15 Free or Cheap things to do with kids at Walt Disney World
 |
| Disney Sea - There are free Disney cruises |
This week I thought I would
discuss the free or cheap things to do with kids at Walt Disney World. These
are extra activities, which you may or may not be aware of – that add to your holiday experience.
1. Kidcot Funstops and EPCOT Passports
Kids can get
special Passports ($10 USD) at Kidcot Funstop at any of the 11 World Pavilions
in EPCOT. The Passport comes with stickers and pictures of each country and
makes a nice souvenir. The idea of the Passport is to get a stamp and a personal message from
a Cast Member at each Kidcot Funstop. The cast members inside the
World Pavilions are from their respective countries on the Disney cultural
exchange program – usually hired for a 12 month stint. I would really recommend buying the Passport
as it gives the kids something to look forward to at each pavilion, its
educational (the Cast members at these Kidcot stations are only too happy to
chat to you about where they are from). If you don't want to purchase the
Passport the Cast Members are happy to stamp anything – people do bring
notebooks/scrapbooks from home to get stamped.
In April 2018, the Kidcot
stations were handing out complimentary cardboard Duffy the Disney Bear
cut-outs. The Cast members would stamp these too and write messages from their
respective countries. This was discontinued in July 2018.
 |
| Duffy the Disney bear free cutouts available at KidCot stations |
There
was a new free Kidcot activity introduced in
July 2018 – kids can now collect travelers cards from around World Showcase and
these come in a neat zip locked bag. The cards have fun facts about each
country and on the other side of the card – a picture that the kids can colour
in. These cards have replaced the Duffy cut-outs. I do think though that little
kids (like 3-5 year olds) would probably much prefer the Duffy cut-outs as they
are bigger to colour in and they can easily carry them around. The card packs
do look smarter – but I think they are aimed at an older child audience which
defeats the purpose of Kidcot – which was to entertain the little ones at each
Word Showcase. This is just my humble opinion though.
Cost: $10 USD for the EPCOT Passports, free World Showcase cards. Free also if you just bring in your own scrapbooks from home for the cast members to sign.
Cost: $10 USD for the EPCOT Passports, free World Showcase cards. Free also if you just bring in your own scrapbooks from home for the cast members to sign.
2. Wilderness
Explorers Handbook – Animal Kingdom
These books are free from Animal
Kingdom. There are numerous Wilderness Explorer stops around the park where you
can get a sticker for each page of the book. However – it is not just a matter
of getting a sticker. The Cast members will ask your child for an answer to a
question, solve a puzzle or get you to do a quick activity (they make you work
for the sticker). Its actually very educational for kids and the book is jammed
packed full of information about animals, plants and conservation. My daughter
wanted to do everything in this book – but we just didn’t have time. Highly
recommended though if you have kids. We are keeping the book – for next time.
Cost: Free
 |
| These are free books you can get at Disney''s Animal Kingdom |
3. EPCOT - Flower Garden Book
This booklet comes out in Spring, and is another free book where once you complete a page, you add the stickers. The stickers are already supplied in the book. Aimed more at adults, this is something kids can also assist with. The activities to complete mostly revolve around sampling the various foods around EPCOT.
4. Disney Springs – The Lego Store
This booklet comes out in Spring, and is another free book where once you complete a page, you add the stickers. The stickers are already supplied in the book. Aimed more at adults, this is something kids can also assist with. The activities to complete mostly revolve around sampling the various foods around EPCOT.
 |
| A free book you can get at EPCOT, in Spring! |
4. Disney Springs – The Lego Store
Located within the shopping
district of Disney Springs – is the Lego Store. This is a gigantic store with
lots of wonderful Lego – the Disney Castle, Saturn V rockets and the Millennium
Falcon are all on display – and can be purchased. They also have competitions
for building your own Lego car – that you race with other kids along a lego
racetrack. The race is organised by staff from the Lego Store.
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
5. Disney
Springs – Boat cruise
There is a free boat ride from
one end of Disney Springs to the other. We went on this ride twice – once on a
scenic sunset cruise. There are two main ‘routes’ that the boats take. One
heads around 3 stops in Disney Springs. The other route goes to the resorts.
Each cruise takes about 20 minutes return.
Cost: Free
6. Disney
Springs shops and Restaurants
 |
| Free boat cruises!! I recommend a sunset cruise. |
 |
| Recommend a sunset cruise around Disney Springs - all free! |
There is a wonderful Dinosaur
restaurant and shop called T-Rex in Disney Springs. Very well themed, it is
almost like a mini museum inside with gigantic Amethyst rocks and reproductions
of giant dinosaurs. To the right of the store is a dig pit for kids to explore.
This is free.
 |
| The T-Rex Restaurant - a great place to eat and look around |
Similarly, the Rainforest Café
has a gigantic volcano that roars overhead and lots of animatronic animals to
view for free – but a warning you might get persuaded by your kids to
buy something in the shop! It is a very lively area of Disney Springs.
Also, there is a Star Wars themed shop in Disney Springs called Star Wars Galactic Outpost. They have moving robots of BB8 and R2D2 to play with for free.
UNIQLO has a free selfie photo booth where you can get your photo taken. It is in the middle of the store, ground floor. We did a family photo twice – at the start of our holiday, and 19 days later. You get a hard copy to take home and an electronic copy which gets emailed to you.
There are also free outdoor activities for kids (near Earl of Sandwich). Activities include hoola hoop contests and water spouts.
Walking around the Worlds biggest
Disney Store ‘World of Disney’ – lots of fun looking at all the Disney gear.
Cost: Free – but a warning you
will buy something!!
