How I Splurge at Disney

Everyone distributes their vacation budget differently.

When I’m at Walt Disney World, I’ll spend my money on different things than the average consumer.

Disney

That’s partially because I’m a lot more wasteful, and partially because I’m much stranger.

So, in a companion column, I’ll discuss the most popular splurges other people do at Disney.

Today, I’m going to focus on myself, though. Here are all the ways I splurge at Disney.

Lightning Lane

I realize that the topic of Lightning Lane has proven controversial to many.

Many Disney fans remember the Before Times, when FastPass was included for free as part of a Disney vacation.

Photo: Yesterland

I’d argue that the good times aren’t quite as good as people remember, as I recall how long those lines were at Guest Services when Disney first introduced MyMagic+.

Still, free is better. Nowadays, when you want Lightning Lane, you’ll pay at least $20 per person after tax on most dates.

Also, the prices soar from there when you buy a Lightning Lane Premier Pass instead, as it can cost as much as $149 plus tax.

Still, during the Lightning Lane era, we’ve almost always purchased some version of Lightning Lane for ourselves.

We’ve even tried Premier Pass, although that’s definitely for special occasions only.

Frozen Ever After

So, why do we splurge for Lightning Lane? Long story short, I got old, and I’m broken. I’ve got a bad back, and my front ain’t great, either.

So, standing in line for hours on end wears me out and reduces my enjoyment on vacation.

Also, I’ve used Lightning Line Multi Pass enough to master it so that I can maximize its value.

Luxury Resorts

Photo: Disney

Disney helpfully slots its various resorts into categories.

While there’s a lot of variance within each tier, you generally know what you’re getting when you book.

A Value Tier resort, while quite nice by hospitality industry standards, is typically bare bones compared to the other Disney properties.

A Moderate Tier resort would qualify as ideal accommodations for most travelers, while the Deluxe Tier hotels claim an embarrassment of riches in terms of amenities.

Evacuation

After staying at some Deluxe Tier resorts, we decided that we couldn’t go back.

My wife favors the proximity of Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom, while I wish I could live at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

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There is one Moderate Tier resort we like for its privacy, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

We only stay here about 10 percent of the time compared to Deluxe Tier resorts.

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As Homer Simpson would say, “We won’t go back, we can’t go back, and we won’t go back.”

Special Ticketed Events

I have no idea what I’m going to do for dinner tonight, but I can tell you right now that I’m going to spend Halloween night at Magic Kingdom.

My wife and I love Disney’s After Hours ticketed events, and we happily splurge on these during virtually every vacation.

Often, we schedule our entire vacation around Disney parties.

Disney hosts these parties at times when the parks are otherwise closed to guests, so we’re two of only a few thousand tourists at the park when we attend.

Photo: Disney

I love the short lines for my favorite attractions.

In fact, during a recent event, we experienced Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind three times and would’ve kept going until I got my favorite song, September.

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For my wife’s part, ticketed events like this are where she acquires all of her favorite pictures of rare characters, like Elvis Stitch.

After Hours events often cost more than standard admission tickets, which makes them quite pricey. I absolutely get my money’s worth, though.

Table Service Restaurants

Photo: Disney

I’m always a bit fascinated to hear how many guests never dine at Table Service restaurants.

That’s the absolute antithesis of how my wife and I vacation at Disney.

The first time I managed to convince her to visit Disney World, we used the Dining Plan.

She quickly grew addicted to Table Service restaurants, and based on the last section, you can probably guess why.

Photo: Disney

Did you know that Stitch appears during a character breakfast at ‘Ohana?

He’s one of many unique characters who will roam from table to table and entertain the guests during character meals.

Photo: Disney

As for the food itself, a shocking number of Walt Disney World restaurants currently rank in the top 250 of more than 3,000 restaurants in Central Florida.

The obvious negative with Table Service dining is that it’s slower.

Photo: Disney

We typically spend at least an hour enjoying fine dining, and two hours isn’t unprecedented.

That’s a significant portion of a Disney visit that we spend eating, so I understand why this option isn’t for everyone.

Photo: Disney

For us, it’s an essential part of a Disney vacation. We unwind while we’re dining and enjoy the Disney experience in a more relaxed setting.

Useless Trinkets I Love (Briefly)

I joke from time to time that I’m a shameless tourist.

I’m the kind of person who makes a store owner’s eyes light up.

At Disney World, my behavior accelerates, as I somehow lose any and all abilities to say no while shopping.

My thought process is basically this: See. Want. Buy.

Disney Store

Some of the stuff I get isn’t just pointless, it’s purposeless the instant I leave the Disney bubble.

For example, I rarely go outside, so I don’t need a neck fan. Why would I need a neck fan?

But when I’m shopping at Disney, I see a neck fan with Genie’s face on it, and I really, really want it! Do you know all those glow things they sell that look so shiny at night?

70th Anniversary Customizable Bubble Wands

My wife has been known to stand in front of me and block my view so that I don’t see them.

She knows that’s more crap we’re going to pack in our luggage, and then the instant it gets home, it goes into a closet, never to be seen again.

I am absolutely shameless about this.

I own like 12 bubble wands, and yet the next time I’m at Disney World, the next time I see a bubble wand, I’ll buy that one, too!
I don’t even blow bubbles with them!

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Even worse, they’re like $35. I don’t know why I need them, but I do!

I’m a relatively frugal person at home, but when I’m at Disney World, I can’t help but splurge.

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