Disney World is known for its incredible perks, especially for guests staying at Disney-owned hotels.

From early park entry to extended evening hours, these little bonuses can add serious value to your trip. But there’s one perk that might be slipping under the radar for half of Disney hotel guests, and it’s a FREEBIE that could save you big money. Thinking about that, we were wondering how many of you were making use of the free water park perk, so we reached out to you to get your thoughts. Well, we asked and you delivered!

We reached out to our followers on Instagram to ask: “Did you know Disney World hotel guests can visit a water park for FREE on their arrival day? We want to know how many of you are actually using that free ticket! Are you using the free water park perk?” We had quite a few of you respond to our poll question!

Now, you were basically split right down the middle into one of two camps: “Yes! I’m a fan of this hotel perk!” and “No! This perk is not for me.”

So let’s dive into your thoughts!

What’s the Deal With This Perk?

Just in case you didn’t know, for all of 2025, if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can get a complimentary ticket to a Disney water park on your arrival day. This includes Typhoon Lagoon, a tropical-themed paradise, or Blizzard Beach, Disney’s snow-covered oasis in the middle of Florida.

This free ticket is only valid on the day you check into your Disney hotel, and it’s a great way to kick off your vacation without having to use a park ticket or burn a day of your multi-day pass. It’s perfect for those who arrive in the morning or early afternoon and want something fun to do before diving into the theme parks.

Why Are People Skipping It?

So why is half of the Disney hotel crowd skipping out on this perk? Here are a few reasons that could be at play:

• Arrival-day exhaustion/late arrivals: Travel days can be long and tiring, and some guests may prefer to relax at their resort instead of jumping into a water park. A lot of people visiting, especially from places like the UK get in very late on their arrival day or are seriously jet lagged when they do arrive.
• Park priorities: Many guests want to head straight to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or another main park on arrival day, especially if they’ve planned a shorter trip.
• Not big on water parks: Some people just aren’t into water parks, whether it’s the slides, the wave pools, or the idea of walking around in a swimsuit all day.

Why You Should Consider Using It

If you haven’t used this perk before, it might be time to reconsider! Here’s why:

• It’s FREE: Disney isn’t exactly known for handing out free experiences, so this is a rare chance to enjoy a full Disney experience without paying extra.
• It’s a great way to unwind: After a long flight or drive, nothing beats floating down a lazy river or cooling off in a wave pool.
• It saves a park ticket: Instead of using a theme park ticket for a partial day, you can use your arrival day for a water park and save your park days for full experiences.

Those were just some of your thoughts on if you’re making use of the free water park perk, and now we want to hear even more from you! Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! Also, follow us on Instagram to join in on the next discussion.

This NEW Announcement Is Proving To Be CONTROVERSIAL with Disney Adults

Are you using the free water park perk at Disney World this year? Let us know in the comments below! 

The post 50% of Disney Fans Are NOT Using This New Hotel Perk first appeared on the disney food blog.