Even when you’re richer than Scrooge McDuck, it’s by no means a good suggestion to waste cash at Walt Disney World. There are splurges at nearly any funds, and it’s higher to allocate funds in the direction of these than at issues that merely should not price the associated fee regardless of your web price. This lists the experiences at Walt Disney World we view as a few of the largest offenders on the subject of being rip offs.
After all, not all Walt Disney World budgets are equal. For a few of you, slicing prices and disciplined spending often is the solely manner you’ll be able to afford a visit to Walt Disney World. Recommendation right here about breakfasts and ODVs, for instance, may be extremely helpful for you. It may very well be actually reassuring that the resort tier and room class you’re reserving are completely advantageous, and which you could ignore the snobs.
For others, examples like this may be a drop within the ocean and never materially impression your funds whereas including inconvenience—a tradeoff that merely shouldn’t be price it for you. As an alternative, you would possibly wish to keep away from the massive ticket upcharges and add-ons. Even this is probably not strictly vital, however may fund a barely longer journey, a second Disney journey, or just not waste cash unnecessarily. (Hopefully nobody needs to try this!)
Now we have been in each positions. Properly, form of. I wouldn’t say we’re precisely diving into swimming pools of gold cash a la Scrooge, however we’re in a position to splurge on journeys now. However I nonetheless vividly keep in mind the times or ordering an additional bun so we may break up a double cheeseburger at Cosmic Ray’s and loading up on toppings.
As of late, we nonetheless pay cautious consideration to our spending and make each effort to get essentially the most bang for our buck. In spite of everything, these wasted {dollars} may very well be the makings of one other journey! We additionally stay frugal (maybe to a fault) and refuse to waste cash, regardless of how a lot or little. For instance, we’ve by no means purchased a bottle of water at Walt Disney World—it’s a matter of precept, as we will at all times get free cups or carry our personal reusable bottles with filters.
There’s an enormous distinction between cheapness and frugality. We’re keen to pay further for high quality and luxurious, particularly when the worth given matches the worth paid. However when it doesn’t, we received’t—and that goes for small bills along with large as a result of, as soon as once more, all of it provides up. I’m consistently reminded by different followers that “Disney is a enterprise” and never a charity, so I deal with them as such and don’t give them {dollars} they haven’t earned.
Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED discuss. Right here’s a partial listing of issues we predict are wastes of cash for many friends at Walt Disney World. As at all times, nothing is absolute and also you might need a singular use case or completely legitimate cause for extremely valuing any of the next. Don’t take any of this too severely or get offended that we predict your favourite add-on is a waste…
Fireworks Dessert Events…at Events
I’m not a fan of fireworks dessert events, interval. However the audience for this listing isn’t me (there wouldn’t be a degree of me writing one thing to myself) and I’m cognizant of the truth that most trip planners have totally different priorities, preferences, and crowd tolerances. I nonetheless suppose the common dessert events price manner an excessive amount of for what they provide, however to not the purpose that they’re deserving a spot on this listing.
The “upchargeception” fireworks dessert events throughout Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering do belong on this listing, and close to the highest as the largest offenders. We’re not followers of the dessert events throughout the arduous ticket MNSSHP and MVMCP for a number of causes. First, they’re more cash on high of an already costly occasion. Second, they eat up invaluable Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering time; you’ll have already got a tough time doing every little thing, and attending a dessert celebration solely makes that tougher.
Third and most significantly, they merely should not vital. Foremost Avenue shouldn’t be crowded throughout the MNSSHP and MVMCP fireworks. It’s nothing like a traditional night time watching Fortunately Ever After, particularly when you get south of Casey’s Nook. For the previous couple of years, I’ve proven up 5-10 minutes for the fireworks and grabbed a spot on this space with out problem. Very often, I’ve nobody round me–I may do a snow angel (minus the snow) on the bottom.
Lastly and equally vital, the reserved viewing areas are suboptimal spots for viewing the fireworks. This isn’t merely a matter of me being a “cheapskate” or no matter. In the event you gave me the choice of viewing the Halloween or Christmas fireworks from Tomorrowland Terrace or the Plaza Backyard free of charge, I’d decline (politely!). This isn’t even a hypothetical—I’ve attended occasions with included reserved viewing within the Plaza Gardens and as a substitute opted to fend for myself on Foremost Avenue!
