Even in the event 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 finances, and it’s higher to allocate funds in direction of these than at issues that merely aren’t value the fee irrespective of your web value. This lists the experiences at Walt Disney World we view as a number of the greatest offenders relating to being rip offs.
In fact, not all Walt Disney World budgets are equal. For a few of you, slicing prices and disciplined spending will be the solely manner you possibly can afford a visit to Walt Disney World. Recommendation right here about breakfasts and ODVs, for instance, is perhaps extremely helpful for you. It might be actually reassuring that the resort tier and room class you’re reserving are completely fantastic, and that you would be able to ignore the snobs.
For others, examples like this is perhaps a drop within the ocean and never materially affect your finances whereas including inconvenience—a tradeoff that merely just isn’t value it for you. As a substitute, you would possibly need to keep away from the massive ticket upcharges and add-ons. Even this is probably not strictly mandatory, however may fund a barely longer journey, a second Disney journey, or just not waste cash unnecessarily. (Hopefully nobody needs to do this!)
We’ve got been in each positions. Properly, type of. I wouldn’t say we’re precisely diving into swimming pools of gold cash a la Scrooge, however we’re capable of splurge on journeys now. However I nonetheless vividly keep in mind the times or ordering an additional bun so we may cut up a double cheeseburger at Cosmic Ray’s and loading up on toppings.
Nowadays, we nonetheless pay cautious consideration to our spending and make each effort to get probably the most bang for our buck. In any case, these wasted {dollars} might be the makings of one other journey! We additionally stay frugal (maybe to a fault) and refuse to waste cash, irrespective 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 deliver our personal reusable bottles with filters.
There’s an enormous distinction between cheapness and frugality. We’re keen to pay additional 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 continuously 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 speak. Right here’s a partial checklist of issues we predict are wastes of cash for many company at Walt Disney World. As at all times, nothing is absolute and also you may need a singular use case or completely legitimate purpose for extremely valuing any of the next. Don’t take any of this too critically 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 target market for this checklist isn’t me (there wouldn’t be some extent of me writing one thing to myself) and I’m cognizant of the truth that most trip planners have completely different priorities, preferences, and crowd tolerances. I nonetheless assume 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 checklist.
The “upchargeception” fireworks dessert events throughout Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion do belong on this checklist, and close to the highest as the largest offenders. We’re not followers of the dessert events in the course of the onerous 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 worthwhile Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Occasion 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 aren’t mandatory. Principal Road just isn’t crowded in the course of the MNSSHP and MVMCP fireworks. It’s nothing like a standard evening 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 difficulty. Very often, I’ve nobody round me–I may do a snow angel (minus the snow) on the bottom.
Lastly and equally important, 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. If you happen to 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 Principal Road!
The Plaza Gardens are merely not nice places, and the decrease crowds throughout these occasions makes fireworks viewing simpler than a standard evening in Magic Kingdom. To every their very own, however there’s actually nothing about these dessert events that enchantment to me, and I believe they’re Exhibit A in issues that promote effectively completely because of FOMO.
Ponchos
That is low-hanging fruit. For many 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 in the event you’re visiting in the course of the summer season, which lasts roughly 41 weeks of the yr. (I don’t make the foundations; Florida seasons work otherwise–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 you understand that (you most likely already knew that), it stands to purpose you ought 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 possibly can most likely think about, coping with moist climate goes to price you much more last-minute than in the event you plan prematurely.
There are two good choices for planning forward, the primary is by way of reusable ponchos. Whilst you’ll spend quite a bit much less on disposable ponchos, we favor the reusable ones–and never simply because they’re “inexperienced.” They’re additionally extra sturdy and have higher options (buttons, size, and so forth). With that mentioned, we simply favor this windproof umbrella. We’ve bought it a number of instances (as a result of I preserve leaving it locations on accident), which must be about as ringing of an endorsement as potential.
Most popular Rooms
We’ve got by no means paid additional for a most popular room…and neither must you! This is perhaps a daring assertion, however in the event you’re studying this, you’re a higher-knowledge Walt Disney World visitor, and you’ll leverage room requests to get quasi-preferred rooms with out the premium pricing.
