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Your Splurge Guide to Walt Disney World

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Credit: Disney

If you consider yourself a Magic Kingdom maven, character dining expert, or Disney Water Park veteran, you may be looking for unique theme Park experiences at Walt Disney World Resort. If you want to change or spice up the zest on our next Disney World vacation, this is for you. This is the ultimate guide to your splurge guide to Walt Disney World.

Take a Backstage Tour

Disney VIP Services

Credit: Disney

Want to learn even more about the Most Magical Place On Earth and see a different side of the theme Park? Consider a backstage tour on your next visit to Orlando. Tour length and price ranges quite a bit from smaller attraction tours like Living with the Land “Behind the Seeds Tour” to Animal Kingdom’s “Wild Africa Trek,” the classic “Keys to the Kingdom Tour.” Do you want to go big? Opt for a star-service Disney VIP tour with a unique Cast Member guide, info, and access. Taking a Disney VIP tour is a bucket list Disney Park experience I would love.

Related: The Behind-the-Scenes Haunted Mansion Tour You Can Do For Free

Indulge in a Signature Dining Experience

Disney dining is fun, so why not amp up the Ritz by indulging in signature dining on your vacation? Often considered the finest dining experience on the Disney property, Victoria and Albert’s has received the AAA Five Diamond Award numerous times. The Victorian elegance of the restaurant is unmatched.

jaleo

Credit: Disney

Foodies will find this meal worth the splurge though it is a once-in-a-lifetime (or even less often) experience for most Guests. The signature dining experience I want on my next splurge vacation is a deluxe tasting menu experience of tapas, wine, and cocktails at Jaleo by Jose Andres at Disney Springs.

Treat Yourself to a Spa Day

You may not think Walt Disney World is the perfect place to unwind. But, the serene Disney spas on the property make relaxation a possibility for Guests.

Patron Receiving Massage Services from Cast Member at Spa

Credit: Disney

Massages, facials, hair, and nail care are just a few of the services offered at Disney Spas. Mandara Spa at the Dolphin Hotel near EPCOT provides peak relaxation treatments. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort also offers Guests different massage and spa packages.

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♬ Flowers – Miley Cyrus

Shop Until Your Heart Is Content

Walt Disney World has always been a shopper’s dream, from Disney Park shops like Emporium in Magic Kingdom to the plethora of shops at Disney Springs. Indulging in all the shopping in Parks, resorts, and Disney Springs are great ways to splurge on your next Disney vacation.

Uniqlo, Disney springs

Credit: Disney

Picking up fun character merchandise is excellent, as are non-Disney shops like Columbia Sportswear, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, and Curl. Chances are you’ll find the perfect souvenir at Disney World, and going on a shopping spree is the ideal way to splurge on your vacation.

Dine Hard

California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Credit: Disney

Disney food is incredible. From quick service and snacks to fine dining, you will never go hungry at Walt Disney World. Booking various table service dining experiences is my favorite way to splurge on a vacation. Polynesian Village Resort is home to my favorite table service restaurant, Ohana.

Stay at A Deluxe Resort

Contemporary Resort Exterior Night

Credit: Disney

Disney deluxe resort provide an extra luxurious vacation experience. Springing for a few nights at an upscale Resort is a great way to splurge at Walt Disney World. Admiring the giraffes on the savanna of Animal Kingdom Lodge or watching the monorail loop through your hotel during a Disney’s Contemporary Resort stay is so much fun. Disney Deluxe Resorts are a cut above from the best Disney transportation to elite dining in your Resort.

Celebrate at A Seasonal Party

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a fun ticketed event for Guests after regular Park hours end. You’ll celebrate Christmas with characters clad in holiday outfits, watch a parade, and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a fun splurge perfect for kids of all ages.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Credit: Disney

Similarly, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a fun way for Guests visiting in the fall to splurge and enjoy a unique experience. Guests of all ages trick-or-treat Cast Members at attractions around the Park, watch a spooky holiday parade, party with the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, and meet hard-to-find Disney characters.

Take A Long Disney Vacation

Toy Story Land Disney's Hollywood Studios

Credit: Disney

One of my favorite ways to go big at Disney World is to plan a lengthy vacation. Splurging for more days during the magic is a great idea. Ticket prices decrease slightly for each additional Park day you add to the vacation package. Indulge in more magic and make even more memories on your next vacation.

Honorable Mentions

Join The Disney Vacation Club

Welcome Home DVC

Credit: Disney Tips

Most Disney veterans have heard about the Disney Vacation Club or seen the DVC information booths scattered across the Disney Property and Parks. Joining the Disney Vacation Club grants Guests access to exclusive Disney Resort rooms, members-only events, and other perks. Dropping by a DVC booth to learn more about the vacation club’s details, pricing, and perks may be a good idea. This is a major splurge but is the right choice for some Disney-loving families.

Throw A Disney Wedding

Have you seen the gorgeous Disney Wedding Pavilion beside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort? What better way to splurge at Walt Disney World than to have your wedding at Disney? Stress-free, gorgeous, Disney-magic-clad wedding packages can be pricey but would be the dream wedding for many Disney couples.

wedding-magic-kingdom

Credit: Disney

Magical weddings are not limited to the Disney Wedding Pavilion. Did you know you can rent some attractions and Park areas for your wedding? A wedding reception outside the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or a dessert party in World Showcase are all possibilities that the Disney events team can coordinate for people looking for an elite experience.

Will you splurge on these extras on future Walt Disney World vacations?

About Katie Chapman

Hey There! I am a Georgia native with a passion for writing, traveling, cooking, decorating, pugs and of course all things Disney. Growing up in South Georgia just a few hours from Walt Disney World made for a magical childhood. Some of my best memories were made on Main Street U.S.A. with my sister watching SpectroMagic nighttime parade or beside my grandparents, parents and extended family at Chef Mickey’s celebrating on a family vacation. Epcot was my favorite park from a young age and I credit it with my interest in and love for international travel. As a kid I loved meeting characters and watching films around World Showcase and could spend hours exploring each of the countries in Epcot. These days, my husband and I get away to explore a new country whenever we can and even incorporate trips to The Disney Store and Disney Parks around the world in our travels. One of our travel goals is to visit every Disney Park in the world. I love writing about Disney restaurants, park tips, Disney outfit inspiration and Disney history. Pocahontas is my favorite Disney Princess (90s kid here!) but Mr. Toad is my spirit animal. When I’m not at Disney I’m reading about park history, watching Disney documentaries and shopping vintage Disney merch for park outfits. I never pass up a reservation to Ohana, an empty seat on Living with the Land or a Violet Sake.