Totally Free at Disneyland

Updated September 4, 2022

“Free” and “Disneyland” are not often used in the same thought sequence, but you might be surprised at what all you can find at the parks that doesn’t cost a dime.

Take a look at my list and let me know what I have missed.

Iced Water

Ask for iced water at any counter service restaurant at Disneyland or California Adventure. There are plenty of water fountains throughout the parks, but sometimes a nice cold cup of water is good, too.

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Buttons

Upon entry, go to City Hall for your button of choice. There is usually a variety to choose from. You can also find these at the parking garages, many restaurants and other locations throughout the park. Ask a cast member and he or she will point you in the direction of your closest option.

Then, when you’re home, follow this tutorial to transform your button into a magnet for your refrigerator!

 

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Map of the Jungle Cruise

Maps of the Jungle Cruise route are available upon leaving the attraction. They sometimes run out, but they’re most often in stock.

Simply ask a cast member at the podium just outside the attraction for one. These are not offered to you after the cruise. You must ask for one.

Take it home to frame it, laminate it, or just put it on your refrigerator.

 

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Artwork 

As in the photo above, where my monsters were preparing to create drawings deserving to be hung in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can create your own character drawings. Animation Academy is a fun attraction in California Adventure.

I mention it in several posts including What to do When it Rains at Disneyland and What to do When it’s Super Crowded at Disneyland. Talented Disney artists will walk you through how to draw classic characters. Look for the schedule of who you can draw and when just outside the building on Hollywood Blvd.

You’ll leave with the artwork when you’re finished with the class.

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Pilot License from the Mark Twain Riverboat

If you’re lucky enough to pilot the Mark Twain Riverboat (tips on how to do that in this post), you’ll leave with a certificate like the one above. Honking the horn is perhaps the most fun part of this experience, but leaving with the certificate is good, too.

See a former Facebook post on my experience. It’s so awesome!

 

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Mardi Gras Beads

Jazz musicians throw out plastic beads – just like the ones you get in New Orleans during Mardi Gras – while performing at the French Market or in the streets of New Orleans.

No bad behavior required!

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Bread Samples

Take a tour of the famous Boudin Bakery and see how their yummy sourdough bread is made. You’ll receive a sample of the bread during the short tour. Upon leaving, you can buy your own bread if you like – shaped like Mickey or other seasonal styles.

We’ve bought turkeys at Thanksgiving and snowmen at Christmas. We’ve seen the Captain America symbol and also characters from Cars. I love this as an easy snack for the entire family. The breads cost around $7 and the Pacific Wharf Cafe (next door) will give you all the butter you want. I often have my kids sit down for a bit and we all share in the carb-filled delight. Great price and the bread is delish!

 

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Stickers

Stickers are often handed out when kids are in Disney meltdown mode, but you can also request them from cast members. They all vary throughout the park and if the cast member you ask for the sticker doesn’t have one, he or she will refer you to someone who does.

I don’t know what it is about these stickers, but kids LOVE them.

I think it must be like the churro phenomenon in my family:

*Churro at Costco for $1? Not interested. But EVERYONE WANTS ONE AT DISNEYLAND FOR $5 each.

*Sticker outside of the park? Meh. But, inside the park, they become magical. And, unlike churros, they’re free!

 

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Grand Californian Hotel Perks

The Grand boasts many lovely amenities, but here are a few you might not know about:

  • The Art of Craft Tour occurs each day at 1pm and lasts about an hour. It covers the architecture of the hotel and unique artifacts that can be found in the lobby and restaurants. This tour is free and open to anyone – staying at the hotel or not. Sign up at the Guest Services desk in the lobby that morning.
  • When children color a page for a character at the hotel, the character (or Mickey Mouse if the specific character is not available) will write your child a note thanking him or her. This sometimes happens during your stay and if there’s no time for it, you’ll receive the thank-you in the mail upon returning home.
  • The Grand has many other forms of recreation that you can find on the Disney site. Close proximity is not the only perk of staying here.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of other free items and perks that come along with certain vacation packages from travel agents, from obtaining the Visa Disney card and more. I’ve limited this list to those that are free to all park guests, regardless of how they booked their trip or how they paid for it.

Have you received something free at the parks that I failed to include? Find me on Facebook to let me know or leave me a comment.

Take a look at how Get Away Today can help with your vacation

20 thoughts on “Totally Free at Disneyland

  1. Can you get Celebration buttons at a DLR hotel if you are a guest? Also, do they have them at DCA and where? At city hall, can I get two buttons? It will be my daughter’s first visit and her 5th birthday and I’d like both buttons.

  2. I was just reading another blog that mentioned free cars buttons available at the radiator springs gift shop? I heard they used to give them out at the ride but not anymore.

  3. I’ve heard that you can sample the mint julip at the stand, aswell as sample the popcorn at the cozycone in DCA. I’ve never tried either, but it would be grand if it were true.

  4. Do they have the buttons at the character dining restaurants? Our first stop is the Surf’s Up breakfast with Mickey at PCH Grill, and we are going for my daughters birthday. Will she be able to get a button at breakfast or will she need to wait until we are in the park? Thanks!

  5. There is also a map of the Rivers of America I got from a Cast Member on the Sailing Ship Columbia.

    1. Hi, Emmy!

      I think they stopped at one point, but resumed. The paper is different from before – different card stock and this version is thinner, but they still hand them out. I grabbed one last week.

    1. Hi, Sherry!

      Yes. There is a hotel ambassador who walks the lobby and provides the color pages for children waiting to be checked in or on a break. If you are a hotel guest, you may request one, too.

  6. Nice post, Casey. I’ve been on the Lilly Belle once, but didn’t know you can request available seats- I’ll try to get the family tickets at gate opening next time we go in a couple of weeks. I’m also going to find that lightbulb!

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