Fun, Free, or Cheap things to do at Disney World
Campfire Sing-Along with Chip & Dale at the WDW Fort Wilderness Campground. It generally begins around 7 p.m. during the fall/winter season and 8 p.m. beginning sometime in April through the summer. It is held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area. The program begins with a sing-along led by a Disney cast member - if you've seen "Barney", you know these songs - and a marshmallow roast around two campfire rings. While this is going on, Chip and Dale make an appearance to visit with guests and sign autographs. The sing-along lasts about 40 minutes. Cost is Free!
Electrical Water Pageant is a nightly display that makes its circuit around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake for the Magic Kingdom area resorts. The pageant consists of two strings of seven barges, each carrying a 25-foot-tall screen of lights. The pageant features King Triton and creatures from under the sea -- turtles, whales, seahorses, even a sea monster! -- in an aquatic parade set to Disney (including "Under the Sea," and the crocodile's theme song from the film Peter Pan) and other music. Cost is Free!
Polynesian Resort -- 9 p.m.
Grand Floridian -- 9:15 p.m.
Wilderness Lodge -- 9:35 p.m.
Fort Wilderness -- 9:45 p.m.
Contemporary Resort -- 10:05 p.m.
Outdoor Movies are shown almost every night at the Disney Resorts. Certain Resorts show them on the beach which is tons of fun. Check the time guides at your resort for more information and feel free to resort hop to see the movies, they are for all Disney Resort Guests.
Watch Wishes from the Polynesian Resort Beach Head to Polynesian Beach to watch the fireworks and enjoy a great view on this relaxing beach with a Dole Whip found at Captain Hooks inside the Polynesian Resort. While watching the fireworks they even have the music playing! Cost is Free!
Pin Trading at Disney World is a huge thing! You will see many Cast Members walking around with the lanyards and pins and they will trade with adults or children. Don’t be concerned about asking them as they are trained to do this and have no problems with people inquiring about their pins. You can find inexpensive pins on Ebay and this can be a fun hobby to do while in the parks and at the Disney resorts. Cost is Inexpensive!
Take a Horse and Carriage Ride at Port Orleans Riverside or Fort Wilderness Resort. These rides are seasonal in the colder months and have seasonal themes for Halloween and Christmas. Cost is $8 adults, $5 kids. Rides are nightly at 7:00 for a 45 minute ride.
Take a Boat Ride from Port Orleans French Quarter to Downtown Disney. This is a very relaxing ride through the back rivers of Disney World and takes you by several resorts for some great views of Port Orleans Riverside, Saratoga Springs Resort, Tree Houses at Saratoga Springs, and Key West Resort. Cost is Free!
Rent a Bike at several Disney World Resorts for an hour or for the day. Resorts that offer Bike Rentals are Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Campsites and Cabins, Port Orleans Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort, Boardwalk Inn Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Coronado Springs Resort. You can ride these bikes around the resorts or on any of the Disney World Bike paths. You will need to return the bikes to the resort which it was rented at. Cost is $9 for an hour or $18 a day!
Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom is a card game that can be played at Magic Kingdom. Cards are free of cost and can be picked up at the Firehouse at Magic Kingdom next to Guest Services. These cards are used a magic portals around Magic Kingdom to help you beat the villains. Cost is Free!
KidCot Stations at Epcot offer great activities, crafts, and more for kids throughout the world showcase. You can get a passport of the Kid Cot Stations at Guest Services or at any of the KidCot areas. Each Country offers a different activity and the kids can get their passport stamped. It makes a great souvenir and is lots of fun for the kids! Cost is Free!
Pressed Pennies are found throughout the Disney theme parks, Resorts, and Downtown Disney areas. You can purchase small books that will hold the pennies and can help you to find all the location of the pressed penny machines. Each machine takes 2 quarters and a penny to be pressed. People who are avid collectors will go to the bank before leaving on vacation and get a few rolls of quarters and pennies to make it easier to keep them organized.
Cool Zone at Epcot features Coke a Cola drinks from around the world with tons of free samples! A classic is taking pictures of your kids trying the “Beverly” drink, have your camera handy! Cost is Free!
Jedi Training Academy is available at Hollywood Studios theme park daily and is available on a first come first serve basis. The trick is to be there as soon as the gates open which is at the Extra Magic Hour Time or about 30 minutes prior to the regular opening time. Once you are inside the park head to the Echo Lake on your left hand side near the Hollywood and Vine Restaurant and stand in the line that is forming for sign ups. If you are there early enough you might be able to choose your performance time. This is a fun activity for kids who love star wars and are not afraid of getting on the stage to fight with Darth Vader. After the show the kids will get a certificate of completion. Cost is Free!
Paddle Boating is available at many of the Disney Resorts and is a great way to have fun and get some great exercise. Check your resort for availability. Cost is $6.50 per ½ hour!
Hidden Mickey’s are all over the Disney World Resort. You can purchase or borrow a Hidden Mickey book at the Library or book store. Hunting for hidden Mickey’s is fun and easy to do. There are many hidden Mickey’s all over the resorts and at Downtown Disney so you do not have to have admission to the parks to enjoy the fun. Cost is Free!
BoardWalk at Disney World is a great entertainment area with tons of fun things to do and see. This area has a few shops, a bakery, and some entertainers. Take a boat from Epcot to the Boardwalk for a quick trip or you can take a bus to the Boardwalk resort from any of the Disney theme parks.
