As you probably already know, going to Disney can be expensive. Between travel arrangements, tickets and hotels, it can sometimes seem that there’s no end to the items required just to get there. However, did you know there are actually some things you can get for free? Yep, that’s right! Disney and free can go together, but you just have to know where to look. And, that’s why I’m here today to help out with 5 things you can get at Disney…for free!

1. Personal hand drawn character keepsake: Located at the soon to close Magic of Disney Animation in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World (closing July 12th), the bottom level in DisneyQuest in Downtown Disney Orlando and Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland, is an experience called Animation Academy. Here guests will get to learn from a Disney artist how to draw various Disney characters and get to keep their drawing as a personal keepsake for years to come!
2. Special Occasion Buttons: Wandering around the park you will be sure to see guests sporting buttons announcing birthdays, family reunions, anniversaries and nuptials. Often times these buttons allow cast members to hone in and be able to share in your celebrations wishing you a congratulations, to sometimes a free dessert for the birthday guest. I’ve even gotten a free piece of decadent chocolate cake from Germany once for merely sporting an anniversary button and looking particularly ravenous at all the treats before me. You aren’t guaranteed to get anything free for wearing the button, but the buttons themselves are! You can find them at Guest Services in the front of the parks.
3. Free 5×7 photo with Disney Characters for guests with Disney Chase Visa cards: Okay, so this item requires you to have taken your love of Disney so far that it travels with you in your wallet even when you aren’t on vacation. If that’s you, it means you are entitled to a free 5×7 photo during your visit to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. And if you are so inclined, you’re even allowed to get one every day of your visit… you just have to make it to the booth location. At WDW this one on one photo experience is located in Innovations West in Epocot and at DL it is in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure.
4. Disney family decals: So this one is super cute and worth doing even if you aren’t going to a Disney park. All you have to do is go to Build Your Disney side and from there you’ll get to create your family in decal form. You’ll get to choose what your Disney persona wears and even if they’ll be enjoying a nice Mickey shaped treat to tempt you! If you do it before your trip, put it on your car to look at as you travel or on your luggage if so inclined. I’ve been itching to place mine on a mirror in our Disney section at our house. Whatever you use them for, they’re totally worth the time!
5. Disney Planning DVD: Okay, so this tends to be a take it or leave it type offering. For many people, if they are going online order this DVD, they’re probably also going online to already plan their trip. But! If you want to get pumped for the big trip or maybe just want an overview of what there is to expect, this is a great and actually fun to collect. It’s amazing seeing how much information on the DVD’s (and VHS’s if you’re my age) have evolved over the years.