What do you splurge on at Disney?

[StitchBuddy]

Okay, if I were going with 2 children 9 and under I would stay at a moderate hotel (you won't spend much time in the hotel), and my splurge would be the Disney Dining Plan, you can't go wrong if you have kids 9 and under!! It is a deal!!!!!! The resturants are so cool and you could do one character meal a day if you so desire!! That time of year won't be busy, the parks will have shorter hours, so I don't know if a Park Hopper Pass would be that useful. You must stay on site though to get the benefit of extra magic hours. Hope you have lots of fun!!!

 

[gracie1]

Last October we went and stayed at a value resort. We figured that just going to disney was a splurge. I didn't think I would even want to go back (and now can't wait to go back). We stayed at Pop century, but the splurge was getting La Nouba tickets, we did the pirate cruise (which was awesome with Peter Pan and Captain Hook) and we also did two nights of the halloween party! We did parkhoppers and stayed for 10 nights, or 11, I can't remember.

I would love to stay at a monorail resort, but honestly, for the amount of time we were at the resort I could not justify staying even at a moderate!!!

I am hoping to go back in November 2011 (if not it will be in 2012) and would love to see it decorated for christmas and I want to take my little nephew who will be 7 or 8 depending when we go.

I'm sure everyone will agree that we all have different splurges, but one thing I would definately do it I were you, is get the photopass! We did, and I would do that every trip!

 

[irishsharon]

I just want to say thank you to everyone for the wonderful tips and advice. My DH and I actually spent one day at epcot for our mini honeymoon almost 14 years ago,we did not eat at any of the restaurants or stay onsite.We did feel special to visit so many countries in one day!We are thinking of 7 or 8 nights and plan to stay onsite(my dh has medical issues with his leg so we plan to take breaks so I was thinking of a moderate)We would love to do alot of character meals so dp or delxdp?I want to make this a trip we can all enjoy.We orginally planed a trip for this past Aug. but my DH's car died unexpectantly so we had to cancel.This summer was awful hot here so we decieded to plan a trip for Feb. I have a disney savings acount started and I don't have to worry about the boys spending money because of advise I got here on the Dis my boys got gift cards from family for holidays and birthdays! Keep the advice coming I'm taking notes!

 

[Chee Chick]

My splurge is on deluxe hotels. I always say the parks are treats for the kids and the hotel is mine!

 

[Sagginit]

we splurge to upgrade free dining to deluxe. keep in mind since you are asking some meals need two meals, so those 3 a day can go quick depending on where you eat.

we also splurge on a town car service so we dont waste half our first and last day on a bus to get to the resort.

and with ddp park hoppers are a must.

as 2 adults we dont care much for souvenirs or balloons or snacks etc so the money spent on those things are the only real extras.

 

[cjnix29]

We splurge on our resort. We actually do like to spend time at the pool, and hanging out at the hotel, so for us, it's worth it. This past trip, I splurged on a tour...did the Keys to the Kingdom tour. That was the BEST money I have ever spent at WDW. DS likes the kids clubs, so we let him do that. This past trip, he begged to go TWICE!! This wasn't really a splurge, as it isn't that much more expensive than we pay sitters at home. And we haven't had a sitter in a long time. So while he is having fun, we get some us time. Win Win!

But we do'nt slurge on dining. There aren't any restaurants there that I ever think I HAVE to eat at for the price it costs. And it's not a priority for us. But what I always say...is that is what is so great about Disney...every one can do it their own way and have a great vacation!

 

[Dziactor]

1. DVC - Now that its fully paid...
2. Meals
3. With whatever is left over will buy a tee shirt or two.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

I forgot to mention the photopass CD...it is so worth it!

 

[jjan]

The fact that we go at all is the splurge.

I agree. We really go as cheaply as possible and as many times as possible. My DD and I usually get something in the range of $20-$30 each and we skip expensive resorts, table service meals, etc. Also, beware- a "once-in-a-lifetime trip" can easily become the first of many

 

[MNTwinsMom]

For our family, we splurge on:

1. Staying on-site - we love to be in the Disney bubble!
2. Park hoppers - morning in one park, mid-day break at the resort and evening in another park.
3. Souvenirs - I never pay full price for anything at home, but put a Mickey face on it and I'll pay any price.
4. Photopass CD

From your posts I'd suggest a monorail resort, especially if you think you'll be doing lots of character meals. Contemporary, Poly and GF all have great character meals. You can waste a lot of travel time going between resorts - being on the monorail loop would save you lots of time.

 

[Marionnette]

I just want to say thank you to everyone for the wonderful tips and advice. My DH and I actually spent one day at epcot for our mini honeymoon almost 14 years ago,we did not eat at any of the restaurants or stay onsite.We did feel special to visit so many countries in one day!We are thinking of 7 or 8 nights and plan to stay on site(my dh has medical issues with his leg so we plan to take breaks so I was thinking of a moderate)We would love to do alot of character meals so dp or delxdp?I want to make this a trip we can all enjoy.We orginally planed a trip for this past Aug. but my DH's car died unexpectantly so we had to cancel.This summer was awful hot here so we decieded to plan a trip for Feb. I have a disney savings acount started and I don't have to worry about the boys spending money because of advise I got here on the Dis my boys got gift cards from family for holidays and birthdays! Keep the advice coming I'm taking notes!

