Totally Free at Disneyland

Updated April 18, 2026

“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.

Ice 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.

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 structures, many restaurants and other locations throughout the park occasionally. Ask a cast member and he or she will point you in the direction of your closest option.

Bina’s Guide

Find this cute paper book in Galaxy’s Edge.

It is inside the Black Spire Market at a table near the restrooms. If it’s not visible on the table, politely ask the attending cast member if they’re available.

Here’s how to get your guide personalized.

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.

(I haven’t seen this one in a while. You?)

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.

It’s usually open an hour after opening to an hour before close. 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. @gothicrosie on Instagram usually has it in her stories too.

Arrive 20 minutes prior to when you want to draw to ensure you get a place in line. The entire experience is under 30 minutes. In fact, you’ll only draw for around 15 minutes total.

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

I mention this activity in several posts including What to do When it Rains at Disneyland and What to do When it’s Super Crowded at Disneyland because I love it! My kid still enjoy this. Last trip, we drew three times in one day.

image credit

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!

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 $12 and the Aunt Cass 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!

Stickers

There are ID stickers like this one, above, at the Baby Care Centers. Find more about these treasures of free help here.

Stickers are also sometimes 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!

Jungle Cruise Baggies

Grab these at the entrance to the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

I save mine and pack school lunches with them.

(This has been retired)

Grand Californian Hotel Perks

The Grand boasts many lovely amenities, but this post shares a couple you might not know about. Find all the info in my review here.

Notes

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?

Additional Resources

Planning trip? Start with this post. It all shares all sorts of basic info for your trip.

Need discounted hotel rooms or park tickets? Check out my travel partner, Get Away Today. In business since 1990, they’re the absolute best with both pricing and service. This link takes you to them. Or you can call 85.GET.AWAY.

***Use code DDaily for an additional $10 off when you book both hotel and tickets.

Let me know if you have any questions or if I can do anything for you.

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