Imagine this scenario. You may have gone through this same scenario yourself (although not necessary as extreme)...
You are going on a trip to Orlando, Florida with your family of four. Your main destination here is Walt Disney World. Your lifelong dream of being able to hug Mickey Mouse, show off your Pooh tattoo to the "real" Winnie the Pooh, and to get punched by Tigger will finally come true. You are extremely happy about your trip. You plan on spending two weeks on Disney property without leaving. For weeks before you leave, you dream happy thoughts about your trip every morning as you eat your breakfast consisting of mouse-shaped waffles and drink your Disney brand coffee.
Then one day you get the travel information that you ordered from Disney's website. Your dreams are suddenly squashed like Jiminy Cricket under Pinocchio's wooden foot. Your happy thoughts fly out the window as you realize that Mickey Mouse really doesn't care about you, all the rat really cares about is your money.
A one day ticket into one of Walt Disney World's four major parks is $75.62 each (last time I checked). That means that if you and your family go into one of the major theme parks for one day, it would cost you $302.48. So if you spend your entire two week Walt Disney World vacation at the theme parks without planning and buying a new ticket every day, it will cost you $4234.72 in admission tickets alone. There are several discounts available to lower this high price such as multi-day tickets, park hopper passes, Florida resident tickets, and even annual passes if you're going to enter the parks enough, but despite any savings, your vacation will still be expensive regardless. Be sure to research the different ticket deals before you go on your vacation to get the best deal. Then add in the cost of getting to Orlando, transportation, a place to stay, food, parking fees, and everything else, you realize that Mickey Mouse doesn't just care about your money. He loves your money. You know you can't afford it, but due to your unhealthy Disney obsession, you plan on making your pilgrimage to the happiest place on earth regardless...
Perhaps you are not as obsessed as the person described above but are still planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Disney will charge you the same amount of money, regardless of your sanity and level of obsession, and a visit can get very expensive. And that is why this Instructable may be helpful to you. In this Instructable, I will show you a few of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World that are completely free. This way, your Disney vacation won't hurt your wallet quite as much and you can put your money towards better things. Like the gas required to get to Disney...
You are going on a trip to Orlando, Florida with your family of four. Your main destination here is Walt Disney World. Your lifelong dream of being able to hug Mickey Mouse, show off your Pooh tattoo to the "real" Winnie the Pooh, and to get punched by Tigger will finally come true. You are extremely happy about your trip. You plan on spending two weeks on Disney property without leaving. For weeks before you leave, you dream happy thoughts about your trip every morning as you eat your breakfast consisting of mouse-shaped waffles and drink your Disney brand coffee.
Then one day you get the travel information that you ordered from Disney's website. Your dreams are suddenly squashed like Jiminy Cricket under Pinocchio's wooden foot. Your happy thoughts fly out the window as you realize that Mickey Mouse really doesn't care about you, all the rat really cares about is your money.
A one day ticket into one of Walt Disney World's four major parks is $75.62 each (last time I checked). That means that if you and your family go into one of the major theme parks for one day, it would cost you $302.48. So if you spend your entire two week Walt Disney World vacation at the theme parks without planning and buying a new ticket every day, it will cost you $4234.72 in admission tickets alone. There are several discounts available to lower this high price such as multi-day tickets, park hopper passes, Florida resident tickets, and even annual passes if you're going to enter the parks enough, but despite any savings, your vacation will still be expensive regardless. Be sure to research the different ticket deals before you go on your vacation to get the best deal. Then add in the cost of getting to Orlando, transportation, a place to stay, food, parking fees, and everything else, you realize that Mickey Mouse doesn't just care about your money. He loves your money. You know you can't afford it, but due to your unhealthy Disney obsession, you plan on making your pilgrimage to the happiest place on earth regardless...
Perhaps you are not as obsessed as the person described above but are still planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Disney will charge you the same amount of money, regardless of your sanity and level of obsession, and a visit can get very expensive. And that is why this Instructable may be helpful to you. In this Instructable, I will show you a few of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World that are completely free. This way, your Disney vacation won't hurt your wallet quite as much and you can put your money towards better things. Like the gas required to get to Disney...
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Signing UpStep 1: Visit Disney's Entertainment Complexes
Walt Disney World has two entertainment complexes that have free admission. While the admission may be free, most of the stuff inside of these areas does cost, but it won't be as bad as a ticket into one of the theme parks. Spending no money here is a possibility too. Just walk around and take in the sights, and you won't spend a cent.
