- Watch the fireworks from the beach at Wilderness Lodge.
The folks at Tusker House provided a free cupcake to celebrate a 4-year old's birthday.
- Visit the Boardwalk area (between Epcot and Hollywood Studios) to see street performers.
- Tour the Animal Kingdom Lodge and check out the artwork, wildlife and culinary treats. If you are staying there, get a list of daily activities. If you are just stopping by the hotel for lunch, dinner, or a snack, great views of the animals are available even at night. Ask a cast member for night vision goggles to spy on those nocturnal creatures.
- Stickers. If you need find a sticker, find a Disney Vacation Club kiosk. Look for the words “Best Kept Secret” and you will realize they aren’t trying too hard to keep it a secret. Cast members in stores and at toddler-centered areas, like the stroller rental stand, are pretty fast and loose with the Mickey heads. Note: Makes a nice teacher gift for the woman who was a kindergartener short for a few days.
- Water. I always cringed at this money saving tip, as I feel Diet Coke should be delivered with the bread at a sit down restaurant.However, when I started carrying a (cute) water bottle, and heeded the warnings that fountain water in this part of Florida is less than delicious, I started asking for some water in “to go” cup at places like The Brown Derby, or asking the servers if they would fill my water bottle before we left. Bottled water is just about as expensive as soda and not a good use of a snack credit. For 4 people, you save about $10.
- Movies are free, most nights at some resort hotels. You can be a guest of any Disney hotel to enjoy the outdoor movie. Look for these at Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Fort Wilderness, Contemporary, and All Star Music, starting around 9 p.m., but schedules may vary.
- Some souvenirs are free, and these will change over time, but WDW Insiders has a nice list, including pirate-themed certificates and “passports.” You can also get free buttons at declare you the birthday boy/girl, just engaged, a family reunion participant, or celebrating something. You can request these at your resort or at guest services in any park.
- If you have a Disney Visa card, you can get a free photo session with a character or two at Epcot, and they will give you a 5X7 print of your image later in the day. The characters are usually from the Fab 5, Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, but it is a surprise each day.
- Transportation is free to and from the airport if you are staying on-property. Disney contracts with a company called MEARS and they offer The Magical Express-a bus that both takes you to your hotel, but will collect and deliver your luggage later in the day, for most domestic flights (late night or international travelers may have to go to baggage claim first.) As a comparison, a family of 4 might pay $122.00 for this service.
- Surprises are also free. About 5 years ago, Disney ran a campaign that was almost like a “random acts of kindness” endeavor, where guest would randomly be selected to have a fast pass for the day, or invited on a shopping spree. You still may be selected to ride the train for rope drop, raise a flag or meet some characters one on one. While planning helps, and budgeting is necessary, leave some spare minutes for pixie dust to find you.
What have you found is free at Walt Disney World? Have you ever been selected to receive some pixie dust of your own?
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