Here's a list of fun things you can do at Walt Disney World (and nearby) that don't require park admission. All of them can be accomplished for about $10 per person or less -- and many of them are FREE! These activities are ideal if you're arriving late in the day or leaving mid-day and don't want to use up a whole day on your tickets.

Be sure to check the Walt Disney World Special Events page as well. It lists seasonal experiences you may want to consider. Some do not require park admission, and some are also FREE.

Jump to:

Places to Visit

Disney's Boardwalk

Disney's Boardwalk is built around a lake and is beautifully themed to be reminiscent of Cape May or Coney Island in the 1940s. It's fun just walking around and enjoying the atmosphere! If you are staying on Disney property, you can use Disney transportation to get to the Boardwalk. If you drive to the Boardwalk, you can get a FREE 3-hour parking permit from the lot attendant. While some of the restaurants are open at lunchtime, the best time to visit the Boardwalk is after sunset. It's beautifully lit up.

Some of the FREE and inexpensive things you can do at Disney's Boardwalk:

• Often there are street performers (jugglers, comedians, fire-eaters, jazz ensembles, etc.) -- stroll around and watch them!

• There are lots of vendors selling inexpensive food treats.

• You can try your luck at a carnival-style game (small cost).

• Sit and watch the Friendship Boats come and go.

• For a small cover charge you can visit Jellyroll's (a dueling piano bar featuring sing-a-longs to your favorite pop tunes).

• Check out Atlantic Dance Hall, which has dancing to DJ-spun Top 40, usually with no cover charge.

Downtown Disney

If you like to shop (or window shop), you'll enjoy this attractive shopping and restaurant zone, which also offers some great FREE entertainment. If you are staying on Disney property, you can use Disney transportation to get to Downtown Disney. If you are staying at a Downtown Disney hotel, you can take the bus or walk. Otherwise you'll probably need to drive or take a taxi. Parking is FREE.

Some of the FREE and inexpensive things you can do at Downtown Disney:

• Check out the wonderful interactive fountains where children (and adults who have the guts) may enjoy playing and getting wet.

• The Lego Imagination Center has a FREE 3,000-square-foot outdoor play area filled with thousands of LEGO blocks, plus some absolutely amazing and huge Lego sculptures for you to admire!

• Check out the FREE magic demonstrations at the Magic Masters shop -- learn a card trick!

• Most of the restaurants are quite expensive, but you can get a meal (sandwich, side and drink) at Earl of Sandwich for under $10 per person.

• Visit the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop and enjoy a sundae (about $6.25) or shake (about $3.95).

Disney's Resort Hotels

Every one of the Disney hotels is themed and some of them are literally breathtaking. All of the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, especially, have extraordinary theming and are well worth a visit. You can take Disney transportation from any of the four theme parks to any of the resort hotels. If you drive to one of the resorts, you can get a FREE 3-hour parking permit from the gate attendant.

• The pools are amazing: at Coronado Springs the pool looks like a Mayan ruin; the Stormalong Bay pool at the Yacht/Beach Club includes a huge "shipwreck" that contains a slide; the pool at the Wilderness Lodge starts as a "spring" in the lobby, passes under a bridge, then cascades down a waterfall into the pool and ends in a geyser that goes off once an hour! (Note that use of the pools is for the hotel's guests only, but you can certainly walk around and "ooh and ahh" for a few minutes.)

• The Deluxe resort lobbies also have amazing elements and displays that fit with the theme, and a few (including the Grand Floridian) sometimes have a pianist performing.

• If you're looking for a fun photo opportunity, consider visiting the All Star resorts or Pop Century. These hotels feature enormous "pop culture" icons. Take a family photo in front of a 35-foot Buzz Lightyear!

• Several of the resorts, including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and Yacht Club, offer FREE tours that are open to any Disney resort guest (whether you are staying at that particular hotel or not). Some of the tours require a reservation, so inquire in advance.

• See the Activities section below for many more Disney resort ideas.

Celebration

Just a ten-minute drive from Disney World you can travel back in time to find the town of Celebration, a planned community developed by the Walt Disney Company. This is a pedestrian-friendly, wonderful small town (think Mayberry!) You can have a great time exploring the old-fashioned downtown area called Market Street. Here are some ideas to take advantage of during your tour, that will cost you little or nothing (as well as a couple of splurges to consider)!

