It’s Shockingly Cheap To Do These 9 Super Cool Things in Disney World

Do you want to know some incredible tips about things NOBODY will tell you?!

We make it our duty to keep you in the know about Disney World activities that are unique and fly right under the radar. Full transparency, some of these will cost you an extra price, and some are completely free. But, either way, if you want to add a little more variety to your upcoming Disney World trip, you’re more than welcome to add them to your vacation itinerary. 

Let’s dive right in!

Ride in a Giant Balloon 

Have you ever wanted to fly high in the sky? Well, guess what? You can. You’re welcome. 

Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight, is an attraction located on the west side of Disney Springs. If you’ve ever been to Disney Springs (or at the very least have seen a picture of it), then you’ve seen this attraction. It’s kinda hard to miss the giant, blue balloon floating above the shopping district, after all. 

This is the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon that’s built to lift you 400 feet into the sky for 360-degree views during a tethered 8-minute balloon ride.

Tickets are $25 for adults (ages 10 and older) and $20 for children (ages 3 to 9). You can typically book a ride between 9AM to 11PM from Monday through Thursday and 9AM to 11:30PM Friday through Saturday, but check online for the most up-to-date hours.

However, if it gets a little too breezy out there, your flight’s gonna have to be rescheduled. (Balloons + wind  does not equal a good time.)

Under-the-radar hotel activities

How about having a Disney World resort day where you just take full advantage of all the amenities and recreational offerings the resorts have at your disposal? What can you do besides hitting up the pools and dining?

Each Disney resort has different activities that are unique AND crafty for each day of your visit. Some of these activities are free, and some of them may cost a bit of money upfront. Let’s look at a few examples real quick:

At Disney’s Coronado Springs, you can make Spanish Mosaic Art for $25 per person. This activity happens at Dahlia Lounge once every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 1PM to 3PM. 

They also have the Colors of Coronado Painting Experience for $35 per person. This activity happens every Friday from 1PM to 3PM. 

Ride a Horse

Guests 9 and older can go on a 45-minute horseback ride on the scenic, wooded trails around Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. These rides cost around $55 per person and can be booked beforehand by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. Just don’t forget to pack your close-toed shoes! You won’t be allowed to ride without them! 

Do you have a kiddo who isn’t tall enough for the big horsies yet? Fort Wilderness also offers Pony Rides, too, over at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch. (You may even get to see Cinderella’s Ponies if the timing’s just right!)

Pony rides are $8 per person for guests 2 and older who are under 80 pounds and 48 inches. A parent or guardian must lead the pony at all times, and the rider must be able to hang on by themselves. (There are no reservations for the pony rides, so it’s first-come, first-serve!)

Looking for a more relaxing ride with minimal effort on your part? Go for a horse-drawn carriage ride at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground area OR at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Area.

These 25-minute rides are $55 per carriage and can carry up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended! So call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-5277 ahead of time to book your ride!

Caring For Giants

Over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can also take advantage of a backstage tour and have the chance to get up close to some of the largest animals on the savanna — elephants!

The Caring For Giants Tour costs $35 per person and is a 60-minute experience that brings guests behind the scenes to observe the elephants under Disney’s care from approximately 80 to 100 feet away. During the tour, animal specialists will explain how they take care of the elephants, African cultural representatives will share stories of Disney’s conservation efforts in their homelands, and guests get plenty of time for photos.

AllEars Readers who have taken this tour have found it to be worth the extra cost, saying that they used it to make Disney’s Animal Kingdom a “full-day park” and only wishing that the tour was longer because they “could have watched [the elephants] all day long.” Plus, most readers even said that they were one of the only families on the tour making it a more exclusive and personalized experience.

Also, Disney Visa Cardmembers get 15% OFF this tour!

Up Close with Rhinos

While you’re there in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can also get up close to rhinos!

The Up Close with Rhinos is a 60-minute guided adventure where you’ll get up close with the planet’s second-largest land animal– the white rhinoceros for $45 per person. Keppers will take you backstage for a rare encounter with the giants. The guides will provide insights into the rhino’s behavior and biology and any threats the species faces.

Also, Disney Visa Cardmembers get 15% OFF this tour!

Behind The Seeds

EPCOT is also home to a few behind-the-scenes tours including the highly-rated Behind The Seeds Tour! The one-hour guided tour costs $35 per person and consists of an up-close look at the fish farm and four greenhouses that make up The Land Pavilion. During Behind the Seeds, you’ll visit the fish farm during feeding time, get up close with gigantic fruits and vegetables and unusual crops from around the world, learn about the newest plant-growing techniques that Disney is using, and leave with ideas for your own garden.

As one of our readers said, “If you are the kind of person who never skips Living with the Land, then this tour is totally worth it.” The tour is “the perfect length” and still leaves plenty of time to enjoy the park during the day but some reviewers critiqued it for involving lots of standing and mostly showing things that could already be seen on the Living With The Land attraction.

Also, Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney Visa Cardmembers get 15% OFF this tour!

Keep in mind that Disney World has so much more to do than just going to the theme parks. Make sure to stay on top of all the offerings available on the property and keep checking back with us for more unique activities and updates for your next Disney World trip!

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Have you had any of these unique experiences in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!