Free Ideas

dizzi

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 25, 2007
Messages
7,054
Looking for some Free Ideas to do at WDW.

I know this must be in a thread somehwere....I just must not be enetering the right wording for search.
 
monorail rides
boat rides
watch fireworks from beach
campfire at Fort Wilderness (I think this is free)
wander the resorts and gift shops
 
Here is a list I found here a while ago. I don't remember which DISboard member posted it. We have done quite a few of these. However, I am not sure if everything is up to date anymore.

PARKS

1.Collect Disney Transportation Collector Cards: 18 cards highlight the three modes of transportation on Walt Disney World Resort property – watercraft, monorail and bus – and are distributed for free by transportation Cast Members.
2.You can ride up front with the driver on the monorail

Magic Kingdom

1. In MK at Town Square, go into expo hall. In the back room, there are huge backgrounds where you can take pics with your own camera for free. We do this every time we're in MK after park closing. There's no one back there!
2. Rope drop at MK and Wake Tinkerbell up in the morning
3. Enjoy free samples at the Main Street Confectionery. You can watch them make the candy while you munch.
4. Visit the horses at the Car Barn on Main Street.
5. Get free embroidery on your purchases- or a Disney hat that you bring with you- at the Chapeau on Main Street.
6. If you bow down before her (Cinderella) fountain (around back of the castle while going up the ramp) you can see the crown on her head "magically appear" my kids get a kick out of this even though its just an illusion
7. There is also a "Story Lady" that will tell a story and use adults and children from the audience to play the parts of the characters in her story. My daughter participated in both and received a button from the "Story Lady"
8. There is a rope drop right at 10 a.m. outside of Toontown, and Goofy will be waiting at his roller coaster to ride as well as Minnie and/or Mickey to give a personal tour of their houses. There's usually a character or two from the Judge's Tent that will walk with the kids to their particular line in the tent.
9. We have gotten lucky a couple of times and come across a ton of characters at the "teardrop" area in the Magic Kingdom. It's an area by the train station in Toontown.
10. Not sure if they still do it but they used to hide paint brushes on Tom Sawyer Island and if you were the first to find them in the a.m. you got a special fast pass.
11. Get to the MK early, by 8:40 AM, to see the Opening Ceremony. This is not advertised in any of Disney's materials that I've seen--it is a very Disney way to start your day. Also, there are many Streetmosphere characters that wander around Main Street during the day--they are never advertised. One day the Mayor sat down right next to us at Casey's and started talking to us about how he was running for reelection. Many times you will run into the Dapper Dans, riding in the back of the first horse-drawn trolleys of the morning and serenading the passengers.
12. Get a hot dog and listen to the ragtime pianist at Casey's Corner.
 

Epcot

1. The "Candy Lady" in Japan appears about three times a day Monday through Thursday. She makes beautiful rice starch candy suckers in the shape of just about any animal that you request. She picks children or adults that are standing quietly, not acting up. She will make about 4-5 suckers each session. The times are on the Epcot schedule that you receive when you enter the park.
2. Do the masks at the kidcots in Epcot. My kids did the passports and the masks but had fun decorating them
3. Kids can get a poster after completing all the kidcot stations in WS at Epcot
4. There is a garden maze behind the UK ... down the alley that has the toy store. This was so much fun for my kids to play in
5. Club Cool at Epcot
6. There is a room full of EPCOT memorabilia and Descriptions about old rides, World Showcase and general retro EPCOT Center. It's a pretty cool place to check out
7. See and try the latest in technology for free at Innoventions.
8. Enjoy ‘Dream Chasers’ a free virtual reality ride near the exit of Test Track. Most people just walk on by this extra ride.
9. Try your skills at the Mission Launch simulation at the end of the Mission Space ride
10. Do the Kidcot Fun Stop projects at every country in World showcase. Once they collect stamps from every country they get a prize. They can also do Kidcot projects in Future World.
11. Go on a scavenger hunt. The “kid’s Guide to Epcot Scavenger Hunt” is available at the park entrances. Answer several questions about the rides and countries in order to solve a final riddle and possible get a prize from Guest Relations.
 