• Tour the Celebration Hotel. Sit in one of the oversized wicker chairs, people-watch, and have a drink or coffee at the lobby bar.

• Explore the Lakeside Promenade or the miles of walking paths and nature trails.

• Window-shop on Market Street, which has wonderful specialty stores, boutiques and galleries.

• Market Street often has different events scheduled each month, such as craft festivals, antique car shows, etc. During the winter holidays, Market Street hosts an event called "Now Snowing Nightly" -- it "snows" on Celebration's main street four times a night and the town provides entertainment and a visit to Santa in his lakeside chalet, all for FREE! Click here to see what's going on at Market Street.

• Catch a movie at AMC Celebration, a state-of-the-art cinema complex with stadium seating.

• Tour the model homes.

• Take a peek at the Celebration Fitness Centre & Day Spa or Celebration Golf Club.

• Have an appetizer or dessert at one of the varied restaurants including award-winning Spanish and Cuban cuisine!

• Pick up some picnic items and head over to the Interactive Fountain to let the kids (or you) have a splash!

• Treat yourself to an ice-cream or lemonade from Herman's Ice Cream and then enjoy it relaxing in one of the rocking chairs by the lake.

• Scenic tour Carriage Rides are offered every weekend, September - June, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 - 10 pm. Call (407) 414-1981 for information. Depending on the size of your party, this can work out to less than $10 per person.

• Rent a bicycle from NEVrland and cruise around town for around $10 per half-day. Call (407) 566-0911 for info.

The Disney Wilderness Preserve

About 20 miles south of Orlando, at the headwaters of the Everglades ecosystem, is The Nature Conservancy's Disney Wilderness Preserve. Here you can observe native plants and animals by hiking a 3-mile trail or taking an offroad buggy tour.

The Preserve is open year-round from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, but closed on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer (June through September). Admission is $3/adult, $2/youth (ages 6-17). Buggy tours are offered on Sundays at 1:30 pm from October-May for $12/adult, $6/youth (ages 6-17).

Transportation Fun

Ride the Monorail

Take the "inner" Monorail that circles the three Monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian). This is a great way to orient yourself and get a look at the resorts and an overview of the Magic Kingdom. You can get off and explore each resort, or just enjoy the ride and the view. Cost to ride the Monorail: FREE.

Take a Boat Ride

This is enjoyable any time of day, but particularly beautiful and romantic at night.

• Cruise the loop around Crescent Lake, which visits Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, and Disney's Hollywood Studios without going into the parks.

• Take the boat that visits the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness, or the boat that visits the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom (and you can get off at the Magic Kingdom and wander along the lake outside the gates, or hop on the monorail).

• Cruise from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney and back, along the Sassagoula River.

• Cost for any of the above: FREE.

Take an Evening Carriage Ride

You can take a 25-minute carriage ride at certain resorts for $35. The rides are offered nightly between 6:00 and 9:30 pm. Carriages can accommodate up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children (9 and under). Call (407) WDW-PLAY (939-7529) to reserve. Resorts offering the carriage rides:

• Port Orleans Riverside (departs in front of Boatwright's Dining Hall)

• Fort Wilderness (departs in front of Crockett's Tavern at Pioneer Hall)

• Saratoga Springs Resort

See the Celebration section for information about carriage rides in the town of Celebration.

Take an Evening Wagon Ride

You can take a 45-minute wagon ride around Fort Wilderness Campground certain resorts for $8/adult, $5/child (ages 3-9). The rides are offered nightly at 7:00 and 9:30 pm and depart from in front of Pioneer Hall. No reservations taken -- just show up and pay cash.

Food and Drink

Eat at an inexpensive but well-themed restaurant. At many of the Disney World resort hotels it's possible to have a light meal or snack for about $10 per person (plus tax & tip at the sit-down locations) while soaking up the atmosphere. (Don't forget, most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks.) Here are the dining locations where you get the most theming or entertainment for the lowest cost:

• Animal Kingdom Lodge - Mara

• Boardwalk Inn - Boardwalk Bakery, Seashore Sweets, Spoodles (tapas, flatbreads), Spoodles Pizza Window, Big River Grille & Brewing Works (appetizers, light entrees)

• Contemporary - Food and Fun Center (best arcade games)

• Coronado Springs - Pepper Market, Rix Lounge, Siesta's Pool Bar & Grill (pool bar open to guests of the resort only)

• Dolphin - Dolphin Fountain and Snack Shop (live 50s entertainment)

• Grand Floridian - Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea (order a pot of tea and one or two items a la carte)

• Old Key West - Olivia's Cafe (lunch only)

• Polynesian - Kona Cafe (lunch only), Captain Cook's Snack & Ice Cream Company

• Port Orleans French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (try the beignets and/or the gumbo!)

