What’s Worth the Money at Disney World?
You want to visit Walt Disney World, but you also don’t want to spend your hard-earned money needlessly.
During the 21st century, Disney officials have created a decision tree of nuanced conversations about what you need.
Image: The Healthy Mouse
Some amenities not included with the price of admission are almost as necessary as your ticket. Others are pure splurges.
So, what’s worth the money at Disney, and what’s probably not worth the cost?
After-Hours Events
After Hours – Magic Kingdom Fireworks
What’s an after-hours event? It’s a party Disney throws for a select few guests after the park officially closes for the night.
I realize that’s a bit confusing as a concept. The gist is that when a park closes at 9 p.m., Disney stays open for some guests.
The catch is that you must pay to play, so to speak. After-hours events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party cost money.
Disney doesn’t include access to these events with the price of standard park admission.
So, you pay extra to enjoy the parks when you enjoy a bit more privacy.
During after-hours events, the lines at popular attractions are much shorter.
Also, Disney hosts character greetings, many of which are rare. They’re meant to entice people to attend these events.
Are after-hours events worth the money? The answer depends on the party and how much you enjoy character greetings.
Photo: Disney
Our own Rebekah Sedwick recently ranked various events, and she listed Disney After Hours lower than the Halloween party.
That’s largely in line with my thinking here. A standard after-hours event isn’t necessarily worth the money.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party absolutely are, though.
Disney Dining Plan
Disney Dining Plan
Disney knows that you will eat plenty during your vacation.
Many of you are like me and prefer cost control while you’re traveling. So, Disney sells the Disney Dining Plan.
Photo: Disney
I need to update this article for 2025, but here’s the ultimate guide to the Disney Dining Plan. It explains the program in detail.
The gist is that the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) comes in two forms.
Photo: Disney
One provides two daily entitlements you can use at Quick Service restaurants.
The other includes one Quick Service and one Table Service meal a day.
Photo: Disney
Due to Mobile Ordering, you’re more likely to eat Quick Service meals these days, but I remain an ardent supporter of sit-down dining.
The key to the dining plan is that you pay in advance. So, while you’re on vacation, you don’t worry about money.
Planners can also find the best ways to maximize the Disney Dining Plan.
Whether you’re willing to do that almost doesn’t matter in one very specific way.
Photo: Disney
Disney sometimes offers free dining plan packages, thereby comping most of your meals during vacation.
In that scenario, the DDP is always a fantastic deal. When you’re the one paying for it, the answer depends.
Photo: Disney
Personally, I always buy the dining plan, but this one’s a personal choice.
If you don’t like paying in advance, you should skip the DDP.
Lightning Lane
Here’s an especially nuanced debate because Lightning Lane comes in three forms.
You can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which provides access to several different theme park attractions.
Meanwhile, Disney’s newest E-ticket attractions often require a Lightning Lane Single Pass.
Basically, you pay once to enter a specific Lightning Lane such as Tron Lightcycle / Run.
Photo: Disney
Finally, Disney recently introduced Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which costs the most of the three options.
However, Premier Pass entitles guests to Lightning Lane access at all participating attractions.
Photo: Disney
I’m talking about Lightning Lane Multi Pass AND Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions.
The catch is that Premier Pass costs at least $129 and could be as much as $449…per person. Yeah, it’s a lot.
Photo: Disney
Is Lightning Lane worth the money? I recently argued that Multi Pass is because you get on most rides in a matter of minutes.
I also bitterly admitted that Premier Pass provides excellent value, but I still wouldn’t do it for anything other than special occasions.
Crowds
Still, what I tell friends is that the value of Lightning Lane depends on the anticipated crowds that day.
Disney hints at crowd sizes with its admission pricing. So, if you have any questions, speak with a MickeyTravels agent.
Crowds starting to form
These Authorized Disney Vacation Planners will know the best ways to maximize your vacation budget, so you should be using them anyway.
You’ll especially appreciate them when deciding on Lightning Lane, though.
A MickeyTravels agent will provide sage advice on whether you need it for the date(s) of your visit.
PhotoPass
Photo: Playbuzz.com
What’s PhotoPass? It’s Disney’s way of making sure you take lots of pictures during your vacation.
When you purchase PhotoPass, you’ll gain access to every on-ride photo and video during your trip.
PhotoPass photographers
Even better, you can take pictures with Disney photographers when you see one.
Disney sets up picturesque shots throughout the parks. When you spot a photographer, you simply stand in line to take the shot.
DisneyPhotoPass
These opportunities are priceless, with the only downside being that your hair will look ridiculous at times.
I wouldn’t recommend exiting a roller coaster and then having your picture taken, and I speak from experience here.
Disney PhotoPass
Also, I misspoke a moment ago. While the pictures are priceless, Disney most assuredly puts a price on PhotoPass.
Currently, you’ll pay $185 plus tax for the duration of your vacation.
Disney PhotoPass
Is PhotoPass worth the money? This answer depends on two things. The first is how much you like having your picture taken.
Another is whether you’ll actually remember to stop for a picture. We’ve had vacations where we were really bad at this.
To a larger point, most people just take pictures with their phones these days.
So, I typically don’t recommend PhotoPass to friends. But I do get it for myself since I’m terrible at taking pictures.
Staying Onsite
Gotta Go Orlando
Here’s an oddly divisive topic, but I’ll never understand why.
Folks, you should always stay onsite at Walt Disney World. It’s just plain better.
Visit Orlando
Some people get it in their heads that they’ll save a ton of money by renting some Airbnb in the area. It’s ridiculous.
When you stay offsite, you must fight the brutal Orlando traffic surrounding Walt Disney World.
That aspect alone is a non-starter for many. Even if it doesn’t bother you, losing top-shelf amenities should.
Specifically, guests who stay onsite at Disney World can participate in Early Theme Park Entry.
Early Theme Park Entry
You can enter the parks half an hour before they officially open.
During that 30 minutes, you can ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Avatar Flight of Passage, or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
So, you can knock out some of the best rides at the parks before 99 percent of daily guests are even allowed to enter!
Stay onsite, folks. It’s definitely worth the money.
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Feature Photo: Disney
