Despite the perception that literally EVERYTHING costs an arm and a leg in Disney World, there are in fact NUMEROUS free things to do in the Most Magical Place on Earth! 

As we enter a new year, we’re pleased to report that Disney freebies DO still exist for 2022! We’re breaking them down.

With a new year comes a new year for planning Disney World trips, so it’s an apt time to drum up ideas for money-saving tips ahead of your trip!  

None of these will be earth-shattering freebies (sorry, no free hotel rooms or flights, guys!), but free is free and we’ll take whatever we can get. From a NEW app feature to live entertainment, here are 9 FREE things to do in Disney in 2022! 

Use Disney Genie 

Feeling overwhelmed by the Disney planning process? Aladdin’s bestie is here to help! Disney Genie is a new planning tool that Disney rolled out in October, and it’s entirely free to use!

Accessible on the My Disney Experience app, guests can “tell” the Genie their wishes (e.g. their ideal rides and restaurants they most want to visit), and the service will present you with options to optimize your time. 

By creating customized itineraries for YOU, which change throughout the day based on wait times and crowds, you’ll be FAR better equipped to get on the rides you want, and eat at the restaurants you crave, just about any time of day — while remaining mindful of the typical “rush hours.”

Click here to see our experience with Disney Genie

Skip the Lines Without Paying For a Lightning Lane

In addition to Disney Genie, Disney also introduced paid services like Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections. The former is a flat rate add-on that gives guests access to many rides’ Lighting Lanes (formerly FastPass queues). The latter allows guests to buy access to Lightning Lanes for select in-demand rides and attractions. The key word here is “buy.” But if you’re not looking to cough up MORE money, there’s an alternative! 

Another budget-friendly option is in the form of the single rider line, which we’re thrilled to say is STILL available in Disney World! Single rider is only available on a select number of rides like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest. Your whole party is totally free to get in these lines together — just now you likely WILL be split up once it’s time to ride. The reason for this line is to fill empty seats, so, unless the line is incredibly short already, expect to be separated. Keep this in mind if you’re trying to use Single Rider and have a younger child — they might ride alone. Some single rider lines take longer than others, but it’s likely that wait times will be MUCH shorter than typical lines, and it doesn’t cost a thing! 

Learn more about Single Rider here!

Take a Tea Tour at EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

One of our favorite things about all the festivals at EPCOT is all the unexpected freebies! Sure, the food costs money, but a lot of the activities don’t cost a penny! 

In 2021, one of our favorite freebies was the Tea Tour at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, where we snagged a guide to the Flower and Garden Tea Tour in the United Kingdom Pavilion, learned fun facts about tea, and embarked on a self-guided tea tour — basically a tea scavenger hunt! 

This was a fixture at last year’s festival, so we’re crossing our fingers that it makes its return at the 2022 festival! 

Learn more about the FREE Tea adventure you could take in EPCOT here!

Listen to Live Music at Disney Springs

While some entertainment and music costs money to access (looking at you, Jellyrolls cover charge), others are entirely free! 

Case in point: ALL the musical action at Disney Springs, which is basically constantly hosting a concert of some form or another in one (or more) of its lagoon-side pavilions! It’s the perfect setting to grab a drink, take a seat, and drink in the entertainment for no cover charge! 

Go Dancing

For more nightlife on a budget, you can’t go wrong with a night on the town at Atlantic Dance Hall! And by “town,” we mean Disney’s BoardWalk. 

Now that the adult-only dance hall has reopened, it’s a great option for late-night dancing at no extra cost! Sure, the drinks cost money, but as long as you’re just there to boogie — and you’re not drinking top-shelf sparkling wine — you’ll be in for an affordable night of entertainment and fun! 

Learn more about the reopened Atlantic City Dance Hall here!

Watch Movies Under the Stars

The sad truth is that if you’re staying at a Disney World resort, you’re likely already paying a pretty penny to do so. Hence, you’re probably looking for other ways to SAVE money. 

You can do so by taking advantage of the free activities for resort guests, like regular Movies Under the Stars outdoors! Great for kids and families especially, Disney resorts typically play free classic Disney films (and some newer ones!) from projectors on outdoor screens most nights. It’s basically like a drive-in movie, but you don’t need a car, nor do you need to pay anything extra! Just walk up, take a seat in the grass or by the pool (depending on where they’re shown at your resort) and enjoy the show!

Take Animation Classes

Another fun resort freebie is the complimentary drawing classes at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!

For kids and adults alike who are feeling particularly inspired by the animated atmosphere, you can attend free classes taught by animators throughout the day. So you’ll literally be able to animate your very own Disney character!

Watch the Animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Here’s a fun fact: you don’t NEED to buy a park pass to Animal Kingdom to see animals on the savanna! If you’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge (or just visiting for a meal!), you can basically embark on your very own Kilimanjaro Safari for no added fee! 

Certain viewpoints from the sprawling resort, including from Sanaa restaurant, offer prime animal viewing on one of the savannas. So that means you can watch animals like zebras, ostriches, giraffes, and gazelles whilst enjoying your Indian-style Bread Service and African-inspired Biryani!

Interested in checking out Sanaa? Click here!

Use Free WiFi From a Disney Resort

It might sound weird to recommend WORKING while on vacation, but let’s be honest, that’s kind of what most of us have gotten used to — working from wherever! Yeah, we’re adding wi-fi to the list. Sorry not sorry, it counts. (They could be charging you if they really wanted to!)

Disney World offers free WiFi literally everywhere on property, which comes in handy in the resorts especially. So that means if you’ve got a little downtime, you can find a cozy nook somewhere in any resort and catch up on emails! Or play some computer games — we won’t judge. 

It’s not the BEST wi-fi. Your local Starbucks probs is a little faster, TBH. But it IS free.

So as we head into a new year, there are plenty of new opportunities to cut costs and save money with these FREEBIES! As always, we’ll continue to share new ideas for ways to save on your future Disney World trips! 

How to Win a FREE Stay at the New Star Wars Hotel in Disney World!

How are you planning to save money on your 2022 Disney trips? Let us know in the comments!