Even in case 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 should not price the associated fee regardless of your web price. This lists the experiences at Walt Disney World we view as a number of the greatest offenders on the subject of being rip offs.
In fact, not all Walt Disney World budgets are equal. For a few of you, chopping prices and disciplined spending could be the solely approach you’ll be able to afford a visit to Walt Disney World. Recommendation right here about breakfasts and ODVs, for instance, could be extremely helpful for you. It might be actually reassuring that the resort tier and room class you’re reserving are completely fantastic, and which you could ignore the snobs.
For others, examples like this could be a drop within the ocean and never materially influence your finances whereas including inconvenience—a tradeoff that merely isn’t price it for you. As an alternative, you would possibly need to keep away from the large ticket upcharges and add-ons. Even this might not be strictly vital, however may fund a barely longer journey, a second Disney journey, or just not waste cash unnecessarily. (Hopefully nobody desires to do this!)
Now we have been in each positions. Effectively, type 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 bear 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.
Nowadays, 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} might 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 are able to at all times get free cups or convey 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 gained’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 record of issues we expect are wastes of cash for many friends 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 significantly or get offended that we expect 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 record 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 completely different priorities, preferences, and crowd tolerances. I nonetheless assume the common dessert events price approach an excessive amount of for what they provide, however to not the purpose that they’re deserving a spot on this record.
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 record, and close to the highest as the most important offenders. We aren’t followers of the dessert events through the arduous ticket MNSSHP and MVMCP for a number of causes. First, they’re more cash on prime of an already costly occasion. Second, they eat up worthwhile Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering time; you’ll have already got a troublesome time doing every little thing, and attending a dessert celebration solely makes that harder.
Third and most significantly, they merely should not vital. Major Road isn’t crowded through the MNSSHP and MVMCP fireworks. It’s nothing like a traditional evening watching Fortunately Ever After, particularly when you get south of Casey’s Nook. For the previous few 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 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. When 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 an alternative opted to fend for myself on Major Road!
The Plaza Gardens are merely not nice places, and the decrease crowds throughout these occasions makes fireworks viewing simpler than a traditional 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 properly solely on account of FOMO.
Ponchos
That is low-hanging fruit. For individuals who aren’t conscious, it typically rains in Florida. And by typically, I imply that it will rain at Walt Disney World throughout your journey in case you’re visiting through the summer time, which lasts roughly 41 weeks of the 12 months. (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 advocate shopping for a lottery ticket.
Okay, now that you already know that (you in all probability already knew that), it stands to purpose you ought to be ready for rain except 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 in all probability think about, coping with moist climate goes to price you much more last-minute than in case you plan prematurely.
There are two good choices for planning forward, the primary is through 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 on). 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 needs to be about as ringing of an endorsement as attainable.
Most well-liked Rooms
Now we have by no means paid further for a most well-liked room…and neither do you have to! This could be a daring assertion, however in case 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 Seashore 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 properly–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 most important 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} (not likely). I’d have a really troublesome time forking over cash-money to pay for theme park views, particularly for the 41 weeks of summer time when being out on a balcony isn’t supreme.
Deluxe Resorts
Earlier than you seize your pitchforks, we need to be very clear: Deluxe Resorts should not a categorical waste of cash at Walt Disney World. That means that we’re not suggesting anybody who splurges on good lodging is silly with cash. That will make us recurring suckers and hypocrites.
That is essentially the most circumstantial entry on this ‘waste of cash’ record, nevertheless it’s included as a result of there’s no quicker solution to balloon your trip prices uncontrolled than by upgrading to a Deluxe Resort. On prime of that, when speaking to first-timers, we’ve regularly 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 one way or the other ruining what needs to be a formative, rite-of-passage expertise for his or her youngsters.
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.
This can be a large purpose why we’ve been making an attempt to destigmatize the Worth Resorts, first by inserting certainly one of them #1 on our Listing Rating ALL Resort Inns at Walt Disney World from Worst to Greatest after which by naming one other as My Favourite WDW Lodge for Low cost Weekend Journeys. (I mentioned web site like this one…not this one specifically!)
That latter put up hits the nail on the top for when a costlier resort in all probability 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 further on the room? When 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 following morning, you’ll solely have a couple of waking hours per day (at most) on the resort. Is that actually price an additional few hundred {dollars} per evening?
