If you need to splurge on a little bit of luxurious on your Walt Disney World trip however are on a finances–or are merely a frugal vacationer who’s aware of worth–this record is for you. We cowl which resort, eating, and different add-ons are definitely worth the cash, in addition to some that aren’t price it. (Updated November 7, 2022.)
We’ll begin by shortly meting out with what isn’t price your trip {dollars}. As is probably going apparent from earlier posts, we’re not enormous on up-charge choices at Walt Disney World. You received’t discover dessert events, fireworks cruises, or just about any particular expertise on this record. Not as a result of we haven’t executed them–however as a result of we’ve and wouldn’t trouble with any of these issues once more. We additionally sometimes don’t advocate paying further to improve room views, nor are we eager on spas or makeovers.
One splurge we actually do take pleasure in is staying Club Level, however even that’s one with which we grapple. As famous in our Guide to Club Level & Concierge Lounges at Disney World and a few particular critiques, it’s troublesome–if not unattainable–to justify Club Level at Walt Disney World from an goal, value-for-money perspective. In reality, the exorbitant price and need for affordable various splurges is the principle motivation for this record.
In our Review of Atrium Club Level at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, a number of readers left feedback requesting a listing of extra attainable splurges that we advocate. Specifically, ones that supply ample worth for the fee. That’s what this record is all about, with the operative query for inclusion on this record being, “is the quality of the experience commensurate with the cost?”
With that in thoughts, we’ve quite a lot of nice splurges at Walt Disney World in any respect worth factors and for visitors with just about any finances!
Genie+ at Magic Kingdom – Let’s begin small. Many of you’re stretching your budgets simply to make a visit to Walt Disney World occur within the first place. You may already be nervous about cascading prices, or not having a memorable journey since you received’t be capable of do the issues on this record.
Let me cease you proper there. Like so many issues in life, Walt Disney World is what you make of it. There are so some ways to beat the crowds and have a good time with “only” the bottom expertise. Few issues in life and when visiting Walt Disney World are extra priceless than data, and that’s free.
With that out of the way in which, there may be one small splurge we sometimes advocate: Genie+ at Magic Kingdom. Arriving early, staying late, or following the opposite Best Time-Saving Strategy for Walt Disney World might help you keep away from lengthy traces in different parks, however there’s no such fool-proof strategy to Magic Kingdom. This can also be one case the place time is cash, and shopping for Genie+ can imply doing Magic Kingdom for just one day as an alternative of two.
Minnie’s Seasonal Dine – In and of itself, character eating is pricey and isn’t categorically a worthwhile splurge in all instances. Sure, we love and extremely advocate pre-park opening breakfast in addition to a number of resort character meals, however most in-park character meals don’t even come shut to creating this record.
Minnie’s Seasonal Dine is one exception to that. We’re notably large followers of Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Christmas and Minnie’s Halloween Dine. With the worth proposition of each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party being an increasing number of doubtful, these meals are nice alternate options. Not solely is the meals good, however it’s an important likelihood to dress up for the season and take household photographs with characters which might be likewise in particular apparel.
Behind the Seeds Tour – I’ll preface this by saying that I’m the flawed particular person to ask about backstage or VIP excursions. We’ve now some from each classes, and Behind the Seeds at Epcot is the one one I’ve liked. (Almost everybody we all know has nothing however effusive reward for each Walt Disney World tour they’ve executed, so what do I do know.)
Irrespective of all that, Behind the Scenes at Epcot is the proper approach to get your ft moist with the world of Disney’s excursions. It’s the most affordable tour you are able to do, affords enjoyable information, and fascinating backstage entry–all at a worth level that feels honest throughout the tour.
Upgrading to a Moderate – While we love Pop Century (particularly now that it affords Skyliner transportation), there’s undoubtedly one thing to be stated for the resort expertise at Walt Disney World, and that doesn’t actually kick in till you’ve moved from the Values to the Moderates.
