DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Walt Disney World is an expensive vacation to take, and 2022 might be even more expensive than in previous years. We have some extra costs that you might want to factor into your vacation budget when visiting Walt Disney World in 2022.
Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes
One of the biggest new expenses for a Walt Disney World vacation is Genie+, the new way to skip the standby lines in the Parks.
Genie+ costs $15/day/person, and for families, this can add up over vacation. By purchasing Genie+, Guests are given access to over 40 Lightning Lane lines throughout the four Theme Parks.
At each of the four Theme Parks, select rides aren’t included in Genie+ but can be purchased individually. These prices are date-based but typically run between $7 and $15 per ride experience.
Using Genie+ and purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes is completely optional, but if you think it might be a service that your family will use while in Walt Disney World at the Theme Parks, it is an extra cost you need to budget for ahead of time.
Credit: The Sunshine Flyer
Transportation
Prior to 2022, Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel could use the complimentary Disney’s Magical Express transportation from Orlando International Airport. As of January 1st, 2022, this service is no longer available.
Guests traveling down to Walt Disney World will now need to budget for transportation into the magic, which will probably cost you.
A few options have already been announced, with Mears Connect costing around $16 each way for adults and the themed Sunshine Flyer, which will be $17 per adult each way.
Rideshare runs from $35 to $120 depending on surge pricing one way. Renting a car is also an option if you prefer to drive yourself.
There are also private car services that you can hire to pick you up at the airport but make sure to do your research.
No matter which mode of transportation you choose to get to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel, it will cost you.
Credit: Paula K
Special Experiences
Special experiences have always cost extra when visiting Walt Disney World; however, we have seen an increase in the cost, and we believe it will probably continue into 2022.
Both Disney After Hour Boo Bash and Disney Very Merriest After Hours were a lot more expensive than the previous holiday parties; Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Cost for these special events ranged from $169 to $249, and no matter if we see these after-hours events or the parties return, a high price will probably come along with it.
If you want to experience one of these special events, make sure you add it to your budget ahead of time.
The after hours and parties are examples of special experiences Guests can choose to add to their Walt Disney World vacation.
Experiences such as special firework dessert parties or cruises are wonderful ways to add some extra magic to your trip; however, you will want to budget for them.
Credit: Disney
Tours
Another fun way to add additional magic to your Walt Disney World vacation is through tours. Walt Disney World offers a variety of tours, and we are thrilled to have some returning already in 2022.
As we haven’t been able to do tours since the Parks closed in 2020, we are willing to budget a little extra to experience a fantastic tour once again.
Even though we have seen a slight increase in the tours that have already been announced, such as Caring for Giants, Wild Africa Trek, Up Close with Rhinos, and Savor the Savanna in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Keys the Kingdom in Magic Kingdom.
Tours are an excellent way to see Walt Disney World in a little different way. Disney provides amazing tours throughout the Parks so keep watch to see if a tour would be a fun option to add for your Walt Disney World vacation.
Credit: Disney
MagicBands
If you have been to Walt Disney World in the past and stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you were given a free colored MagicBand; however, this is no longer the case.
If you want a MagicBand to use during your vacation, you will need to pay for it ranging from $5 to $30 or more. Disney has also announced that MagicBand+ will be coming in 2022, interacting with nighttime shows, the Fab 50 Statues, and more.
We don’t know the cost of MagicBand+, but with the addition of interactive features, we assume they will cost more than the regular MagicBands.
Again like Genie+, MagicBands are optional but if you want to have some for your trip, make sure to add them to your budget.
Food and Merchandise
As we start 2022, be prepared to spend a little more when it comes to your dining while on vacation. We see an increase in food overall in our hometowns, so we expect to see a price increase in Walt Disney World as well.
To help prepare for this chance of an increase, set aside a little more when it comes to your food budget.
If you are planning on purchasing some souvenirs (which you should) know that you might see a slight increase in prices.
An annual price increase is pretty typical for Walt Disney World, so we anticipate seeing our favorite spirit jerseys and Minnie ears costing a little more.
Just plan to set aside a little more when it comes to food and merchandise to help cover any price increase we might see.
When planning your 2022 vacation to Walt Disney World, you will want to consider these extra costs that you might encounter. Preparing for them by adding to your budget is a great idea, and we hope we have helped when creating a budget for your vacation.
