Debbie, I LOVE your plan! Can I join you? ;-)
Planning for days off during your WDW vacation is a GREAT idea. I find that it makes the vacation much more relaxing, and you get more time to enjoy your hotel/resort (even if off-site).
Regarding the Boardwalk area and Downtown Disney -- neither require any tickets to wander around. Some of the venues require admission (
DisneyQuest,
Cirque de Soleil,
Jellyrolls, etc.), but you can definitely have a great time just strolling these areas to enjoy the ambiance, people watch, and the (often) see some fun street entertainment.
By the way, one other great free (other than the cost of drinks) option that I highly recommend is YeHaa Bob who performs 8:30 to Midnight at the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside (near the front lobby). He is often there Tues-Sat nights, but please check his schedule at www.yehaabob.com to be sure. I'd recommend getting there approx. 30 minutes early to get good seating. He is a hoot for the whole family!
Hope that helps!