There is so much to enjoy at Walt Disney World without having to purchase a park ticket, and best of all everything we have listed here is free. Let the magic begin!
Visiting Walt Disney World Resort can be very expensive, but did you know you can experience the magic of a visit Walt Disney World without every having spend a dime?
It's true, there is a ton of magical things to do within Walt Disney World Resort without every having to purchase a park ticket!
You can enjoy the spectacular fireworks, relaxing boat rides, meet iconic characters, watch classic Disney movies, and more, read on for how to enjoy Walt Disney World without breaking the bank.
Free Things To Do at Walt Disney World without a Park Ticket!
Enjoy Free Parking at Disney Springs
Yes, we know how expensive parking at the theme parks can be, right now parking at Walt Disney World theme parks will set you back $25, but if you wish to enjoy the free things to do at Walt Disney World, you don't need to spend a dime, simply park at Disney Springs which is FREE and use the FREE Disney Transportation to get around the resort
Visit Disney Springs
Since we've parked at Disney Springs for FREE, we might as well start our free fun at Walt Disney World in Disney Springs!
Disney Springs is a wonderful place to waste away a few hours or more, and it's free to visit, with a ton of things that won't cost a dime.
When you're in Disney Springs, you really feel the Disney Magic all around you, well love the atmosphere here, day or night there is something truly magical about the entire place.
Stroll through Town Center at Disney Springs to view vibrant displays from talented artists at the Art Walk, then let the kids enjoy the interactive fountains, while everyone will love checking out a unique collection of stores including The Coca Cola Store where you can meet the Coca Cola polar bear for free, then head to M&M's World where you can have a picture taken with the M & M characters, and you gotta visit the Lego Imagination Center, and play with lots of free Lego!
Plus, don't forget to visit the word's largest Disney Store, and more, plus you can then take a break at The Welcome Center with air conditioning, comfy chairs and free ice water.
Another wonderful activity at Disney Springs is to sut back, relax and enjoy a multitude of free entertainment at multiple locations where talented local musicians and bands perform in the evening, plus House of Blues frequently offers free live music at its Front Porch Bar, Raglan Road usually has free live music on their patio, and on a Saturday morning there is even a free kids club with lots of entertainment!
Oh, and don't forget to stop into Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop for a complimentary sample of delicious Ghirardelli Chocolate, then head to Basin to wash your sticky hands with the free samples of amazing Basin products, it's like a spa for your hands!
Ride The Famous Walt Disney World Monorail
You can't visit Walt Disney World, and NOT ride the monorail, it's completely FREE, and there is thee different Monorail rides that you can enjoy.
The inner Monorail circles the three Monorail resorts, Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian. You can get off and explore each resort, or just enjoy the ride and the view, as often as you wish.
You can also ride the express Monorail that just goes between the Ticket and Transportation Center and the Magic Kingdom for the same view, but no stops at the resorts, although this can get very busy!
The third option is the longest, with the highway in the sky talking you from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Epcot, this is an amazing trip offering great views of the resort, plus you get to ride through the center of EPCOT, giving you an up close view of Spaceship Earth and the entire theme park.
Enjoy A Leisurely Boat Ride
Another AWESOME free activity at Walt Disney World is to enjoy messing around the water, with a relaxing FREE boat ride, of in fact, several different FREE boat rides!
All of the water transportation options at Walt Disney World are free, and offer a relaxing way to enjoy the resort from the water, with unique and quite stunning views,day or night.
Options include taking a friendship boat and cruising the loop around Crescent Lake, which visits Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios without going into the parks.
Take the boat that visits the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness, or the boat that visits the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom.
Or another great option is the Water Taxi from Disney Springs to Port Orleans or Old Key West and back, along the Sassagoula River. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view!
Ride The Disney Skyliner
You can ride the Disney Skyliner cable-car system for for FREE, this is a great option if you want to get some great views of Walt Disney World from above.
You can get on and off at Art of Animation/Pop Century Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera Resort and at Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
In addition to taking a scenic ride, you can get off at any one of the Skyliner resorts and take a stroll and explore for free.
Stroll Along Disney's BoardWalk
Inspired by turn-of-the-century boardwalks like Coney Island and Atlantic City, at Disney's BoardWalk you will feel like you have stepped back into a bygone era.
Disney's boardWalk is FREE to visit, explore the are by enjoying a stroll around Crescent Lake, taking in the sights and sounds of this beautiful resort.
Soak in the atmosphere, and in the evening you can enjoy street performers, including jugglers, comedians, fire-eaters, jazz ensembles, and more!
Explore Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, and the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels, and at any time of the day or nigh you can take a trip on a friendship boat!
Watch The Enchanting Electrical Water Pageant
Don't miss the FREE Electrical Water Pagent, a true Walt Disney World classic attraction that has been performed each night on the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of Magic Kingdom since 1971.
A bright green sea monster leads an enchanting, twinkling musical pageant you can see and hear from locations along the shore. The procession includes a stirring and inspirational medley of patriotic songs while stars and stripes float along the shimmering water.
Don’t miss this beloved nighttime delight!
