Planning a trip to Walt Disney World is no small task for you or your wallet. After all, your resort stay, theme park tickets, food, and merchandise can add up quickly. No matter what, you’ll want to make the most of your time and money. But never fear, there are actually a ton of free things to do at Walt Disney World!
While paying for these experiences comes with the territory, you don’t have to spend all your money in order to experience the Disney magic. Here are 9 free things to do at Walt Disney World – and a few extras that are very affordable!
We visit Walt Disney World every week and our experience in the parks helps us find all the best tips for our readers including all the free Disney World things you can do!
In this article:
Free Disney World Live Music
There is no shortage of free live music at Walt Disney World. EPCOT holds a series of music and entertainment events throughout the year where you can find some pretty famous names. Additionally, located in many countries in World Showcase are musicians specific to their country.
It doesn’t stop here. Throughout Disney Springs are free concerts featuring many local artists playing a variety of music from Spanish guitar to Top 40 hits. You’ll find nightly live music near the Boathouse, in front of Paddlefish, by the fountain next to AMC Theater, and at the AdventHealth Waterside Stage. Event times vary, but you’ll almost surely be guaranteed to find something any night you visit!
Need more? Inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort lobby, guests can listen to popular tunes played live on a beautiful grand piano. Performances happen throughout the day, so make sure to check the My Disney Experience mobile app for details. This is one of our favorite free Disney World things to do!
Collect Free Disney World Character Stickers
One of the small but great hidden treasures at Walt Disney World is the free character stickers, which are usually found at character meet-and-greets and Guest Relations locations. Some Cast Members have stickers specific to the character meet-and-greet while others have variations of Mickey Mouse, so you never know what you’ll find!
Over at EPCOT, Kidcot Fun Stops are a great way for kids (and kids at heart) to learn about different countries and collect cards/stickers. Find a Kidcot Fun Stop at each country in the World Showcase.
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Ride the Free Disney World Resort Transportation
Walt Disney was a big transportation buff. That’s why a trip to Walt Disney World isn’t complete without riding the free Disney World transportation. In addition to taking the bus, the monorail is your highway in the sky to getting to Magic Kingdom or the Magic Kingdom Resorts. Speaking of these resorts, when visiting Disney’s Contemporary Resort, don’t pass up the butterfly garden, blanketed with different types of flowers and plants. Over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, guests can explore the grounds of Disney’s Wedding Pavilion. If you’re lucky, you might be able to take a peak inside.
The Disney Skyliner not only offers a fantastic bird’s eye view of the Disney resort areas. It also allows for travel to and from EPCOT and the EPCOT resorts, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Over at the EPCOT resorts area sits Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas, where guests can marvel at jugglers, comedians, magicians and more during the evening – all for free.
Walt Disney World also offers a variety of water transportation. The water taxis connect the Magic Kingdom Area Resorts to Magic Kingdom. The Ferryboats connect Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center. The FriendShip Boats connect the EPCOT Resorts to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Finally, the Sassagoula River Cruise Boats connect the Disney Springs Resorts to Disney Springs. You simply cannot go wrong with Disney transportation – and it’s all free!
Go on a Free Disney World Resort Tour
After exploring the Walt Disney World Resorts, why not learn more about a few of the resorts by going on a free tour? At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge are not one or two, but three free tours: the Culinary Tour of Jiko and Boma, the Cultural Tour of Sanaa, and the African-Inspired, Disney Designed Tour. All 3 tours show and teach guests how traditional African design elements were incorporated into the restaurants and the lodge. The Culinary Tour of Jiko and Boma starts at 4:15pm daily at the Jiko lobby area, the Cultural Tour of Sanaa starts at 4:00pm daily at the Sanaa check-in desk, and the Disney Designed tour starts at 4:00pm daily in the Kidani Village lobby. To join, simply show up at each starting area right before their scheduled start time.
Over at Wilderness Lodge is the Wonders of the Lodge Tour. During this 1-hour tour, guests learn about the artifacts, artwork, and architecture that make up the lodge. To join the tour, simply arrive at the hotel lobby any Wednesday – Saturday at 9:00am.
Visit Tri-Circle D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Walt Disney World horses are famous for their work on Main Street, USA, during parades, for carriage rides, and even for weddings. Over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, a free visit to Tri-Circle D Ranch gives you a chance to visit over 90 of the Happiest Horses on Earth. While you’re there, don’t forget to take a look at the fascinating memorabilia housed in this area! For more information on the variety of activities offered at Tri-Circle D Ranch, visit the Walt Disney World website.
