There is no denying that the overall cost of a Disneyland vacation has increased in recent years. While there are still many worthwhile ways to save if you're willing to do Disneyland on a budget, there are a lot of different costs to consider, from your hotel stay to airfare, tickets, dining, and beyond. Fortunately, however, there are numerous free experiences and items available at the Disneyland Resort if you know where to look.
This list covers the noteworthy free items scattered throughout the Disneyland Resort beyond the obvious shows and attractions, which are all included with the price of your Disneyland tickets. Many visitors may be unaware that some of these free things at Disneyland even exist! At Mickey Visit we are constantly in the theme parks and just updated this list for 2025.
READ MORE – Hidden Details on Disneyland Rides That You Will Completely Miss if You Don’t Know Where to Look
Pixie Dusting
While a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is limited to kids only, there is a special freebie here that visitors of any age can enjoy. At Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, you can get “pixie dusted,” which is when Cast Members use a magic wand to sprinkle glitter over you.
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More details on getting this free pixie dusting at Disneyland here.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Activities
In Galaxy's Edge, you can get a free booklet called “Bina's Guide to the Creatures of Batuu” at the Creature Stall. This is a fun scavenger hunt where kids will collect stamps from Cast Members and show their completed booklet for a paper token prize at the end!
Another free activity in Galaxy's Edge is using the Star Wars: Datapad on the Play Disney Parks app to interact with the land. Using the Star Wars: Datapad, you can translate galactic languages, scan objects for hidden cargo, decrypt signals from satellite dishes, and interact with select devices, control panels, and droids. Using the app, you'll have the opportunity to complete jobs for digital rewards.
Replacement Balloons
Any Disneyland Balloon Cast Member will give you a replacement balloon if yours has popped. Simply bring the remnants of the first balloon with you to the Cast Member!
Freebies for Special Events
During special events and park milestones, you may be able to enjoy some day-of freebies, which are usually given out in limited quantities. Some past examples include freebies like commemorative pins and maps for Disneyland's anniversary date, Mickey hats for D23 Day at Disneyland, and themed plates offered with the purchase of a Sip and Savor Pass at the Disney California Food & Wine Festival.
These freebies are usually not announced ahead of time, but they can be a fun perk if you happen to be visiting during the kickoff of a special event.
Indiana Jones Adventure Decoder Cards
At Indiana Jones Adventure, you can ask a Cast Member at the attraction for a free decoder card, which you can use to decode the writing inside the temple. They may run out, but it's worth asking! This is a great way to stay entertained in what is often a long line for this popular ride. These are also very cool souvenirs.
Grizzly River Run Lockers
The Disneyland lockers at the park entrances and esplanade all require a fee, but there is one location where lockers are free if you need them in a pinch. At Grizzly River Run in Disney California Adventure, the lockers at the attraction are free for up to two hours. The lockers are meant to be used to keep your possessions dry as you go on the ride, but if you need to put something in a locker for a short window of time, you can take advantage of this option. You'll find these lockers next to the giant grizzly bear statue at the entrance of the ride.
Air Pump Near Disneyland Entrance
In the esplanade, right next to the building where you'll find stroller, wheelchair, and ECV rentals outside the Disneyland Park main gate, you'll find an air pump. This is a convenient freebie you can take advantage of to fill up tires before or after your Disneyland day.
Free Cups Of Water From Any Counter-Service Restaurant
Rather than purchasing bottles of water, you can request free cups of ice water from any of the various Disneyland counter service restaurants. You may need to ask for several cups of water, as the ones they give you are fairly small.
They'll often say no if you ask for a bigger cup of water, but some locations will do this. This is one of the biggest freebies you should take advantage of, as it's important to stay hydrated throughout your Disneyland day. If you brought your own refillable water bottle, there are several refill stations across the resort.
Celebration Buttons
There are special Disneyland buttons to celebrate almost every occasion. These pins celebrate first visits, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries/engagements/honeymoons, and more. You can pick up a button at almost any store in either theme park, and they are always available at the Guest Relations kiosk just inside both theme parks. These pins are a great freebie, as they will often prompt congratulatory remarks from Cast Members or other guests at the park.
