8 Disney World Splurges That Are Wastes of Money
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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So, you’re planning your dream trip to Disney World. Before you make reservations or book your tickets, take a look at the cost of going. Unless you don’t have a budget cap, you might want to decide what is — and isn’t — worth the money. After all, when you’re already spending at least $119 for one standard adult theme park ticket, costs can rack up and fast.
GOBankingRates spoke with several travel experts to get their insight on the top Disney World splurges that aren’t worth the cost. Here’s what they said.
Also to see how much prices have increased, here is how much it cost to go to Disney the year you were born.
Park Hopper and Park Hopper Plus Tickets
The Park Hopper Option and Park Hopper Plus Option sound great because you can theoretically visit multiple parks in one day. But a single-day Park Hopper Option costs much more than a typical, one-park ticket does.
A single-day Park Hopper Option costs over $180, according to Tim Choate, founder and CEO of RedAwning, a company aimed at improving guests’ holiday experiences, including those at Disney World and other theme parks. Depending on the time of the year and day of the week, you could spend $200 or more.
This might seem like a good deal at first, since you get to visit multiple parks. “[People] frequently undervalue the time it takes to get around and the toll a long day in the Florida heat can take,” Choate said.
So, what should you do instead?
“I advocate focusing on one park, enjoying every nook and cranny and utilizing the leftover money to organize an immersive event like a well-timed dessert party with firework views or a memorable dinner reservation,” he explained.
PhotoPass Package
A trip to Disney World is a time to make truly wonderful memories with your friends and family. And if you’re willing to spend an extra $185, you can get professionally-taken photos to preserve those memories. This is an all-inclusive package deal you can use at over 175 Walt Disney World Resort locations and 15 popular attractions.
But if you’ve got a high-quality phone camera, you can save the money and take those photos yourself. Who doesn’t enjoy a few candid pictures after all?
Disney World Resort Hotel Preferred Room
Splurging for a Walt Disney World Resort room can definitely be worth it if you want to spend more time at the parks and less on the commute.
“All Disney hotel guests receive Early Entry into every theme park, every morning, 30 minutes before the posted park opening. If you time it right, you can knock out two to three rides before non-hotel guests have entered the park,” said Amanda Reed, travel agent specializing in Disney vacations with White Gloves Travel Co. “Plus you’ll have the ability to pre-schedule the first three Lightning Lanes of your day seven days ahead of time, for the length of your stay, versus the three-day window offered to non-hotel guests.”
That said, booking what Disney calls a Preferred room — which can cost dozens of dollars more per night, according to Reed — isn’t always worth the extra cost. It all depends on what you’re looking to get from the trip and who all is going with you.
“If a family is traveling with really young kids, I’ll often recommend they stay in a Preferred room so that they’re guaranteed to have a shorter walk at the end of a long and exhausting park day,” Reed said. But for budget-minded travelers, there might be better — and cheaper — options.
“It might be worth the splurge for some people, whereas others may prefer to save money and have a farther walk (or less picture-perfect view),” she said.
Water Bottles
Those long days under the Florida sun can cause quite a thirst. But if you prepare ahead of time, you can save yourself some money by bringing your own reusable water bottle with you. Your wallet will thank you.
“I would never buy a water bottle from Disney World. Though it may not seem like a ‘splurge,’ per se, it’s definitely a waste of money,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago. “They’ll cost you anywhere from $4 to $8 for plastic ones or significantly more for reusable bottles. You can bring in a water bottle instead for free.”
Snacks
Chances are you’re going to get peckish as you’re wandering the theme parks and waiting in those long lines. But unless you’re at Epcot or just have to get a specific Disney World-themed snack, consider bringing your own.
“Bring some snacks too so that you don’t have to spend tons of money on food throughout the day,” Schwab said.
Stick to light snacks. Not only will these be better for your stomach — especially on hot days — but they’ll be easier to pack.
Food
Another Disney World splurge that is a waste of money is the food. If you’re a budget vacationer, you might be better off skipping food purchases altogether at Disney World. Instead, plan your trip so that you grab breakfast at the hotel and, if possible, dinner once you’ve left theme park grounds. That way, you’ll only need to buy lunch — assuming you didn’t pack it along.
“Let’s talk about the food. It’s simply terrible,” said Sonia Daniels, owner of S. Daniels Consulting. “In my recent visit, I purchased a hot dog meal and slushy in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. I paid almost $25 for that meal only to get a stale and soggy bun and a liquid slushy. What’s most disappointing is that I’ve had a better hot dog at a corner store in Louisiana for $2.”
Lightning Lane Premier Pass
Skipping lines has its appeal, but paying for a Lightning Lane Premier Pass can be a waste of money.
Disney doesn’t release prices for its Lightning Lane Passes until closer to the time of your visit, but prices can be higher around weekends and holidays. If you do want to cut down on lines and wait times, you could always splurge for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or the Lightning Lane Single Pass. These typically cost a little less than the Premium version and still get you most of the same perks.
“This is a new skip-the-line service from Disney that allows purchasers to skip every line in one park once per day. The catch? The pass is incredibly expensive, ranging from $169 per person per day on the low end all the way up to $449 per person per day on the high end, depending on the park you’re in and the time of year you are visiting,” said Nick Burgess of Trip Trend Setters.
“For a family of four, this means it could add nearly $2,000 extra to your trip, just to skip the line for one day,” Burgess added. “To me, this just isn’t worth it, especially considering that a skilled Disney goer could get the same experience for a fraction of the price by using the Individual Lightning Lanes and Lightning Lane Multi-Pass.”
Deluxe Resort
Last but not least, upgrading from a standard Disney World resort to a deluxe one often isn’t worth the money (though as with everything else, it depends on individual preference and budget).
“Typically, Deluxe Resorts include greater amenities, better dining and more opulent rooms. To me, where these can fall short are the transportation options,” Burgess said. “With lower tier resorts, you typically get access to buses, boats and the Skyliner and you’re not too far from the action. With some Deluxe resorts, like Animal Kingdom Lodge, you are really far removed from the parks with only a bus to rely on for transportation. And for sometimes double the cost of a Moderate Resort? No thank you.”
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary.
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