free at WDW

[h2odivers]

Been to WDW dozen of times and we are trying to find different or unusal FREE things to do on our non park days. We don't rent a car and love to stay on property. I drive for a living. Any suggestions? What about the Petty Race car driving experience is it free to watch, or Celebration City don't know to much about it. Thanks for your help.

 

[S. C.]

Been to WDW dozen of times and we are trying to find different or unusal FREE things to do on our non park days. We don't rent a car and love to stay on property. I drive for a living. Any suggestions? What about the Petty Race car driving experience is it free to watch, or Celebration City don't know to much about it. Thanks for your help.

I've always wondered that too. Did you ask on the theme parks board here on the dis?

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

How about going to the Boardwalk at night to see the street performers, Downtown Disney for shopping or the campfire sing along at Fort Wilderness with Chip and Dale?

 

[Derby4me]

I second the Boardwalk! They have great entertainers at night. We're planning on doing this on our trip. Also, I believe you can view part of Illuminations from a bridge near the Boardwalk.

We like to visit the other resorts. Each resort has their own special thing to offer. There are lots of places we'll probably never stay because of the expense. It's just our chance to enjoy them too.

 

[bianca]

The Electrical Water Parade at any of the Bay Lake resorts is always worth a look.

 

[yooperfan]

During the day they usually have groups perform near the water close to the Disney store in DTD. Ride the monorail between MK & Epcot. Take the boat to and from POR & DTD. Watch the fireworks @ MK from Poly beach. Ride the small boats or ferry around bay lake.

 

[dblr]

As one already said check out Fort Wilderness( plan on a lot of walking) there are alot of free things there to do. Also check out Port Orleans resort a nice place to relax and stroll around, also heard there is a good entertainer there in the evenings near the food court, plan a snack or meal and watch. Also agree with Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk area or if all else fails it is always good to sit on a bench and people watch.

 

[Melynny]

We like to go see the horses at Fort Wilderness, Sometimes there is a blacksmith there. You might get lucky and see a peacock. Don't miss the lawnmower tree if you ride the boats. We also like to go see the historical items at the Wilderness lodge too. There are Native American items in the lobby with descriptions. There is a clue list that the front desk gives of the Hidden Mickeys at the resort.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great place to spend a day. They have free tours where the guide tells you about the African art on display around the lobby and in some of the viewing areas. They also offer a free tour of the restaurants (Boma and Jiko) including free samples of the food!! There are crafts activities for the kids, and story-telling sessions (although I haven't yet made it to one of those), and often educational programs as well. You can go out and see the animals and the very knowledgeable cast members will answer all your questions; at night they have special night-vision binoculars you can use.

Can you tell it's my favourite resort? But you don't have to be staying there to enjoy all the activities.

Teresa

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

This is not free but rather on the cheap side. You can rent a bike at the Wilderness lodge and ride along the paved path to the Fort Wilderness camp grounds and spend a good amt of time riding around the camp grounds. A lot of campers decorate there campsites. Stop and see the animals. I think renting a bike all day for two people is around $20. total. Have lunch at the Trails End which I think is cheap if you go for lunch ($12) a person. I might be wrong on this price. I do know 4 years ago when we went it as $9.99 a person but I think it has gone up.

 

[ttfn3]

This isn't exactly free - one trip a few years ago I let DH decide what we were going to do for a nonpark day. We were staying at the Boardwalk. We took the bus to the MK, and then spent a good chunk of the day riding the monorail and stopping at all the monorail resorts. The goal was to play at all the arcades, and get our picture taken at each one. (Kid at heart!). We also had lunch at one resort, dessert at another resort, and walked around the resorts to check them out.

 

[ssawka]

Been to WDW dozen of times and we are trying to find different or unusal FREE things to do on our non park days. We don't rent a car and love to stay on property. I drive for a living. Any suggestions? What about the Petty Race car driving experience is it free to watch, or Celebration City don't know to much about it. Thanks for your help.