Birthday Desserts At Table Service Restaurants
Almost every table service restaurant will help you celebrate your birthday with a free dessert after your meal. Make sure to mention that you are celebrating a birthday when you make your reservations. You can check out other ways to celebrate a birthday in Disneyland, as well as the best Mickey Visit Disneyland restaurants we recommend celebrating your birthday at.
Animation Academy Artwork
The Disneyland Animation Academy is the perfect place to learn how to draw your favorite Disney characters, with an animator giving you step-by-step instructions. This is located in the Animation Building, one of our favorite secret spots at Disneyland to escape the crowds. Classes take place every 30 minutes.
After your class, you can take home your artwork to be proudly displayed! The teacher will often also give out their artwork to someone in the class afterwards. However, note that your luck may vary—sometimes, teachers don't give out their sketches.
New Year's Eve Hats
On New Year's Eve, Disneyland goes all out with special bands, fireworks, and free hats for all of the guests. These are a nice festive addition to get everyone in the mood for the new year! There were previously also free paper horns and noise makers given out, but it appears that these may no longer be offered. See our tips for visiting Disneyland on New Year's Eve here.
Bakery Tour Bread Slices
At San Fransokyo Square in Disney California Adventure, you will find The Bakery Tour. In this experience, you'll see how the world-famous San Francisco sourdough bread is made. You'll get a sample of this perfect sourdough, which makes for a great snack. If you're interested in buying some bread, there are some fun sourdough loaves available at San Fransokyo Square in cute shapes like Mickey, Baymax, etc.
Disney Stickers From Cast Members
Many Disneyland Cast Members carry free stickers to give out to kids. Most janitorial Cast Members (sweeping up trash in all white) will be more than happy to give you a sticker. Also, any Cast Member taking surveys usually has stickers to give out to people who complete the surveys.
Free Souvenir Storage
Disneyland offers a free package check service, where visitors can have their packages held at select locations while they're in the theme parks.
This is offered at the Stroller Rental area in the esplanade, The Star Trader, Port Royal Curios & Curiosities, or Pioneer Mercantile in Disneyland Park, and Elias & Co., Sarge's Surplus Hut, and Avengers Vault in Disney California Adventure. In order for your purchase to be stored here, you must have the receipt for the item, and the item may not be a limited edition run.
Mother's Day Flowers
On Mother's Day at Disneyland, complimentary carnation flowers are handed out when you enter Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Make sure to arrive early if you want to take advantage of this freebie, as flowers typically run out mid-morning!
On Ride Photos
Your photo is taken on some of Disneyland's most popular attractions, including Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, and Radiator Springs Racers. Be sure to grab a photo of the picture, then you can type in the code to pull up a higher-resolution download of your photo via the Disneyland app. On Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, you can email your photo for free. Along with the photo, your point total is nicely displayed. See the secret target you need to hit to get a high score on this ride. Outside of attraction photos, you can download all of your PhotoPass photos for free with the purchase of Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
3-5 Hours of Parking at Disneyland Resort Hotels
At the Disneyland Resort Hotels, you get 3-5 hours of free parking if you are enjoying certain restaurants or hotel amenities. You can see the standard parking rates for the Disneyland hotels and theme parks here.
For Storytellers Cafe at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, you get 3 hours of complimentary parking—your choice of valet or self-parking—with restaurant validation. At Napa Rose, you get 5 hours of complimentary parking, with your choice of valet or self-parking, with restaurant validation. If you go to Tenaya Stone Spa, you get 5 hours of included parking, with your choice of valet or self-parking, when you spend $135 USD or more at Tenaya Stone Spa, but you can't combine receipts to meet the minimum requirement.
For Goofy's Kitchen and Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, you get 3 hours of complimentary parking—your choice of valet or self-parking—with restaurant validation.