Participate in Free Disney World Resort Activities
Throughout the week, Cast Members at the Walt Disney World resorts host a variety of free activities. Sit back and relax by the poolside while the little ones enjoy pool games, participate in Disney trivia or a resort-specific scavenger hunt, enjoy a Disney movie under the stars, or have fun learning arts and crafts! One of the most unique activities happens to be at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, where Cast Members teach guests how to play traditional African drums. Make sure to ask a Cast Member for details.
Cook S’mores by a Campfire
Although this is a resort activity, it’s extra magical because it’s one of the few ways to meet Disney characters at Walt Disney World without paying for a theme park admission or character dining!
At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, guests can participate in Chip n Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long. You can bring your own s’mores ingredients or purchase them at Chuckwagon ($9 buys enough for 4 people) and roast your marshmallows while participating in a sing-a-long led by a Cast Member on guitar. The best part? Both Chip and Dale come out to meet guests and sign autographs! Afterward, stay and watch a Disney movie outdoors. Events typically start at 7:00pm in the Fall and Winter and 8:00pm in the Spring and Summer.
Similar free campfire and movie programs are held at Disney’s Grand Floridian and Disney’s Beach Club. For a completely different vibe, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge hosts nightly campfires with an African storyteller. If you’re looking for a more Southern feel, head over to Ol’ Man Island Fishin’ Hole at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside for a Campfire on de’ Bayou, which runs from Halloween through March several nights per week, weather permitting. Make sure to ask a front desk Cast Member for more information.
Enjoy Disney’s Electric Water Pageant
After all of the day activities at Walt Disney World, make sure to check out this free Disney World wonderful nighttime light show, consisting of 14 whimsical sea creature floats that make their way across Seven Seas Lagoon and into Bay Lake. The pageant can be seen from any of the Magic Kingdom Resorts. Check the My Disney Experience mobile app for show times as they vary throughout the year.
Marvel at the Walt Disney World Fireworks
Believe it or not, some of the best places to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks are in places that don’t require park admission. View the show at the beach along Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, on the pier next to Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, or on the balcony near Bay View Gifts at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The best part: at all of these spots, the music is piped in so you can still experience the full Disney magic!
Affordable Disney World Activities
What if you have a little extra money to spend? Here are a number of affordable activities to do at Walt Disney World.
Go Fishing at Walt Disney World
Did you know that you can go fishing at Walt Disney World? Rent a cane fishing pole and go fishing the old-fashioned way at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside or Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Prices vary from $4 to $8 per 30 minutes.
Rent a Boat at Walt Disney World
Explore the scenic Walt Disney World lakes and lagoons on a Sun Tracker Pontoon boat. Each boat seats up to 10 guests and cost $49 per 30 minutes. With a full boat, that equates to $4.90 per person! If you’re looking to be closer to the water, go kayaking or canoeing at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort for $15 per 30 minutes. Reservations are not required.
Play Mini-Golf at Walt Disney World
What better way to relax than with a few rounds of mini-golf? Walt Disney World offers not one, but two areas to get your putting game on: Fantasia Gardens and Fairways and Winter Summerland. One round costs $19 for adults and $12 for kids.
Ride a Pony at Tri-Circle D Ranch
While visiting the Walt Disney World horses at Tri-Circle D Ranch, take your children for a pony ride for $10. For something the whole family can do, a horse drawn wagon ride might fit the bill. These 25-minute rides cost $15 for guests ages 10 and up and $10 for guests 3 to 9 years. Wagon rides are only available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings and reservations are not accepted.
Rent a Bike at Walt Disney World
If you’re looking for a great way to work out, look no further. At several Walt Disney World resorts, you can rent a conventional bicycle or surrey bike to get your workout fix. Prices vary from $9 to $20 per 30 minutes.
Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation
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There are many items at Walt Disney World that are free, including live music, character stickers, riding the transportation, resort tours, visiting Tri-Circle D Ranch, participating in resort activities, the Electric Water Pageant, and watching the fireworks outside of the theme parks.
Some of the free things you can get at Walt Disney World include celebration pins, character stickers, soda samples at Club Cool in EPCOT, and chocolate samples at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop.
While walking inside the Walt Disney World theme parks requires an admission fee, walking around the Walt Disney World resorts and Disney Springs is free!
Unfortunately, a ticket to Walt Disney World is not free on your birthday. However, guests are able to get free celebration pins to celebrate their birthday!
