Your list of WDW extra splurges…

[Scalemaster34]

At today’s Disney prices my splurges are things like:
Tickets
Food
Parking

Glad you can afford the parking...

 

[ZellyB]

Victoria & Alberts

 

[bsmcneil]

The Trek is a private safari tour with some walking, near the end they feed you.

For whatever reason, this made me think of getting fed like animals

 

[JCornell]

When I compare and think what's truly special about WDW:
- The resorts - there are so many and most are easily accessible by monorail, skyliner, and boat - all of their individual theming and seasonal decorations are awesome
- The four parks and how spaced they are compared to DL. It's so much bigger and a monorail ride from MK to Epcot will show that (as will a boat from Epcot to DHS). They don't have anything like AK and all of the food and drink options at all of the parks vs. DL.
- All of the additional festival activities and booths. Epcot has a festival going on just about all year long so there's always something new to check out.
- Disney Springs - DTD in DL is nothing compared to what they now have at DS - if you want to splurge though, you can do the balloon or the amphi-cars.
- A splurge to me is just staying completely in the Disney bubble. Staying on-site and using only Disney transportation to do everything (more of a splurge to do if you stay monorail or boardwalk area)

 

[AndreaA]

I LOVED the paid extra morning hours events with breakfast included at MK and HS. Sadly they are currently on hold. Totally worth the money, especially during hot weather. We were done and leaving parks by 11am!

 

[kathy884]

We have relatives in the area and go to Orlando a lot. I've tried a few of the extras, was disappointed, and these days typically just stick to theme park admissions. Do note that I am budget conscious and have a bit of a bean counter personality. Most of the extras I have tried (and maybe if you are not as budget conscious this might not be so much a concern) IMHO are overpriced and not worth it (were a one and done for me). Please take this into consideration when reading my comments about some of the extra things I have tried. I do feel that the parks themselves are world class, are super fun, offer a great experience, and are worth it. The only extra I do every trip and this is from another company not WDW is get a subscription to touringplans.com to get the most out of my park days and limit the time I spend in lines. I like their touring plans for my park days and their lines app. I would not hesitate (note though I am only doing two Disney days on my next visit and don't have a super larger group) to get Genie+ or lightening land to reduce lines.

-- After hours parties -- prefer regular tickets to the parks (thought the lines for attractions were way longer than I expected, crowds at party parades were over the top, lines for character meet and greets at parties were heavy -- too many tickets sold) -- one and done for me (did the after hours Christmas party once). Didn't care for the free cookies or hot chocolate.
-- Did the Fatasmic dinner package once at DHS at Mama Melrose's. (overpriced mediocre Italian food and we had to wait about a 1/2 hour to be seated even though we had a dinner reservation. And then to make sure we had a place to sit to see the night time show in the reserved section, even with the package, we had to show up an hour in advance). I might as well have saved my money, brought some sandwiches along, and just found my own seat before the show an hour and a 1/2 before the show and eaten while waiting or come last minute and seen the show from where ever - last minute fill in seating (one and done)
-- Did the Polynesian luau, did the Hoop de doo review at Fort Wilderness -- perfectly nice, perfectly acceptable food, perfectly acceptable shows but seemed pricey for what it is was. Hoop de Doo isn't really my kind of humor -- kind of like Hee Haw.
-- Table service dinners (Boma dinner buffet at the Animal Kingdom Lodge), (dinner at Ohana at the Polynesian) -- nice excuse to get over to the lovely deluxe resort grounds (we enjoy walking around the grounds of these resorts before the meals)-- I enjoyed the settings and the meals, but personally feel the meals are overpriced for what they are (cost pp). DH used to find the Boma dinner worth it, but last time we went some of the African dishes had been replaced on the buffet with more basic foods that might appeal to a family theme park crowd and we no longer eat here.) I do think the theming of the Animal Kingdom Lodge in particular is really nice -- Parents who have been to South Africa think the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Animal Kingdom park are quite authentic.
-- A stay at a deluxe resort (high tower view room at Contemporary). Do note, that DH had a seminar and we were upgraded to this room at the convention price and DH's company paid for four of the five nights that we stayed here (three and a 1/2 day conference). Loved being able to watch the little electric light parade from the balcony that I remember back from the 70s when I used to camp with my family at Fort Wilderness (nostalgia and making new memories with my family all at the same time). Liked it so much that I actually priced similar rooms for our next spring break trip and went into sticker shock and happily did an owner rental of a lovely offsite timeshare condo (super good value).
-- I've looked at things like behind the scenes tours (Keys to the Kingdom at the Magic Kingdom) and the Wild Africa Trek (looked really cool till I looked at the pp cost of this one -- double ouch). These get great reviews FYI, but theme park admission plus these high priced tours were budget busters for me, so I have never tried them. Also, my 20 somethings don't want to see behind the scenes lol - thought it might spoil the magic.

The main issue I think for me are that Disney extras and budget conscious don't really fit well together. I am a huge Disney park fan though and have been to WDW about thirty times since 1971 when the Magic Kingdom first opened.

By all means do whatever extras you want and have a fantastic time. Just wanted to share another perspective.

 

[MIALIAS]

great advice - anyone know if new things will be added?

 

[ZeeWP]

for us it will be:

1) Genie+ and ILL$ on days and rides we need
2) One really expensive table service restaurant and one thanksgiving night experience.

That's it really. I don't do anything like dessert party or whatever. my family is cheap lol

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

These are some of my "extras"

I'm not up to date if any of these things are currently available:

*Grand Floridan Tea at the GF Resort ADR required
** The Magic behind the Steam Trains Tour Did this with dad on his 77th B- day reservations required
***I did another tour in MK for my sister's B day a few years ago (?) Walking down MainStreet, sorry I can't find the tour online today. reservations required
The Dinnershow at the Polynesian Resort - No longer available