For Great Maple Modern American Eatery and Small Bytes at Pixar Place Hotel, you get 3 hours of complimentary self-parking with restaurant validation.
Magic Key Freebies
Magic Key holders can access several exclusive freebies throughout the year. In the past, these have included special buttons, pins, posters, bags, photo opportunities, and more. We detail all of the current Magic Key perks and freebies offered in our Mickey Visit Disneyland This Week update, where we share the latest Disneyland news every week.
Of course, this comes with the caveat that in order to access these perks, you need to be a Disneyland Magic Key holder, which is not free.
Luggage Storage at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
Any of the Disneyland Resort hotels will provide free luggage storage on the day of your arrival or departure. This can be helpful if you are arriving from the airport early in the morning and want to go directly into the parks rather than stopping at your hotel.
To take advantage of this option, go to Bell Services at the entrance with your luggage. If you choose to store your luggage at one of the hotels, be sure to tip the valet.
First Aid Help In the Parks
The First Aid stations in both theme parks provide free doses of over-the-counter medication, bandages, and cool, dry storage of medical devices such as breast pumps or nebulizers. The First Aid locations can also store medications that require refrigeration.
You can see the locations of these First Aid centers marked on the Disneyland map in the app. The Disneyland Park First Aid center is located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., next to the Baby Care Center, and the Disney California Adventure Park First Aid is located next to the Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.
Free Wi-Fi In Hotel Lobbies
All three of the Disneyland Resort Hotels provide free Wi-Fi in the lobby. One of my favorite spots to get work done is on one of the comfortable couches in Disney's Grand Californian. You can also head up to the third floor of the hotel, where there are more couches, it is even quieter, and there are far fewer people.
Free Admission and Buffet Dining For Kids Under 3 Years Old
Kids under the age of 3 can enter the parks for free without the purchase of a Disneyland ticket. Additionally, dining at any buffet restaurant (including Disneyland character dining) at the Disneyland Resort is free for anyone under three years of age. Consider eating at the buffet if you want to avoid purchasing the kids' meal at other a la carte restaurants.
Tender Seat Ride on the Disneyland Railroad
Now that we've discussed some of the free things you can get at Disneyland, we also wanted to share some of the really amazing hidden gem experiences available that you may not know about.
Many guests don't know that there are two Tender Seats right behind each of the Disneyland Railroad train engines. This experience is fantastic, and you will be able to meet some incredible Cast Members. This free experience is not always available, but it's worth asking a Cast Member at the station to see.
Another similar experience is riding in the nose cone at the front of the Disneyland Monorail. You can enjoy the full loop from this unique perspective and talk to the driver. Just like for the above experience, you'll need to ask a Cast Member at the station to see if this is an option.
Secret Guestbooks
Another fun secret experience is offered at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland. The first guests of the day to ride these attractions get to sign a secret guest book, which contains the signatures of all the first guests before them. This is a fun tradition that many visitors are unaware of!
Disneyland Hotel Tours
There are two free hotel tours offered, one for the Disneyland Hotel and one for Disney's Grand Californian!
During the Disneyland Hotel Tour, you will “learn about the hotel's history, its founders, and the Disney artists who created the magic and turned Walt's dreams into a reality.” Reservations are required, and you can contact the Front Desk to ask about availability.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel pays homage to the classic 1800s and early 1900s Arts and Crafts architecture style. A Cast Member hosts the Art of the Craft Tour of the hotel property, sharing stories of the history that inspired the design of the hotel. This tour is a hidden gem for any fan of architecture or history. Reservations are required. Check in with the Concierge Desk for information about availability. The tour is open to guests staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel.
Perks of the Disneyland Resort Hotels
As part of your stay at any of the Disneyland Resort hotels, there are numerous free perks that add to the experience. These are some of these notable perks:
- Guests of the Disneyland Resort hotels can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities. For example, at the time of writing, some activities include bracelet-making, a washcloth creations class, movie nights, and learning to draw your favorite Disney/Pixar character.
