This may be the LEAST surprising thing you’ve ever heard, but Disney World isn’t cheap!Â
It’s WAY too easy to spend lots of money in the Most Magical Place on Earth, but one thing that IS surprising is that you can actually find things for FREE! Â
We’re always looking for new money-saving tips to share with you, and we LOVE pointing out discounts and special deals!Â
The BEST deal of all, though, is something that costs literally nothing. Shockingly, you can in fact find secret freebies in Disney World!Â
Water
Seeing as water is a basic human necessity, it’s not all that shocking that Disney offers this for free. Especially considering how scorching-hot it gets in Florida!Â
You can snag FREE cups of water throughout Disney World, from popcorn kiosks to Main Street Bakery.
Check Out Our Latest Guide on Where to Find Free Water Here!
Soda in Club Cool
So soda isn’t exactly as vital as water, but it’s a nice little treat! And it’s honestly kind of amazing that it’s possible to get it for free in Disney World!Â
When Club Cool reopened, we were crossing our fingers that EPCOT would bring back its soda freebies…and Disney answered our cries! You can sample different soda flavors from around the world from the dispensers at Club Cool for zero dollars! Â
How is EPCOT’s NEW Club Cool Different Than the Old One? Click Here to Find Out!
Annual Passholder Magnets
Annual Passholders get a LOT of perks, including free parking and preferred park access. They also get lots of periodic freebies, including those coveted Annual Passholder magnets!
We LOVE them, and the fact that they’re free is just icing on the cake! Annual Passholders typically get them sent to their homes in the mail (convenient!), but we’re always on the lookout for exclusive magnet giveaways in the parks too!
Don’t Miss These 7 Discounts Annual Passholders Forget About in Disney World — Click Here!
Sunscreen
Like water, sunscreen is an absolute ESSENTIAL in Disney World. Fortunately, Disney loves us and wants us to be safe, so they’ll occasionally dole out sunscreen free of charge!Â
It’s not a DAILY thing, but on days when it’s particularly hot and sunny, we’ve seen Cast Members stationed in the parks handing out free sunscreen, and we LOVE to see it!
Twelve Essentials You NEED in Your Disney World Park Bag — Click Here!
Wilderness Explorer Badges
Free necessities and collectible merch are always nice, but a free experience is super fun, too — especially for kids! Adventurous kiddos will love collecting the Wilderness Explorer Badges at Animal Kingdom!
The whole Wilderness Explorers Guide is a totally free handbook that’s GREAT for adventurous kiddos. Pick one up from any of the Troop Leader locations in the park and embark on a scavenger hunt, with little tasks to perform at various stations throughout the park in order to receive badges. It’s fun AND educational, and the fact that it’s free is honestly pretty amazing!Â
New Ways to Save Money on Your 2022 Disney World Trip — Click Here to Watch!
Drawing Classes
This next freebie activity seems almost too good to be true! Did you know you can take a 25-minute complimentary drawing class at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
A Disney animator will take you through the steps to creating your own version of a beloved Disney character, and you’ll get to learn a little about how animators draw on real-life animals for their animation inspiration. (Don’t worry — you don’t need any drawing experience to take this class!) To join in, take the train over to the Animation Experience at the Conservation Station!
Click Here for More Surprising Activities Available at Disney World!
Celebration Buttons
Whether it’s your first time visiting Disney World or your 50th, there’s always something to celebrate during your trip! Disney’s “I’m Celebrating …” buttons have long been a favorite freebie.Â
Stop by a guest relations location at the parks or your resort’s front desk, ask for a button, and the CMs there will hook you up! If you’re feeling extra, you can also bling your button with an artist customization at Ye Old Christmas Shoppe in the Magic Kingdom — for $3 per word. Either way, be sure to wear your button — you’ll get plenty of free smiles and wishes from cast members!Â
Click Here to See Examples of the Artist-Customized Celebration Buttons!
TransportationÂ
Perhaps the least SECRETIVE of Disney World’s freebies, it’s still worth mentioning how grateful we are for SO many transportation options! It’s possible to stay at Disney World without spending any money on a rental car or gas!
From buses and Monorails to boats and Skyliners, Disney World has LOADS of transport options free of charge! And thanks to new walkways, like the Grand Floridian connector to Magic Kingdom, it’s easier to use our built-in free transporation option — our feet — to get around, too!Â
Transportation Cards
And when you take that free Disney transportation, ask for a free collectible transportation card!
Bus drivers, monorail drivers, and other cast members who work in transportation around the boats, Skyliner, monorail and buses will often have these cards. There are more than two dozen different cards with a Disney character and the mode of transportation on the front, and some fun facts on the back. It’s fun to try to collect them all!
So the next time you’re thinking about buying a bottle of water or splurging on soda, remember that Disney has FREEBIES galore if you’re willing to look!Â
Click Here to See the 5 Most Expensive Things in Disney World You Should Still Buy
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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you discovered any secret freebies in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
Justin says
As cheesy it sounds, i like collecting what people usually throw away: park maps, napkins (unused), shopping bags, receipts, and the like. They don’t take up a loton of space in my luggage and can be reat reminders of that trip. And it’s also a great way to see how things change. For example, back in the day they used to do dated park maps, and now undated. Also pictures change on the front, and the maps change as well ( like no more Streets of America in DHS and now Galaxys Edge).
Susan Stickle says
Never got the 50th magnet despite being an AP member for the entire year of 2021 My last visit was late March 2022 when they had them in Disney Springs but oh sorry we ran out. Shameful. Because otherwise there were no other Perks. Done
Mojra Logsdon says
You left off some of the more common free things – blisters, drenching rain, standing in a long line, sunburn! LOL
DFB Gigi says
LOL Mojra! You’re not wrong!
TypeAPlanner says
In April 2022, I asked a Skyliner cast member if they had transportation cards. She said the Skyliner doesn’t do them. Not sure if this was a new development or not.
Monica says
A sticker for cleaning your plate at the 50s prime time cafe and Disney rash!