Hollywood Studios

1. When you go into One Man's Dream, ask the CM at the entrance for the questionnaire and if you answer all the questions correctly inside, you get a certificate at the end.
2. The Singing in the Rain umbrella is in the Streets of America section, facing the new Stunt Car show area. It's a really cute photo op. Umbrella-it's behind the streets of America, across from LMA. Near Herbie when you stand under the umbrella, it triggers 'rain' that falls down over the umbrella.
3. When you’re in line for Indiana Jones you go past a well, I think to the right of the entrance. If you pull on the rope you'll hear someone down in the well.
4. In the afternoon at when the lines are long ... hang out on Sunset and catch the atmosphere characters OMG they are hysterical!!!! It's fun to interact with them, especially the tourist "couple"... I forget their names but they will gab with you and is all I can say
5. The "How to Draw" class at the end of the animation tour at MGM. It's only 10 mins.

Animal Kingdom

1. Participate in Family Fun projects at stations located throughout the park. These are similar to the Scavenger Hunt at Epcot. Find and do everything as you are directed and you will get a prize.
2. Just after bag check and before you approach the Animal Kingdom turnstile area you may notice a very mobile palm tree conversing with guests, especially children. This unheralded treasure introduces young guests into the environment upon which they are about to enter. The fascination on the faces of the children as this tree (commonly known as Wes Palm) converses with them is priceless.
 
RESORTS

Fort Wilderness Resort
1. Take the boat to Fort Wilderness. Many free fun and unique things to do
2. Pony Rides $3
3. There are many miles of trails at Fort Wilderness, through pine and cypress woods. All free. You can hire bikes but to walk costs nothing
4. The petting farm is open 7 am to dusk a. There is free day parking at Ft. Wilderness
5. Each evening a campfire is held at Fort Wilderness (it is free to WDW Resort Guests) near the Meadow Trading Post. Take your own marshmallows to toast. The campfire is followed by a Disney cartoon feature shown on a large outdoor screen.
6. The Stables are amazing. You get to see several of the biggest, most beautiful horses and ponies, many of which are used for special events, parades etc.. Very clean. We got to see them wash the white ponies that had been in a parade we had seen earlier in the week. There is also a fun playground close to the boat dock. You can pick up a pizza to go and drinks reasonably priced right there and relax. Very calm, clean, and peaceful.
7. Tour the Blacksmith shop.
8. Go Fishing
9. Rent paddle boats or canoes $7 for a half hour
10. Wagon ride $8 adult, $4 children.
There is a free Campfire Sing-Along with Chip & Dale at the WDW Fort Wilderness Campground. It generally begins around 7 p.m. during the fall/winter season and 8 p.m. after the time changes in April through the summer. It is held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area. The program begins with a sing-along led by a Disney cast member - if you've seen "Barney", you know these songs - and a marshmallow roast around two campfire rings. You may bring your own marshmallows or buy them at the Chuck wagon Snack Bar (roasting sticks and marshmallows are $2, s'mores kit is around $5). You may also buy pizza, hot dogs, candy, nachos, juice, popcorn, sodas, coffee, beer and other refreshments at the Chuck wagon. While this is going on, Chip and Dale make an appearance to visit with guests and sign autographs. The sing-along lasts about 40 minutes.
Next, a Disney movie is shown on a large outdoor screen. Seating is available in bleachers or on benches. There is also plenty of room to lay out a quilt or blanket. The movie schedule is posted at all comfort stations. In the event of rain, the sing-along is still held on the porch of the Meadow Trading Post.
The campground also has a free petting zoo and pony rides (about $3 each) that close earlier in the afternoon. These are in the "Settlement Trading Post" area - take the Ft. Wilderness internal bus. The "Trail's End Buffeteria" is considered one of WDW's best buffet values. The Trail's End also has a carry-out window called “Trails-To-Go” 16-inch pizzas and fried chicken meals – both individually sized and family sized. If you have a free day (or your arrival day), you can go early and see the petting zoo, have a nice dinner, and then head over to the Sing-Along.

Wilderness Lodge
1. Do the Hidden Mickey Tour at Wilderness Lodge. This is very hard but a lot of fun
2. The slide opens at 10a. We were at the pool earlier than that. The lifeguard asked DS5 is he wanted to be sheriff for the day. They gave him a badge a cowboy hat, photo and certificate. He was allowed to be the first one down the slide "to make sure it was save from the bad guys", then when he lands in the water, give the thumbs up sign, the life guards blow their whistles and say "slide's safe everyone". Then the slide is open for the day. DS was also in charge of making sure no one was running on the deck.
3. Wilderness Lodge has a free tour Wednesdays-Sundays at 9 AM, that tells you how the hotel was built and a little about the architecture. Ranger Stan is a fountain of Disney knowledge!
4. If you're a Walt Disney buff, go to the Iron Spike Room at the Wilderness Lodge villas. There, they have two train cars from Walt's personal backyard railroad.