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 can be price it consequently. Greater than the rest, contemplate this one as ‘meals for thought’ and never definitive recommendation you should comply with. Conversely, don’t reflexively e-book the ‘better of the very best’ resort for no actual purpose apart from since you concern that the Values or Moderates aren’t adequate. They completely are, even in case you would possibly favor one thing nicer–and be capable to justify it.
Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Animal Kingdom
It’s no secret that this weblog isn’t in favor of shopping for Lightning Lane Multi Go 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.
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 depart earlier than 4 pm on reasonably busy or worse days. When 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.
When you’re arriving for Early Entry or within the mid-afternoon, Lightning Lane Multi-Go is a waste of cash on 340+ days of the 12 months at Animal Kingdom. You may knock out most of the park through standby traces. See Animal Kingdom Park Opening & Early Entry Journey 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 house. One premise of this put up is that it is best to keep away from spending cash on issues at Walt Disney World which might be nothing particular–that you possibly can get anyplace on the earth. The pre-packaged items, accessible at grocery shops nationwide, offered at these kiosks match the invoice.
Each time I see somebody stroll away from certainly 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 individuals. I’m not making an attempt to be condescending with this. It’s fairly the other! I nonetheless vividly bear in mind after I was of their footwear, making the very same strikes. (In actual fact, a lot of the objects on this record are ‘study from my mistake’ cautionary tales–I’m a reformed money-waster myself!)
In wanting 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. When you 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 few 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 nowadays. Nostalgia would possibly say in any other case, however making an abnormal snack into the form of Mickey Mouse doesn’t enhance its style.
You don’t must swear off snacks fully, however we’d advocate chopping out those that aren’t distinctive to Walt Disney World. When you’re hungry between meals, Cellular Order an entree from a counter service restaurant and share that. When you’re thirsty, water is free. I additionally don’t like the best way ODVs muddle up the parks, however that seems like I’m coming into “previous man yelling at cloud” territory.
Counter Service Breakfasts
Each occasionally, certainly one of my pals on social media shares facet by facet images of their precise breakfast at house with what they need they have been consuming at Walt Disney World. And, I child you not, I might slightly have their ‘at house’ 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 assessment eating places for the sake of weblog analysis, I’d in all probability 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 advocate 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 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 are feeling much less responsible about “going arduous” on the meals which might be truly good. We’d extremely advocate it, even when it have been one way or the other costlier than consuming counter service breakfasts (nevertheless it positively 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 seems like the tip of an period, as we’ve used MagicBands for the reason that 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 system, and it was the demise knell for the OG MagicBands. Consequently, Walt Disney World friends now solely have the selection of the costlier choices that do nothing particular. Whereas there’ll in all probability be one other superior Figment or Nation Bears design that I find yourself loving, there’s simply no approach 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 set in your wrist.
It additionally helps that MagicMobile now works rather well, and integrates seamlessly with the Apple gadgets I already personal and carry day by day. The one actual lack of not utilizing a MagicBand is that the cellular 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 in all probability already alienated half of you with my sizzling takes on MagicBands, right here’s one other one sure 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 once on account of rampant worth will increase. Surely, the Disney Eating Plan isn’t inherently good or dangerous, however has the potential to be both relying upon your particular circumstances and the way you employ it. Nonetheless, an increasing number of typically, 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 cost effective approach 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 case you dine a sure approach, however that ‘sure approach’ entails consuming at costlier 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 dropping cash at this level. The quantity in all probability isn’t that a lot decrease for Free Eating, conserving 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 robust 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 have been forgiving since, once more, it was free–or, a minimum of, 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 can be cheaper–it is dependent upon celebration measurement. Identical goes for renting a automobile 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 measurement and/or not having to problem 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 further stops within the final 12 months as a result of there’s much less demand. This additionally typically means buses not departing as regularly. It seems 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 individuals abandoning the shuttle service.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you have to know!
Your Ideas
What do you assume are the worst wastes of cash at Walt Disney World? Issues that solely exist or promote properly on account of FOMO, or have ample low-cost or free alternate options? Something on this record that you simply assume we’ve acquired fallacious–issues that truly are definitely worth the cash? How do you narrow the fats out of your journey finances? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
