks About Because They Cost No Money
Disney vacations can add up, but there's so much to do on Disney World's property, it's pretty easy to find super fun things that don't actually cost a dime. Here are my favorite things to do when the budget was tight but I still wanted a magical time!
1.Get a lei at Disney's Polynesian.
Grab a lei from the front desk of the Polynesian! I personally like to get a lei and sit in the lobby of the Polynesian and vibe. Why? There is no smell I like better than the smell of the lobby of the Polynesian, so much so that I've burned through four candles that mimic the smell at home.
2.Make and race Lego cars at Disney Springs.
The Lego store at Disney Springs has a little raceway where you can make and build a car and race it against strangers' cars. Can it get pretty intense? Sure. But it's a lot of fun!
3.Grab a celebration button.
Who says celebration buttons are just for special occasions?! Most check-out counters, as well as resort front desks and guest services have celebration buttons free of charge. They can range from a birthday to a wedding to a fill-in-the-blank where you can tout anything!
4.Partake in Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long at Fort Wilderness.
Every night (weather permitting), Chip and Dale sing and mingle at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. It's pretty much the only thing you can do for free where you'll get to see and interact with a character!
5.Go to Animal Kingdom Lodge and spot the giraffes.
Staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is probably the closest you can get to staying on a safari. Animals like giraffes, zebras, and gazelles roam the back area of the resort, giving hotel guests a wild view from their balconies. However, there are plenty of places people who aren't staying at the resort can animal watch. Meanderers can spot animals in a rocking chair through the lobby of the resort, or head around outside to see them (as well as the flamingoes there).
6.Watch the Electric Water Pageant.
If you're a fan of the Main Street Electric Parade, or you just like things that light up in general, the Electric Water Pageant sails around the Seven Seas lagoon, making the circuit around the three hotels and Magic Kingdom, and also sails over past Disney's Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. The lighted figures change between sea serpents, underwater creatures, and other fun characters as it sails along its 15-minute route.
7.Watch fireworks.
You can see Magic Kingdom fireworks (and listen to their music) from Disney's Grand Floridian, Disney's Contemporary, and Disney's Polynesian resorts. You can see Epcot fireworks from Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Topolino's Terrace at Disney's Riviera Resort.
8.Check out the butterfly gardens.
Disney has two butterfly gardens on property year-round. One is at the Contemporary resort, and the other is at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. Several species of butterfly have called Disney World their home including the monarch, swallow-tail, and zebra longwing.
9.Watch the chocolatiers at the Ganachery.
Not only is a stop at the Ganachary in Disney Springs worth it because of the heavenly chocolate smell, the chocolatiers are hard at work crafting elevated s'mores, dipped confections, and handmade chocolate bars. It's fun to stop by and watch them work, as well as get any sweet questions you may have answered.
10.Take in some live piano at the Grand Floridian.
The main lobby of the Grand Floridian typically has a live piano player tickling the ivories and playing elegant versions of Disney classics. They also usually take requests if you really want to know how "Under the Sea" sounds on a grand piano.
11.Meet the Coca-Cola bear.
The multi-level Coca-Cola store at Disney Springs has a lot, including two floors of merchandise and a rooftop bar. However, the real star of the show is the Coca-Cola bear, available for hugs and cuddles on the second floor intermittently throughout the day.
12.Walk the Boardwalk Inn and see live entertainment like jugglers, magicians, and more.
The Boardwalk has lots of live entertainment sprinkled throughout the day that fits its turn of the century-style theme. Performance artists will come out and wow guests strolling with their jump rope skills or sleight of hand.
13.Pin trade.
OK, I guess this isn't technically free because you need to start out with a Disney pin, but once you have it, you can go around to cast members and pin boards at Disney Springs and Disney resorts to look at what they have and make a trade. I've been pin trading and buy super cheap pins and can trade them for cast member-exclusive pins, limited edition pins, and international pins. It's exciting to see what you can find!
14.Visit the horses at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch.
The Tri-Circle-D Ranch is located near Disney's Fort Wilderness resort and houses Cinderella's ponies and the horses of Main Street USA. While you can take a stroll through the stables on your own, the ranch also offers pony rides, trail rides, and carriage rides for a cost. Holiday sleigh rides are also usually available in the winter months.
15.Ride the Skyliner.
The Skyliner has five stops: Disney's Riviera, Art of Animation, and Caribbean Beach Resorts, as well as Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Ride the Skyliner and take in a bird's eye view of the property while in a shaded cabin in the air.
16.Ride the Monorail.
An entire ride around the loop of the Seven Seas Lagoon with stops at Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian resorts takes about 15–20 minutes. Make a day of it by hopping off at all of the resorts and walking around. They all have such a unique vibe.
17.Finally, park for free at Disney Springs.
Typically, resorts are pretty full to the point that the parking lot is only reserved for guests with resort, dining, or recreation reservations. However, since parking is free at Disney Springs, drop your car off and head to the bus stop, where free Disney buses run all day between Disney Springs and all of Disney's resorts and theme parks on property.
