When imagining a trip to Walt Disney World, you picture princesses, popcorn, parades, crowds, and a high price. However, you can enjoy a week there without feeling overwhelmed or breaking your budget. Fear not, because Disney offers affordable and free activities that also include chances to learn. Here are a few of the entertaining, educational, and budget-friendly activities that my family and I have enjoyed on our last few trips.
Note: The costs listed assume you already have theme park admission!
WILDERNESS EXPLORER HANDBOOKS AND STATIONS
COST- $0
When my children were four, we picked up Wilderness Explorer Handbooks (pictured above) in the Animal Kingdom. We have visited since then. Each time, we bring the books back and earn a few more badges through our activities.
For those not familiar with Wilderness Explorers, it comes from the Disney Pixar movie Up. Russell, one of the main characters, is a Wilderness Explorer working to earn his badges. Along the way, he befriends Carl, another main character, and encounters awesome adventures and heartwarming friendships.
The idea of Wilderness Explorers is like a Scouts program. You can stop at different stations around the Animal Kingdom and earn badges as you learn pretty neat facts and skills. Some of these include information about animal behaviors and their habitats, ecosystems, and conservation.
EARNING BADGES
A couple of favorite badges my kids earned on our most recent trip were the Tracking Badge and Gorilla Badge (shown below). These stations are located on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail which is right near the exit of the Kilmanjaro Safari.
To earn the Tracking Badge, the cast member who was their “Troop Leader” taught us about ways of identifying where animals have been by their tracks. My kids asked some questions, guessed and brought our pet cat into the conversation. They were then able to conclude that it was a lion’s pawprint they were seeing. It was fascinating to learn about the similarities and differences between wild and domestic cats. While earning the Gorilla Badge, they learned that different kinds of gorillas have different nose prints. They had fun guessing which gorilla had which nose print.
Wilderness Explorer Handbooks have various facts and pictures in them and places to fill in information and learn more. During resort downtime or even after your vacation, you can continue to enjoy them. You can also bring them back when you visit again like we did. The handbooks change slightly as the park changes, and Animal Kingdom has had many changes recently. So there is always more to explore, pun intended!
KIDCOT FUN STOP STATIONS
COST- $19.99 for each passport pack
Another enjoyable activity is the Kidcot Fun Stops in each country pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.
They include passports that accompany them.
Despite the name, these activities are not just for kids.
They are a great opportunity to meet people from different places.
They also let you learn about new customs, languages, and food.
Children (and adults) can make their way around the showcase of eleven countries. When you arrive at the station, cast members will give you a postcard. One side includes the country’s capital and a fun fact about and word or phrase written in that country’s language(s). On the other side there is a picture to color of a scene from the country. Some Disney fun is thrown into each postcard as well!
PASSPORTS
If you choose to buy a passport, cast members will sign the passport, stamp the date, write some greetings in their country’s language(s) and draw some cute pictures. In my opinion, they are well worth it and come with an Honorary Ambassador Figment pin as well as a sticker/stamp page for each country. Stickers include pictures of the pavilion in EPCOT, pictures from the country, and Disney characters from each respective country.
Having the opportunity to speak with cast members from their respective country in the World Showcase is truly a unique experience learning. My children had their names written in Japanese and Chinese. They learned that Arabic is the official language of Morocco. They also learned about Dia de los Muertos in the Mexico pavilion and were enamored by the beautiful art.
You can continue to look at and enjoy the passports when you return from your trip. My family has really enjoyed going through them and learning more about each country. One of my children even brought it to school to share in class.
PIN TRADING
COST- $46.99 for pin trading starter set including 4 pins and a lanyard (shown above)
*Depending on how many additional pins you buy, the cost will vary.
*Trading is free.
Pin trading is a longtime favorite in the Disney parks and loved by people of all ages. Despite frequenting the parks numerous times, this past summer was MY first time participating (or watching my kids participate and lending a hand when they needed help). This activity allowed them to practice social interaction and independent decision-making skills. They needed to decide how much they wanted to spend when buying a pin, and decide which pins they wanted to trade.
You can buy a pin trading starter set in many places, including the main souvenir gift shops in each park (located near the entrance of the park- Magic Kingdom – The Emporium; EPCOT – Creations; Hollywood Studios – Mickey’s of Hollywood and The Darkroom; Animal Kingdom – Discovery Trading Company and Island Mercantile). They are also sold in the souvenir shops at all of the resorts, and in Disney Springs (check out World of Disney and Disney Pin Traders). Each starter set includes a lanyard and 4 pins. Other options are buying a lanyard and pins separately, although this will usually cost slightly more.
The starter sets were about $46.99 and the individual lanyards were roughly between $14.99-$19.99. Most pins cost $14.99, $17.99, and $19.99, but can cost as much as $89.99 for limited edition and special collector pins. There are also sets of two pins for $22.99 which is a great deal. In addition to lanyards, I saw people using pin trading books or backpacks. You can choose what works for your budget.
