DisneyDining Disney Dining Plan and Reviews
A Walt Disney World vacation is absolutely an experience that guests will remember for years to come as there are endless magical moments to enjoy including attractions, dining, and more. While the vacation is magical, it can also be very costly depending on the activities and experiences that guests opt to add onto their Disney Resort and Disney Parks reservations. Some guests simply opt to enjoy days in the Disney Parks and stick to a budget, but others might be open to booking special experiences that come at additional costs. These extra experiences offer up everything from private tours and workshops to immersive activities and character interactions, and each is as memorable as the last. Guests who are looking to add on extra experiences to their vacation can’t go wrong with any of these amazing choices!
1. Disney After Hours Boo Bash
The newest special ticketed event to be offered in the Magic Kingdom is the Disney After Hours Boo Bash which takes place on select nights throughout the fall season. The event requires its own ticket and features three hours of spooky fun including special character interactions such as the Cadaver Dans and character cavalcades on Main Street that will feature the stunning Maleficent fire-breathing dragon. Also included in the cost of the Disney After Hours Boo Bash ticket are complimentary trick or treat stations throughout the Magic Kingdom, access to many of the park’s popular attractions, and complimentary treats such as ice cream, popcorn, and select beverages. The special ticketed event is sure to be a huge hit with guests and well worth the additional price for the chance to enjoy the Halloween ambiance and décor in the Magic Kingdom!
2. Epcot Festival Booths
Throughout each year, Epcot is host to the Festival of the Arts, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, and Epcot Festival of the Holidays. Each festival offers up unique experiences for guests to enjoy as well as different food booths that serve up cuisine and beverages. Each food booth features a themed tasting-size menu that often has three or four food options as well as three or four specialty beverages. Guests who visit Epcot during any of the festivals should absolutely plan on allotting money towards sampling food from as many booths as possible as each small bite packs unforgettable flavor.
3. Savi’s Workshop
Guests who are fans of Star Wars absolutely love getting lost in the incredible ambiance and atmosphere of Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The immersive area is also home to Savi’s Workshop, a special ticketed experience where guests can create their own lightsabers in an interactive way. Costing over two hundred dollars, Savi’s Workshop is definitely an extra cost, but well worth it as guests can choose from different themes for their lightsabers which emulate aspects of both the Force and the dark side before being guided by the Gatherers to choose a kyber crystal and assemble the pieces. The entire experience culminates with the connection of the hilt to a lightsaber blade, making it an unforgettable additional cost that is well worth the money.
4. Club Level
Select Deluxe Disney Resorts feature an extra level of indulgence and luxury that guests can enjoy throughout their stays. Club Level typically involves exclusive access to areas of rooms that are larger than normal, usually suites, and come with added perks for the length of each stay. Club Level access features personalized concierge services that can help guests with everything from dining reservations and park information to transportation information and ticket sales. In addition to the concierge services, guests who enjoy Club Level at one of the Disney Resorts also have access to exclusive lounges which offer complimentary daily continental breakfasts, light lunch and dinner options, wine and beer selections, desserts, and cordials. While Club Level is an additional cost, it is well worth is as guests receive extra perks and amazing service.
5. Character Dining
A great way to add a little extra magic to a Disney vacation for an additional cost is indulging in character dining. Many restaurants throughout Walt Disney World offer up special character dining where guests can not only enjoy delicious menu options and cuisine, but also unique character interactions depending on the location. A couple of the most popular character dining locations to enjoy are Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where Mickey and friends can be found. Character dining might cost extra, but it is well worth the expense to pair a great meal with an unforgettable character interaction!
6. Wilderness Back Trail Adventure
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort offers up an amazing experience that costs an additional amount of money on a vacation, but is a one of a kind adventure! The Wilderness Back Tour is a special two hour tour that brings guests through the Disney Resort a well as stops at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Tri-Circle-D Ranch, and Bay Lake. Guests can easily manage the distance on this tour as they cruise in style on Segway X2’s which are user friendly and offer a truly unique way to take in the beautiful scenery and Floridian countryside. The Wilderness Back Trail Adventure is an amazing adventure to enjoy while on vacation and definitely worth the cost.
7. Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight
A unique experience in the West Side area Disney Springs offers guests a stunning view of every corner of Walt Disney World from high up above. Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight is a hot air balloon imported from France that rises four hundred feet into the air and features a large basket where guests can move about to enjoy different vantage points during their eight minute flight. The Aerophile costs twenty dollars for children under nine and twenty five dollars for adults, and is an amazing experience that offers unforgettable views of the property making it well worth the extra cost on any vacation.
8. Vintage Amphicar Tours
Another unique experience that costs an additional fee in Disney Springs can be found in The Landing area right next to The Boathouse Restaurant. Vintage Amphicars are amazing vehicles that begin driving on land and soon launch into the waters of Lake Buena Vista for a leisurely cruise around the shores of Disney Springs. Guests who pay the additional fee for a ride in one of the Amphicars can enjoy a twenty minute cruise in style in vintage 1960s vehicles that have been beautifully restored and taken care of. Disney Springs is a truly beautiful location, especially at night, and a cruise in a Vintage Amphicar is a must do experience as it offers a unique vantage point of the area from the serene waves of the water. A Vintage Amphicar Tour costs one hundred and twenty five dollars for up to four guests for twenty minutes and is definitely a splurge that is well worth the cost.
9. Disney Private VIP Tour
The ultimate Walt Disney World experience that is absolutely worth the extra cost is a Disney Private VIP Tour. A VIP Tour allows groups of up to ten guests to be privately picked up from their Disney Resort and then experience a custom designed day led by a friendly and knowledgeable guide. In addition to the private ride, guests can enjoy pre-arrival planning services, flexible start times, multiple Disney Parks in one day, and the chance to enjoy favorite attractions with low wait times. Disney Private VIP Tours can cost between four hundred and twenty five dollars and seven hundred and fifty dollars, making them the ultimate splurge that is absolutely worth it in Walt Disney World!
