The Happiest Place On Earth comes with a surprisingly hefty price tag.
Disney World vacation costs are higher than ever, and the magic quickly wears off when you realize how easy it is to overspend on a family trip.
Make your travel budget go further by skipping these wildly overpriced Disney World gimmicks that aren’t worth the money.
Character Dining
Don’t buy into the hype and waste your money on a Character Dining experience at Disney World. The resort markets it as the perfect way to meet your favorite characters while enjoying a sit-down family meal. Adults can expect to spend at least $60 per person for lunch or dinner, which is hard to justify when you can meet most of the same characters for free while out and about in the parks.
PhotoPass
Unless you’re celebrating a special occasion at Disney, the PhotoPass service likely isn’t worth it. Although the park photographers take photos for free, you must spend around $20 per photo to download and save them. Disney offers a Memory Maker package with unlimited downloads, but the cost is still unbelievably high: $75 for one day or up to $210 for your entire Disney trip.
Balloons
Purchasing a balloon at Disney World is a massive waste of money. Urban Tastebud reports that the average price of a balloon is $14-18, depending on the style. Since the balloons begin to deflate almost immediately, you’re essentially throwing your money away.
Genie+
Are you considering Disney’s Genie+ service to skip the long lines? It may seem convenient, but the costs quickly add up. Genie+ prices per person vary from $15-30, depending on the time of year you visit the resort. Based on these prices, a family of three could spend an additional $90 daily on top of standard entry tickets.
Special Events
Attending seasonal festivals and after-hours parties at Disney World costs a pretty penny. For instance, an adult ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starts at $169. That price doesn’t include the standard entry ticket you must purchase to enter the park before 4:00 p.m.
Starbucks
Expect to spend $1-2 more than usual on your go-to Starbucks drink at Disney World. Skip the coffee chain if you’re craving a caffeine kick to fuel your day in the parks. You’ll spend more and get the same old drink you can find at any other Starbucks location.
Park Hopper
If you want to visit multiple Disney World parks in one day, you must pay extra for a Park Hopper ticket. A Park Hopper add-on can cost upwards of $100 per person. Try to spend one full day in each park rather than cramming multiple into a few hours.
Preferred Parking
Skip the $15-25 upcharge for preferred parking on your next Disney World vacation. Standard parking is already expensive at $30 a day, and prices skyrocket for preferred spots. While this parking section will get you closer to the park entrance, it typically isn’t worth the extra fee if you strategically plan your visit outside peak times.
Dining Plan
While a Disney dining plan may streamline your park experience, it won’t be wallet-friendly. An online Plan Disney forum user estimates the plans range from $57 to $94 daily for adults. Maximize your food budget by bringing meals to the park rather than overpaying for a dining plan.
Resort Hotels
One of the most well-known ways to save at Disney World is by staying at a non-resort hotel. Hotels located on Disney property are significantly more expensive than comparable options just outside the resort entrance. While staying on property provides several exclusive perks, they usually don’t justify the high nightly rates.
Souvenirs
Disney’s colorful branded merchandise may entice you, but save the shopping for outside the parks. Souvenirs can be a fun way to commemorate a family trip or vacation, but Disney World will upcharge you for purchasing items in the resort. Check out alternative retailers to find your favorite Disney toys and gadgets for a fraction of the price.
Bottled Water
Buying bottled water at Disney World will hurt your wallet and the environment. A plastic water bottle will cost several dollars to buy in the parks. Save money and help the environment by bringing a reusable bottle you can refill for free throughout your vacation.
Alcohol
Disney World’s alcoholic drinks are notorious for being wildly overpriced. For a relatively small glass of beer, wine, or cocktail, you’ll spend anywhere from $10 to over $15. It might be worth splurging on one specialty drink, but otherwise, plan to enjoy most of your alcohol off-property.
Adult Meals
The restaurant prices at Disney World may shock you. According to the Disney Food Blog, adults spend an average of $10-15 for quick-service dining. Meanwhile, a table-service entree can range from $15-38.
Keep your food spending at a minimum by ordering kid meals, which offer similar quality for several dollars less. Better yet, bring snacks to refuel throughout the day and save the eating out for a non-Disney restaurant.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
