IT’S no secret that Disney World is expensive, with our well-earned cash disappearing into Mickey’s pockets faster than you can say bippity boppity boo.
And with the cost of park tickets always increasing, a lot of families look to save money where they can.
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Believe it or not, there are many freebies to be found in Walt Disney World any time of the year.
Here are five things you can do on your holiday that won’t cost a thing.
Go on Safari and sample African cuisine
People may not realise this, but Disney encourages you to visit the on-site resorts even if you’re not staying there.
Catching a monorail and touring the hotels is completely free and so are some of the daily events at each hotel. One of the best hotels for freebies is Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The resort looks out on to savannahs that are home to exotic animals such as giraffes and zebras and there are many viewing areas for guests and non-guests alike to sit and observe these magnificent beasts in their (almost) natural habitat.
Another thing you can do at Animal Kingdom Lodge is tour the restaurants. Jiko and Boma both offer African-inspired dishes and anyone can take a free tour, learn about the food and even try some free samples.
To find out times and details, ask at the reception desk of the resort. It’s like a mini trip to Africa – for free!
No charge for your car
Parking is an often-overlooked expense when budgeting for a trip to Disney, with standard parking at the four Florida parks coming in at a hefty $25 (£18) a day.
If you plan to go every day for a two-week holiday, this would cost you over $300 (£227). However, there are ways to park on Disney property for free.
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Understandably, Disney doesn’t make this easy, but you can park at shopping district, Disney Springs, for nothing and then catch a bus to the parks.
This will add time on to your trip and, to discourage guests from doing this, no buses run directly from Disney Springs to the parks but it’s a short walk to Saratoga Springs Resort where you can catch a free bus to any park.
You can also leave your car for free at Disney’s two water parks – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon – but the water parks do close early and so getting back to your car at the end of the night might not be easy!
Meet complimentary characters
If you want to get up close to a cherished character, you usually have to go to pay admission for the theme parks or book an expensive character meal. But there is a way to meet a couple of Disney favourites and watch a film completely free.
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At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, anyone can come along for Chip and Dale’s camp sing-a-long.
You don’t need to have tickets for the park and you don’t have to be a guest at the resort.
It’s open to all and includes a sing-a-long and meet and greet with the beloved chipmunks followed by a campfire and a classic Disney movie under the stars.
Anyone attending is welcome to bring along marshmallows to toast. It’s a fantastic Disney experience and costs nothing.
Pick up a secret souvenir
If you have children or are travelling with friends or as a couple, you’ll soon realise that souvenirs in the parks are not cheap but there are some little mementos you can pick up for free. The most popular are the celebration buttons, available in all parks.
You don’t have to actually have a birthday or anniversary to get one, it could be your first visit, a graduation, proposal or just a celebration of life! The buttons (or badges as we call them in the UK) are available to all and cost nothing.
Another nice freebie in the Epcot World Showcase is Kidcot. Children can collect and colour in free stamps from each of the countries.
These usually include a personalised drawing or – for an extra special personal touch – a cast member from the country will sometimes write the child’s name in their native language.
Watch a freebie firework show
If you’ve used up your park tickets but missed out on the fireworks, fear not because there are ways to watch the stunning displays without spending so much as a dime.
Epcot’s IllumiNations display is due to end later this year but if you visit before it comes to a close, a great place to watch for free is Disney’s Boardwalk, which also offers an array of bars and restaurants as well as live street performances.
The Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular show at Hollywood Studios can also be viewed from the Boardwalk from the walkway in-between the Swan Hotel and Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After show is best viewed from the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Bear in mind that the shows at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios include projections that can only be viewed in the parks, but the fireworks part of the show is still stunning and well worth a watch.
The secret freebies you can get with a birthday badge range from muffins and snacks to extra park interactions with the characters.
Disney food fans will be envious of one woman, who is paid to eat at Disney World full-time.
Blogger A J Wolfe from Texas visits at least one a month to try out the food options in the park.
