20+ Free Things at Disney World You Shouldn't Miss Out on Any Longer

You've probably seen little princesses and princes leaving the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique dressed like royalty and absolutely doused in that fine, fine glitter known as pixie dust. Well, if the $100 base package price isn't quite your once-upon-a-dream, there are two places where anyone (regardless of age) can get dusted for free: Sir Mickey's and Bonjour! Village Gifts, both located in Fantasyland.

Yep, all traditional meet and greets are free once you're inside the park! But heads up: The printed photos are not...unless you're a Disney Visa cardholder. Cardholders are eligible for a free Disney character "meet and greet" at EPCOT's Innoventions, complete with a complementary 5 x 7 souvenir photo.

Here's a little hack for you! Just like you never have to pay for character meetings, you also don't have to pay for the pro photos. You can simply ask the photographer or one of the nearby cast members to take a few photos on your phone or personal camera, guaranteeing that you get the shot without having to pay for prints.

All of Disney World's parks offer free WiFi, so you always have reception to post your magical memories!

Disney calls EPCOT's Club Cool its "Coke"-tail bar, as it only features Coca-Cola products. And here's the fun twist: Those Coke products are from around the world! Even better? They're all free to sample.

WDW's entertainment complex, Disney Springs, is free for anyone to visit, whether you're vacationing at the parks or just a local looking for a good night out. There are restaurants, shops (some of which have items exclusive to Springs), shows (like Cirque du Soleil), and more, all centered around the Lake Buena Vista for an aesthetically pleasing scene. And while you're visiting...

If you visit the Springs, make sure to stop by the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop. Each guest is handed a free square of their delicious chocolate on the way in! (BTW, that's per visit, so if you happen to leave and come back...)

Okay, this one's not a 100% guarantee, but if you dine with Disney and a cast member knows you're celebrating something (like a birthday), they'll often bring you a dessert—on the house. (They don't call it the Happiest Place on Earth for nothin'!)

...because Florida can get capital H-O-T hot! While there's plenty of bottled water to buy at every turn, most restaurants and quick-service kiosks will give you a free cup of ice water if you ask.

As we mentioned, you do need to pay the price of admission to experience some things—including Disney World's truly glorious festivals—but the festivals themselves do not increase the price of your ticket, so we consider them a perk. Just look at the detail on Encanto's Miracle for EPCOT's annual International Festival of the Arts! EPCOT also hosts the Food & Wine Festival (a favorite for bachelorette parties) and the beloved Festival of the Holidays, while greater WDW celebrates both Autumn at Walt Disney World and Holidays at Walt Disney World—both with truly magical décor and themed activities.

Does anyone do parades like Disney? We'll answer that for you: nope! The music, costumes, and floats, all of which glide onto the scene carrying Disney's beloved cast of characters, are top-notch. The only cost once you're in the park? A little time away from the rides. (But you might just be ready for a break from those!) And yes, during the holidays, the parades are themed.

Not to sound like your favorite Disney soundtrack on loop (Moana, anyone?), but again, when it comes to fireworks, no one is doing it like Disney! The Magic Kingdom's latest show, "Happily Ever After," features not only fireworks, but also lights, lasers, and special effects. That includes projections that not only dress the castle, but all of Main Street, U.S.A., making any spot you snag a visual feast...at no extra cost.

Of course, while the Magic Kingdom's fireworks display may be the most iconic of WDW's evening shows, it's certainly not the only one. EPCOT boasts "Luminous: The Symphony of Us" over its lagoon, while Hollywood Studios has two night shows: "Fantasmic!" (Mickey fights for the fate of the world!) and "Wonderful World of Animation," which projects clips from a slew of Disney films over it's recreation of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Polynesian Resort guests get a lei at check-in, but here's a secret: Anyone who visits the lobby can get one. All you have to do is ask! Disney's leis are made without fake flowers, making them durable for repeat wearings through the park—and a trip home in your suitcase.

All of those EPCOT-based festivals we mentioned? So many of them feature free concerts, featuring big stars: Simple Plan, Smash Mouth, Boyz II Men, Hanson, to name a few. All of the concerts are first come, first served, so get there early to score a prime spot.

Want to see Beauty and the Beast without paying Broadway prices? Head to Hollywood Studios. Its theater on "Sunset Boulevard" puts on Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, a 30-minute take on the Broadway production, complete with all your favorite songs, five times a day.

If you love Up, this one's for you! While visiting Animal Kingdom, make like young Russell and become a Wilderness Explorer—one on a scavenger-style hunt to find all the animals in the park. For every animal you find, you get a "badge" (i.e. a very cute sticker) in your booklet. If you complete the challenge, you'll have a booklet with a whopping 30 stickers to take home.

Did you know that just 20 miles south of Orlando, Disney has a Wilderness Preserve? Well, now you do! The Preserve boasts over 12,000 acres, all of which is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals. Take the Preserve's 2.5-mile hike, and you'll get to see a lot of that wildlife up close—at zero cost to you. (However, they do welcome donations to keep doing the important work they do!)