Nice examples of this exist in our room suggestions for Caribbean Seashore and for Coronado Springs Resort. These are two of probably the most sprawling resorts at Walt Disney World, arguably the best locations for paying additional for higher location. However the reality of the matter is that you are able to do simply as effectively–arguably even higher, with strategic requests of ordinary rooms. Related sentiment applies at each resort with inner bus loops and the popular class.
I’d really take this a step additional and say that more often than not, paying additional for a room with a view is a waste of cash more often than not. The most important exceptions for us are BoardWalk View and Savanna View–however truthfully, 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 very best.
Deluxe Resorts
Earlier than you seize your pitchforks, we need to be very clear: Deluxe Resorts aren’t 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 may make us recurring suckers and hypocrites.
That is probably the most circumstantial entry on this ‘waste of cash’ checklist, nevertheless it’s included as a result of there’s no quicker technique to balloon your trip prices uncontrolled than by upgrading to a Deluxe Resort. On high of that, when speaking to first-timers, we’ve ceaselessly discovered that many really feel FOMO or stress to pay for the “better of the most effective” or else danger having a subpar expertise and someway ruining what must be a formative, rite-of-passage expertise for his or her children.
It’s truthfully 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 resorts–even the Deluxes–are the 4 Seasons or something.
This can be a large purpose why we’ve been making an attempt to destigmatize the Worth Resorts, first by putting one among them #1 on our Record Rating ALL Resort Resorts at Walt Disney World from Worst to Greatest after which by naming one other as My Favourite WDW Resort for Low-cost Weekend Journeys. (I mentioned web site like this one…not this one particularly!)
That latter publish hits the nail on the top for when a costlier resort most likely is a waste of cash: journeys to Walt Disney World the place the parks are the first focus. If the resort is primarily a spot to sleep, bathe and shave, why spend additional on the room? If you happen to’re solely within the room to crash after an extended day, and are up early and out the door as quickly as potential the subsequent morning, you’ll solely have just a few waking hours per day (at most) on the resort. Is that basically value an additional few hundred {dollars} per evening?
The flip facet to this, and why it’s circumstantial, is that many company will take full benefit of their resort and the added price might be value it consequently. Greater than the rest, think about this one as ‘meals for thought’ and never definitive recommendation you will need to observe. Conversely, don’t reflexively ebook the ‘better of the most effective’ resort for no actual purpose apart from since you worry that the Values or Moderates aren’t adequate. They completely are, even in the event you would possibly favor one thing nicer–and have the ability to justify it.
Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Animal Kingdom
It’s no secret that this weblog just isn’t in favor of shopping for Lightning Lane Multi Go at Animal Kingdom. It’s true that it’s potential 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.
Nonetheless, 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 go away earlier than 4 pm on reasonably busy or worse days. If you happen to’re studying this web site–a weblog that revolves round planning and savvy technique–we hope you aren’t embracing the worst potential approaches, or anti-strategies.
If you happen to’re arriving for Early Entry or within the mid-afternoon, Lightning Lane Multi-Go is a waste of cash on 340+ days of the yr at Animal Kingdom. You possibly can knock out most of the park by way of standby strains. See Animal Kingdom Park Opening & Early Entry Trip Technique and Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Technique for a runthrough of these approaches.
Out of doors 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 publish is that it’s best to keep away from spending cash on issues at Walt Disney World which might be nothing particular–that you could possibly get anyplace on this planet. The pre-packaged items, out there at grocery shops nationwide, bought at these kiosks match the invoice.
Each time I see somebody stroll away from one among 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 making an attempt to be condescending with this. It’s fairly the alternative! I nonetheless vividly keep in mind after I was of their footwear, making the very same strikes. (In reality, a lot of the objects on this checklist 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. If you happen to want the caffeine, get your fill of espresso within the morning out of your resort room or get your repair at a restaurant providing free refills.
Snacks are actually equally overpriced, having elevated in worth greater than the rest in the previous couple of years. Don’t get us fallacious–we love Dole Whips and different tasty treats, however pretzels, popcorn, and even churros simply aren’t definitely worth the hefty costs as of late. Nostalgia would possibly say in any other case, however making an strange snack into the form of Mickey Mouse doesn’t enhance its style.
