Five Fun Disney World Activities for Kids
Granted, there is a lot going on at Disney World. You don’t really need to go hunting for more things to do with your kids. Park days can certainly be filled with attractions, parades and character meet and greets that just scratch the surface of Disney World’s offerings. However, if you are looking for something a little different, there are quite a few fun little activities to do around the parks. These activities can take the pressure off tromping from one attraction to another and some even offer unique souvenirs.
Take a detour from your park plan and give these activities a try. Here are five fun Disney World activities for kids (and adults) to add a little extra magic to your visit. The best part? Four of the five are FREE!!!!!
1. A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas
This is a great activity to kill some time in Adventureland. My son had a blast doing it when he was younger. Stop by The Crow’s Nest in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland. Cast Members will give you a map and a special magic talisman (if you don’t have a Magic Band) that can be used for this activity. The Magic Band or talisman sets off special effects and reveals clues at each of the treasure map stations. Kids get a big kick out of what each area does when they tap their Magic Band to the touch points.
When each adventure is completed, players return to the Crow’s Nest to receive a special Pirate card. There are 4 different adventures that can be completed at different locations in Adventureland. Each adventure can be done at any time. My kid blew through all 4 one after the other, but you can certainly space them out over the course of your visit.
When my son completed each mission, we also received FastPasses for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. This “prize” isn’t listed on Disney’s official website, however, so experiences may vary. With or without FastPass booty, this adventure is the perfect activity for pirate lovers and the maps and cards are great souvenirs.
2. Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom
Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom is similar to Pirate’s Adventure, but is throughout the entire park . The objective is to fight villains by casting spells with game cards. Cards can be picked up from the Firehouse on Main Street U.S.A.
Cast Members at the Firehouse distribute game instructions, a map and a set of cards to use at the interactive “Magic Portals” in the park. Magic Bands or park tickets are scanned when the cards are picked up. Only one set of cards per day in the park is given out to players.
While this game is fun, the ease of play isn’t the same as Pirate’s Adventure. We found the “Magic Portals” to be a little more finicky than the Pirate ones. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom also tends to have more players and small crowds can build up, particularly in the Main Street area. While Pirate’s Adventure seems to attract mostly children, there are a lot of adults that play this game. Just be aware that it may take a little more time and involve some waiting at each portal. The cards do make cute souvenirs and children as well as adults enjoy collecting them. It has a pretty serious cult following.
3. Celebration Buttons
Guest Service locations in the parks and resorts give buttons to folks celebrating just about everything from birthdays to anniversaries to first visits. If it is someone’s first time in the parks or a special day of ANY kind (they will write in what you are celebrating), grab a button.
This is especially great for kids because Cast Members, Characters and some guests will wish them a Happy Birthday when they see their button. If you have something to celebrate, flaunt it! Buttons are free to all guests and, at the risk of sounding repetitive here, make nice and FREE souvenirs as well.
4. Kidcot Passports for Epcot’s World Showcase
In each pavilion surrounding the World Showcase at Epcot, there are Kidcot Fun Stop stations where children can engage in some kind of crafty activity pertaining to that country. At those stations, generally located near one of the gift shops in each country, Cast Members will hand out small paper “passports”. These passports can then be stamped and signed at each of the 11 countries. It is a great souvenir for the kids as well as a nice introduction to each of the countries.
The World Showcase has long gotten a reputation for not being a great park for younger kids, but I disagree. With this activity, it is easier to engage young children with each pavilion. While all of the Cast Members were sweet to my son when he did this activity, quite a few went above and beyond. Cast Members in Japan drew Baymax in his passort and the Moroccan Cast Member wrote his name in Arabic.
During the seasonal festivals, the booklet contains different information. For Flower and Garden in the spring, the booklets usually have a native flower and vegetable on each of the country’s pages. If you want to get fancy, there are quite a few cute handmade passports with stickers and more activities for sale on Etsy.
5. Memento Mori’s Spirit Photography
Inside Memento Mori, the Haunted Mansion gift shop in Liberty Square, there is a small photo studio. Spirit Photography will take your photo and make a lenticular 8 x 10 picture of your face that changes from normal to spooky and skeletal depending on what angle it is viewed from. This is the one activity on this list that is NOT free, but it isn’t terribly expensive. For older kids, or younger kids that aren’t easily scared, this is a great activity. The process is fun and it is a definitely a unique souvenir to have. We put ours up on the mantle every Halloween.
These five gems are just an example of some of the unique, off the beaten path activities at the parks. From free seasonal scavenger hunts to special behind the scenes tours, Disney World has a lot to offer. Do a little research and see what you can find that works for you and your family. You never know what you might discover.
