It’s no secret that Disney World is expensive. However, there are plenty of locations and activities that you can take part in that are absolutely free.
Most of these take place outside the parks.
These activities are great for arrival and departure days when you want to get the most out of your trip but don’t want to waste a park ticket on a half-day.
They’re also great for if you decide to have a slower-paced down day in the middle of your trip.
A couple of these activities are inside the parks but are completely free once you get through the front gate.
Here are nine free activities you can do in Walt Disney World.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is a shopping, dining, and recreation district in Disney World and you don’t need a park ticket to check it out!
Disney Springs is home to some of the best restaurants in Disney World. This is also where you’ll find the NBA Experience and an AMC movie theater.
It’s also typically open later than the parks, so it’s a great place to check out if you’re more of a night owl.
Disney Transportation buses typically run from this location until around 2 AM (though times and frequency can vary based on the day and time of year).
Learn more about Disney Springs on the Disney Springs website.
Disney’s Boardwalk
Disney’s Boardwalk is a small strip of restaurants and entertainment venues. It’s located within walking distance to Epcot and a boat ride from Hollywood Studios.
This is another area of Disney World that is typically open late, however to the best of my knowledge, Disney Transportation doesn’t run late to this location like Disney Springs. So it’s best to only take advantage of that if you’re driving or staying in an Epcot area resort.
You can learn more about Disney’s Boardwalk on Disney’s website.
The Legend of Conch Flats Tour at Old Key West Resort
Old Key West Resort gives a free resort tour twice a week. According to the Disney Parks Blog, the tour runs between 45 minutes to an hour in length.
The tour details the Imagineering work that went into creating the themeing of the resort.
For the most updated dates and times of the tour, contact Old Key West resort.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour
Animal Kingdom Lodge had a Culinary Tour, which takes you behind the scenes of some of their restaurants. You also get to sample some of the food prepared.
For the most up-to-date dates and times, you can contact Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna
Also at Animal Kingdom Lodge are the Savannas, which are home to over 200 animals.
Anyone is welcome to visit Animal Kingdom Lodge to check out their Savanna viewing stations and see the animals roaming for yourself.
You can also visit the lobby Concierge to get a wildlife guide and identify the various species you might see while you’re there.
Drawing Classes at Art of Animation
Disney’s Art of Animation resort holds daily drawing classes. According to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, the classes are offered three times a day, but you want to check with the resort to confirm times since they can change.
You also get to keep the drawing you make, so this is both a fun activity and a great souvenir.
You can find Art of Animation’s contact info here.
Visit and explore any Disney World Resort
This is one of my favorite Free Disney tips! You can visit and explore any Disney Resort even if you’re not staying there.
There are a handful of amenities you won’t be able to use, (like the pool, gym, and things like that). But you can explore the resort, participate in a number of free activities (like campfires and movies), and eat at their restaurants.
This means if you want to head to the Polynesian resort and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach with some Dole Whip, you totally can!
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
This is located in the Magic Kingdom, so it does require a park ticket, but it’s a great activity for kids (or anyone) who either aren’t all that into rides or need blow off some steam after waiting in too many lines.
This is an interactive game where the players are tasked with protecting the Magic Kingdom from Hades and the band of Disney Villians he’s rounded up. Players move between different “portals” battling Disney Villians in different areas of the park.
When you get to the park, head to the Firehouse. There, a cast member will activate a game, give you everything you need to play, and explain how everything works.
You can learn more about the details of the game here.
Epcot World Showcase Scavenger Hunt
This is obviously another activity that requires park admission to play, but once you’re in, it’s completely free.
In an effort to make the Epcot World Showcase a little more engaging for kids, Disney has Phineas and Ferb’s World Showcase Scavenger Hunt designed for Kids and Tweens.
The Scavenger Hunt sends players on a “spy-centric” adventure in the World Showcase.
You need to download the Play Disney Parks app to play. For more information, check out Disney’s website.
I’ve also heard rumors about this Scavenger Hunt being updated in the near future, so it may not be Phineas and Ferb for much longer, but there should be some kind of World Showcase scavenger hunt for your kids to play regardless.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: What’s your favorite free thing to do in Disney World? Tell us about it in the comments!