11 Things That Are Worth Splurging On at Walt Disney World

5. Indulge at the Festivals

We can’t leave the topic of food without mentioning the delectable experience of EPCOT festivals. While the fall Food and Wine Festival is their most popular event, EPCOT actually hosts several other celebrations throughout the year (featuring many inventive food booths and special entertainment). Dining at the festival booths canget pricey since the portions are usually snack-sized. On a positive note, this means you’ll have room to try all kinds of global delicacies! If necessary, I’d consider skipping a restaurant for dinner entirely and instead, allot your day’s food budget to heavy festival snacking. This could be your favorite meal of the trip.

6. Take a Private Cruise

When it comes to EPCOT delights, you can’t miss the nightly spectacular of IllumiNations. This fireworks/dancing fountain/pyrotechnic/projection show happens on the waters of the World Showcase lagoon and has been a “must-see” for years. There is one issue though. Finding a front row spot is challenging. Therefore, consider circumventing this and renting a private pontoon boat for yourself and up to 10 people. Not only will you have an incredible, up close and personal view – you won’t have to stake out a spot hours in advance to do so. If possible, try not to be deterred by the initial cost. Split this up among a group of adults and the price is less likely to sting!

7. Dinner and Show Packages

Here is another option for securing a great seat for the nightly fireworks show – book a dinner package! Each park offers a nightly spectacular and therefore, every park has restaurants that offer special dinner packages. For an upcharge, you can dine at a Signature establishment and gain access to a reserved seating area for the nightly show. This can be a great bargain if you were already planning to have a sit-down meal and value saving time in the parks. After all, who couldn’t use a little more time in WDW?

8. Add on the Park Hopper

With so many things to do, it’s difficult to plan a perfect itinerary. To ease the stress of visiting only one park per day, you can be admitted to any park at any time via a Park Hopper ticket. This is especially useful when you need to shift dining reservations or have the urge to specifically ride Toy Story Midway Mania one last time! Truly, there’s nothing more luxurious than having the ability to waltz into any Disney park like a true VIP. And like a true VIP, the Park Hopper option gives you the freedom to arrive and depart at your leisure.