Polynesian Resort
1. Go to the Polynesian and get a free lei
2. This area is found behind the Tokelau Longhouse. It is marked by a long walkway out to a point surrounded by several palm trees. This is an outstanding location from which to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks or just to enjoy a quiet moment and watch the ferryboats travel across the seven Seas Lagoon. It's one of the most romantic spots in Walt Disney World.

Animal Kingdom Lodge
1. AKL has night viewing of the animals with night vision. The kids got a kick out of this. They also have lit up paths outside and it makes for a very romantic after dinner walk with a loved one
2. AKL has a children’s story time in the lobby every evening.
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge offers several free programs that are really geared at adults and older children: They give a guided tour of the hotel's African art collection at 2 PM, a Culinary Tour of Africa at 4 (in which you get to meet the chefs at Jiko and Boma, and eat free samples! Great if you want to learn more about the food before you actually eat there), and a Cultural Safari at 9 PM led by an African cast member, who tells you about their homeland.
4. I don't know if this happens every night, but at the AKL they have a parade for the kids through the lobby at 8pm. The kids get to pick out an instrument from the gift shop and they march around playing drums and then get a certificate.

Board Walk Hotel
1. First person down the slide at the Boardwalk pool becomes "clown for the day". They receive a certificate, a clown wig, big clown glasses, and a bag of small trinkets.

Grand Floridian
1. They give the "old" flowers in the arrangements in the GF lobby away on the day they put the fresh out. I think this is on Tuesday morning. All you have to do is be there.
 
DOWNTOWN DISNEY
5. Ride the small carousel $2
6. Ride the kiddy train $2
7. Play in the fountains
8. Be amazed by free magic tricks at Magic Masters Shop
9. Enjoy the free midnight fireworks at pleasure Island. It doesn’t cost a cent to walk through Pleasure Island.
10. Listen to the bands that perform nightly at West End Stage Entertainment.
11. Hunt for Hidden Mickey’s in Downtown Disney’s walls and stores. You can down load a free Hidden Mickey Mini Hunt, complete with clues and points to be scored from www.theotherorlando.com/hunt.html
12. Pay a long visit to the Lego Imagination Center. If offers a playground, individual Lego tables, huge Lego statues.
13. Let kids get creative at once upon a toy. Put Mr. Potato Head together.
 
Hollywood Studios....take the free character drawing class at Animation Academy. It is 30 minutes and a different character is chosen for each class which starts on the hour and half hour.

My son and I learned to draw Tinkerbell. It is a lot of fun and a great free souvenir!
 
If it happensd to be your birthday, or that of anyone else in your party..you can get free Happy Birthday buttons at Guest Services in all the parks. Some casy members will also call you to the phone to hear a birthday message from Goofy. I thought they had anniversary buttons also. Not sure.
 
Wow! So many great ideas. Is the free Fort Wilderness stuff accessible for people not staying at WDW resorts?
 
If it happensd to be your birthday, or that of anyone else in your party..you can get free Happy Birthday buttons at Guest Services in all the parks. Some casy members will also call you to the phone to hear a birthday message from Goofy. I thought they had anniversary buttons also. Not sure.

Not to mention that you get in for free on your birthday!
 
isn't there a place in Epcot where kids can make chocolate chip cookies for free? not all the time, but several times a day. I think it's in the building where Soarin is. Anybody??
 
Great lists! :thumbsup2

Just wanted to add: the buskers on the Boardwalk are really fun and free. One trip my kids learned to do the lasso rope from a cowgirl. They still quote some of the jokes from the fire eater "kids, never, never, never play with fire at your house.... play with fire at neighbors house!"

Also if you have kids that like Legos, go to the Lego store in DTD. There is a playground and lego building area that is free. When my DS was little he loved playing there.
 
We are not going into any parks except Mk for the MNSSHP we are going to do Universal this time, but i am trying to help 12 people do stuff and just thought a little DISNEY Magic cannever hurt.

But all the resort listings are awesome:thumbsup2
 
denisegold-that was in the Kraft building (where Soarin is located) but they no longer do that


The best FREE fun we had was in EPCOT, the KIM POSSIBLE mission. We saw more of EPCOT this way than ever before. We did this on more than one day, each day the clues were different. I think DH and I enjoyed it as much as the children did.
 


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