Fortunately, on the Moderate tier, there’s an choice for everybody. Want a compact resort format? Go with Port Orleans French Quarter. Looking for a romantic resort appropriate for a honeymoon? Port Orleans Riverside all the way in which. Want a business-class resort? Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs is your greatest wager. Prefer one thing with good transportation, various eating, or tropical ambiance? There’s a cause we name Caribbean Beach Resort the “Poly Lite.”
This resort tier actually affords one thing for everybody–see our Walt Disney World Moderate Resort Rankings for professionals & cons of every, and which is perhaps greatest for your loved ones.
Upgrading to the Lodges – It’s more and more troublesome to justify an improve to Deluxe Resorts except you lease DVC factors or handle to rating an important low cost. Even these aren’t certain issues, as DVC availability has grow to be extra aggressive and basic public reductions are rarer, with extra exclusions and fewer availability. The rack charges have gotten so excessive that even with a 20-30% low cost, the costs don’t match the extent of service, room high quality, and so on.
The two exceptions to this are Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge, which additionally simply so occur to be Walt Disney World’s two least costly (sometimes) Deluxe Resorts. They are themed to the hilt and usually supply one thing you can’t get from a real-world counterpart. Of course, we nonetheless go for the absolute best deal at each (we attempt to e book the “Value Studio” at Animal Kingdom Lodge each time attainable).
Dining on the Lodges – If staying on the lodges is out of the query, we extremely advocate eating at them. This one really began out as particular restaurant suggestions, however we shortly realized that we take pleasure in actually each restaurant at each Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. So, why not embody each for the sake of providing quite a lot of choices at varied worth factors?
Our prime suggestion right here is to decelerate and make a night of it. Do both on a non-park day, and should you’re going to Wilderness Lodge, take the boat over. Enjoy sundown on the savanna should you’re heading to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Unwind within the lobbies after dinner. There’s no cause to not flip this right into a 3-hour, leisurely expertise. (As for particular eating suggestions, our favorites are Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge and, for one thing completely totally different, Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge.)
Toledo Steakhouse – This one making the record actually illustrates the operative query of the put up. Here, it’s essential to keep in mind that there’s an enormous distinction between cheapness and frugality. We are keen to pay for high quality and luxurious, particularly when the worth given matches the worth paid. In the previous, that meant doing and recommending Victoria & Albert’s on uncommon, particular events. However, it has grow to be a non-starter for us after the newest worth improve.
Instead, we’re turning to a sleeper Signature Restaurant: Toledo at Gran Destino Tower. This is an distinctive date night time vacation spot, with an bold and enjoyable idea, scrumptious meals, distinctive views, and costs–for the standard of the delicacies–that aren’t inflated an excessive amount of by Walt Disney World requirements. The indisputable fact that Toledo caters closely to conventioneers performs an enormous half in all of this, and can seemingly make sure that the restaurant maintains its excessive requirements. Toledo is completely definitely worth the difficult commute–and the Signature Restaurant we most contemplate splurge-worthy. (Topolino’s Terrace and Flying Fish are additionally proper up there.)
Sebastian’s Bistro – If Signature Dining is just too wealthy on your blood–or you have got babies and it’s merely not appropriate on your celebration–right here’s a mid-tier various. Sebastian’s Bistro is a sleeper decide, and one which’s simple to entry from the Skyliner. Despite that handy location at Caribbean Beach Resort, this restaurant nonetheless flies underneath the radar of most Walt Disney World followers. The new household model service at Sebastian’s Bistro holds its personal and affords distinctive high quality on par with conventional desk service eating.
It’s arguably the very best buffet or family-style meal, proper up there with Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Far superior to ‘Ohana, which definitely qualifies as a good splurge that you’ll bear in mind, however not worth splurge. By distinction, Sebastian’s Bistro affords distinctive worth for cash. For $32 per particular person, you’ll have a meal that’s higher than the $59 dinner at ‘Ohana.
SS Harbor Beach Club – We spent a number of time overlaying this in our Stone Harbor Club Level Review and I’m not going to rehash all of that right here. Basically, you need to do a break up keep (see our How to Do a Split Stay at Walt Disney World Hotels put up) and take full benefit of the Club Level lounge and Stormalong Bay over the course of two days.