Watch the Pageant from viewing spots along the shore at these locations:
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (including Narcoossee's)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Enjoy Free Entertainment Throughout The Resort
Discover lots of FREE entertainment throughout Walt Disney World.
Talented musical performers can be found regularly throughout the resort, especially daily free entertainment at Disney Springs, Disney’s BoardWalk, and at several lounges in moderate and deluxe Disney resorts.
Highlights at the resorts include live jazz at Scat Cat’s Club at Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter, family-friendly fun with Yehaa Bob at River Roost Lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, or unwind to some relaxing piano music in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Join In Chip 'n' Dale's Free Campfire Sing-A-Long
Roast marshmallows, sing songs and share hugs with Chip 'n' Dale at Fort Wilderness Campground.
Bring your own marshmallows and sticks, or purchase a s’mores kit from the Chuckwagon Snack Bar. After you enjoy the gooey goodness, croon along to old-time favorites led by a guitar-playing cowboy, as Chip ‘n Dale visit for photos, autographs, smiles and fun.
After the cowboy sing-along, cozy up for a classic Disney movie in a theater under the stars. As night falls, the fun moves toward the giant screen, where cowpokes of all ages can delight in a favorite Disney movie shown in the fresh evening air.
Visit The Charming Tri-Circle-D Ranch
Enjoy a FREE stroll through the stable at Disney's Tri-Circle-D Ranch, here you can visit Cinderella’s Ponies and the majestic horses of Main Street, U.S.A. plus see the Headless Horseman’s trusty steed from the yearly Halloween parade.
Discover the Dragon Calliope—the horse-drawn musical instrument that Walt Disney purchased for the Mickey Mouse Club Circus Parade at Disneyland Park in the 1950s.
Animal lovers of all ages will delight in the variety of breeds that live at Tri-Circle-D Ranch, including Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons and Quarter Horses, plus Shetland Ponies.
Check Out The Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is a magical experience in its own right, exploring the resort hotels is an enjoyable adventure not to be missed.
Check out the immersive theming and design, visit the restaurants and shops, then enjoy the FREE activities, you can spend days just appreciating everything each resort has to offer.
There is so many amazing photo opportunities too, honestly, don't miss this amazing FREE and fun thing to do on your next vacation.
Enjoy A Free Movie Under the Stars
Complimentary movie screenings are available at the Walt Disney World Resort hotels outside each evening under the stars.
Whether you're sitting poolside or surrounded by Floridian woodlands, enjoy relaxing evening entertainment that’s fun for the whole family!
Movie schedules rotate from resort to resort, so ask at the front desk for the most up-to-date slate of films showing.
Join A Resort Tour At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
At the gorgeous Animal kingdom Lodge you can take part in a fascinating FREE Culinary Tour.
The 30 minute Culinary Tour is a hidden gem at Walt Disney World, and everyone is welcome to take part, and you even get to enjoy food samples from the resort’s highly regarded table service restaurants, Boma and Jiko.
The tour is led by a cultural representative who will inform you how African cultures were incorporated into the resort’s design and cuisine.
Go On A Scavenger Hunt For Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys are a little extra touch of Disney magic that you can discover throughout Walt Disney World, and at selected Walt Disney World Resorts including Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, there are scavenger hunts that everyone can take part in for FREE and win a prize.
Hidden Mickeys are cleverly hidden throughout the resort hotels, go to the front desk at the resort for a scavenger hunt checklist, track them down, then claim your reward from the front desk.
See Animals on the Savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge
At Walt Disney World you can see the wild animals of Africa without having to purchase a ticket to Dsiney's Animal Kingdom!
Visit the beautiful Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and you will discover a resort which is surrounded by awe inspiring savannas where you can see a variety of African wildlife.
Several savannas are accessible to everyone at the resort’s lobbies at Kidani Village and Jambo House, and if you visit at night, you may even get the chance to look for animals through night-vision goggles.
Watch The Thrilling Fireworks at EPCOT
You can catch the regular nightly performance of the "EPCOT Forever" nighttime fireworks spectacular for FREE at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.
For the best view of the fireworks, watch from outside the Atlantic Dance Hall. Or you can watch from Disney’s Beach Club Resort beach.
Catch The Magic Kingdom Nighttime Spectacular
You can easily watch the nightly nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After from outside Magic Kingdom for FREE.
Get an incredible view of the Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular lghting up the night sky without stepping foot in Magic Kingdom.
Locations to watch the nighttime spectacular include:
Ticket and Transportation Center, this is a great spot, its convenient location across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom making it an excellent place for watching fireworks outside the parks, and you can get back quickly to your car or resort before the crowds leave the park!
Another popular location is outside the resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon, you can get great views from both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts, especially the beaches, over at the Contemporary head inside and watch from the observation deck located on the 4th floor concourse, or as many folks do, or from the stairwells of the hotel.
Another option is to catch the fireworks from the Ferryboat that travels between Ticket and Transportation Center and Magic Kingdom, if you time it right, it is possible to get a spectacular view of the fireworks from the ferryboat as it crosses back and forth!
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