Ive done the deluxe dining plan and unless you expect to do alot of signature dining its too much food. I would go with a deluxe resort instead. The amount of traveling time that you save by being nearer to the park of your choice will be a great value to you. This is especially true when you anticipate taking breaks back at your resort. My favorite for families with children the same age as yours would be the polynesian. You have monorail and boat transportation to the magic kingdom. And you can easily walk to the ticket and transportation center where you can catch the monorail to epcot. Plus the theming at the polynesian is so relaxing. Dont bother with a theme park view room b/c they are often only partial views. My second choice would be to rent points from a vacation club member and stay at the bay lake towers. You would have a small kitchen and access to the monorail thru the contemporary. Plus the magic kingdom is a short walk away which means no waiting for buses or boats.

 

[mrsklamc]

We did splurge on Discovery Cove once, and that was absolutely worth it.

 

[kalliyan1]

A Car!!!! We always rent a car. For all the reasons everyone is suggesting a monorail resort, a car takes care of that. Don't get me wrong, someday I would love to stay at a monorail resort but we are hardly in the room so I just cant justify the difference in price, and its a BIG difference. We stay at POP, which is the best value resort IMO, have the car so we don't have to wait for buses, and come and go as we please. By staying on property, you don't have to pay for parking at the parks either. Also, it's a quick and easy way to get back and forth to the airport without wasting alot of time. If you check frequently, there are always deals for cars in FL

We also like the dining plan and usually upgrade to the deluxe. I have little girls and they all the character meals.

We used to do the hoppers but don't anymore. We found we really didn't use them enought to justify the extra money.

Whatever you plan, it will be a GREAT trip. Like a PP posted, I know you think it might be the trip of a lifetime but its addicting

 

[mjkacmom]

Last time, we splurged renting DVC points for a 2 bedroom BCV, and of course hoppers, since we were walking distance to 2 parks. We did the dining plan, but that was when app's and tip were included. I can't think of a restaurant at WDW that is better than a restaurant here (NYC metro area), so I would skip the DDP now.

 

[Dancemom03]

For us...
1) the YC/Bc - CL if we're feeling flush that trip.
2) Restraurants, but we don't usually do the dining plan and instead use DDE/TIW.
3) A rental car for the trips when we fly to get to the outlets and favorite off-property destinations - I always get a good piece of framed art, nice watch or jewelry at the outlet and the DDs buy pins but we have to really love a souvie to pay full price on property for it so don't buy too much else.
4) A golf cart when at FW - not sure if this would be considered a splurge or just an added essential b/c it's a must.
5) Recreation - water mice, pontoon rental, waterskiing, trail ride, or a tour to make the vacation extra memorable.

 

[eliza61]

We're return visitors so our splurges tend to change over time. We're now into doing the "tours". Next summer I want to splurge on the segway tour of Epcot.

I use to splurge on really nice sweatshirts. Now I don't like how every thing is homogeneous. You use to be able to get different designs at different places.

 

[Disney-Chick]

Everyone one is different as to what they want to spend their money on.

When we first went on our trip back in 2006 we were not sure when we would get back. I know we bought more souvenirs then anything. We stayed at POP and alway do as we are in the parks hitting the rides. We did try booking restaruants but found it a waste of time. We did always do Chef Mickey's, but even stopped doing that. We do get the DP but this year were only going to do the QDP. I don't eat much food while im away, and most of it I share with my DD. I lost 5 lbs one year when we went for 3 weeks.

We also drive down now as the first year we spent $2500 for 3 of us to fly. Now it costs us about $700-$800 to drive/eat/hotel for there and back. So our splurge is going once a year.

We always buy the hoppers and stay for EMH. That is our fav. Again we are all about the rides.

DF always splurges on the pictures that are taken on rides. We buy everyone of them. They now have it on Space Mountain which im not big on that ride but now have to do it once each year for the picture.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Colleen27]

1.) Food! We do the deluxe dining plan so that we can have all sorts of lovely meals without looking at the menu prices. We live in a town with very limited options for eating out, none of them better than just okay, and we don't eat out much at all in our day-to-day lives, so nice restaurants are a big part of any vacation for us.

2.) Resort. No offsite and no values, I want a hot tub to unwind in at the end of a long day in the parks and I don't want to have to drive to get there.

3.) Experiences. We've done BBB for DD, Pirate's League for both our older kids, the steam trains tour for DS, the Behind the Seeds tour for the whole family, and as the kids get older I'm sure we'll do more.

Really, travel itself is our splurge - we spend between 10-20% of our annual income on vacationing, and being able to do that is the biggest motivation for all my budgeting and cost-cutting at home. I'm sort of a minimalist when it comes to material possessions and the kids have picked up that attitude from me so we don't spend much on souvenirs or impulse items (like the glowing stuff during Wishes, the mister fans, etc) that end up as little more than clutter when we get home, but I'll happily spend on extra events/experiences that enhance our vacation and make memories.

 

[marie1203]

For us it really depends on the trip. We always splurge in at least one tour or a party if it is going on. Photopass since it is always just the 2 of us. Food is something we splurge in vacations. Honestly we don't budget ourself much on vacations we always seem to come back from Disney with millions of bags of extra things.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

If it was a once in a lifetime trip, I would:

1. Stay on site
2. Do the dining plan and do at least 1 charater meal.
3. Get Park Hoppers so you are free to go to more than 1 park a day
4. Have a day to enjoy DD, A Water Park & some of other resorts
5. Plan a magical extra like the Pirate Fireworks Cruise or a specialty Tour
6. Get a Photopass
7. Get Autograph books for the kids