What is there to do at WDW that is cheap or free (outside of parks)?

hopetoseedisney

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 9, 2003
Messages
64
I've heard there is a petting zoo at one of the resorts (AKL?) and that there are other free things to do and see while at WDW. I've heard that you can go to the Boardwalk and other places without having to use a pass or pay to get in.....one of the places I've heard is free also is the Lego museum place. What details can you give me on these things, and what other free/cheap things are there to do around the parks??? I'm a first timer, so I need details where things are at, if there are any restrictions (like kid's height, age, etc). Thanks.
 
Visit other resorts and eat a meal, snack or dessert, shop at shops at other resorts. Go to down town disney and window shop visit toy store, go to Lego store. Ride the monorail around the parks. People watch. Visit the Boardwalk and walk around. Go to Costco if your a member and have a cheap lunch and see what a diffrent part of the country stores carry. I enjoyed looking at a diffrent Albertson's than my own. Sounds crazy but brands and types of food are diffrent. We did this in Hawaii and it was fun. Get film developed while your their. Go off site and eat a meal. Ride the boat from Port Orleans resort to Downtown Disney and back. Take a jacket. We like finding penny presses at other resorts. Play in the fountains in Downtown Disney. Bring a change of clothes for kids. Go to the Poly and walk on the beach see boat parade and watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom.
 
The petting zoo is at Fort Wilderness campground. You could take a bus there from TTC.
 
You want to take the boat from TTC to Ft. Wilderness. It is part of the Ft. Wilderness exprance and a fun way to get around to FW, WL, VWL, and I think CR and Poly.

My girls love the petting zoo at Ft. Wilderness...they really love the pony rides which I think cost $3...but I am drawing a bit of a blank there so I am not 100% sure.
 

If you are staying at a WDW resort, you are also welcome to attend the nightly campfire sing-a-long and movie at the Meadows Recreation area of the Ft. Wilderness Resort.

I believe that both AKL and WL have some sort of story teller or interpretive presentation in their lobbies ... not sure of times/dates -- you'd have to contact the resort.

We stay at Ft. Wilderness and, besides spending time at our resort's pool, we will ride the ferries, visit other hotels to check out their lobbies, grounds, lounges, giftshops, etc. Each of the WDW hotels are themed different and are worth taking the time to visit.

Agree that there is lots to do at Marketplace/DTD and Boardwalk.
 
Ride the front car of the monorail.

Resort hop and look for future places to stay.

Visit the sing-a-long, marshmallow roast and movie at FW.
 
There is always the pool at your resort.

You might also want to check into the petting zoo, free movie and campfire sing along over at Fort Wilderness Campground... they also have a very reasonably priced buffet over there at Trails End Restaurant.

People watching at Downtown Disney or the Boardwalk is also cheap entertainment, and lots of fun. The kids will enjoy the playground at DTD between the Lego shop and McDonalds.

Ride the boat from Downtown Disney to Po-R in the evening and catch Bob at the River Roost Lounge, then catch the boat back to DTD when you are done--- the boat stops running at 11 pm, I believe.

Resort hop and check out the theming of the other resorts.

Sit on the beach at the Polynesian and watch the Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks--- they have some nice 2 seater swings on the beach, there.

Go to the lobby of the GF, and listen to the live music.

Listen to the African Storyteller at the AKL.

Visit the Butterfly Garden in the back of the Arcadia House at PO-R.

Visit WL and make a game out of finding all of the hidden Mickey's.

Ride the Friendship boats between the Epcot resorts, and the boat from the MK to WL and Fort Wilderness.

Ride the monorail, just for the heck of it.

Most of all, have a great time!:)
 
Can we go to the campfire at FW if we're staying offsite, or is this only for WDW guests?
 
The campfire sing-a-long and movie is intended for those that are staying on-site.

This has sparked a lot of debate on the boards as resort IDs are not checked at this event. There are some who feel that just because they "can" means they should. Others, like myself, feel that we pay premium prices to stay onsite and this is one of those events that our extra $$$ covers.
 
I completely understand the intention for resort guests to get that extra magic that comes with staying on-property. After all, that's exactly what you're paying for!!
I just thought the campfire program sounded like a fun thing to do, regardless if it's free or not.
Since we're not staying on-site this trip, we will not be going to the campfire. There's always next time! :teeth:
 
Hi.

The Once Upon a Toy store in downtown Disney is wonderful to visit. I could stay in there half the day (yes, I am easily amused). They have models set up (yes, you can also buy them) of different things at Disneyworld, (rides, hotels, etc.) It is really neat to see these. Also, they have some kind of Mr. Potato Head do-it-yourself station when you first come in the store that let's kids do different activities for free. I think you could either draw pictures on a computer and print them out and also put together real Mr. Potato Heads. It looked like fun, but I haven't done it yet.

If you are a musician or love musical instruments, there's a music store in Downtown Disney that carries a lot of "cool" guitars. We are big fans of CF Martin guitars and this store usually has a large display of signature Martin guitars that we otherwise would never see "in person."

Of course, the Lego store is fun to see. Outside of the store there is a Lego man sitting on a bench snoring, space people working on their space ship (it blows steam), a large Lego dragon in the lake, and other Legos that I can't remember right now.

For about $15.00 we had some really fun pictures made at Downtown Disney at Studio M. It's behind Ghiradellis(sp?) chocolate store. Our kids had a picture done at Studio M that makes them look like they are in a scene from Monsters, Inc.

Downtown Disney also has the Rainforest Cafe restaurant. Many times they have animals or birds (like a little show) outside of the restaurant to draw a crowd.

Also, if you are visiting or eating at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts around 9:00 at night, the Electrical Water Pageant comes through on Bay Lake. It's a floating light show with music. They cancel this if there's storms or lightning.
 












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