Freebies at Disney World - Kelly Does Life

Water – This is the #1 tip/hack that I give to people at Disney World. Water is free! You can ask for cups of ice water at quick service locations. Starbucks locations also have jugs of ice water as well. We always carry around 24 hour cold refillable water bottles with us inside the park. In my opinion, the free water is the best free thing at Disney and the one you will use every day of your trip.

Celebration Buttons – A lot of people in Disney World are celebrating something. It doesn’t matter what you are celebrating. Like an anniversary, wedding, engagement, birthday, graduation, or just a vacation. Almost any shop will have these buttons and will customize them for you. Occasionally a certain shop might have run out of a particular button. However, they usually can point you in the direction to find it elsewhere.

Vacation Planning DVD – Before your vacation even starts you can get something free from Disney! Disney offers helpful free planning videos. You can find all the information you need for each park, Disney Springs, the Cruise Lines, and more!
MagicBands – MagicBands can be bought for a price inside Disney Parks or online ahead of time. However, if you stay at a Disney resort, you get them for free! Make sure you don’t forget to request the color you want early!
FastPasses – I know, I know, this is a pretty well-known thing that they are free. However, for people who have never visited Disney World before are surprised to find out that their FastPass system is included with your theme park admission. At other amusement parks, this type of system can cost an extra $100 a ticket. Disney gives it to you for free! These can help make your trip so much more magical and save you time (and headaches).
Park Maps – Park maps are somewhat obvious as a freebie, but I still think these need to be on your list of things to grab. They change around the year depending on the activities and events going on at the time. This makes them a great souvenir in my opinion because they are unique to the time you are there. It is also a great way for you to get a better idea of the layout for each park instead of having to use your phone!

Festival Guide Books/Passports – Not grabbing one of these books as you enter Epcot is one of the mistakes you can make at an Epcot festival. These are your key to everything! You learn the events going on, what the food choices are, and everything the event has to offer!
Transportation Cards – There are a few different ways to get around Walt Disney World. Monorail, bus, or boat, and all of them can provide you with “trading cards”. Simply ask a Cast Member if they have any transportation cards with them. Depending on the time of day, the might be out, so keep trying!
Club Cool – Club Cool is located in Epcot on your right before you head into the World Showcase, right after you pass Starbucks. Here you will find free soda from around the world. This area is sponsored by Coca-Cola so you will see a lot of merchandise as well. It also means that all of the drinking options are Coca-Cola brands. It’s a fun little area to try some samples, but also just to take a little break.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Cards – Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive and free game you can play around the Magic Kingdom. After you enter the park, head to the left and stop at the Fire House. They’ll give you a map and a deck of cards to get you started. Even if you aren’t playing, you can head there each day you enter the park to collect more cards. They typically offer a free exclusive card during the Halloween and Christmas party too!
Wilderness Explorer Field Journal – You can become a Wilderness Explorer! You will find this unique experience at the Animal Kingdom. It is a self-guided activity based adventure where you can collect over 25 badges. The headquarters is located between the Oasis and Discovery Island. So stop by there after you enter the park to learn important wilderness skills.
Crafts Around the World – Much like the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Epcot offers some free activities for kids. Around the World Showcase, kids can find places called Kidcot Fun Stops where they can collect stamps and make some personalized crafts from around the world. These make for some great souvenirs!
Belle’s Bookmark – If you visit Enchanted Tales with Belle, you might not get autograph, but you will get a different type of souvenir. You can combine the fun of reading and Disney together by using Belle’s bookmark! Who wouldn’t love a gift from a princess?
Free Sweets – This doesn’t always happen, but the majority of the time, you can find a Cast Member on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom offering out treats inside the Confectionary.
Driver’s and Pilot’s License – Tomorrowland Speedway (drivers) and Dumbo (pilot) will issue licenses to certifying they are licensed to operate those attractions! It’s a fun little souvenir for the kids!
Wifi – Wifi is free throughout the parks and at Disney resorts. This is especially helpful when you are constantly using My Disney Experience for everything. The wifi in the parks and the resorts can be spotty or slow at times. However, it is definitely better than using your entire data for the month on your trip!
Concerts – If there is a festival going on in Epcot, you will find a concert going on at the America Gardens Theater by the American Adventure pavilion. They are free entertainment that is offered nightly. This is the location of the Candlelight Processional during the Festival of the Holidays as well! The concerts are free, but if you want a guaranteed seat for some of the more popular shows, you can always book a dining package in advance.
Package Delivery – If you are staying at a Disney resort you can get any item you buy on Disney property shipped back to your resort. This way, you don’t have to carry around merchandise all day. If you are not staying at a Disney resort, but don’t want to carry things around, you can still get is shipped to the front of the park! They usually arrive to the front of the park at least three hours after you order them.