Booking a 1-night keep at Beach Club for the top of your journey and taking a late flight out in your final day is ideal. Alternatively, you can do this night time in the midst of a three-resort journey, with a few relaxed resort days to decompress amidst your trip. It’s price noting that this isn’t our favourite Club Level at Walt Disney World, however the “SS Harbor Beach Club Strategy” is your greatest wager for squeezing each ounce of worth out of a Club Level keep.
Disney After Hours – I hesitate to incorporate these paid night hours for a few hours. First, as a result of doing so makes us “part of the problem” of visitors keen to pay further for one thing that was free, and will result in the additional erosion of normal hours. Second, as a result of I don’t completely belief that Walt Disney World received’t oversell these sooner or later, as has been the case with the Halloween and Christmas events.
With that stated, Disney After Hours affords nice alternatives to get a ton executed with minimal waits. These are notably good choices should you’re desirous about doing the headliners repeatedly, you don’t rating probably the most coveted Genie+ trip reservations, or you have got restricted trip time. (Essentially, that is one for individuals who prioritize their time over their cash.)
As with all issues, Disney After Hours just isn’t for everybody. The occasion additionally just isn’t strictly obligatory should you comply with considered one of our Walt Disney World Itineraries and solely need to do every widespread attraction as soon as per day. However, After Hours can be nice for visitors who desire a stress-free approach to take pleasure in the very best time of day at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the particular occasions return in early 2023. That may very well be stated about all the things on this record of WDW’s prime splurges, although.
Savi’s Workshop – Here’s one other one alongside those self same traces, albeit with a worth proposition that’s extremely troublesome (if not unattainable) to amount. Sure, there’s the actual world price of a lightsaber just like the one you construct, however Savi’s is a lot greater than that.
As you’ll be able to learn in our Is Star Wars Land’s $250 Lightsaber Experience Worth It? evaluate, we had been blown away by this. We nearly didn’t do it due to the fee, however are very glad we did. For grownup Star Wars followers or children, that is one thing particular that can make an enduring reminiscence. It’s arguably price it as a splurge or Christmas current. (At half the fee, Droid Depot may appear to be a greater various–it’s not.) It’s harder to justify with latest worth will increase, however we nonetheless assume that is the kind of expertise that’ll make indelible reminiscences for youths who’re Star Wars followers.
That’s it for our record of the very best worth for cash splurges at Walt Disney World. As with just about all the things WDW-related, your mileage could fluctuate. Some of you’ll seemingly discover nice worth within the issues we wrote off as “not worth it” on the prime of the put up, whereas others could disagree with what we expect is price the additional cash. Reasonable minds could differ and all that.
One factor that does bear stressing earlier than we shut out this text is that no enhancements or up-charges are essential to have an important journey to Walt Disney World. When it involves on-line journey planning and social media, there’s a pervasive sense of FOMO that drives many individuals to spend on pointless experiences. This is exacerbated by sure widespread experiences reserving up shortly, however that’s much less a mirrored image of high quality and demand than it’s restricted provide and the FOMO machine. (Looking at you, dessert events!)
It’s simple to fall into this lure, however it’s best to attempt to keep away from it. You may simply drop an additional $5,000 or extra on extras and upcharges to “guarantee” an important journey to Walt Disney World…and find yourself having an inferior expertise to somebody who didn’t purchase any of these issues. Spending extra creates extra stress, that means extra stress, and resulting in an important likelihood of meltdowns. We see this the entire time.
Regardless of how a lot you spend or plan, you’re going to overlook out on one thing. That’s the unhealthy information. The excellent news is that among the greatest magical moments at Walt Disney World happen by likelihood, and no quantity of spending or planning can “force” these to occur. In brief, spend strategically on splurges to deal with your self right here and there, however don’t chase perfection. It’s a idiot’s errand, and you may have a tremendous journey with out spending something further.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the things you could know!
Your Thoughts
What are your favourite Walt Disney World splurges? Anything providing nice bang for buck that you just assume we missed? Anything that made the record you’re feeling doesn’t belong? Questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!