Little WDW Extras? Free & Cheap?

[Iluvpooh]

This trip is my DDs 4th and we have decided to slow down a bit and focus on some of the little "free" extras around WDW. So far we are planning on going to the FW Movie/Campfire, visit the MK horses, and get haircuts for Daddy & the girls.

Any other suggestions? It doesn't have to be free, just kind of cheap.

[TinkRocks]

Here are some suggestions -

Try different modes of transportation (without going into the parks). Take a ride on the monorail from the Ticket & Transport Center to Epcot and back. Take a boat from Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom and back (or vice versa).

Play one of the mini-golf courses (Fantasia, Winter Summerland).

Visit some of the resorts - eg. Polynesian, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans, Boardwalk, Pop Century. The resorts offer some beautiful scenery and / or fun stuff to look at. You could create a kind of scavenger hunt around the resorts, or take pics of you and your family at different fountains (or other features) at the resorts.

[litesy]

Here's another transportation suggestion:
there is a really nice boat ride that does a loop stopping at the Swan and Dolphin resorts, the Boardwalk, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It's nice to stroll along the Boardwalk and look at the shops or get an ice-cream and sit looking over the lake. You can also rent 4 person bicycles there. The ESPN restaurant is also a good place to eat.

Another thing to see at Fort Wilderness is an area where you can see some farm animals. It's at the Outpost by the horseback riding. If you are driving you can park very near to it. If you take the boat in from Wilderness Lodge when you get off the boat you'll have to walk past Hoop Dee Do to the area where you catch a bus.

Have a great trip!!

[Jennifer_and_Chris]

At all of the resorts, there is a little waiting area for children. There are activities that you can ask the front desk/bell hop for that the kids can do for free.

At the Poly, the kids made a lai and colored pictures - all supplied by the cast members.

At animal kingdom, they had pages to color but, we didn't see the 'craft' item because we were seated very quickly for our ADR's.

At SSR, the kids colored their own little lizard. It was a small beanie-baby type lizard that was white and they gave them markers to color it. The kids brought these little lizards everywhere. We even started taking pictures of their lizards in the weirdest places all over the World.

The masks at the kid stops in Epcot kept the kids engaged for the afternoon.

The living statues at Epcot - Do they even do this still? We haven't seen it in the last few years.

The resort pool is always a hit!!!

[Patricia]

I'm not sure where you are staying, but I like taking the boat from DTD to PO French Quarter for beignets and coffee. I did this last year and then walked over to Riverside (or you could boat there) and watched the kids fishing at the Fishing hole. (Fishing cane poles are about $4 for half an hour here and at FW) We took the boat back to DTD, but you could move on to another park by using the resort bus.

The 25 minute carriage rides in the evening from PO or FW are around $35 for the family or the 45 minute wagon rides were priced last year at $8 an adult and $5 for children. If reserving ask about the "Fireworks Wagon Ride".

Canoe rentals at Fort Wilderness are about $11.00 an hour and you cruise the canals.

While At Fort Wilderness go look for the lawnmower tree.

Fort Wilderness pony rides are $4.

Fort Wilderness Lodge has the Hidden Mickey Hunt.. ask for it at the desk.

[Patricia]

The living statues at Epcot - Do they even do this still? We haven't seen it in the last few years.

No, the living statues are gone.

The Kidcot stations are great though.

[BluewaterBrad]

How about cooling off at Club Cool and trying the different sodas?

[Iluvpooh]

A friend suggested making cookies at EPCOT?! She said she couldn't remember where it was, but her kids did it a few years ago.

[Disney4us2]

A friend suggested making cookies at EPCOT?! She said she couldn't remember where it was, but her kids did it a few years ago.

It is/was called Jr. Chef and I think it was in the Land. Does anyone know if that is still there.

[kakn7294]

It is/was called Jr. Chef and I think it was in the Land. Does anyone know if that is still there.

Unfortunately, that's gone as well.

[KylesMom]

We enjoy searching for "Hidden Mickey's". We bought the book for DS thinking it would be amusing to him, but DH and I have a blast with it!

Fort Wilderness Lodge has the Hidden Mickey Hunt.. ask for it at the desk.

Just so you don't go to the desk at Fort Wilderness, it's Wilderness Lodge that has the Hidden Mickey resort search page. There is still one or two on that sheet we're looking for!

