Taking a Disney vacation in Lake Buena Vista is undoubtedly a costly undertaking. Therefore, it’s excellent news that The Walt Disney Company offers free things to Guests when visiting Walt Disney World. While some free stuff is available in a Disney Resort hotel, there are also free things in the Disney Parks.
Suppose you will soon be a Guest of Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, or Disney’s Art of Animation Resort; you are only a short Disney Skyliner ride away from EPCOT. Meanwhile, Guests of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts are a short walk or FriendShip Boat ride away from the Disney Park. Guests of a Magic Kingdom Resort hotel, such as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, can use the Disney Monorail to travel to EPCOT. Guests of other Disney hotels, such as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, are just a short bus ride away.
Next time you plan to visit EPCOT, enjoy the following complimentary items in the Disney Park. You won’t need a Disney Genie Lightning Lane reservation to enjoy them!
Spaceship Earth Postcard
Not only is Spaceship Earth the icon in EPCOT, but it is also a ride. The Disney attraction allows you to travel in time and explore the history behind the technology we use to communicate today. The continuous, slow-moving Disney attraction is an excellent spot to rest your legs. Exiting the ride, you enter Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future.
Experiencing both experiences in EPCOT theme park allows you to take advantage of the first freebie. Shortly after you board Spaceship Earth, you ascend through a tunnel glistening with lights. Before your host, Dame Judi Dench begins the tour; you are guided to look at the screen to your right, where your photo is taken. Later in the ride, you see why your photo was taken, as it is used as you create ‘Your Future’ as you descend back down to World Celebration.
Upon entering Project Tomorrow, several screens give you the option to download your video postcard. The photo taken as you rode Spaceship Earth is emailed to you once you have inputted your email address. When you return home, it’s a free and fun souvenir to add to your memory box.
Kidcot
Guests who are young and young at heart can join in the Kidcot fun around EPCOT World Showcase. There is a Kidcot Fun Stop in every World Showcase Pavilion. You can begin visiting at any point in the Walt Disney World theme park. We suggest starting in the first Pavilion you visit. Generally, that will be in Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, or France, depending on where you enter the Disney Park. At each Kidcot Fun Stop, you will be given a postcard to color and a sticker. There are also Ziploc bags available in which to keep your free souvenirs. The Ziploc bags are decorated in the style of a vintage suitcase, which is suitably themed for your travel around the World Showcase Lagoon.
Concerts
Throughout the year, the America Gardens Theatre at The American Adventure Pavilion hosts free concerts for Guests. The concerts available tie in with the EPCOT Festival that is taking place during your Disney vacation.
If you plan on visiting during the Holiday season, the Candlelight Processional takes place in the America Gardens Theatre between late November and throughout December. A live orchestra performs Christmas carols as a huge choir sings, and a celebrity narrator tells the Christmas Story as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts takes place in January and February. As part of the Festival, the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series takes place in the America Gardens Theatre. Meanwhile, from March through to early July, you can enjoy the Garden Rocks Concert Series as part of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Finally, from July to early November, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series brings rock and roll to the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure
The Play Disney Parks app is a complimentary service to every Guest visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. There are challenges, trivia, and games to play in each Disney Park. In particular, you can play Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure for free in EPCOT.
Help Scrooge McDuck find some of the world’s most precious ancient artifacts. There are seven Magic Treasures to find around World Showcase. They can be found in Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France, and United Kingdom Pavilions. Have fun as you help Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby solve the clues and defeat villains along the way.
EPCOT Festival Passports
If your Disney vacation coincides with an EPCOT Festival, pick up a Festival Passport when visiting the Disney Park. The Festival Passports tell you all there is to know and experience around EPCOT. We recommend carrying a pen or pencil with you. Doing so will allow you to check off food and drinks that you sample from the Outdoor Kitchens. You will also find information inside about merchandise locations selling Festival merchandise. The Festival Passports are an excellent souvenir to take home with you too.
Beverages
Club Cool is a popular place for Guests to stop in EPCOT. Inside, you can taste Coca-Cola products from around the world for free. If you’ve heard of the infamous Beverly, the ‘Coke’ tail bar is the place to try it! Tasting cups are provided for you to try the different carbonated drinks. Club Cool is located in World Celebration, next to the Creations Shop, just before you enter World Discovery.
Additionally, complimentary drinks refills are available in two quick-service restaurants in EPCOT. When dining at Regal Eagle Steakhouse in the American Adventure Pavilion and Sunshine Seasons at The Land Pavilion in World Nature, Guests are provided with cups when they order soft beverages from the counter. Unlike other quick-service restaurants in EPCOT, Guests can get their own beverages from the drinks stations. As such, you can refill your beverage up to three times. If you are traveling with your family, you may wish to share beverages and save some of your budget!
Iced Water
Iced water is complimentary to all Guests of the Walt Disney World Resort. You just need to know to ask for it. You can get cups of iced water in any quick-service restaurant in EPCOT. If you are placing an order, simply order your food and proceed to the collection point. At the collection point, ask for the cups of iced water you and your family need. However, if you aren’t placing a quick-service order, just proceed to the collection counter, and ask a Cast Member who is free for cups of iced water. Staying hydrated in the Disney theme park is easy without purchasing bottled water.
If you are a Walt Disney World Resort hotel Guest with a refillable mug, you can fill your mug with iced water. Doing so avoids you having to carry round disposable cups. While you can’t refill your refillable mug for free in the Disney Parks, it’s still useful throughout the day.
Celebration Buttons
Like in the other Disney Parks, celebration buttons are complimentary to Guests. If you plan on picking up a celebration button in EPCOT, you can visit Guest Relations. The most direct route is to the left of Spaceship Earth as you enter the Disney Park.
Find out what free things are available in Magic Kingdom Park here.
