Disney World without tickets still magical

Being at Walt Disney World without tickets is still a magical experience. I had the opportunity to test the theory of doing Disney without tickets and had a great time.

Here is how we did it.

Dancers at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World offers lots of added perks for guests that stay in one of their resort properties. Staying on the property is the first step to the Disney magic. The trick is to choose well.

 All of the resorts have perks and amenities. Do some research to select the property that works best for you. I stayed at the campsites at the Disney Fort Wilderness Resort because of all of the amenities. My previous stays have included Pop Century and Port Orleans and was pleased both times.

Some of the amenities offered at the Campsites at Fort Wilderness include a free nightly Chip and Dale sing-a-long and campfire, sandy beach with sports, pool and hiking trails. Also, the beach is a good place to view the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom -- for free.

Choosing the place to stay is the first step. The next is to find cool things to do. Walt Disney World is the definition of cool activities.

Downtown Disney
We spent an entire afternoon in this area. It has the largest Walt Disney store in the world and free samples at the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop. We also got to take in the free performance at Waterside Stage.

Although not free, we did eat dinner at Planet Hollywood (one of my favorites). You can walk around the gift shop even if you don't eat at the restaurant. There are two and both are interesting.

We planned to:

• Visit Animal Kingdom Lodge to view the animals from the Savannah Overlook
• Go to Boardwalk to take in the Coney Island-type atmosphere
• Ride the monorail
• Take the boat from the Campsites at Fort Wilderness to the Magic Kingdom
• Check out the gift shops at the Conteporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts via monorail
• Take a hike
• Go to the sing-a-long with Chip and Dale and enjoy the campfire

We ran out of time before the activity list ran out. Finishing the list gives me another reason to visit Walt Disney World. Have you taken advantage of any of the free areas or activities? If so, leave a comment to let me know which ones you liked the best. I may add it to my future itinerary.