Downtown Disney
Walt Disney World's biggest and most popular entertainment complex is called Downtown Disney. It consists of three sections called The Marketplace, Hyperion Wharf (formerly Pleasure Island), and the West Side. The Marketplace is filled with mostly stores. The majority of this area is nothing more than a massive Disney Store, only with better decorations. These stores are filled with lots of eye candy to look at to keep you entertained, such as stuff like animatronic pirates. The major restaurant in the Marketplace is a Rainforest Cafe. It's overpriced tourist food, but since you are about saving money, just go inside and wander around the gift shop and seating area. It's filled with giant aquariums and all sorts of animatronic animals. Once you have had your fun, walk out and move on. Also be sure to visit the Ghiradelli store. They always give free chocolate samples!
Hyperion Wharf is in transition currently and really doesn't have much going. In fact, up until recently, this area was known as Pleasure Island. At one time, Pleasure Island was filled with all sorts of club but apparently they didn't fit into the Disney image. They all closed up and now this whole area is awaiting something new. For some free entertainment, go take a picture in front of Fulton's Crab House, decorated to look like a giant river boat. Wander into Planet Hollywood and climb the stairs and look at all of the movie props.
The West Side is filled with most of the expensive stuff in Downtown Disney. They have a Cirque du Soleil show that is awesome, but is also very expensive. Disney Quest is a virtual reality theme park. It's a whole lot of fun, but since it's in Disney, it is also costs to get in. There are more overpriced restaurants here, and some higher end shops. These are fun to look around in...
Walking through all of Downtown Disney is a nice walk, and if you don't eat here or buy anything, it's a free way to spend a few hours of your Disney vacation.
The Boardwalk
Disney's Boardwalk technically doubles as one of Disney's many hotels (more on hotels later) as well as an entertainment complex. There are lots of restaurants here as well as two nightclubs, but they all cost money. During the day there really isn't too much to do here if you don't want to spend money on renting bicycles or eating. It's a nice mile walk around the lake that the Boardwalk is built around. In the evening, the free entertainment picks up a bit. Every night there are several different street performers that rotate through their acts. These acts are normally somewhere between 10-15 minutes long and can be anything from juggling to magic to a guy playing a piano on a bicycle. Some nights the acts are good. Other nights they are a waste of time. But don't complain, because they are free!
The Boardwalk is located right next door to EPCOT. At 9:00 each night, EPCOT explodes with their fireworks show. Since you are right next door, you can see some of the show over the trees if you find a good spot. It will be far from the full show, but again, it's free! More on how to see fireworks for free later.
Downtown Disney
Walt Disney World's biggest and most popular entertainment complex is called Downtown Disney. It consists of three sections called The Marketplace, Hyperion Wharf (formerly Pleasure Island), and the West Side. The Marketplace is filled with mostly stores. The majority of this area is nothing more than a massive Disney Store, only with better decorations. These stores are filled with lots of eye candy to look at to keep you entertained, such as stuff like animatronic pirates. The major restaurant in the Marketplace is a Rainforest Cafe. It's overpriced tourist food, but since you are about saving money, just go inside and wander around the gift shop and seating area. It's filled with giant aquariums and all sorts of animatronic animals. Once you have had your fun, walk out and move on. Also be sure to visit the Ghiradelli store. They always give free chocolate samples!
Hyperion Wharf is in transition currently and really doesn't have much going. In fact, up until recently, this area was known as Pleasure Island. At one time, Pleasure Island was filled with all sorts of club but apparently they didn't fit into the Disney image. They all closed up and now this whole area is awaiting something new. For some free entertainment, go take a picture in front of Fulton's Crab House, decorated to look like a giant river boat. Wander into Planet Hollywood and climb the stairs and look at all of the movie props.
The West Side is filled with most of the expensive stuff in Downtown Disney. They have a Cirque du Soleil show that is awesome, but is also very expensive. Disney Quest is a virtual reality theme park. It's a whole lot of fun, but since it's in Disney, it is also costs to get in. There are more overpriced restaurants here, and some higher end shops. These are fun to look around in...
Walking through all of Downtown Disney is a nice walk, and if you don't eat here or buy anything, it's a free way to spend a few hours of your Disney vacation.
The Boardwalk
Disney's Boardwalk technically doubles as one of Disney's many hotels (more on hotels later) as well as an entertainment complex. There are lots of restaurants here as well as two nightclubs, but they all cost money. During the day there really isn't too much to do here if you don't want to spend money on renting bicycles or eating. It's a nice mile walk around the lake that the Boardwalk is built around. In the evening, the free entertainment picks up a bit. Every night there are several different street performers that rotate through their acts. These acts are normally somewhere between 10-15 minutes long and can be anything from juggling to magic to a guy playing a piano on a bicycle. Some nights the acts are good. Other nights they are a waste of time. But don't complain, because they are free!
The Boardwalk is located right next door to EPCOT. At 9:00 each night, EPCOT explodes with their fireworks show. Since you are right next door, you can see some of the show over the trees if you find a good spot. It will be far from the full show, but again, it's free! More on how to see fireworks for free later.
