7 Free Things to Do at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World can put a strain on any family's vacation budget. So if you're looking for some ways to save money on your next trip to Walt Disney World, here are seven free things you can do at Walt Disney World

Watch the "floating" version of the Main Street Electrical Parade

The Electrical Water Pageant is a nightly floating parade around the Seven Seas Lagoon passing by the beaches of the Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Ft. Wilderness and Contemporary Resort. The pageant usually starts at 9pm and features dancing lights on the water set to music.

Each of the pageant's 14 floats consist of 25 foot high screens at are decorated with lights depicting sea dragons, King Triton, and other creatures of the sea. The pageant's ends with a salute to America featuring the Stars and Stripes.

Spend the evening on the Boardwalk.

Disney's Boardwalk Hotel features a recreation of an old fashioned boardwalk. While there are restaurants, shops, and even a dueling piano bar on the boardwalk, there's plenty to see and do on the boardwalk for free. You can watch the jugglers, mimes, musicians, and even fire eaters as they entertain at various points on the boardwalk. End you night at Atlantic Dance, and large dance hall with live music or a DJ spinning Top 40 music that usually has no cover charge.

Spend and afternoon at Walt Disney World's ranch

Tri-Circle D Ranch is located in Fort Wilderness and is the home to Walt Disney World's horses. The horses used to pull the trolleys on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom retire each day to the Tri-Circle D Ranch. Visitors to the ranch can see the horses and some other farm animals in the petting zoo area. There are also pony rides for the young at a cost of just a few dollars.

Take a leisurely cruise around Crescent Lake

Hop aboard a "friendship" and cruise around Crescent Lake, which makes stops at Epcot, The Boardwalk, The Yacht & Beach Club, The Swan & Dolphin, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can get off at each stop, or stay on the boat

Become a Monorail "Co-Pilot"

The Walt Disney World monorail system connects The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and several of the resorts hotels together. While it takes very special training to become a pilot for on of the monorail trains, anyone can become a co-pilot... just ask.

When you enter the monorail station, ask to sit in the cockpit of the monorail with the pilot. If there's room, you'll be allowed to sit up-front with the monorail pilot and see what goes into driving the train. You'll even get your own "co-pilot" certificate as you leave.

Join Chip and Dale for an old fashioned campfire sing-along

Each night, there's a sing-along, marshmallow roast, and a free Disney animated movie shown on a large outdoor screen at Disney's Fort Wilderness. Bring our own food and blanket and enjoy a night under the stats watching some of your favorite Disney classic films.

Watch the fireworks at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom while lounging on a white sand beach

Every night above Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display that can be seen from any of the hotels' beach that sit along with the Magic Kingdom on Bay Lake. In my opinion, the best hotel from which to watch the
show is the Polynesian Resort hotel. Grab dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants and then cozy up with your loved one in one of the hammocks on the white sand beach and enjoy the show.