PIN TRADING LOCATIONS
To start trading, just look for a cast member with a Mickey-shaped pin board or lanyard. You can find them in many places. They are usually located in almost every souvenir shop, resort front desks, and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) kiosks. You can trade up to two pins with each cast member per day. My children even found fellow pin traders willing to make a trade with them at one of the stations.
TYPES OF PINS
There is an incredibly wide array of pins to trade from. They have everything from Disney characters to attractions to snacks to cast members’ costumes in a Mickey shape. There are older vintage pins which are neat and make for some great conversation. One of my children traded a pin of an old Tomorrowland cast member costume which was very interesting to learn about.
The pins also come in different styles with special design features – dangling, light-up, spinning, and sliders, to name a few. One of our favorites was a light-up Mickey Halloween wreath. There is another bonus to this activity. You can build your collections and continue trading on future visits. You can proudly display them in your home.
JOURNEY OF WATER INSPIRED BY MOANA
COST- $0
Journey of Water is a self-guided walk-through attraction in EPCOT inspired by Moana. You walk through and learn at interactive stations about the water cycle, the importance of water to the environment, and water conservation. There are opportunities to play music with water, make water move with your movements, and plenty of opportunities to get wet on a hot day (or stay dry just as easily).
Toward the end there is a beautiful topiary of Te Fiti from Moana. There are plenty of opportunities for photos, many with Spaceship Earth (the EPCOT ball) in the background. If you have a little one who loves the water, you’ll want to have a change of clothes with you. If you get the opportunity, you can see the attraction lit up, which is a real treat.
CHARACTER AUTOGRAPHS
COST- varies, with official Disney autograph books running between $9-$37, although you can get creative and use other books, or other items such as hats, bags, and t-shirts!
Each time you meet a character and get their autograph, it can be fun to write the place and date where you were. This can help create great memories especially as you return over the years. There are different places to meet characters and cost will vary.
You can do a character dining experience, find a character meet-and-greet in the parks, and or sometimes get lucky and find characters walking around the parks. A dining experience will cost more, but includes a meal and each character will come to your table. Character meet-and-greets in the parks are free, but generally have lines. If you get to the parks right as they open, you have a better chance of seeing characters walking around. If you happen to be a Disney Visa cardmember, there is a special photo opportunity at EPCOT in World Celebration right near the exit of the Journey Into Imagination with Figment. The lines are shorter and it is inside, which is a huge plus.
How can meeting characters and getting their autographs help you to learn? It is a great opportunity, especially for children who may be more timid, to practice social skills and interaction with a favorite character. For people who enjoy chatting with the characters, it can be fun to strike up a conversation, learn something new about them, and immerse yourself more in the Disney bubble.
SPOTTING THE FLOUNDER PROP
*at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, other resorts may have other similar activities
COST- $0
This past trip, we stayed at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, themed like a New England-style resort hotel around the turn of the twentieth century. With its seaside/ocean related theme, there are several tributes to The Little Mermaid, including a daily look-and-find game with Ariel’s trusty sidekick Flounder, where your child (or you) can learn through problem-solving.
You can search for Flounder around the Beach Club’s property, take a picture with him, and show a cast member at the front desk. You will receive a pin (pictured below) with Flounder and a scallop shell sticker on the first day. After this, bring your picture and pin to get another sticker and complete after 4 days.
During our stay, we had lots of fun looking for Flounder and finding him by the pool, in the gift shop, and other interesting places. Stumped? If you ask, a cast member will be able to give you a little hint! One day the cast member giving out the stickers even took the time to teach my children about scallops and their shells. Also, you don’t have to be staying at this resort in order to participate in this activity, so if you have a Little Mermaid fan, you’ll want to get over to the Beach Club to check this out!
HIDDEN MICKEYS
COST- $0
A pastime of many Disney fans is finding hidden Mickeys all over the Disney Parks and resorts. Some are more obvious than others. Can you find the Mickey hidden in the flower/seashell arrangement above? You can look up where hidden Mickeys are located and having fun spotting them. You can even make it into a game if you get creative. They are some that are permanent and some that may change with the seasons and park events. There are even some that can only be seen by helicopter! There are cast members who like to share where hidden Mickeys are located along with the history, a great opportunity to learn.
So there you have it. Disney has lots of opportunities for learning and affordable fun. Many of these activities provide welcome breaks throughout a busy, hot day in Central Florida….and these are just a few. When returning to Disney, you can reuse many of these items and continue to build more memories.
Places like the Wilderness Explorer stations and Pin Trading stops tend to be less congested that lines for attractions or crowds waiting for parades, and they also tend to be in the shade! These rests can be helpful for those who struggle with sensory overload. You can get a breath of fresh air and who knows- you may learn something new!