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So I have a couple ways to save on a short vacation to Disney!
If you are like me and been to Disney quite a few times, you know what to see and what is most important on your list. I have a timeshare and go every April for one to two weeks. Take advantage of the FREE passes that Disney has been giving away. Last year i went to Magic Kingdon for free on my birthday. This year it is Give A Day, Get A Day. I live in MA and i gave an HOUR at a build a bear last week bought a $20 dollar bear and donated it and received TWO one day tickets to one Theme Park. I did just about NOTHING and received my voucher on the Disney Site.
Another way to save some money is from early Sept thru beginning of OCT they have MICKEYS NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN at the Magic Kingdom on select nights. Now the ticket is just about half the price, it says the event is from 7pm to 12am, but they start letting you in at like 2pm, I HAVE DONE THIS FOUR TIMES so i know they let you in. You get to take your kids trick or treating throughout the Magic Kingdom, and all of the Characters are dressed in Halloween Costumes and they have a special parade each night. Now i took my kids for Halloween 09 and when i decided to go on this mini-vacation Halloween night was sold out. Downtown Disney had trick or treating FOR FREE on Halloween NIGHT, it was very crowded, but my kids (9 and 2) had a blast, the characters were not there but on top of 26 trick or treat stations, a lot of the stores gave away candy and other things in your trick or treat bags. So then the following night NOV 1st we went to the trick or treat at Magic Kingdom and because Halloween was over it was also about $10 cheaper per ticket to get in, but like i said we went to the park at about 3pm and had no problem entering. We stayed at the All-Star Movies resort for 4 nights for $300. If i had booked this vacation when i was going to back before mid-Sept i would have recieved ALL DINNING FREE too, but i decided to drive there two weeks b4 Halloween. PS if you have a lil one over 3 they dont check, tell them that your kid is two, i didnt pay for my son til his was 6, he was petite but still. They make so much money they are worried about one kid... LOL
There are deals, Disney DOESNT broadcast them freely, but look under Special Offers and if it say stay 5-nights or more, check anyways even it its if for 2 or 3 nights. Also, u only have to buy a 1-day pass for Disney to be able to get the dinning plan even though when you look at it they automatically put in a pass for everyday you are staying there.
I have been going to Disney every year since 1992 and i was a teenager and now i bring my kids 1 or more times a year and know alot. Feel free to ask questions, i may not know everything, but i do know alot. I am a single mom and i am always looking for a deal.
go around the parks (not inside) on the boat rides
go around in your car and try to see all the fireworks ex. mk to epcot
during christmas time at the boradwalk go inside the hotel and there is a gingerbread house with 11 hidden mickeys you have to find
Go to fort wilderness and look for deer
go thorgh evey street (except the ones for cast members only) and try to find hidden mickeys
At fort wilderness around christmas go and look how people decorated their camp ground ( been there thousands of times...one plays movies for you :))
go to all the disney hotels and trade pins they have special ones for each hotel theme
add to this list please thank you!
Here are a few ideas I haven't noticed on your original site:
-walking the gardens in the garden tour.
-Fort Wilderness Campfire
-Electic water paegant
-hidden mickey hunt, appearantly you can ask for a list of them to find, and some places give you a free gift if you find them!
-Fort Wilderness petting farm
-Beach?? (not quite sure what one it means?)
My family and I fell for one of the so-called timeshare "scams". We got a brochure in the mail in May of 2000, giving away 4 free tickets to disney, and 4 days-3 nights in an Orlando hotel. Well, we bit, and called it up to reserve a sales pitch session in August 2000. At the end of June, we got a phone call from the place asking us for a small fee of $25, we could stay 3 extra nights in the hotel. I thought if we do get what we're promised for $25, it would be a good deal, so I sent them the money. I hate getting scammed.
August rolled around, we packed the kids up, and headed to Disney. We got to the sales office (I was suprised it was actually there), they gave us a voucher for the hotel (6 nights), and scheduled us for a sales pitch the next day.
After a nice night at the Days Inn West Gate ( I love that pool) we went to the condos. We had already swore to each other we would not be buying anything. After we dropped the kids off at the complimentary daycare, the pitch began. Not a hard sell at all. We went on a tour of a lovely timeshare, and if I were rich, I would have bought it. Anyway, it turns out that Florida law at the time would only allow them to keep us there for 90 minutes. That's it. After they tried, we pled "no", they gave us our kids back, 4 tickets to Disney, and that was that.
6 nights lounging at a pool, taking in the sights, and a day at Disney with the kids, all for $25 bucks and 90 minutes of our time. Not bad...not bad at all.
Great Job!
http://watch-me-eat.blogspot.com/2008/06/ghirardelli-chocolate.html