The Plaza Gardens are merely not nice places, and the decrease crowds throughout these occasions makes fireworks viewing simpler than a traditional night time in Magic Kingdom. To every their very own, however there’s actually nothing about these dessert events that enchantment to me, and I feel they’re Exhibit A in issues that promote nicely solely as a result of FOMO.
Ponchos
That is low-hanging fruit. For individuals who aren’t conscious, it generally rains in Florida. And by generally, I imply that it will rain at Walt Disney World throughout your journey when you’re visiting throughout the summer season, which lasts roughly 41 weeks of the yr. (I don’t make the principles; Florida seasons work in another way–which is why Halloween season begins in August.) If it doesn’t rain throughout your journey, I’d suggest shopping for a lottery ticket.
Okay, now that that (you most likely already knew that), it stands to cause you need to be ready for rain until you’re a daily lottery winner. That is true it doesn’t matter what the forecast is forward of your journey as a result of forecasts change and rain can materialize out of skinny air (or not-so-thin air). And, as you’ll be able to most likely think about, coping with moist climate goes to price you much more last-minute than when you plan prematurely.
There are two good choices for planning forward, the primary is through reusable ponchos. When you’ll spend rather a lot much less on disposable ponchos, we choose the reusable ones–and never simply because they’re “inexperienced.” They’re additionally extra sturdy and have higher options (buttons, size, and so on). With that stated, we simply choose this windproof umbrella. We’ve bought it a number of occasions (as a result of I maintain leaving it locations on accident), which needs to be about as ringing of an endorsement as attainable.
Most popular Rooms
Now we have by no means paid further for a most popular room…and neither do you have to! This may be a daring assertion, however when you’re studying this, you’re a higher-knowledge Walt Disney World visitor, and you may leverage room requests to get quasi-preferred rooms with out the premium pricing.
Nice examples of this exist in our room suggestions for Caribbean Seaside and for Coronado Springs Resort. These are two of essentially the most sprawling resorts at Walt Disney World, arguably the best locations for paying further for higher location. However the reality of the matter is that you are able to do simply as nicely–arguably even higher, with strategic requests of ordinary rooms. Comparable sentiment applies at each resort with inside bus loops and the popular class.
I’d truly take this a step additional and say that more often than not, paying further for a room with a view is a waste of cash more often than not. The largest exceptions for us are BoardWalk View and Savanna View–however actually, we’re often paying for these in DVC factors, that are nearer to Monopoly cash than actual {dollars} (probably not). I’d have a really tough time forking over cash-money to pay for theme park views, particularly for the 41 weeks of summer season when being out on a balcony isn’t ideally suited.
Deluxe Resorts
Earlier than you seize your pitchforks, we wish to be very clear: Deluxe Resorts should not a categorical waste of cash at Walt Disney World. Which means that we’re not suggesting anybody who splurges on good lodging is silly with cash. That will make us routine suckers and hypocrites.
That is essentially the most circumstantial entry on this ‘waste of cash’ listing, but it surely’s included as a result of there’s no quicker strategy to balloon your trip prices uncontrolled than by upgrading to a Deluxe Resort. On high of that, when speaking to first-timers, we’ve continuously discovered that many really feel FOMO or stress to pay for the “better of the very best” or else danger having a subpar expertise and in some way ruining what needs to be a formative, rite-of-passage expertise for his or her children.
It’s actually a bit unhappy. Walt Disney World followers, journey brokers, and web sites like this one don’t do them any favors. So many Disney diehards are resort snobs, which is bizarre to me, as a result of it’s not like these motels–even the Deluxes–are the 4 Seasons or something.
It is a large cause why we’ve been attempting to destigmatize the Worth Resorts, first by putting considered one of them #1 on our Listing Rating ALL Resort Resorts at Walt Disney World from Worst to Finest after which by naming one other as My Favourite WDW Resort for Low-cost Weekend Journeys. (I stated web site like this one…not this one particularly!)
That latter submit hits the nail on the top for when a dearer lodge most likely is a waste of cash: journeys to Walt Disney World the place the parks are the first focus. If the lodge is primarily a spot to sleep, bathe and shave, why spend further on the room? In the event you’re solely within the room to crash after a protracted day, and are up early and out the door as quickly as attainable the subsequent morning, you’ll solely have a number of waking hours per day (at most) on the resort. Is that actually price an additional few hundred {dollars} per night time?