[BMan62]

Someone previously said about going to other resorts to look around...Pop Century has a neat little 'trail' around the edge of the lake - "Memory Lane" -- start at the 50's end and see how many of the questions on the signs you can answer without looking at the backs of the signs where the answers are. Take a walk on the "Generation Gap" bridge and look at what could have been on the 'Legendary Years' side of the lake. Check out the shadow boxes in the lobby and see how many of the items you can remember from your youth (or depending on your age, from your parents memories!!)

All of the value resorts have 'oversized' icons pertaining to the resort/time frame/theme...Check them all out.

[mudpuppysmom]

A friend suggested making cookies at EPCOT?! She said she couldn't remember where it was, but her kids did it a few years ago.

Yes, unfortunately the Jr. Chef Program......WILDLY popular, so much so that people would WAIT so their kids could do this has made way for .....more seating in The Land (yes, it was needed, but really.......what is a few more tables?!?!?!)

Kidcot as others have mentioned.....several places throughout Epcot -- and sometimes the kids learn little nuggets about the country they are in or the animals (in the Land) --educational and fun!

In the Innoventions building -- I get them confused, but you can stop at the kidcot station in each one and also make your own paper (it IS really cool!) -- plus TONS of other interesting, fun and free things to do and see! Also, if you have a Disney Visa there is a place to have your picture taken with a few characters for free (you get a 5x7).

Monorail riding is a favorite of ours......as is the ferry boat and also the little launch boats from a few of the resorts (Poly I know for sure, WL and possibly the GF).

Watching the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach at the Poly while eating a Dole Whip -- the "show" is free....the Dole Whip is a few bucks though.

The Lego store at DTD has an area outside the store where the kids can build an play away as long as they like -- building different projects....my son could just live there for a day I swear!

Club Cool someone else mentioned as well as the movies at Ft. Wilderness and the resort pool!

That's all I can think of right now.....

[DisneyFanaticDargon]

Window shopping is free, and I think I've had some of the best times with friends just hanging out walking around in DTD. I could spend hours in World of Disney without the need to buy anything. I especially prefer that area at night. It's a little more crowded but it seems more vibrant as well.

[22ridesandtheTOL]

I love watching the Koi in Japan at EPCOT. There's also a little exhibit hall there. I'm not sure what their current artifacts are as it's the one thing I didn't get to see last week.

PS. There's also something to be said for riding the boats around the EPCOT resorts and renting a bike at the Boardwalk.

[Sylvia]

Every theme park has what we would call in the "real world" street performers. Sometimes in our haste to get to the next attraction or theater, we miss them.

MK - The townspeople on Main Street are always entertaining, as well as other performers (the Notorious Banjo Brothers and Bob, for example) throughout the lands.

EPCOT - The Jammitors in Future World; many performers in World Showcase such as Off Kilter in Canada, British Invasion in UK, World Showcase Players, etc.

DS - Streetmosphere on Sunset and around the lake.

AK - All of the animal exhibits. Seeing how many animals you can identify on the Tree of Life.

Resort-hopping. A couple of my favorites:

Visit AKL and check out the theming throughout the building - there are many African artifacts and good signage. You'll think you're in a museum.
Check out the views of the Savannah from the stairways throughout the building. Many of the AK animals will be visible.

The shadow boxes in the main building at POP Century. Each one covers a different decade (1950s through 1990s) and contains some great memorabilia. And the walkway along Memory Lane by the lake, to see how many facts you used to know but have forgotten.

[luvkatiebug]

I don't think anyone mentioned this yet. My girls love the pressed penny machines. It cost 50 cents to press one penny, so its not free, but pretty cheap. It got to be a fun game to find the penny machines in each park. ANother suggestion for this is to get the mini M&M containers (the hard, cylinder shaped ones) and quarters and pennies fit perfect in there. Each kid could have one or two to cylinders to spend, or something like that.

Also, my kids loved the passports at Epcot - once again, not free, but not too expensive. They loved getting the cast members to sign them and putting the stickers on them. Have a great time!

[DCDisney]

AKL used to have daily storytellers, telling stories about Africa, while guests sit around the outside firepit, in rocking chairs. Get a beverage at the bar that is overlooking Jiko, and head on out to the firepit. Can also visit a balcony area where you can watch for animals.