Free Tickets (Children under 3) – Any children under the age of 3 can get into the parks for free!
Free Dining (Children under 3) – If you are eating a buffet or family-style for any meal, children under the age of 3 get to eat for free! This is one of the reasons buffet breakfasts with character dining are popular with families!
Free Soda Refills – If you are dining in Epcot at (Sunshine Seasons or Electric Umbrella, Magic Kingdom (Tortuga Tavern or Be Our Guest), Hollywood Studios (Backlot Express), or Animal Kingdom (Restaurantosaurus and Satu’li Canteen) you have access to self-service free refill stations. These are not the same as the refillable mugs you get at a Disney Resort. These are quick service locations where you fill your own soda cup.
Movies Nightly – All Disney resorts offer a movie outdoors (weather permitting) each night. The schedule alters a bit, but it is typically a Disney movie of some kind (surprising right?). This is great for the end of the night if you want a quiet evening for a break on your trip.
Special Phone Call – You can request a special wake up call in the morning at your Disney Resort from some of your favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse! It is a fun treat for the kids (and adults) who can’t wait to start the magic.
Art Classes at Art of Animation – Art of Animation offers free art classes that are taught by a Disney Animator. Check the daily schedule for times or ask the concierge in the lobby.
Art Classes at Hollywood Studios – You can take a drawing class at Animation Academy inside Hollywood Studios too! It is a great souvenir that is unique to you.
Campfire at Fort Wilderness – Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-Along is one of the selling points (in my opinion) for Fort Wilderness. Every night they have a campfire show. Plus, you get to interact with the characters outside of a Disney theme park! This is open to anyone, so you don’t have to be staying at Fort Wilderness.
Campfires at Resorts – While the one at Fort Wilderness is unique because of the setting and the characters, a lot of the Disney resorts offer campfire activities! Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, the Boardwalk, Caribbean Beach, the Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Polynesian, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Saratoga Springs, Wilderness Lodge, and the Yacht Club all offer a campfire!

