If you wish 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 acutely aware of worth–this listing is for you. We cowl which resort, eating, and different add-ons are well worth the cash, in addition to some that aren’t price it. (Updated November 7, 2022.)
We’ll begin by rapidly allotting with what isn’t price your trip {dollars}. As is probably going apparent from earlier posts, we’re not big on up-charge choices at Walt Disney World. You received’t discover dessert events, fireworks cruises, or just about any particular expertise on this listing. Not as a result of we haven’t executed them–however as a result of now we have and wouldn’t hassle with any of these issues once more. We additionally usually don’t suggest paying further to improve room views, nor are we eager on spas or makeovers.
One splurge we actually do get pleasure from 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 evaluations, it’s troublesome–if not not possible–to justify Club Level at Walt Disney World from an goal, value-for-money perspective. In reality, the exorbitant value and want for affordable different splurges is the primary motivation for this listing.
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 suggest. Specifically, ones that provide enough worth for the fee. That’s what this listing is all about, with the operative query for inclusion on this listing being, “is the quality of the experience commensurate with the cost?”
With that in thoughts, now we have quite a lot of nice splurges at Walt Disney World in any respect value factors and for friends 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 to do the issues on this listing.
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 precious than data, and that’s free.
With that out of the way in which, there may be one small splurge we usually suggest: Genie+ at Magic Kingdom. Arriving early, staying late, or following the opposite Best Time-Saving Strategy for Walt Disney World may also help you keep away from lengthy strains 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 suggest 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 listing.
Minnie’s Seasonal Dine is one exception to that. We’re notably massive 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 increasingly doubtful, these meals are nice options. Not solely is the meals good, however it’s an awesome likelihood to dress up for the season and take household pictures 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 beloved. (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 technique to get your toes moist with the world of Disney’s excursions. It’s the most affordable tour you are able to do, affords enjoyable information, and attention-grabbing backstage entry–all at a value level that feels truthful during 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 mentioned 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 possibility for everybody. Want a compact resort structure? 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 lodge? Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs is your greatest wager. Prefer one thing with good transportation, numerous eating, or tropical ambiance? There’s a purpose we name Caribbean Beach Resort the “Poly Lite.”
This lodge tier actually affords one thing for everybody–see our Walt Disney World Moderate Resort Rankings for execs & cons of every, and which is likely to be greatest for your loved ones.
Upgrading to the Lodges – It’s more and more troublesome to justify an improve to Deluxe Resorts except you hire DVC factors or handle to rating an awesome low cost. Even these aren’t positive issues, as DVC availability has turn into extra aggressive and common 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 forth.
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 (usually) Deluxe Resorts. They are themed to the hilt and customarily provide 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 guide the “Value Studio” at Animal Kingdom Lodge each time doable).
Dining on the Lodges – If staying on the lodges is out of the query, we extremely suggest eating at them. This one truly began out as particular restaurant suggestions, however we rapidly realized that we get pleasure from actually each restaurant at each Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. So, why not embrace each for the sake of providing quite a lot of choices at varied value factors?
Our high advice right here is to decelerate and make a night of it. Do both on a non-park day, and in the event you’re going to Wilderness Lodge, take the boat over. Enjoy sundown on the savanna in the event you’re heading to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Unwind within the lobbies after dinner. There’s no purpose 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 listing actually illustrates the operative query of the submit. 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 value paid. In the previous, that meant doing and recommending Victoria & Albert’s on uncommon, particular events. However, it has turn into a non-starter for us after the most recent value enhance.
Instead, we’re turning to a sleeper Signature Restaurant: Toledo at Gran Destino Tower. This is an distinctive date evening 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 undeniable fact that Toledo caters closely to conventioneers performs an enormous half in all of this, and can probably be certain that the restaurant maintains its excessive requirements. Toledo is completely well worth the difficult commute–and the Signature Restaurant we most take into account 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 young children and it’s merely not appropriate on your social gathering–right here’s a mid-tier different. Sebastian’s Bistro is a sleeper choose, and one which’s straightforward to entry from the Skyliner. Despite that handy location at Caribbean Beach Resort, this restaurant nonetheless flies below 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 most effective 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 whole lot of time protecting this in our Stone Harbor Club Level Review and I’m not going to rehash all of that right here. Basically, you wish to do a cut up keep (see our How to Do a Split Stay at Walt Disney World Hotels submit) 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 could possibly try this evening in the course 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 friends keen to pay further for one thing that was once free, and will result in the additional erosion of standard 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 mentioned, Disney After Hours affords nice alternatives to get a ton executed with minimal waits. These are notably good choices in the event you’re excited by doing the headliners repeatedly, you don’t rating essentially 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 shouldn’t be for everybody. The occasion additionally shouldn’t be strictly essential in the event you observe certainly one of our Walt Disney World Itineraries and solely wish to do every standard attraction as soon as per day. However, After Hours shall be nice for friends who need a stress-free technique to get pleasure from the most effective time of day at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the particular occasions return in early 2023. That could possibly be mentioned about every part on this listing of WDW’s high splurges, although.
Savi’s Workshop – Here’s one other one alongside those self same strains, albeit with a price proposition that’s extremely troublesome (if not not possible) to amount. Sure, there’s the actual world value of a lightsaber just like the one you construct, however Savi’s is a lot greater than that.
As you possibly can 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 youngsters, that is one thing particular that can make a long-lasting reminiscence. It’s arguably price it as a splurge or Christmas current. (At half the fee, Droid Depot may seem to be a greater different–it’s not.) It’s harder to justify with current value will increase, however we nonetheless assume that is the kind of expertise that’ll make indelible reminiscences for teenagers who’re Star Wars followers.
That’s it for our listing of the most effective worth for cash splurges at Walt Disney World. As with just about every part WDW-related, your mileage might differ. Some of you’ll probably discover nice worth within the issues we wrote off as “not worth it” on the high of the submit, whereas others might disagree with what we predict is price the additional cash. Reasonable minds might 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 awesome 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 standard experiences reserving up rapidly, 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 straightforward to fall into this entice, however you must attempt to keep away from it. You may simply drop an additional $5,000 or extra on extras and upcharges to “guarantee” an awesome 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 strain, which means extra pressure, and resulting in an awesome likelihood of meltdowns. We see this all the time.
Regardless of how a lot you spend or plan, you’re going to overlook out on one thing. That’s the dangerous 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 an incredible journey with out spending something further.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about inns 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 kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part it is advisable 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 listing you are feeling doesn’t belong? Questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!