You don’t have to swear off snacks totally, however we’d suggest slicing out those that aren’t distinctive to Walt Disney World. If you happen to’re hungry between meals, Cellular Order an entree from a counter service restaurant and share that. If you happen to’re thirsty, water is free. I additionally don’t like the way in which ODVs muddle up the parks, however that looks like I’m coming into “outdated man yelling at cloud” territory.
Counter Service Breakfasts
Each every so often, one among my mates on social media shares facet by facet images of their precise breakfast at dwelling with what they need they had been consuming at Walt Disney World. And, I child you not, I’d fairly have their ‘at dwelling’ breakfast each single time. It’s nothing particular, nevertheless it’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 evaluate 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 resort meals courtroom, it’s quicker and extra environment friendly, and presents 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 are feeling much less responsible about “going onerous” on the meals which might be really good. We’d extremely suggest it, even when it had been someway costlier than consuming counter service breakfasts (nevertheless it undoubtedly isn’t).
MagicBands
That is sure 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 looks like the tip of an period, as we’ve used MagicBands for the reason that unique pilot program over a decade in the past. I used to be actually excited for MagicBand+ and hoped it might reinvigorate the Walt Disney World wearables.
As a substitute, it did the alternative. MagicBand+ simply isn’t an excellent machine, and it was the loss of life knell for the OG MagicBands. Consequently, Walt Disney World company now solely have the selection of the costlier 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, irrespective of how cool, is value it for a chunk of plastic you place in your wrist.
It additionally helps that MagicMobile now works rather 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 characteristic within the My Disney Expertise app is hit and miss, however the easy answer for that’s selecting up a free room key from the entrance desk. So MagicBands don’t actually supply 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 sure to harass the remainder of you: skip the Disney Eating Plan–it’s a waste of cash.
This really isn’t as controversial because it was because of rampant worth will increase. If truth be told, the Disney Eating Plan just isn’t inherently good or dangerous, however has the potential to be both relying upon your particular circumstances and the way you utilize it. Nonetheless, increasingly usually, it’s dangerous. (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 is not going to 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 in the event you dine a sure manner, however that ‘sure manner’ includes consuming at costlier eating places and ordering pricier choices. Normally, it means consuming an excessive amount of.
I’d hazard a guess that over 95% of company 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
This can be a powerful one as a result of Mears Join is an effective possibility for lots of people, and I’m not making an attempt 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 religious successor to Disney’s Magical Specific. In order that they’re simply utilizing that with out contemplating the alternate options.
Frankly, even again earlier than the “free” Disney’s Magical Specific went extinct, there was a worthwhile debate available whether or not the $0 price was definitely worth the time it wasted. Many followers had been forgiving since, once more, it was free–or, at the very least, constructed into the price of resort stays. They may abdomen ~90 wasted minutes if it meant Mickey getting them to their resort, taking good care of baggage, and a stress-free begin to the journey.
Now the circumstances are very completely 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 inexpensive–it will depend on celebration dimension. Similar goes for renting a automobile and even utilizing a non-public switch.
Even for others who’re extra borderline, the time saved by way of one of many alternate options could make them higher on stability than Mears Join. For different households, like ours, the mix of celebration dimension and/or not having to trouble with a automobile seat or drive a rental automobile nonetheless retains the scales tilted in Mears Join’s favor.
In our expertise, Mears has additionally added 1-2 additional stops within the final yr as a result of there’s much less demand. This additionally usually means buses not departing as ceaselessly. It looks like the beginning of a vicious cycle, the place fewer persons are utilizing Mears Join as a result of it’s much less handy, which can in flip make it much more inefficient and result in extra folks abandoning the shuttle service.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts 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 publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
What do you assume are the worst wastes of cash at Walt Disney World? Issues that solely exist or promote effectively because of FOMO, or have enough low-cost or free alternate options? Something on this checklist that you simply assume we’ve acquired fallacious–issues that really are definitely worth the cash? How do you chop the fats out of your journey finances? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
