FREE Things at Disney: Your Ultimate Guide to Freebies at Disney Parks!

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There are free things at Disney World? Who knew? With prices forever on the rise, Disney vacations/holidays are getting more and more expensive.

However, Disney offers its guests plenty of freebies—if you know where to find them.

Having visited Disney countless times over the years, and over 6 times in the last year, I’ve done my fair share of freebie hunting. And if you’re planning your next Disney trip then here are some of my favourite Disney freebies that you won’t want to miss. 

Buttons/Badges, Stickers, and Other Small Freebies

Some of the first freebies you can pick up around the parks and resorts come in the form of buttons/badges, stickers, maps and other small items. 

Celebration Buttons/Badges

Whether you’re celebrating your anniversary, honeymoon, or birthday, or if it’s your first time ever visiting the parks, you can pick up a free celebration button from your Disney hotel, a Disney gift shop, or at any of the park’s guest relation services including Disney Springs. The wonderful cast members can personalize the badges to suit any occasion.

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Kidcot Suitcase

Over in Epcot, guests can collect a Kidcot Suitcase, which you take around the 11 World Showcase pavilions. At each country pavilion, you’ll be given a sticker and a fun card.

And once you’ve collected all 11, you can pick up a postcard stating how you went around the world. 

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Animal Kingdom Wilderness Explorers

The Wilderness Explorers game in Animal Kingdom encourages you to collect 25 badges through tasks like animal observation and learning important wilderness skills. 

To begin, you can pick up your Wilderness Explorer handbook from headquarters on the bridge between Oasis and Discovery Island or from Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader locations in Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, Dinoland U.S.A.*, and Pandora.

*Dinoland U.S.A. is now permanently closed, making way for Animal Kingdom’s new Tropical Americas land, which will feature a thrilling Indiana Jones adventure and the first-ever Encanto-themed ride-through attraction.

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Tomorrowland Speedway License and Dumbo the Flying Elephant License

On both the Tomorrowland Speedway and Dumbo, the Flying Elephant rides in Magic Kingdom, guests can pick up a driver’s license prior to riding the ride. Just ask a cast member if they have any available, and they’ll be happy to give one to you—even if you aren’t a child! 

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Belle Bookmark

If you pay a visit to Belle at the Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction in Fantasyland, you’ll not only get to hear her fairytale story, but you’ll also leave with an autographed bookmark.

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Park Maps

The Disney Park maps make great souvenirs of your trip and are useful if you don’t want to be on your phone the entire time.

Other Freebies

• Wild About Safety Cards: To help kids understand how to remain safe in the parks, you can collect Wild About Safety Cards from guest services around the Walt Disney World resort. 

• Nemo Sticker Book: At the Nemo attraction in Epcot, guests can pick up a free Nemo sticker book. The sticker book contains nine stickers—including some beloved Nemo characters—and includes the species of each underwater creature. 
• Luggage Tags: When checking into your resort, ask at the front desk for a Disney luggage tag. Not everyone is eligible for a luggage tag. However, it never hurts to ask!

• Postcards from Character Meals – although you pay for the meal, every table is given a keepsake postcard to take home.

• Free wishing star, wand and sword if you are dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table

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Refreshments

I do want to mention that you can take your own drinks to Disney to cut down on costs. But there are also some free alternatives in the parks in case you run out or forget. 

• Water and Ice: Although bottles of water in Disney are around $3.50, you can get free cups of water and ice from the park’s drinks kiosks. There are also water bottle refill stations around the parks, where you can fill your water bottles up for free. 
• Coke Soda Fountain: In Club Cool in Epcot, you can even get free samples of Coca-Cola products from around the world. Taste them all and see which one is your favourite! For a conversation starter (or finisher) try the bitter Beverly flavor!

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Charging Stations

If your phone is running out of battery and you forgot to pack a portable charger (I personally love my power bank from INIU), then Disney does have a couple of free charging stations in Magic Kingdom. 

You can find the charging stations in several locations including:

• The courtyard near “It’s a Small World” and Peter Pan’s Flight
• Near Pete’s Silly Sideshow, in the tent (pictured bellow)
• Located in the tree stumps next to the barrels by the seating area near the Tangled themed restrooms.

If you aren’t in Magic Kingdom, however, then you can instead charge your phone in Hollywood Studios at the charging ports in Docking Bay 7 by the drink machines and at Star Wars Launch Bay.

In Epcot, charging ports are available at the Land Pavillion outside of Soarin and in American Adventure. Also in Connections Eatery in EPCOT, the booths have charging ports with USB ports and the large white oval tables which seat 8 have a wireless icon on them.

Alternatively, you can charge your phone on most buses and at guest services—just remember to bring along a charging cable and a US plug. (There are also Fuel Rod dispensers at various places in each park. You pay the the initial $30 and then exchange for free when you need to replace it.)

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First Aid

Accidents happen, headaches occur, and you can get the odd bug bite from time to time. But don’t worry; Disney has free painkillers, band-aids, and sting and bite relief in all of their park medical centres. 

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Hidden Mickeys

There are so many hidden Mickeys around the theme parks and resorts that it would probably be impossible to spot them all.

We love looking out for hidden Mickeys as we stroll around Disney property. And you can really turn it into a fun, free game to see who can spot the most. 

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See the Animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge

One of the best places to see the animals in Animal Kingdom is, of course, on the Kilimanjaro Safari. However, even if you don’t have a park ticket, you can make your way to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and see the animals from one of the resort’s common areas. 

If you’ve never been to Animal Kingdom Lodge, then I highly suggest you do so, as it really is one of the most beautiful resorts, in my opinion.

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Christmas Decorations

It’s no secret that Disney is the most magical at Christmas. And a free activity that everyone can get involved with is seeing the Christmas decorations at all of the Disney Resorts.

Each resort typically has a giant, beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. However, if you can only make your way to one resort, then choose the Grand Floridian, as every year, a giant gingerbread house takes centre stage in the hotel’s lobby. 

And Don’t Miss Out On

• Erupting Geyser at Fort Wilderness Lodge: Every hour, on the hour from 7 am to 10 pm, you can watch the geyser erupt at the Fort Wilderness Lodge. 
• Contemporary Resort Butterfly Garden: Did you know that the Contemporary Resort has its very own butterfly garden? Well, now you do. And the best part is it’s completely free! 
• Stroll Disney’s Boardwalk: Disney’s BoardWalk has shops, restaurants, and activities. However, one of the best—and free—things to do is simply stroll along the promenade, taking in the beautiful lights and the Florida sunset.
• Lei at the Polynesian Resort: Even if you aren’t a hotel guest, once you arrive at the Polynesian Resort, you can receive a free lei! 

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Disney Springs

There are even free things to do over at Disney Springs—an area where even non-park guests can get a taste of the Disney magic. 

• Splash Pad: We all know how hot Florida gets, and what better way to cool off than in Disney Spring’s free splash pad? You can find the splash pad in the Marketplace area of Disney Springs—right next to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
• Earl of Sandwich Birthday Brownie: If you sign up for Earl of Sandwich’s loyalty program, you can receive a free brownie on your birthday!

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Movies Under the Stars

And the final free thing to do at Disney is watch a movie at one of the Disney Resorts. Every evening (weather permitting), guests can take a seat to enjoy a Disney movie in the fresh evening air. Just ask at reception for the movie schedule!

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