The flip facet to this, and why it’s circumstantial, is that many friends will take full benefit of their resort and the added price might be price it consequently. Greater than anything, contemplate this one as ‘meals for thought’ and never definitive recommendation you have to comply with. Conversely, don’t reflexively e book the ‘better of the very best’ resort for no actual cause aside from since you worry that the Values or Moderates aren’t adequate. They completely are, even when you would possibly choose one thing nicer–and be capable to justify it.
Lightning Lane Multi-Cross at Animal Kingdom
It’s no secret that this weblog shouldn’t be in favor of shopping for Lightning Lane Multi Cross at Animal Kingdom. It’s true that it’s attainable to attain Lightning Lanes for Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, and extra–and save hours in line consequently. On busier days, even the stage present Lightning Lanes can have worth.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally true that this solely applies to those that have deserted all different technique and roll as much as Animal Kingdom after 9 am and depart earlier than 4 pm on reasonably busy or worse days. In the event you’re studying this web site–a weblog that revolves round planning and savvy technique–we hope you aren’t embracing the worst attainable approaches, or anti-strategies.
In the event you’re arriving for Early Entry or within the mid-afternoon, Lightning Lane Multi-Cross is a waste of cash on 340+ days of the yr at Animal Kingdom. You’ll be able to knock out most of the park through standby traces. See Animal Kingdom Park Opening & Early Entry Experience Technique and Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Technique for a runthrough of these approaches.
Outside Merchandising Carts
I promise you, a bottle of Coca-Cola at Walt Disney World tastes precisely the identical as one at dwelling. One premise of this submit is that you need to keep away from spending cash on issues at Walt Disney World which can be nothing particular–that you possibly can get anyplace on the earth. The pre-packaged items, out there at grocery shops nationwide, offered at these kiosks match the invoice.
Each time I see somebody stroll away from considered one of these stands with bottles of water or soda, I can’t assist however do the mental-math on how a lot cash these pointless impulse buys are losing folks. I’m not attempting to be condescending with this. It’s fairly the other! I nonetheless vividly keep in mind after I was of their sneakers, making the very same strikes. (Actually, a lot of the objects on this listing are ‘study from my mistake’ cautionary tales–I’m a reformed money-waster myself!)
In trying over receipts from a visit a number of years in the past, I used to be so shocked at how a lot I had wasted on soda that I swore it off at Walt Disney World from then on. Since then, I haven’t bought Coke within the parks a single time. In the event you want the caffeine, get your fill of espresso within the morning out of your lodge room or get your repair at a restaurant providing free refills.
Snacks at the moment are equally overpriced, having elevated in worth greater than anything in the previous couple of years. Don’t get us mistaken–we love Dole Whips and different tasty treats, however pretzels, popcorn, and even churros simply aren’t definitely worth the hefty costs nowadays. Nostalgia would possibly say in any other case, however making an atypical snack into the form of Mickey Mouse doesn’t enhance its style.
You don’t have to swear off snacks fully, however we’d suggest slicing out those that aren’t distinctive to Walt Disney World. In the event you’re hungry between meals, Cell Order an entree from a counter service restaurant and share that. In the event you’re thirsty, water is free. I additionally don’t like the best way ODVs litter up the parks, however that appears like I’m coming into “outdated man yelling at cloud” territory.
Counter Service Breakfasts
Each every now and then, considered one of my buddies on social media shares facet by facet pictures of their precise breakfast at dwelling with what they want they have been consuming at Walt Disney World. And, I child you not, I’d reasonably have their ‘at dwelling’ breakfast each single time. It’s nothing particular, but it surely’s additionally not powdered eggs, skinny rubbery bacon, and rock-hard Mickey waffles. Suffice to say, nostalgia is a helluva drug.
If it weren’t for “needing” to assessment eating places for the sake of weblog analysis, I’d most likely by no means eat one other counter service breakfast at Walt Disney World. With only a few exceptions, they’re nothing particular. That is exactly why we suggest grocery supply to resorts at Walt Disney World.
We at all times get groceries, because it kills a number of birds with one stone. It’s cheaper than consuming within the parks or your lodge meals courtroom, it’s quicker and extra environment friendly, and provides a well-rounded meal with fruits, greens, and different wholesome choices you may not get at Walt Disney World eating places. There’s no alternative price–it’s all upside. Saving time, cash, and letting you’re feeling much less responsible about “going arduous” on the meals which can be truly good. We’d extremely suggest it, even when it have been in some way dearer than consuming counter service breakfasts (but it surely undoubtedly isn’t).
