There’s certainly a lot to do in the parks at Walt Disney World – enough to keep you busy for days. But sometimes, the secret and {almost} free hidden gems are some of the most fun experiences.
This list is great for first timers, second visitors, or repeat guests to The Most Magical Place on Earth if you’re looking for something new to try.
- Find all the Fab 50 (Anniversary) Statues across all four parks. Check out the printables (print or screenshot) in our other post.
- The MOUNTAIN Challenge! Ride all the Mountains in the Magic Kingdom and if you’re really up for it, the bonus mountain in Animal Kingdom (Expedition Everest). You can visit Guest Services for a free Celebration button!
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Expedition Everest
- Four Park Challenge. (I did this once, it was super fun!) Visit all 4 parks on the same day. My requirements were 1 “headliner ride” + 1 snack + icon picture. You can create your own requirements.
- Pin Trading is super fun and free as well. If you need some pins to begin trading I recommend purchasing a lot of them on Amazon – keep what you like, trade the rest.
- Penny Smashing or Smooshing if you prefer! This used to be a cash only activity, but now almost all penny machines take credit and debit card. You can have fun collecting them all or just a few special ones. Need ideas for what to do with smashed pennies? I love these passport books from Amazon!
- Look for Hidden Mickeys! This is one of our favorite activities in the parks. It’s free to play, but if you want the secrets, I recommend this book from Amazon to help along the way.
- Treasure of the Seven Seas at Magic Kingdom! Head over to The Crow’s Nest and pick up a talisman that magically allows you to read a secret treasure map. Then it’s all hands on deck as you fend off enemies, evade capture and hunt for treasure.When you complete each mission, you’ll receive a very special treasure finder card. After you collect all 5, you’ll get your hands on the sixth and final card—signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself. There are hours for this special activity, so check the MyDisneyExperience App on your day.
- Wilderness Explorers at Animal Kingdom. Set out on a series of fun, nature-themed challenges on your way to becoming an official Wilderness Explorer. Self-guided activities range from animal observation to learning important wilderness skills. Collect over 25 badges and earn the right to echo the Wilderness Explorer call: Caw! Caw! Roar! Complete the activities on your own, or take on each task as a group.
- Collect autographs! It can be quite a fun challenge to collect as many signatures as you can from your favorite Disney pals. There are autograph books for sale in the parks or in advance on Amazon, of course, but if you want to try something new – think about a photo mat to add to a frame later, a book – we LOVE this one from Amazon and some characters love adding to their stories.
Hope you have fun exploring all the magic!
