Walt Disney World offers a variety of experiences and extras for its guests. However, we know that Disney World can be quite an expense. While some things can be worth the money during your vacation, other parts of Disney may not be. So, we’re dishing on some of the biggest Disney World rip-offs, and what to spend your money on instead!

Bottled Water

Staying hydrated is a crucial part of a successful Walt Disney World vacation! However, buying a bottle of water every time you get thirsty will rack up a hefty bill. With water bottles priced around $4-$7 per bottle, a family of four could end up spending $100 PER DAY on water bottles in the heat of summer.

That $100 could be spent on much better things! Instead, bring a water bottle from home to refill at water refill stations throughout the parks and resort, or consider ordering a grocery delivery to your resort to have a case of water on hand.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass (Sometimes)

This tip, or rip-off, can be circumstantial. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is Disney World’s new (paid) way to skip the lines at the most popular rides throughout all four theme parks, and it certainly has its time and place. But it’s not always necessary.

Purchasing this add-on can be worth it at some parks (like Magic Kingdom), or if you’re visiting during peak travel season. However, when you’re at the less busy parks (like Animal Kingdom), it doesn’t always pay off.

Multi Pass can cost well over $100 per day for a family of four. And, purchasing it for every day of a 4-day vacation would cost almost as much as the ticket itself! While Multi Pass is nice, skipping it is a simple way to make budget cuts on a dime.

MagicBands

While MagicBands can be a great accompaniment to a perfectly themed park outfit, they aren’t crucial to your success at Disney World. In fact, they serve no vital purpose at all, except for convenience.

MagicBands streamline all your Disney World needs, serving as your park ticket, room key, and wallet, all secured to your wrist. However, they cost you anywhere from $35 to $65, depending on the style you choose. When checking into a Walt Disney World resort, guests are provided with a Key To The World Card, which essentially does the same thing for free, minus the wallet aspect. Or, you can set up MagicMobile in the My Disney Experience app and use your phone instead without having to pay for a MagicBand that you’ll only use while you’re at Disney World.

So, save the money here and spend it on a character dining experience, instead!

Some Dining Experiences

Speaking of dining, there are certainly some dining experiences throughout Walt Disney World that are well worth the money. However, some restaurants will leave you wishing you didn’t just drop all that money on a sub-par meal.

Unique dining experiences can add tons of magic to a vacation. In fact, some of my best Disney memories are from restaurants we’ve eaten at! However, there are plenty of standard dining options similar to what guests can get at home, for a significantly lower price. Additionally, there are many places where the food quality is subpar, while others are top-notch.

Dining options like hibachi at Teppan Edo or spaghetti at Tony’s Town Square restaurant may satisfy hunger, but are not anything unique to Walt Disney World. Opt to spend your money on a character dining experience, or try a restaurant with a unique menu, such as Jaleo at Disney Springs or Chefs de France in EPCOT’s France pavilion!

Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan allows guests to prepay for all their meals and snacks throughout their vacation when they book a Disney Vacation Package. This is an optional add-on, not a mandatory inclusion.

There are many instances where Walt Disney World offers vacation packages that include dining plans at no additional cost. If that is available for your travel dates, by all means, enjoy that free dining! However, if you are paying for it, there are often better ways to spend your money.

The Disney Dining Plans are created as a way to pre-pay, NOT save, on food in Disney World. So, it can be hard to get the most bang for your buck if you’re not used to eating exactly what the plan includes, or if you want more. Plus, when you take into account that the dining plan is a flat rate, but food prices are all different in Disney World, it can be hard to make sure you’re picking the meal that costs the same amount that you already prepaid.

Ultimately, the dining plan is a good option for those who want to budget for food before their trip and don’t want to think of it again. However, be sure to compare the prices of each item and restaurant to get the best value for your money.

Room Upgrades

There are over 35,000 hotel rooms across the Walt Disney World resort. That’s a huge number. While they all vary in terms of theming, size, and resort, they are all pretty similar.

Of course, a standard room at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort is going to be different than a 3-bedroom Grand Villa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, but in terms of standard rooms, many are the same regardless of resort.

With that in mind, many “room upgrades” throughout Walt Disney World don’t actually upgrade the room itself; they only upgrade the room’s location. While a standard room can be anywhere on resort grounds, a preferred room upgrade will be guaranteed to be close to amenities such as the main lobby, dining, and entertainment.

The price difference between standard and preferred rooms can be over $100 per night. For a week’s stay, that’s $700 extra just to save a few minutes of walking. Now I get it, proximity may be important to some guests’ vacations, and if so, by all means, do it! However, if you are looking to cut costs or are debating how to allocate your budget most effectively, opt for extra park days instead—you won’t regret it!

Preferred Parking

Parking at Disney World is expensive as it is (although standard parking is free for resort guests), with guests paying $35 per day for standard parking. But, preferred parking is even more, costing guests up to $55 per day, depending on demand.

Just like room upgrades, preferred parking just gets you closer to the front. There are no extras such as covered parking or shaded areas. In addition, regardless of where you park, a tram is available to take you directly to the front! So, you don’t even necessarily have to walk more by opting for standard parking.

So, skip this Disney World rip-off on your next trip and save the extra money for ice cream for the kids, or a fancy beverage for the adults!

Uber/Lyft

Walt Disney World offers multiple modes of complimentary transportation options for its guests, so why pay for something you can utilize for free? If staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll be able to get to all four theme parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks with Disney’s transportation. Options include bus transportation, boat transportation, monorail transportation, and the Disney Skyliner, a gondola-style transportation system.

Depending on how many times you’ll need to travel to and from the parks and your resort, the prices of Uber or Lyft can quickly add up. Plus, if you are traveling with children who still require car seats or booster seats, it will be more challenging to secure an Uber or Lyft for your family.

It is worth noting that Disney transportation can be more time-consuming than a quick Uber, though. So, plan accordingly for using the complimentary transportation options. If you’re in a pinch and need to hurry to get somewhere, you can always consider using a rideshare service, but just don’t rely on it to get everywhere if you want to save money.

Generic Souvenirs

Souvenirs purchased inside any of the gift shops or vendor carts throughout the parks are usually a rip-off. Sure, it’s cool to say “I got this at Walt Disney World!” But is the $40 bubble wand worth it when something similar can be purchased for $15 online or in a local store before your trip?

Disney shirts can also be purchased from virtually any clothing store these days. These outfits will come with a much smaller receipt than any apparel you purchase at Walt Disney World, with price differences sometimes being as much as 50% cheaper.

Instead of doing your shopping at Disney World, save money by purchasing souvenirs ahead of time and then let your children pick out something new each day from the souvenir suitcase to bring into the parks with them! Additionally, if shopping inside Disney World is important to you, consider loading a gift card with a designated amount to help curb extra spending.

Dining Cancellation Fees

This may not be considered among the greatest Disney World rip-offs to some, but dining cancellation fees are certainly not a good use of your money!

When you’re planning a Disney World trip, you can make dining reservations up to 60 days before the first day of your trip. And, except for a few select dining experiences, there is no cost to reserve dining. However, keep track of these and be sure to cancel them if you end up not being able to make it! Any dining reservations that you do not attend and that are not cancelled at least 2 hours before the scheduled time will incur a $10 per person no-show fee (and sometimes more!).

Disney vacations are full of surprises, and it’s not uncommon for plans to change at the last minute. Be sure to stay on top of your dining reservations and confirm whether you will be attending them. The $40 charge for missing one dining reservation for a family of 4 adds up if it happens multiple times throughout your trip!

Comments

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