How to Enjoy Disney World Without Park Tickets
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Here's a fact you may not know. You don't have to shell out for Walt Disney World theme park tickets to enjoy a Disney World resort vacation. And no, this does not involve sneaking through any secret Mickey trap doors.
Disney World is actually full of fun things to do outside of the four main theme parks. Instead of waiting hours in line, spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in tickets and mapping out your FastPass+ strategy at exactly 30 - 60 days out, you can just show up take free drum lessons at Animal Kingdom Lodge, catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant at the Polynesian Resort or get a hug from Chip and Dale at Fort Wilderness. Here are just a few of my favorite things to do outside of the Disney World theme parks.
Free Crafts, Lessons and Activities
Fancy some cookie decorating? How about a drum lesson? Or getting your face painted? Maybe animation classes? All of these and so much more are free every single day at Disney World Resorts. No tickets are required to participate. Just check the monthly recreation guides for each resort and you will never be without something fun (and often free) to do in the Disney complex.
In addition to the scheduled activities, it's fun to just visit each hotel resort -- each with its own theme. Disney excels at immersing you in a location and a feeling. From the scent of the Grand Floridian Resort (which I am sure is Crabtree & Evelyn’s Spring Rain) to the creek running through the Wilderness Lodge, you can spend an entire vacation appreciating Disney resort details.
The resorts get even more magical around the holidays (and not just Christmas, though that is a great time of year to be there). For instance, the Grand Floridian Resort presents an astounding display of crafted Easter eggs every spring.
When it comes to parking, you might want to make an advance dining reservation for a resort restaurant if you want to park there. Check out our favorite Disney World restaurants to get some dining inspiration. You can also park at Disney Springs and take the buses, monorail or ferries, if you are making a day of it.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Theme Parks
Enjoy a Character Experience
You don't need a Disney World ticket to enjoy a character meal. You don't even have to go on Disney property if you don't want to. The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista has two of the Fab Five (Goofy, Donald, Pluto, Minnie and Mickey) joining guests for breakfast three days a week. Breakfast at the Wyndham is half the price of other character meals. If you are taking Disney transportation, take the bus to Disney Springs. The Wyndham is just across the footbridge next to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
A new character meal that Mommy Points highly recommends, is the Dinner With Snow White and Evil Queen at Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge. She especially likes this one for the tween set who think they're too cool to enjoy a character encounter.
You don't even have to spring for a meal to meet characters. Every night (weather permitting), Chip and Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long is 100% free at the Fort Wilderness Campground. Best of all, you don't have to be a Disney property guest to enjoy it, though it can be a little hard to find the sing-along site at the campground. The campground is accessible by car, ferry from Magic Kingdom or Disney World buses from Disney Springs. It starts after sunset -- 7pm in winter, later in the summer.
I have never seen the sing-along too crowded, even during peak season. Chip and Dale hang around and dance with the kids (and adults too) while a cowboy sings “Camptown Races” and similar tunes. This is the only character meal I know of where you can bring your own food. There is also a small stand where you can buy hot dogs, popcorn, sodas and, of course, s’mores kits.
You are welcome to stay after the sing-along for a Disney movie shown on a big outdoor screen. Just bring a blanket and bug spray. The offerings tend to go much deeper into the Disney archive than just Frozen and Lion King at Fort Wilderness. For example, I have seen Flubber and Freaky Friday on the bill. Here is a movie schedule by date.
Mini-Golf, Imagineered
Many attractions in the parks are interactive. Being immersed in Disney is a bonus. At Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland mini-golf becomes so much more than just hitting the ball around because it is imagineered.
Winter Summerland is next to Blizzard Beach, the winter-themed water park. The concept of the two courses at Winter Summerland is that this is what happens when Santa goes on vacation. One course features summer fun and the other, winter activities. They are challenging, with drops, jumps and even a splash or two if you're not careful.
Fantasia Gardens, across from the Swan and Dolphin hotels, takes Sorcerer Mickey to a new level. Older kids enjoy the Fantasia Fairways, which is a more challenging course modeled after traditional golf with sand traps and other hazards. Or you can go for footgolf, which is golf using, you guessed it, a soccer ball.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Spending
It is common for only one mini-golf attraction to be open while the other undergoes refurbishment. If both are open, we prefer Winter Summerland, especially for younger kids. Winter Summerland features classic Disney characters (and of course, Santa) while the Fantasia hippos and their friends might not be as familiar to the little kids. Eighteen holes will set you back about $12 per person.
Taking a Disney Without the Parks Vacation
I've taken the kids to Disney World more than once without buying park tickets. It probably wouldn't fly for a first trip (unless the kids are toddlers or under), but a visit without the theme parks can give kids their Disney fix while you use the money you save from not buying tickets for other types of fun.
My kids, then 11 and 7, thought I was nuts when I first proposed visiting Disney World without the parks. But they were game to give it a try. I splurged on stays at the Port Orleans Riverside and Animal Kingdom Lodge using fixed-value points instead of cash. Using those credit card points for the stay and skipping park tickets entirely made the trip very affordable. Using miles from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card could do the trick.
We swam, played pool games, rented a surrey bike at Port Orleans, matched the feces to the species (yes, you read that right) at Animal Kingdom Lodge, played Disney mini-golf and enjoyed breakfast at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort, followed by Dole Whip for breakfast dessert. Because ... it's vacation.
At the end of the trip, I asked the kids to rate it from a one to a 10. The 7-year-old immediately said "10." The 11-year-old, true to his understated form, at first said eight. Then I reminded him about the average 90-minute lines for rides in the park (I even showed him proof in the Disney World app). He changed his score to a nine. I'll take it.
Bottom Line
Disney World is the size of San Francisco and only a fraction of that is taken up by the four theme parks. You can enjoy an entire laid-back vacation at Disney World and never set foot in a park. By enjoying what the resorts and other sites have to offer, your kids may not even miss waiting in line for Slinky Dog Dash.
For more Disney World inspiration...
- Guide to Walt Disney World
- Miles Away Episode 18: Disney World 101 With Mommy Points
- 10 Ways to Save Money at Disney World
- What to Do When It Rains at Disney World
- How to Potentially Get More Than Half-Off at Walt Disney World Hotels
- More Than the Lion King: A Review of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Is the Disney Visa Worth It
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.