Campfire Sing-Along with Chip & Dale at the WDW Fort Wilderness Campground. It generally begins around 7 p.m. during the fall/winter season and 8 p.m. beginning sometime in April through the summer. It is held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area. The program begins with a sing-along led by a Disney cast member - if you've seen "Barney", you know these songs - and a marshmallow roast around two campfire rings. While this is going on, Chip and Dale make an appearance to visit with guests and sign autographs. The sing-along lasts about 40 minutes. Cost is Free!
Electrical Water Pageant is a nightly display that makes its circuit around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake for the Magic Kingdom area resorts. The pageant consists of two strings of seven barges, each carrying a 25-foot-tall screen of lights. The pageant features King Triton and creatures from under the sea -- turtles, whales, seahorses, even a sea monster! -- in an aquatic parade set to Disney (including "Under the Sea," and the crocodile's theme song from the film Peter Pan) and other music. Cost is Free!
Polynesian Resort -- 9 p.m.
Grand Floridian -- 9:15 p.m.
Wilderness Lodge -- 9:35 p.m.
Fort Wilderness -- 9:45 p.m.
Contemporary Resort -- 10:05 p.m.
Outdoor Movies are shown almost every night at the Disney Resorts. Certain Resorts show them on the beach which is tons of fun. Check the time guides at your resort for more information and feel free to resort hop to see the movies, they are for all Disney Resort Guests.
Watch Wishes from the Polynesian Resort Beach Head to Polynesian Beach to watch the fireworks and enjoy a great view on this relaxing beach with a Dole Whip found at Captain Hooks inside the Polynesian Resort. While watching the fireworks they even have the music playing! Cost is Free!
Pin Trading at Disney World is a huge thing! You will see many Cast Members walking around with the lanyards and pins and they will trade with adults or children. Don’t be concerned about asking them as they are trained to do this and have no problems with people inquiring about their pins. You can find inexpensive pins on Ebay and this can be a fun hobby to do while in the parks and at the Disney resorts. Cost is Inexpensive!
Take a Horse and Carriage Ride at Port Orleans Riverside or Fort Wilderness Resort. These rides are seasonal in the colder months and have seasonal themes for Halloween and Christmas. Cost is $8 adults, $5 kids. Rides are nightly at 7:00 for a 45 minute ride.
Take a Boat Ride from Port Orleans French Quarter to Downtown Disney. This is a very relaxing ride through the back rivers of Disney World and takes you by several resorts for some great views of Port Orleans Riverside, Saratoga Springs Resort, Tree Houses at Saratoga Springs, and Key West Resort. Cost is Free!
Rent a Bike at several Disney World Resorts for an hour or for the day. Resorts that offer Bike Rentals are Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Campsites and Cabins, Port Orleans Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort, Boardwalk Inn Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Coronado Springs Resort. You can ride these bikes around the resorts or on any of the Disney World Bike paths. You will need to return the bikes to the resort which it was rented at. Cost is $9 for an hour or $18 a day!
Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom is a card game that can be played at Magic Kingdom. Cards are free of cost and can be picked up at the Firehouse at Magic Kingdom next to Guest Services. These cards are used a magic portals around Magic Kingdom to help you beat the villains. Cost is Free!
KidCot Stations at Epcot offer great activities, crafts, and more for kids throughout the world showcase. You can get a passport of the Kid Cot Stations at Guest Services or at any of the KidCot areas. Each Country offers a different activity and the kids can get their passport stamped. It makes a great souvenir and is lots of fun for the kids! Cost is Free!
Pressed Pennies are found throughout the Disney theme parks, Resorts, and Downtown Disney areas. You can purchase small books that will hold the pennies and can help you to find all the location of the pressed penny machines. Each machine takes 2 quarters and a penny to be pressed. People who are avid collectors will go to the bank before leaving on vacation and get a few rolls of quarters and pennies to make it easier to keep them organized.
Cool Zone at Epcot features Coke a Cola drinks from around the world with tons of free samples! A classic is taking pictures of your kids trying the “Beverly” drink, have your camera handy! Cost is Free!
Jedi Training Academy is available at Hollywood Studios theme park daily and is available on a first come first serve basis. The trick is to be there as soon as the gates open which is at the Extra Magic Hour Time or about 30 minutes prior to the regular opening time. Once you are inside the park head to the Echo Lake on your left hand side near the Hollywood and Vine Restaurant and stand in the line that is forming for sign ups. If you are there early enough you might be able to choose your performance time. This is a fun activity for kids who love star wars and are not afraid of getting on the stage to fight with Darth Vader. After the show the kids will get a certificate of completion. Cost is Free!
Paddle Boating is available at many of the Disney Resorts and is a great way to have fun and get some great exercise. Check your resort for availability. Cost is $6.50 per ½ hour!
Hidden Mickey’s are all over the Disney World Resort. You can purchase or borrow a Hidden Mickey book at the Library or book store. Hunting for hidden Mickey’s is fun and easy to do. There are many hidden Mickey’s all over the resorts and at Downtown Disney so you do not have to have admission to the parks to enjoy the fun. Cost is Free!
BoardWalk at Disney World is a great entertainment area with tons of fun things to do and see. This area has a few shops, a bakery, and some entertainers. Take a boat from Epcot to the Boardwalk for a quick trip or you can take a bus to the Boardwalk resort from any of the Disney theme parks.
