Free Stuff at Disneyland

Disneyland Resort is expensive, but there’s still plenty of free things around Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney. In this post we’ll go over all the free stuff you can find at Disneyland Resort.

Entertainment

• Fireworks – If you want to see Disneyland’s fireworks without entering the park just head over Downtown Disney near the front of Splitsville. Another great spot for fireworks is the esplanade in the middle of the entrances to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. These aren’t the best spots to view fireworks, but you can still see them. Don’t feel like walking? A great spot for fireworks is on top level of the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.
• Park admission for preschoolers – The best reason ever to bring your two-year-old on vacation: kids under the age of three are allowed in the theme parks at no charge.

Food

• Water – The water bottles sold throughout the parks cost over $4 each (depending on location). If you want to hydrate for free, simply walk up to any quick service restaurant and ask for a cup of ice water. By default they will give you the smallest cup, but you may ask for a larger size and the cast member may or may not oblige.
• Ice – Much like the free cups of water, you can also get cups of ice from quick service restaurants. Also, ice machines are available on most floors at all the Disney-owned hotels.
• Meals for infants and toddlers – Children under the age of three will not be charged for food at Disney’s buffet restaurants (Goofy’s Kitchen, Storytellers Cafe) when dining with their families.
• Some sort of birthday dessert – Tell your server at any table service restaurant, and there’s a decent chance that they’ll gift you with a complimentary dessert. No guarantees, but worth a shot. Example, in the past Blue Bayou has given people free cups of chocolate mousse. Remember, don’t be a jackass and lie about it being your birthday.
• Free bread – The Bakery Tour in Disney California Adventure gives all guests a free slice of bread as they enter the attraction.

Memorabilia

• Celebration buttons – If you’re celebrating, be it a birthday, anniversary, first visit, family reunion, or anything else really, stop by Guest Relations in Disneyland or DCA, and they’ll give you a free “Happy Birthday” or “I’m Celebrating” button with which to publicly proclaim your celebratory status. There’s also “1st Visit” and “Happily Ever After” buttons available. All of these buttons can usually be found in at Disneyland’s City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A., or Disney California Adventure’s Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.
• Maps – Park maps are one of my favorite souvenirs, and I have collected hundreds of them over the years. Save them for your scrapbook. Frame them for playroom décor. Use them for small-item gift wrap. Turn foreign-language maps into a great teaching tool for your child’s school language lessons.
• A hand-drawn souvenir – Head over to the Animation Academy in Disney California Adventure where a Disney artist will teach you how to draw one of many characters.

Services

• Photography – The PhotoPass photographers in the parks will take pictures with their cameras at no charge, but it will cost you big to actually buy the photos. Bypass this charge by asking the PhotoPass photographers to use your phone or camera to take your picture. They’re happy to do it, and most of them are pretty good at composing a shot; they do it all day long.
• Wi-Fi – Disneyland and DCA has park-wide Wi-Fi so you can post pictures on Instagram, answer emails, send work absence excuses to your boss, or anything else you can think of. The Wi-Fi speeds are decent, but the signal can get weak in some sections of the parks. Disneyland Resort hotels also offer free in-room and public space wireless Internet service.
• Luggage storage for Disneyland Resort hotel guests – Check-out is at 11:00 a.m., but your flight’s not until 7:00 p.m.? No problem. Just drop your bags at the hotel Bell Services desk. They’ll hold your luggage in a secure location until your departure at no charge.
• Over the counter medication – Each of the theme parks has a first aid station staffed with nurses ready to assist with minor theme park ailments such as blisters, sunburn, and motion sickness. They’ll also provide you, free of charge, with a dose of one of many over-the-counter medicines. The first aid station in Disneyland is located to the right of Plaza Inn on Main Street, U.S.A. In DCA, first aid is located at Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.
• Cold medication storage – If you have a medicine that requires refrigeration, Disneyland and DCA’s first aid stations will store them for you.

Plan your perfect Disneyland trip! Check out our Disneyland Crowd Calendar, so you can see how busy Disneyland and DCA will be during your visit. Also check out our Disneyland Touring Plans which show you how to beat the crowds and spend less time in line at your favorite rides. Our Touring Plans can also be personalized! All of our tools are used by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and are constantly being updated by our in-park team of researchers and data scientists.