- You can request a wake-up call from a favorite Disney character.
- I am constantly writing notes and to-do lists in my everyday life. One of my favorite ways to bring the magic home with me is to use the pens and notepads collected from the Disneyland Resort. I have picked up generic Disneyland pens, plus unique pens branded to each individual hotel.
Click here for more information on the deepest discounts at the best hotels near Disneyland.
Discount Disneyland Packages With Free Extras
There are even more amazing free things that can come when you book your vacation as a package. As an incentive for your booking, travel agencies offer wonderful extras. We partner with Get Away Today to secure exclusive low prices on your Disneyland vacation and to get the best assortment of additional free bonuses when you book your vacation.
On top of the savings from Get Away Today's discount tickets, their vacation packages often include free nights, free breakfast, free parking, and more. Some of the additional free perks you can enjoy include a lanyard (one per adult ticket), area coupons for restaurants, shopping, and activities, and printable gifts, including vacation reveals, countdowns, games, and more.
You can save on booking a Disneyland vacation when you book with our Mickey Visit special rate at MickeyVisit.com/Tickets/.
READ MORE – 11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow
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All the information and coupons are very helpful, I won’t be able to take another trip to Disneyland again, I am a single parent and used my income tax to make this possible for us and so far I am very pleased with all the information we have been getting to make this trip a real fantasy for us.
I hope you have a great trip Eva. Thank you for leaving a comment.
I’m also a single parent. My youngest daughter n I had season passes for about 3 to 4 years. That was the best way to go. We would go about 2 times a month when I had her. I stopped our passes for the last 2 years to take a trip with her n my older son to Dallas this past April. We miss it n I’m thinking of renewing our passes again next month when my older daughter Ariel goes for her B Day. Yes she’s named after yhe Little Mermaid. You may look into getting season passes. They take monthly payments. Either way glad you enjoyed time with kidos at the happiest place on earth.
There is no such thing as anything being free inside Disneyland. You pay to enter. And it cost an arm and a leg. They can keep their stickers.
Thank you for your comment Julie.
LOL….. you could go to Knotts Farm for half the price, but then you only get half the experience (frankly I thought Knotts was boring and never went back).
At Disney you pay $90 for about 16 hours entertainment (8am to midnight)…. that’s only 6/hour which is cheaper than seeing the latest movie blockbuster.
Well said on the hourly cost. I always take this into consideration. My family isn’t thrilled when I stay in the park from 7 am until 2 am on New Year’s Eve, but I always get my money’s worth.
amen julie
Our last family trip to Disneyland was November 2015. We were told that they were no longer giving out free maps at the Jungle Cruise, and free Drivers Licenses at Autopia are no longer handed out as well.
Aimee, I was able to pick up the Jungle Cruise map this December. They switched paper type for the maps, but they are distributing them once again.
We just went to Disneyland in May 2016 and there were Driver’s Licenses at Autopia, I got one and my sister got one! Look again.
I seriously love these DL articles! We’ve been to WDW enough to be familiar with it but are taking our first trip to DL next May. I’m soaking up all the info I can before we go. Thanks for the info.
Very nice to have you here Sharon! You can find more Disneyland planning info here.
My family and I went to Disneyland between christmas and New year’s. We were given hats and horns on new years eve. It was such a fun surprise. On our last night in the parks a cast member named Kevin gave all of us “I’m Celebrating” buttons. He even took a minute to customize each of them differently with a sharper. All of them had 2016 written on them while some had balloons or hearts or mickey ears. Those buttons are such a treasure to us and a wonderful keepsake. It’s awesome that Disneyland offers some free tetracycline these. It really makes your experience even more special.
That’s a very nice experience Julie. I still have all of my celebrating buttons from birthdays for years.
Awesome!
Last trip we got an “Honorary Citizen of Disneyland” pin. That is my favorite!!
I have done a few of these things before. So much fun! I cant wait until I go to the parks again and get to check out these new things.