• Port Orleans Riverside - Riverside Mill

• Wilderness Lodge - Whispering Canyon Cafe (light lunch only)

• Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup, Beaches and Cream, Hurricane Hanna's Grill (at Stormalong Bay pool - open to guests of the resort only)

Have a drink at one of the wonderful themed bars and lounges in the Moderate and Deluxe resort hotels. Remember, you don't have to drink alcoholic beverages to enjoy the atmosphere -- order a coffee, mineral water, soda or virgin drink if you want!

• Most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks or light meals, some of which are excellent quality for the money. For instance, the snacks at the Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge come out of the Artist Point kitchen, while Crews Cup at Yacht Club serves an inexpensive but substantial menu including burgers. The River Roost at Port Orleans Riverside has appetizers and steak sandwiches, not to mention an excellent sing-along pianist performing several nights a week.

• Animal Kingdom Lodge - Victoria Falls

• Boardwalk Inn - Belle Vue Room

• Contemporary - California Grill Lounge (great place to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks)

• Coronado Springs - Francisco's

• Dolphin - Lobby Lounge (live pianist in the evenings)

• Ft. Wilderness - Crockett's Tavern

• Grand Floridian - Mizner's Lounge, Summerhouse

• Old Key West - The Gurgling Suitcase

• Polynesian - Tambu Lounge

• Port Orleans French Quarter - Scat Cat's Club

• Port Orleans Riverside - River Roost (live sing-along pianist some evenings)

• Swan - Kimono's Sushi Bar (karaoke in the evenings)

• Wilderness Lodge - Territory Lounge

• Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup Lounge, Martha's Vineyard

Other Activities

Go swimming! Almost all Orlando-area hotels will have some kind of pool. All of the Moderate and Deluxe Disney resort hotels include wonderful themed elements, water slides or other features. Some non-Disney hotels, such as Radisson Resort Orlando - Celebration, Swan/Dolphin and Caribe Royale, also have elaborate waterfall pools and slides. Cost: FREE to guests of the hotel.

Play miniature golf. There are two courses: Fantasia Gardens, near Disney's Hollywood Studios; and Winter Summerland, near Blizzard Beach Water Park. Cost: $12.52 adults, $10.39 children (tax included), but there are discounts available.

Go fishing. This is strictly "catch and release." There are two places to rent cane poles (worms also provided): Port Orleans Riverside (near Ol' Man Island) or Ft. Wilderness (at the Bike Barn). Cost: about $4 per half-hour per pole, or $9 for a full day per pole. There is a family special of around $14 per half-hour for 4-6 poles.

Rent a boat! Most of Disney's Moderate, Deluxe and DVC resorts have a marina where you can rent various types of watercraft. A kayak, canoe or pedal boat will set you back less than $7 for a half-hour rental. A 12-foot sailboat that can be shared by two people will cost you about $20 an hour.

Visit Tri-Circle D Ranch (home of the draft horses used to pull the trolleys down Main Street at the Magic Kingdom) at Ft. Wilderness. There are a few farm animals to see and pony rides for very small children from 10 am to 5 pm for $4. There is FREE day parking at Ft. Wilderness and you can get from the day guest parking to the farm area by special buses that run only in the "Settlement."

Sing around the campfire and watch a FREE Disney movie. The campfire program at Ft. Wilderness is open to all Walt Disney World resort guests. It is held every evening, at about 7:00 pm in fall and winter and about 8:00 pm in spring and summer, near the Meadow Trading Post. The program starts with a sing-a-long and marshmallow roast. You can bring your own food or buy it from the Chuckwagon, which sells S'more kits for about $9 (makes enough for about 4 people) and also offers other food such as pizza and hot dogs. Chip and Dale meet the guests and sign autographs. Then a Disney movie is shown on a large outdoor screen. There is some seating on bleachers and benches, or you can lay out a blanket. No reservations necessary -- just show up. Cost: FREE to all Disney resort guests.

