What Should You Include in Your Disney Vacation?

Your Disney vacation is booked. Your dates, resort, and park tickets are set.  But now you’re considering add-ons to your Disney vacation. Which ones are worth the cost – and which ones should you skip?

Disney Dining Plan – Purchasing a Disney Dining Plan can turn your trip into an all-inclusive vacation. The convenience of having meals and snacks prepaid makes this add-on a favorite, but will it save you money? The regular dining plan – the one that usually makes the most sense financially – is about $75 a day for adults. That includes one table-service meal, one quick-service meal, and two snacks for every night of your resort stay, as well as a refillable mug for use at your resort. You can reach that total very quickly at Disneyworld. For example, the cost for one adult to eat at the Garden Grill, which serves food family style, is $45 for dinner.  

Purchase the dining plan if you want to eat at many of the table-service restaurants or character meals or love the idea of a pre-paid vacation.

Skip the dining plan if you’re fine with eating at quick-service locations – and maybe one or two table-service meals – or if you are planning to make meals in your room with a kitchen or at a campsite at Fort Wilderness.    

PhotoPass Memory Maker – All guests want photos to remember their vacation, and Disneyworld photographers are everywhere in the parks ready to capture the fun. At a cost per reservation/family of $169 paid three days or more prior to your trip, or $199 if you wait until your trip to purchase, the Memory Maker is not a cheap add-on. The cost, however, includes not only the signature shots in front of Cinderella’s Castle or the Tree of Life, but ride photos, ride videos, and magic shots, where Disney characters or elements are added to the picture.

Purchase the Memory Maker if your trip includes multi-generations, it’s a special trip, or you’re a big fan of ride photos.

Skip the Memory Maker if your trip is a short one and if you’re satisfied with your own pictures. (Note: The Disney PhotoPass photographers will take your pictures for you with your smartphone or camera.)

Park Hopper – You don’t want to miss a thing at Disneyworld! The Park Hopper ticket allows you to visit more than one park a day – or all four. To add the Park Hopper to your ticket, you’ll pay $60 for a one-day ticket, but the additional cost really drops as you add days to your ticket, so that an eight-day ticket is only $10 a day more for the Park Hopper.

Purchase the Park Hopper if you love starting out at one park in the morning, heading to another park for dinner, and finishing your day with the nighttime show at a third park. The Park Hopper also makes sense if your trip is short and you want to do as much as possible in just a few days.

Skip the Park Hopper if you’re traveling with young children or older parents who may be challenged going from park to park, if you plan to spend a good deal of time each day at your resort, or if you’re stay is long enough that you can easily do it all with one park a day.

Party Tickets – If you’re traveling to Disneyworld between early August and the end of December, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase tickets to either Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You do not need a park ticket, but you won’t be allowed into the park until time for the party. The Magic Kingdom parties give you access to attractions throughout the park and will include many exclusive festive elements including parades, shows, food, merchandise, and favorite characters in their holiday best. The Halloween party includes more candy than you can carry, and the Christmas party gives you the chance to see Elsa light Cinderella’s Castle with icicle lights. Prices vary by date, but adult tickets start at about $85.

Purchase the tickets if you’ve never been to the parties and can work it into your vacation itinerary.

Skip the party if you’re more interested in riding attractions than seeing holiday entertainment. At one time, the lines were very short during the parties, but the parties have gotten more crowded in the last few years.

Park Tours – Disney offers many tours for every age group and interest. For example, Caring for Giants at Animal Kingdom is for all ages and gives an up-close look at the elephants in the park.  The Keys to the Kingdom Tour in Magic Kingdom, which is for teens and adults, shares the history of Disneyworld and gives you a peek behind the scenes and into the Utilidors (hidden tunnels beneath the park). Prices vary, and lunch is included with some tours.

Purchase if you’re a Disney veteran and would like to see the parks from a new persepective.

Skip the tour if this is your first time at Disneyworld. There are plenty of other new things to see and do!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Pirates League – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, which is available at several locations, transforms your children into elegant princesses and shining knights. The Crown packages start at $74.95, and the Knight packages start at $19.95. At the Pirates League, children become pirates or mermaids. Packages for both start at $44.95.

Purchase if your child loves to dress up, and you want to give them a special memory.

Skip and save money by buying dress-up clothes for the park at Target or Amazon.

Dessert Parties – Disneyworld offers a number of dessert parties that allow guests refreshments and a great view of shows or fireworks to end their day. The Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace in Magic Kingdom comes with a price tag of $50 for children and $84 for adults. This includes drinks, a dessert buffet, and reserved seating for the show. Other dessert parties include a Signature Celebration Package in Cinderella’s Royal Table, Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Viewing Experience in Hollywood Studios, Frozen Ever After Dessert Party at Epcot World Showcase, and more.

Purchase if you want prime seating without having to stake out your spot ahead of time or if you want to treat your family to something special.

Skip if you’re happy to watch the fireworks without a reserved seat. You’ll be able to see them from anywhere in the park.

VIP Tour – Pamper yourself with the ultimate Disney Dream Day. Enjoy a customized itinerary led by a Disney guide. Your day will begin with a pick-up at your resort. Your guide will magically ensure that you ride your favorite attractions and get you reserved seating for all parades, live shows, and nighttime spectaculars. Your guide will not only escort you personally but will share Disneyworld insights and stories. Tours start at about $3,000 for ten people for the minimum of seven hours.

Purchase if you want to see as much as possible in as short a time as possible.

Skip if your vacation dollars are best spent on your resort, dining, and tickets. Instead, take advantage of a personal itinerary provided by Vacations by Shannon!

These are just a few of the vacation add-ons available at Disneyworld. Vacations by Shannon can help you decide which ones would be worth the splurge for your trip!