Ready to plan your cheap trip to Walt Disney World? Things to do without park tickets are available. If you can’t justify the cost of a park ticket or don’t want to splurge on a multi-day ticket, here are some things you can do that are still magical and exciting for the family.
1. Character Meals – You do not need a park ticket to dine with Mickey and the Fab Five at Chef Mickey’s, Alice and the Mad Hatter at Supercalifragilistic Breakfast At 1900 Park Fare, Lilo and Stitch at ‘Ohanas, Minnie and Goofy at Cape May Cafe or Cinderella and her family at 1900 Park Fare Happily Ever After Dinner. While character meals are costly, they are not as expensive as a day in the parks.
2. Special Experiences for Kids – If you want to book a special experience for your kids, you do not need a park ticket for these experiences that any kid is sure to love! The Disney’s Wonderland Tea Party is wonderful for kids ages 4-12. The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage Cruise is fun for all ages and involves a viewing of Happily Ever After! The Walt Disney World’s Pirate Adventure Cruise is also fun for kids ages 4-12. Little girls are sure to love a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique’s Downtown Disney location (FREE parking!).
3. Ft. Wilderness – Ft. Wilderness Campground offers a FREE Chip And Dale Campfire Sing-Along every evening. If you arrive a few hours early, you can park in their parking lot (just let the guard know you are there for the campfire) and take their internal Disney bus service to the campground area. You could also grab a meal from Trails End Restaurant – To Go or dine in Trails End Restaurant In Ft. Wilderness. If you want to forgo the campfire sing-along, you could book a meal with Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue or Mickey’s Backyard BBQ Dinner Show.
4. Monorail Resort Area – If you want to experience some of the magic around the Magic Kingdom, you can tour the monorail resorts. Park at Downtown Disney and take the bus to Contemporary Resort You can browse the resort, eat at Chef Mickey’s or Contempo Cafe, and take the monorail around to thePolynesian Village Resort. The Polynesian Village Resort has Dole Whips, Ohanas and you can even watch Watch Hapiily Ever After From The Beach At Polynesian Resort. Take the monorail to the Grand Floridian Resort And Spa which will take your breath away with it’s beauty. You can dine at Supercalifragilistic Breakfast or the 1900 Park Fare Happily Ever After Dinner. All of the Monorail Resorts have the Electrical Water Pageant stop by at night.
Instead of taking the Monorail around to the Magic Kingdom, you could take a boat for an extra experience! You can also take a boat from the Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge Resort where you could do their free Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt At Wilderness Lodge. Take the Ft. Wilderness bus from the bus stop to experience what all Ft. Wilderness Campground has to offer. Then take the Ft. Wilderness boat back to the Magic Kingdom.
Board the Monorail at the Magic Kingdom for a ride back around to Ticket and Transportation Center. Swap for the Epcot Monorail and take a relaxing ride through the Epcot park and back. Then hop the Resort Monorail back to the Grand Floridian and take the bus back to Downtown Disney!
5. Disney Springs – You don’t have to worry about parking fees at Disney Springs and there are a lot of delicious restaurants and fun shops to visit. If you want a fun dining experience, I suggest a meal at T-Rex Cafe or Rainforest Cafe. You can even Earn Free Rainforest Cafe Gift Cards (also valid at T-Rex) and Save Money At Rainforest Cafe With Coupons, Clubs And More. They also have an AMC movie theater that you could earn tickets to through My Coke Rewards.
6. Stay in a Disney Resort – Book a night at one of the awesome value resort. They all have amazing pools, delicious food courts and fun activities the whole family will love. You can choose from All Star Movies Resort, All Star Music Resort, All Star Sports Resort, Art of Animation Resort or Pop Century Resort.
Don’t miss 5 Ways To Save On Hotels and Ways To Save On Park Tickets.
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.
Thank you soo much !! Your post was exactly what I was looking for regarding ideas for disney.
You forgot the Piano bob show at riverside hotel, wed-sat. 8:30. BEST SHOW AT DISNEY!!
Thanks! :)
Hey Kristin! Thanks for everything you do! Here are a few more “free” things to do while not in a park, you might get some more ideas here… http://www.mousesavers.com/free-and-cheap-stuff-to-do-at-walt-disney-world/
Andrea