• A similar outdoor campfire and movie program is offered at Beach Club Resort and at the Grand Floridian Resort. There is a campfire sing-along on the beach, followed by a Disney movie. (No characters attend this one.) Ask at the front desk for a schedule. S'more kits that make enough for about 4 people are sold for about $9. No reservations necessary -- just show up. Cost: FREE to all Disney resort guests.

• Port Orleans-Riverside offers a seasonal "Campfire on de' Bayou" with stories and sing-alongs around a fire at the Ol' Man Island Fishin' Hole. (No characters attend this one.) It usually runs in the winter, from Halloween through sometime in March, and only a couple of nights a week (most recently, Sunday and Thursday), weather permitting. Ask at the front desk for a schedule. S'more kits that make enough for about 4 people are sold for about $9. No reservations necessary -- just show up. Cost: FREE to all Disney resort guests.

Take a stroll. There are lovely walkways or nature trails around almost all of the resorts.

• At night you can wander along the Polynesian's beach, sit in a cabana and watch the Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom. Walk through the tiki-torchlit gardens between the Great Ceremonial House and the beach. It's all very romantic. (Please keep in mind that the beach and particularly the cabanas are primarily intended for guests of the Polynesian, though there is nothing to prevent the general public from using them.)

• Watch the Wishes Fireworks from the Grand Floridian boat dock. Narcoossees restaurant is nearby and receives the audio soundtrack from the Magic Kingdom, so you can enjoy the fireworks synchronized to the music. There's a little bit of delay due to the distance, but it still works. Seeing the fireworks reflect off of the lake is beautiful.

• From the Boardwalk, meander up to the back gate of Epcot, or over to Disney's Hollywood Studios around closing time and enjoy the music and perhaps a glimpse of IllumiNations or Fantasmic!. The bridge that goes over to the Swan and Dolphin sometimes has nice views at that time.

• During the day, explore the woods from the Wilderness Lodge to Ft. Wilderness.

• Stroll from the Grand Floridian to the Wedding Pavilion and poke your head in. (Unless there's a wedding in progress, of course!)

• At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can walk out to the viewing areas and see the exotic African animals roaming free. Note that the animals come out around dusk -- you won't see any during the day. (Please keep in mind that hotel guests' rooms open right out onto the viewing areas, so quiet is very much appreciated.)

• Visit the Butterfly Garden located behind Acadian House in Port Orleans Riverside's Magnolia Bend section.

• Cost for all of the above ideas: FREE.

Rent a bike and explore the trails around one of the resorts. Every Disney resort hotel has some kind of trail, but the trails around Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness are especially nice. Cost: about $8 an hour.

Rent an old-fashioned fringe-topped surrey at Disney's BoardWalk. Bicycle around the pier and visit Disney's Yacht and Beach Club resorts and the Swan and Dolphin. Also available for rent at Old Key West. Surreys can accomodate two to four people. Cost: about $21-$23.

Watch the Electrical Water Pageant. This floating parade is visible nightly, usually starting at 9:00, from Disney's Magic Kingdom-area resort hotel docks and beaches. The pageant takes about an hour to move slowly around the lake, stopping at each resort in order: Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Ft. Wilderness and Contemporary. Cost: FREE.

Make the rounds of the Disney resorts and collect something! You can make your own scavenger hunt for little or nothing:

• Make a list of every Hidden Mickey you can find

• Get a pressed penny (.50 - $1.50) or a pin (about $6) for each resort.

• Have a drink in the lounges and save the swizzle sticks (some of them have fun themed designs).

• Go on a bargain hunt. Most of the resort hotel shops have at least one shelf or table of marked-down items. You might find a great deal.

Investigate special kids' programs at your Disney resort hotel. The Deluxe resorts usually have kids' recreation programs such as coloring, crafts, pool games, Hidden Mickey searches, and storytelling at various times. Cost: FREE to guests of the hotel.

MouseSavers.com® is not an official site of The Walt Disney Company or of Universal Studios. Content of MouseSavers.com is © MouseSavers, Inc. 2001-2009. Website content may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of MouseSavers, Inc. Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions of Use