Not sure about going to watch, but in the latest version of Disney Files (DVC magazine) they mention tours of the racetrack that are $15 per person. Free if you're a DVC member.

 

[kimsuenew]

Awesome idea for a thread! Thanks OP!

 

[jaci-h]

We like to pick a couple resorts to explore during the day

 

[Eliza32]

Free films on the outside screen at some resorts too. We stopped by the one at the Contemporary last year.

 

[mrsklamc]

http://www.mousesavers.com/freestuff.html

 

[DisMomme]

http://www.onlywdworld.com/2009/05/free-things-to-do-at-walt-disney-world.html

http://www.wdwinsiders.com/view_article.php?articleid=35

 

[SandrA9810]

We like to go see the horses at Fort Wilderness, Sometimes there is a blacksmith there. You might get lucky and see a peacock. Don't miss the lawnmower tree if you ride the boats. We also like to go see the historical items at the Wilderness lodge too. There are Native American items in the lobby with descriptions. There is a clue list that the front desk gives of the Hidden Mickeys at the resort.

Wilderness Lodge also gives a free lobby tour in the morning, with Ranger Stan. There's 5 fireplaces throughout the Lodge. I absolutely love the DVC lobby and train room there. Lots of cool history there. They also do a talk about once a week in that room. There's a digital photo frame at the front desk, that gives info on this stuff.

All resorts have a hidden mickey list (or buy the book), and a list of penny press machines.

This is not free but rather on the cheap side. You can rent a bike at the Wilderness lodge and ride along the paved path to the Fort Wilderness camp grounds and spend a good amt of time riding around the camp grounds. A lot of campers decorate there campsites. Stop and see the animals. I think renting a bike all day for two people is around $20. total. Have lunch at the Trails End which I think is cheap if you go for lunch ($12) a person. I might be wrong on this price. I do know 4 years ago when we went it as $9.99 a person but I think it has gone up.

It's still the cheapest buffet on property, and pretty decent. They also have a large pizza for $13, $15 for pepperoni. The regulars are great about decorating for any holiday. I love Halloween and Christmas at the Fort. You can either rent bikes or a golf cart to go looping.

Free films on the outside screen at some resorts too. We stopped by the one at the Contemporary last year.

Most deluxe resorts offer a campfire and movie, which was taken from the Ft Wilderness Campfire program, but they're still the only ones to have Chip and Dale come. They also have an awesome program for Halloween Night.


There's usually a list of pool side activities for the resort. I know at the Wilderness Lodge, they have trivia and give away awesome prizes. But you must be a guest of the resort. I'm sure most the other resorts run it the same way. I was at Beach Club once, and they have one called what's in your beach bag? And ask for random things you might have from Disney. Like a park map, a receipt, 37 cents in change.

Ohh and a bike ride at Port Orleans is fun too, as well as a boat ride to DTD on the Sassagula Boats.

 

[budafam]

It is free to drive into the Richard Petty experience. I think there's a time limit though, not quite sure... DH drove in just to check it out on our last trip but once he saw it, we drove right back out... it was nothing too special.

 

[gk90]

Wilderness Lodge also gives a free lobby tour in the morning, with Ranger Stan. There's 5 fireplaces throughout the Lodge. I absolutely love the DVC lobby and train room there. Lots of cool history there. They also do a talk about once a week in that room. There's a digital photo frame at the front desk, that gives info on this stuff.


[trails end] still the cheapest buffet on property, and pretty decent. They also have a large pizza for $13, $15 for pepperoni. The regulars are great about decorating for any holiday. I love Halloween and Christmas at the Fort. You can either rent bikes or a golf cart to go looping.

.

Is Trails End doing buffet again? We last had their buffet in 2009 and were so sad to hear that they were changing to a la carte in 2010.

Thanks for the WL tour tip, we ate at Roaring Forks in August and loved the lodge, will definitely plan a tour next trip.

And a shout-out for one of my free faves, the Electrical Water Pageant. We first saw it from the boat going from MK to the Poly which was a great view and there are plenty of other places to enjoy it.