Mardi Gras Beads at Port Orleans – French Quarter – When you check-in at Port Orleans – French Quarter your party on Bourbon Street begins so naturally you get some beads for Mardi Gras. If you check-in online you can just ask someone at the front desk for
Lei at Polynesian Resort – Similarly when you stay at the Polynesian you get a lei when you check-in as well! Even if you aren’t staying at the resort, but just visiting, you can ask the front desk for some!
Photographer – Deciding whether to purchase Memory Maker is a decision a lot of families struggle with. They want photos of their magical vacation that include the entire family, not photos that are minus one parent. Any place that has a PhotoPass photographer you can ask them to take your photo with your phone or personal camera instead of theirs. You won’t get the magic shots or the photos from a ride, but you can still score a photo of the entire family in front of Cinderella Castle!
Restaurant Tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge – You can tour Boma and Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is offered daily and is in later in the afternoon, but before Jiko opens for dinner. Check the resorts activities guide for exact times during your trip! You’ll get to tour the restaurants and usually sample an item or two from the menu. It is definitely a fun activity for any adult who is into food, but I wouldn’t come solely for that. Reserve a table at any of Animal Kingdom Lodge’s delicious restaurants to make the most out of your time there!
Resort Tour at Wilderness Lodge – The Wonders of Wilderness Lodge is a free tour to explore and view the art and architecture around the resort. It is around an hour and usually takes place in the morning. Be sure to check your activities guide for the exact days! The tour is to show you a little bit more about the resort and explain the history and inspiration behind it as well.
Princess Promenade – Do you have a little princess in your family? Cinderella and Prince Charming make their entrance down the grand staircase at the Grand Floridian. After, they invite children ages 3-12 to join them in a waltz! This takes place at 3:30pm everyday except Tuesdays.
Transportation – Walt Disney World is huge there is no denying that. However, even if you are not staying on at a Disney resort, you can still take advantage of their many transportation options. You can use the buses, the monorail system, boats, or ferry system to get where you need to go. Sometimes, it’s nice to just take a ride around the monorail loop even if you aren’t going anywhere!
Luggage Delivery – If you are doing a split stay (staying at more than one Disney resort during your trip) you can drop your luggage at bell services and they will have it sent over to your new resort for free! It is super helpful
Disney Springs Parking – If you have a car on Disney property, you used to be able to park at Disney resorts for free. However, in 2018 Disney issued a new policy so it now comes at a fee. You can still park for free at Disney Springs though, which is great because you shouldn’t skip out on Disney Springs.
Theme Park Parking – If you are an Annual Passholder or staying at a Disney Resort, you get to park at the theme parks for free! It was one of the better perks for those who are staying at a resort.

Magic Kingdom Fireworks – You can still enjoy viewing Magic Kingdom’s nighttime show Happily Ever After even if you aren’t in the park that day. The best view is at the beach at Polynesian and the music is even piped in so you can hear. You can also go to the Ticket and Transportation Center, the Grand Floridian, or the Contemporary. The California Grill or the California Grill Lounge provide an amazing view. However, you will want to get to the lounge early enough to secure a spot. This also is a great way to view the fireworks at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Epcot Fireworks – You don’t need to be inside Epcot to view the current fireworks show Illuminations. You can head to the Boardwalk and view form there. There is a bridge near the ESPN Club and that is is one of the best viewing spots to head too.
Electrical Water Pageant – Seven Seas Lagoon hosts the Electrical Water Pageant nearly every night. It is usually after Magic Kingdom closes, so while you are waiting to head home, stick around a little longer to watch the old school parade! For the exact time, be sure to look at My Disney Experience.
Chocolate – If you are in Disney Springs be sure to stop at Ghiradelli for a free square of delicious chocolate. The flavor changes season to season, but they are all simply delicious! How can you go wrong with free chocolate?
Sandwich at Earl of Sandwich – If you are part of the Earl of Sandwich’s Loyalty Club you can get a free sandwich on your birthday at Disney Springs!
Sprinkles Cupcake – Sprinkles offers a free birthday cupcake for those who are part of their Sprinkles Perks program. They sometimes run a promotion to get a free cupcake simply for signing up as well!
Entree at Shula’s – Shula’s Steak House is located at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort. While technically this isn’t a Disney resort or a Disney restaurant, it is still on Disney property and is free. If you are a member of the Team Shula rewards program you get a free entree during your birthday month with the purchase of another entree! Shula’s is a steak house, so there is a lot of savings here. Be sure to watch the expiration date and any fine print, but it is definitely a delicious offer.
Starbucks Beverage – If you are a member of the Starbucks Rewards, you will earn stars for every purchase you make. These add up to free drinks. You’ll also get a free beverage on your birthday! However, you can only redeem the free drinks at the two Disney Springs locations, not inside the parks. You can still earn stars inside the parks though!
Passholder Items – If you are an annual passholder you get free items and perks throughout the year. For instance, at the festivals, you get a different magnet as a gift. Keep an eye out of your emails informing you of any special events that are free for passholders.
Disney Vacation Club Member Items – Similar to passholder freebies, DVC members get free events and items throughout the year as well. These change each year, but you also get access to special lounges through Disney property.