7. Ride
the Monorail
The Monorail from EPCOT to Magic
Kingdom is a unique experience for many (such as our family). The round trip
ride is free and takes about 20 minutes round trip. There isn’t much scenery to
view as you whizz past, but it’s a novelty trip. You do fly over Future World
in EPCOT however.
Alternatively, you can catch the Monorail from the Magic Kingdom around the Disney World resorts Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian.
Cost: Free
8. Enchanted Tales with Belle - Don't miss this if you have kids as every child gets to play a part in the show. The 20 minute presentation never has a below 40 minute wait so do recommend a Fast Pass booking. Free bookmarks are given out at the end and there is a PhotoPass photo opportunity here with Belle and Lumiere the animated candlestick.
Cost: Free bookmark
8. Enchanted Tales with Belle - Don't miss this if you have kids as every child gets to play a part in the show. The 20 minute presentation never has a below 40 minute wait so do recommend a Fast Pass booking. Free bookmarks are given out at the end and there is a PhotoPass photo opportunity here with Belle and Lumiere the animated candlestick.
Cost: Free bookmark
 |
| The free bookmarks you get when you visit Belle |
9. A
day Disney Resort hopping
You can visit other Disney resorts,
which are well connected via the Disney Busses, Monorail or the Disney boats. All
transport is free and the entertainment at these resorts is below.
There is a nightly Electric Water
Pageant that goes past all the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake resorts from
around 9-10pm. The Lakeside resorts also have a view of the Magic Kingdom
Fireworks.
Also, the Wilderness Lodge at Fort Wilderness has woods to explore and a geyser spouts every hour at the back of the property. There seems to be a lot of kid friendly activities at this lodge.
The Grand Floridean has an orchestra
playing most afternoons.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge you can
see animals out the back of the resort including Giraffe and Kudu.
All the resorts are well themed
and you could spend a day just touring the resorts.
Cost: Free
10. Orlando
Vineland Premium Outlets – Cheaper Souvenirs at the Disney Shop
The
‘Disney’s Character Warehouse’ store is here and we found an unbelievable
amount of bargains to be had in this store. Large Disney plush toys were less
than $10 USD, Light sabers with sound were $10 USD, Disney Pins less than $4
USD. The staff were constantly restocking the shelves so we visited at the end
of our visit on the same day and found even more items on sale. There was a lot
of merchandise from Shanghai Disneyland (Shanghai’s opening day) and from
Disney Cruise lines. My advice would be to come here first before purchasing
merchandise in the parks!
The sporting stores here were also excellent value. My husband saved significant money buying sporting clothes and goods from here. Genuine discounts on expensive brands throughout the Outlets.
Cost: Cheaper then buying merchandise at the parks!
11. Club Cool’ inside EPCOT offers free
Coca-Cola soft drink samples from around the world. Beware the Beverley
flavoured one – its extremely bitter! A fun place to try the different flavours,
but also a great refreshment stop in the Florida heat.
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
 |
| Club Kool - sample some free drinks! (this is part of your admission into EPCOT) |
12. Pixie
Dust in Fantasy Land - The Castle Couture shop in Fantasyland has a
Fairy Godmother who will sprinkle pixie dust (glitter) on you for free with her
magic wand. It kind of felt special as the Fairy Godmother waved her wand at
you! Definitely recommend for everyone young and old.
Cost: Free
13. Disney
Resorts have free organised activities for kids
Each hotel displays the
activities – but they include things like Disney Movies in the pool, tshirt tie dying, Disney face masks and more.
Cost: Generally free or small cost (tshirt tie dying had an added cost)
 |
| List of Activities at All Star Music resort |
14. Pressed Pennies! Save up your 1 cent pennies and 50 cents. Scattered around the Disney Parks and Resorts (and Universal Theme parks, Kennedy Space Centre etc), there are 51 cent machines to press your pennies into, that come out in all sorts of Disney designs. The shinier the penny the better. Some people often ask shopkeepers for the shiniest pennies to place in the machines. Great way to spend your loose coins. You can display them in a Penny display book.
Cost: 51 cents! (but of course this will add up if you buy more then one!)
 |
| The Penny machine. Make sure you use shiny pennies! |
15. CitiWalk at Universal Studios Ok, this isn’t a free ‘Disney’ Activity, but hey CitiWalk is full of people, restaurants and shops. There are free bands and other entertainment on offer here in front of the riverbank. There is also a very cool Harry Potter shop here (huge) where you can purchase Harry Potter items without entering the Universal Parks and it is free to visit CitiWalk.
Cost: Free
 |
| CitiWalk is quite a lively area and very scenic |
I hope you enjoyed reading my review of free and cheap things to do at Walt Disney World.
 |
ON AMAZON NOW: The Disney Book: A Celebration of the World of Disney Hard cover book |
 |
You can read about other Disney Parks below:
How to save money staying at Walt Disney World
Disney's Hollywood Studios - what to see and do before Star Wars Land opens
My top 6 theme park rides in Orlando and why
The rides and attractions at EPCOT
EPCOT World Pavilions Part 1
World of Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Tips and Advice from WDW Castmember Part 1
What’s
inside the Disneyland Castles Part 2Disney's Hollywood Studios - what to see and do before Star Wars Land opens
My top 6 theme park rides in Orlando and why
The rides and attractions at EPCOT
EPCOT World Pavilions Part 1
World of Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Tips and Advice from WDW Castmember Part 1
How to plan a Disney Wedding
Planning Tips for Someone without a Car
Interview with an Annual Passholder -WDW
This site may contain affiliate links. When you click on
a link, we receive a small percentage of an affiliate sale without
any cost to you. Thank you for your support!
This Website is neither endorsed nor affiliated with any
Disney Park or Universal Studios park worldwide. This website is unofficial. To
avoid disappointment please always check the official websites for current
details of rides etc. Please read my full
Disclaimer
here.
Comments