Top 10 FREE Activities at Disney World
Our team of Theme Park
employees and Orlando-based travel agents created the Top 10 Free
Activities at Disney World. These are the ten best, fun activities at
Disney World that do not cost a penny.
1. Downtown Disney
- You can walk around this huge shopping, dining and
entertainment complex at Disney World. There is free entertainment at
the Downtown Disney Marketplace that includes getting your picture taken
with statutes of Buzz Lightyear and a pirate from the crew of the Flying
Duchess, watching the boats, sprites, and ferries travel across the bay,
pin trading at the pin pavilion, and the kids can play at the LegoLand
playground and Legos area.
To stay cool, the kids can bring their swimsuits and play
in the water jet area. Additionally, Westside (the western side of
Downtown Disney) has several excellent restaurants, including Bongos
Cuban Café, House of Blues, and Wolfgang Puck’s. Virgin Records also has
a two-story store on the Westside that carries books, music, and videos.
All of which can be sampled for FREE while visiting this store.
2. Animal Programs at Disney's Animal
Kingdom Lodge - You can visit the animals in the
savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Depending on your viewing
location, of which there are several, you will see giraffe, pelicans,
flamingos, monkeys, and gazelles roaming the 33-acre wildlife preserve
that surrounds the resort.
There are several educational programs throughout the day
including special viewings in the evening with night vision goggles and
special feeding times throughout the day. At the end of the day, stories
will be told around the fire pit just outside the main lobby.
3. Hidden Mickey Hunt
- Take a Hidden Mickey Hunt around any of the Disney
resorts. Many of the resort front desks will have a Hidden Mickey guide
for that resort, such as the Hidden Mickey Safari at Disney’s Animal
Kingdom Lodge. These hidden versions of the classic Mickey ears logo
(°o°) can be found throughout Disney property. This is a fun activity
for kids and adults!
4. Stables & Petting Zoo
- Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort has a fun area near
Pioneer Hall that has stables with horses from Magic Kingdom and a
petting zoo area. Plus for a nominal fee, kids can take a pony ride.
While you’re here, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has
some of the most scenic and lengthy walking paths of any resort on
Disney property, so get out there and enjoy some fitness in the
beautiful Florida weather!
5. Water Taxi/Ferry Ride
- Enjoy a leisure boat ride from Downtown Disney to
Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort. You can walk around the
beautiful trails and rivers around Disney's Port Orleans Riverside and
then ride the water taxi back to Downtown Disney.
Additionally, you can take a ride on one of the ferries
that takes resort guests to the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood
Studios. These include the ferry from the Wilderness Lodge that goes to
Magic Kingdom, then Fort Wilderness, and finally back to Wilderness
Lodge. This ferry gives riders great views of both Bay Lake and the
Seven Seas Lagoon, including seeing long forgotten Disney attractions
like River Country and Treasure Island.
Also,
this ride will take you over one of the engineering feats on Disney
property, the water “bridge.” This canal passes over a road as cars pass
“under” the water. Disney’s Boardwalk, Yacht &
Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin have a ferry that travels from
these resorts to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and back providing amazing
views of the Florida landscape and the Tower of Terror ride. All the
resorts will provide you with a short-term parking permit (2-3 hours,
depending on the season) to explore the resort.
6.
Electrical Water Pageant - Spend
an evening in a hammock on the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Resort while
you watch the Electrical Water Pageant. This fun water parade runs in
front of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort,
Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, and
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, nightly.
7. Wishes Fireworks
- You can watch the Wishes Fireworks at Magic Kingdom
from the Deck at Disney's Contemporary Resort. This is an amazing view
of the fireworks above Cinderella's Castle.
8. Ride the Monorail
- You can take a ride on the monorail loop to see some of
the Walt Disney World Resort. This is always a fun ride for the whole
family.
The main loop goes from the Magic Kingdom front entrance
to the Ticketing and Transportation Center to EPCOT and back. There is
also an “inner” loop that will take you from the front entrance of Magic
Kingdom to Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Polynesian Resort,
Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and then returning to the front entrance
of Magic Kingdom.
You can even ask a Disney Cast Member if you can ride at
the front with the driver. If you are lucky enough to ride up front, the
driver will present you with a Monorail Driver’s License!
9.
Campfire Singalong - Enjoy a fun
evening at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Chip and Dale will greet you
for this fun campfire sing-along. You can roast marshmallows and then
sing some fun songs around the campfire. After the sing-along, enjoy a
classic Disney movie on the big screen for FREE!
10. Disney’s Boardwalk
- Enjoy evening activities on Disney's Boardwalk
including games and live entertainment. You can even see some of the
IllumiNations Show at Epcot along the Disney’s Boardwalk.
Enjoy planning your
Disney World vacation!