free disney stuff is the best, right? If you’re looking to make the most of your magical getaway (and make the most of your budget), then these free Disneyland tips and tricks are perfect for you!
this is part of our ongoing disney on the cheap series. If you’re considering a Disney vacation, be sure to check out the rest of our information!
get free disney stuff before you go!
You can start collecting your free Disney stuff before you even leave home. in fact, gathering a few of these gifts before you take the trip can help build the anticipation and excitement for your next adventure.
free disney planning dvd
the free planning video provided by disney includes an overview of the parks, hotels and shopping district. It will help you prepare for your trip and know what to expect when you arrive. order your copy here!
autographed character photo
If you send a letter to your favorite character, you might receive an autographed picture of the character in return! photos returned range from 5 x 7 cards to full 8 x 10 photos.
Simply send your letter to the following address:
The Walt Disney Company Attn: Fan Mail Department 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank CA 91521
you can also use this address instead:
walt disney world communications post office box 10040 lake buena vista fl 32830
Sometimes it can take up to three months to receive your response, so be sure to request one in advance! This is a fun way to get your kids excited about an upcoming Disney trip…or just surprise them for a birthday or vacation.
food & free at disneyland drink
free glasses of water from disneyland
It’s important to stay hydrated and bottled drinks can be incredibly expensive inside the park. any counter service restaurant will provide you with a free cup of ice water. instead, you can order a large mug, which is significantly larger than the regular sized mugs.
ghirardelli free chocolate
visit ghirardelli’s chocolate shop in the pacific wharf area of disneyland and you’ll get a free square of chocolate!
free boudin sourdough bread slices
right across from ghirardelli, you’ll find the boudin bread factory. stop by for a free slice of boudin sourdough! i love boudin’s so this is my favorite on this list of free disney stuff!
free desserts on your birthday
If you’re celebrating a birthday, be sure to mention it during your reservation! It seems like most table service restaurants will give you a free dessert to celebrate your birthday after your meal.
free samples of crazy flavors
If you’re hesitant to buy pickle-flavored popcorn or a mint julep drink, then you’re not alone. food inside the park is expensive and gambling on something crazy can be scary! many of the food stalls that offer these flavors will let you try a free sample before you decide to buy.
free copies of official recipes
if you stop by the disneyland town hall or the california adventure chamber of commerce, you can get recipes for everything that is cooked inside the park.
free disney souvenirs
free disneyland maps and flyers
Park maps, weather guides, and attraction flyers are great souvenirs of your trip, and they’re totally free!
free jungle cruise river maps
When you get off the jungle cruise, be sure to ask the cast members for a map of the attraction. they’re free, so they often sell out, but you can always come back to pick one up.
free disneyland celebration buttons
stop by city hall or just about any other store to pick up a celebration button. there are special buttons for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and more. Rumor has it that guests with “first visit” buttons can sometimes get gifts or special treatment, but this may or may not be true.
free animation academy art
every 30 minutes, a drawing class is held at the animation academy. Just show up at the Disney Animation Building and learn how to draw your own Disney Characters! you can save your sketch as a souvenir.
free lilly belle commemorative ticket
Go to the train station and ask about a ride on the lilly belle train car. this special caboose was reserved for VIPs and special guests. however, it is sometimes available for the public to use. It only seats 14 people and is usually available right after the park opens for a specified number of riders. All passengers will receive a free commemorative ticket when they ride Lilly Belle!
free disneyland stickers
many cast members have stickers. I read that most of the cleaning cast members have stickers. You can also earn a free Senior Wildlife Explorer decal when you complete tasks on the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
free travel photos
save money and skip the maxpass. you can take a picture of your photos on the trip with your cell phone. It won’t be the same quality, but it will still retain the memory! Other parks, like Seaworld, use face shields that prevent you from taking a picture of the photo. However, Disneyland doesn’t care.
free park newspaper
When you visit California Adventure, get a free copy of the park’s newspaper, the Buena Vista Street Bugle. this newspaper is a reminder of what was happening in the park at the time of your visit.
free character autographs
You can collect character signatures in character experiences. however, I recommend bringing your own autograph book. books in the park can cost $10 or more!
disney gift cards (no value)
my daughter discovered this one! she was in love with moana’s gift card but she wouldn’t buy her one. the cast member told her that she could take it with her as a free souvenir. she said if we weren’t loading money on it, they were free!
free experiences at disneyland
In addition to free Disney stuff, we also found some amazing magical experiences that you can enjoy absolutely free!
sit in the cabin of the train
Ask a cast member and you just might be able to sit in the Disneyland Railroad Taxi! this experience is obviously limited but I have confirmed on various websites that this is possible.
jedi training for children
if your children want to fight a sith lord, you’ll need to enroll them in the jedi training academy. the registration booth is located in front of the highway entrance. it’s available first thing in the morning, and registration fills up fast! kids will get a free certificate for participating.
honorary riverboat captain
families with a young child may be offered the opportunity to become the honorary captain of the mark twain riverboat. If you’re selected, you’ll be able to take a trip around the river in the cockpits and get a special certificate for helping out!
beware of these myths!
While there are plenty of legitimate gifts you can get at Disneyland, there are plenty of rumors about fake ones. Despite what you may have heard, the gifts in this section are just myths.
You can’t get a free death certificate at the haunted mansion.
the haunted mansion does not and has never distributed free death certificates. Please don’t bother the cast members with this!
Your child does not get free lifetime admission to disneyland if they are born in the park.
This is an urban legend. In 1979, a woman gave birth at Disneyland. Her baby, named Teresa, was visited by Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy at the hospital. She was presented with an honorary birth certificate from Disneyland.
There have been a total of four children born at Disneyland so far. None of the other three babies born at Disneyland received the same treatment…and none of them, including Teresa, received a free admission pass for life.