Most worthwhile splurges at DLR?

[nannyz]

I am blessed to have money to do everything I want to do in DL.
But my DD is a teacher and her husband is an aide to a disabled boy, and you all know that those folks are grossly underpaid. They have four children, so a trip to DL is a financial struggle for them.

This year I have decided to go to the Disney store in DTD on the night we get there and buy my DD a Disney gift card with a very large amount of money on it, so they can enjoy DL and not worry so much about the cost.

That will be my splurge this time.

 

[CaliforniaMama]

Ariels Grotto was worth it because my kids got to see the princesses over and over up close while we ate our meal. I wouldn't do it every time, but it was very exciting for them, especially my at the time 3 yo daughter. They really take the time to talk to the kids and pose for pictures at every table. The food was good (not worth the money, but fine), but you are paying for the experience.

 

[Malcon10t]

Dining at Club 33
Premium Viewing for Fantasmic! (so worth it)
Waiting with my granddaughter to meet princesses
VIP tours (worth it!)
Walk in Walt's Footsteps and in Walt's Apartment (again, so worth it.)
Cabana time at the DLH pools

 

[elliefusmom]

DVC Contract
Fantasmic Dessert Seating
Blue Bayou Lunch by waterside
DLH Cabana - we were staying @ PPH but had a half day @ the new pool!
Perfume @ Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie in New Orleans Square
Rain Forest Cafe' - Volcano Dessert
Christmas ornament, coffee mug, and Mickey Ears for my daughter on every trip

 

[Pesky]

* renting points to stay at VGC. The location was awesome! Even just the cartoons in the lobby were huge hits.
* Napa Rose Chef's Counter with the wine pairing. Actually a decent deal all things considered and amazing.
* Blue Bayou waterside dining. I don't feel like we need to do it again but the kids loved their salmon and watching the boats.
* Disneyland soundtrack CD -- the kids love listening to it and imagining they are on the rides.
* waiting for Anna and Elsa. We got both of them together and seeing DD's face meeting them was awesome.
* waiting to meet Jack Skellington -- again took a while but I ended up with two new NBC fans who could talk of nothing but Jack for weeks.
* PP+ -- loved grabbing the family shots and even with the bad ones, there were a number of great ones in there.
* Silhouettes

 

[MotoWifey185]

Love this thread! Reading about everyone else's splurges has given me some ideas. I think DH and I would like to do the port and chocolate tasting.. just have to see what kind of chocolate they want us to grab from Ghiardelli!

Our favorite splurges are:
Eat at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ
Tigger Tails!
Adding a night at the hotel instead of doing arrival and park in one day like we used to do to save money
One day staying on site!
Budgeting the time to watch F! Or fireworks

 

[danv]

I was fortunate to get a tour of the Dream Suite. Being able to spend the night there and do the after-hours tour would be the ultimate treat.

I would recommend spending a night either the Adventureland Suite or the Big Thunder Suite at the Disneyland Hotel. I also toured these suites and they are quite "magical". I would definitely have to be in a big splurging mood to stay there.

 

[aussietravellers]

Mickey's Birthday Wish in room celebration at GCH
Fantasmic dessert package
WOC dinner package
Cabana for the day at DLH pool
Premium AP's
Holiday Tour

 

[dedesmith32]

I love this! I'm currently planning for Disneyland in December 2014 and I'm trying to figure out where I want to splurge! So thank you!

 

[ScottyK86]

We got these a couple of months after Cars Land opened in 2012.

Worth every cent.

 

[profa]

Photo pass +
Which in turn made the character meals even more worth it - Surf's up
Ariel's Grotto - worth every penny to have this date with my DD4 - the pictures are beautiful, food was delicious, and she and the princesses were adorable.
Son chosen for the Star Wars show
Sons make their own light sabers - DH is a pushover but they still have them.

 

[goofyredraider]

I am blessed to have money to do everything I want to do in DL.
But my DD is a teacher and her husband is an aide to a disabled boy, and you all know that those folks are grossly underpaid. They have four children, so a trip to DL is a financial struggle for them.

This year I have decided to go to the Disney store in DTD on the night we get there and buy my DD a Disney gift card with a very large amount of money on it, so they can enjoy DL and not worry so much about the cost.

That will be my splurge this time.

And this my friend, is sharing the magic.

As a DL newbie, I am really enjoying hearing these splurges so I can plan some special moments for my kiddos.

 

[Nosepass]

Merchandise, merchandise, merchandise

 

[Skpnw]

I agree with many already listed. We splurge on putting the kids in Pinocchio's Workshop for one evening while husband and I can enjoy the parks and a nice dinner by ourselves. Kids have fun, we have fun. All is good!

 

[DHSbutcher]

My biggest splurge? Besides making the trip out there, since we are WDW locals and people think we're insane for going to California, is probably taking time away from the rides and stopping to just sit on a bench and take in the magic. By stopping for 15 minutes here and there we totally appreciate our visit more, and I just love noticing all the small details. Far worth more than any object I could have spent extra money on.

 

[mummabear]

Staying at the GCH
The Holiday Tour (can't beat those parade seats!)
The Fantasmic Dessert Seating (although I wish they would assign seats when you book it)
Getting a Harvey's Disney handbag with the 20 percent off coupon on the receipt
Eating at Storytellers
Ordering room service
Character meals

Yes, yes, yes it would make it easier for everyone...

 

[mummabear]

Our DL trip this past June was the most expensive one we've done because we celebrated my birthday and I told family "No presents, just Disneyland!"

That is exactly what I asked too!

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Staying at the GCH
WOC dinner package at CC
PP+
The time spent waiting for RSR and the canoes. RSR probably seems like a no brainer, but I'm so glad we waited for the canoes. We don't have them at WDW and they were such simple fun.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[larina]

The most worthwhile splurges are the things that make your heart happy! That's different for all of us, but we all have our things. For me: character breakfasts, staying onsite and a room with a view.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

It was a big splurge to travel from Kentucky to DL so I splurged a little while we were there:

Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour
Character Dinner @ Goofy's Kitchen
Mickey Sink
Cars Land Drink Cones
Disneyland Jacket