MagicBands
That is certain to be controversial or unpopular, however I’m simply going to return out and say it: I’ve purchased my final MagicBand at Walt Disney World. This breaks my coronary heart just a bit bit and appears like the top of an period, as we’ve used MagicBands because the authentic pilot program over a decade in the past. I used to be actually excited for MagicBand+ and hoped it could reinvigorate the Walt Disney World wearables.
As an alternative, it did the other. MagicBand+ simply isn’t an excellent gadget, and it was the loss of life knell for the OG MagicBands. Consequently, Walt Disney World friends now solely have the selection of the dearer choices that do nothing particular. Whereas there’ll most likely be one other superior Figment or Nation Bears design that I find yourself loving, there’s simply no manner on earth I’m paying $55 for no matter that’s. No design, regardless of how cool, is price it for a chunk of plastic you place in your wrist.
It additionally helps that MagicMobile now works very well, and integrates seamlessly with the Apple units I already personal and carry each day. The one actual lack of not utilizing a MagicBand is that the cell room key function within the My Disney Expertise app is hit and miss, however the easy resolution for that’s choosing up a free room key from the entrance desk. So MagicBands don’t actually provide the comfort they used to, and as a memento, they price rather more than different alternate options.
Disney Eating Plan
Since I’ve most likely already alienated half of you with my scorching takes on MagicBands, right here’s one other one certain to bother the remainder of you: skip the Disney Eating Plan–it’s a waste of cash.
This truly isn’t as controversial because it was as a result of rampant worth will increase. Truly, the Disney Eating Plan shouldn’t be inherently good or unhealthy, however has the potential to be both relying upon your particular circumstances and the way you employ it. Nevertheless, increasingly more typically, it’s unhealthy. (See When You Ought to Purchase & When You Ought to Skip the Disney Eating Plan!)
The very fact of the matter is that the Disney Eating Plan won’t be the most affordable manner for anybody to eat at Walt Disney World. If paying backside greenback is your backside line, look elsewhere. The Disney Eating Plan is a splurge that can prevent cash when you dine a sure manner, however that ‘sure manner’ entails consuming at dearer eating places and ordering pricier choices. Often, it means consuming an excessive amount of.
I’d hazard a guess that over 95% of friends who purchase the Disney Eating Plan are shedding cash at this level. The quantity most likely isn’t that a lot decrease for Free Eating, retaining in thoughts the chance price of reserving it. The “winners” are disproportionately readers of blogs like this one who put obsessive quantities of planning into hacking it. If that’s not you, steer clear.
Mears Join
It is a robust one as a result of Mears Join is an efficient choice for lots of people, and I’m not attempting to counsel in any other case. The issue, as I see it, is that many households view Mears Join because the default because it’s the non secular successor to Disney’s Magical Categorical. So that they’re simply utilizing that with out contemplating the alternate options.
Frankly, even again earlier than the “free” Disney’s Magical Categorical went extinct, there was a worthwhile debate available whether or not the $0 price was definitely worth the time it wasted. Many followers have been forgiving since, once more, it was free–or, not less than, constructed into the price of resort stays. They may abdomen ~90 wasted minutes if it meant Mickey getting them to their lodge, taking good care of baggage, and a stress-free begin to the journey.
Now the circumstances are very totally different. Mears Join has a financial price and it takes, on common, much more time since there’s often much less demand for the shared shuttle service. For a lot of households, Uber or Lyft might be cheaper–it will depend on celebration dimension. Identical goes for renting a automotive and even utilizing a non-public switch.
Even for others who’re extra borderline, the time saved through one of many alternate options could make them higher on steadiness than Mears Join. For different households, like ours, the mixture of celebration dimension and/or not having to trouble with a automotive seat or drive a rental automotive nonetheless retains the scales tilted in Mears Join’s favor.
In our expertise, Mears has additionally added 1-2 further stops within the final yr as a result of there’s much less demand. This additionally typically means buses not departing as continuously. It appears like the beginning of a vicious cycle, the place fewer individuals are utilizing Mears Join as a result of it’s much less handy, which is able to in flip make it much more inefficient and result in extra folks abandoning the shuttle service.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you want to know!
Your Ideas
What do you suppose are the worst wastes of cash at Walt Disney World? Issues that solely exist or promote nicely as a result of FOMO, or have adequate low-cost or free alternate options? Something on this listing that you just suppose we’ve obtained mistaken–issues that really are definitely worth the cash? How do you chop the fats out of your journey funds? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!