Disney World is the most magical place on Earth, but in this place where magic and memories fill the air, your wallet is filled with anything but cash.
It’s no secret that a trip to Disney World can cost a pretty penny, but I have some secret tips to help you get more magic for less money.
Pixie dust
Nothing can make you feel more connected to Tinkerbell than a little pixie dust.
At the Magic Kingdom, you can get pixie-dusted by a fairy godmother in training for free.
If you walk straight through Cinderella’s castle and into Sir Mickey’s, a fairy godmother in training will wave her magic wand above you and sprinkle a heavy portion of pixie dust on your head.
You’ll shine like the second star and be flying straight towards Neverland in no time.
Celebration buttons
The one thing you can always count on when you visit Disney is that there will always be a celebration.
Mickey Mouse and the Fab 5 love to celebrate and want to do it with you! Stop into guest relations or any store on property and you can pick up a button perfect for your celebration.
Not only do these buttons serve as an excellent souvenir, but they can get you some pretty sweet treats! It’s not guaranteed, but if you go to any sit-down restaurant on property, you will likely get a free Mickey cupcake.
Cast members are dying to create magical moments for guests, and these buttons let them know that you are a guest in need of some special magic making!
Water
Florida is hot. Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, Florida’s heat is sure to have you dehydrated in the parks.
To add insult to injury, buying a bottle of water in any of the Disney parks will probably cost you four dollars or more.
To spare you from spending all your snack money, you can get free water from any quick-service restaurant.
Bring your own reusable water bottle, and anytime you see a Starbucks or quick-service restaurant, you can ask for a free cup of ice water to fill up with.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
In the Magic Kingdom, you can play a free interactive card game called the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.
If you visit the firehouse on Main Street USA, you can pick up your map and free pack of key cards.
There are different portals around Magic Kingdom that you can stand in front of and present your key cards to fight some of Disney’s famous villains.
Each card features a different Disney character with unique powers to help you battle the villains trying to take over the Magic Kingdom.
The cards serve as a fun and interactive scavenger hunt around the parks, and each day you can come back and collect more free cards to add to your collection.
The game is an excellent way to enjoy the Magic Kingdom without having to bear the long lines.
Free movies & s’mores
The first thing people think of when they hear about Disney is the parks, but there is so much undiscovered fun to be had at the resorts, too!
There are more than 25 themed resorts at Walt Disney World, and each one has its very own recreation team putting on events all day long for guests to enjoy.
To soak up the most Disney resort fun, you’ll want to visit one of the Disney Vacation Club level resorts.
These resorts are guaranteed to have a community hall that provides a ton of fun activities both paid and free along with events that guests can attend to have some fun.
On select nights at varying Disney Vacation Club resorts, they will have their “Movie Under the Stars” event.
Each recreation team has a schedule of movies that changes every month that will be played on a huge inflatable screen under the stars.
Guests can pull up a chair, bring some blankets or snacks and enjoy a classic or new Disney movie for free.
At select resorts, they have a campfire built into their schedule where guests can come by and roast a s’more.
You’ll have to pay for a s’mores kit at some resorts, but at select Disney Vacation Club resorts like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can enjoy a free s’more and eat all the marshmallows your heart desires.
Next time you make your plan to visit Walt Disney World, try to resist the urge to go straight to the castle and instead explore the different offerings provided around the parks and resorts.
Sometimes it pays to take the road less traveled, and you might just find a little magic along the way.