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When Spending Extra Adds Magic at Walt Disney World

A trip to Walt Disney World isn’t cheap. We know that is the reality of a trip to Walt Disney World. The cost of your Disney Resort, dining, tickets, souvenirs adds up quickly.

When you are thinking about where you should spend your budget, we have a few areas that when you spend a little extra, you can experience some additional magic.

Take a look at a few places where spending extra during your Walt Disney World Resort could improve your experience during your trip.

EPCOT area resort
EPCOT area resort

Your Disney Resort

Our first area for spending a little extra focuses on where you stay during your Walt Disney World vacation. We highly recommend spending the extra money to experience one of Disney’s amazing Resorts.

By staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you are not only get the to experience the fantastic Disney service throughout your trip, but there are bonuses as well. Those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel get into the four Disney Parks thirty minutes before posted opening. This allows Guests to enjoy some rides before the crowds arrive at the Parks.

Those staying at Disney Resorts also can use Disney’s complimentary transportation throughout the property. No worrying about parking or navigating the roads during the trip. You get to sit back and enjoy the ride.

We also recommend spending extra money to stay at a moderate or deluxe Resort. Even though we love Pop Century, you are getting more dining options, bigger rooms, and better pools by spending a little extra to experience a moderate or even a deluxe Resort.

Investing extra money in your Resort can improve your overall vacation experience.

California Grill
Credit: Disney

Special Dining Experiences

A big part of a Walt Disney World vacation is dining. Consider booking a unique dining experience for your vacation. Celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday, honeymoon, annivesrsary at one of DIsney’s unique signature dining locations. These locations are stunning and provide outstanding cuisine.

Character meals are another fun way to celebrate in Walt Disney World. There are a few that are above the rest. Breakfast at Disney’s Riviera Resort at Topolino’s would be a top choice.   You can see Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Donald at this fun breakfast unique costumes. They come around often, and the food here is outstanding.

Enjoying an exceptional meal at least once during your Disney trip is something we recommend spending a little extra money on.

Family on Sunset Blvd at Disney's After Hours
credit: Disney

Special Events

We also highly recommend spending extra money on a special event during your trip; for those traveling during the holiday season, purchasing a ticket to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. These two holiday parties allow Guests to experience these holiday parties at Magic Kingdom. They are magical, with special shows, fireworks, and character interactions.

Also back are Disney’s After Hours. These events will occur at EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom on select evenings throughout 2023. These events allow Guests to experience the Park for three additional hours after the Park has closed to regular Park Guests. Again, these are a great way to experience the Parks with low crowds, and you also get free snacks at these events.

These events are a great way to spend particular time in the Parks with lower crowds. If the price is too high, consider skipping a regular Park day and attending the party instead. This is an excellent way to experience the event without feeling like you are spending a lot of additional money.

up close with rhinos
Credit: Disney

Tours

If you want some additional magic during your Disney vacation, we highly recommend looking into a Disney tour.  These unique experiences take Guests behind the scenes and up close to the magic.

Disney does a fantastic job of providing tours for fans of all ages and interests.  If you are a Disney history fanatic, the Keys to the Kingdom tour in the Magic Kingdom is fantastic.  You learn about how the vision of Magic Kingdom came to be, visit some of the rides in the park, and take a tour of the tunnels used underneath the Magic Kingdom.

For animal lovers, Animal Kingdom has a variety of tours that allow Guests to get up close to some of the fantastic animals that live in the park. Caring for Giants is a tour that brings guests close to the elephants, and Up Close With Rhinos does just that- brings guests closer to Rhinos.  These are attractive options for animal lovers, and when they return to Animal Kingdom are well worth the cost.

VIP Tour Guide
Credit: Disney

Finally, consider the VIP Tours for a memorable and unique experience. These tours take Guests throughout the four parks, providing them with front of the line access to as many rides as they wish. This experience isn’t cheap, as a private tour runs anywhere from $425 to $850 per hour with a minimum of seven hours.  If you have a lot of birthday money saved, we highly recommend spending it on a VIP Tour. You truly will feel like a rockstar.

These are a few examples of when we think spending a little extra money can add a lot of extra magic to a Walt Disney World vacation. Disney isn’t cheap, but if you want to add a little extra to your trip, these are some of the ways we woul suggest doing so. Where would you spend a little extra during your next Walt Disey World trip?

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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