Awesome list – so sad the Senior Wilderness Explorer maps/stickers have been discontinued at DCA as of March 7th, 2016 🙁 It was such a great way to experience the Challenge Trail
Thank you for providing that info Taryn.
We got to ride in front with the captain of the monorail, thanks to a helpful hint in an older article. You just need to be the first person to ask. Hopefully, the people riding with the captain to your station, are getting out at your stop so you can take their place. Quite a different view!
Happy that you could put the tip to good use Janie. So much fun!
We just got back from Disneyland and unfortunately driver’s license at Autopia is not free anymore. At the end of the ride you can go to a booth, pay $5 and take your picture then print out your plastic ID. I didn’t mind paying for it because it’s a good souvenir and it’s probably the cheapest souvenir that I bought at Disneyland!
I thought they had free ones that don’t have your picture. Thank you for the update.
I am looking forward to using some if not all those tips you have said in Sept when my family and I come across.
This is my Childrens first time to such a great park and they are very eager to see the Characters
Thank you for this!!
As of April 2016, when I went to the Cozy Cones to get a sample of the popcorn, the attendant said they don’t do samples, because the flavoring they have is concentrated so they couldn’t just put a tad of it on a few pieces of popcorn. :/
We were at Disneyland at the end of July and they were handing out autotopia drivers licenses. They are different, more modern design of car.
Thank you for the tips! 10 years ago, we went and the park was amazing. This fall, we are sharing the magic with our kids and get to experience it again through their eyes! We had no idea there were so many extras… Can’t wait!!
I plan our annual Disney land trip thru getaway today however we have never received backpacks nor have we received pins or lanyards.
No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, therefore he/she wishes to be
available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
If your child gets their face painted it can also get touched up for free through out the day. We paid for my daughter and nephew to have their faces painted by the Disney Cast member in downtown Disney before the park opened and after riding a few water rides it was starting to come off mid day and they re-did the face paint for free.
One thing you missed which I think is unique to Disneyland. People watch and talking in the lines. I always take an afternoon break on a park bench in the hub (with popcorn). Watching families discover the park (even today, there are plenty of first-time visitors), especially the kids, is joyful. Watching kids meet their favorite characters is a special treat.
In line, strike up a conversation. I make a lot of friends there, all Disney fans.
I responded to this article last year. They do not offer samples of popcorn at the cozy cone. In fact, on a recent trip, when I went to the counter the two cast members working had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for a sample and even told me that the flavor they use is a concentrated substance that they pour into a batch of regular popcorn, so a sample isn’t something that they have the capability of doing.
When we went last summer (2016) my girls got a neat pin after the Jedi training, not a certificate. They were showing it to Kylo Ren when we met him to let him know they weren’t scared of him.?
The Bugle is no longer printed, sadly. Went on a wild goose chase for it today! Thought it would be such a great souvenir. Hopefully they bring it back! Thanks for the great tips!
It’s actually very difficult in this active life to listen news on Television, thus I only use the
web for that purpose, and take the most recent news.
Hi Gavin. We are coming in December for my granddaughter’s 9th Birthday. When should book the Spa experience and the character dining etc?? What deals on tickets will be available? And how many days would work to see it all? There will be 12 of us so we will not be moving quickly!!! Appreciate your tips!!
Denise, reservations are offered starting 60 days out. I have forwarded your email on to a member of the VIP support team from our travel partner Get Away Today to help you with bookings for discount tickets and length of stay. You can also check out our discount Disneyland tickets guide for my suggestions on how long to visit and full info on the discount tickets available.
I remember when I was courting my future wife, in the late 70s. We discovered that each land had its own matchbook. We spent an hour running all over the park collecting them all. I doubt if they still have them. It was great fun. We still love visiting Disney Parks. On our last visit we talked to the sales person in the store in Frontierland and she gave us each an Honorary Citizen of Disneyland button. The Magic is still there.
Thank you for sharing FTapia! I really appreciate stories like this one. Your memory fuels my love of helping people to plan their trips and to have the best vacation possible.