Ooh good question. I feel like I have been on a mission our last few trips to do ALL the things so we have tried a lot. I think this is a very personal question though and kind of depends on what you are looking to get out of it. But here is our short list of what we would do again and wouldn't:
LOVED
- Epcot Fireworks Cruise- we have done this twice and absolutely loved it. Being in the boat was just fun, our "captains" were entertaining, they gave us tons of free drinks and snacks (plus the grownups were allowed to bring on their own alcohol), and at the end of a long day, watching the Epcot fireworks snuggled up on a boat was just really magical.
- Deluxe Resorts- I guess I never thought of this as a splurge, but since a PP mentioned it, we always stay deluxe and for us, it is money well spent. We love the themeing and ambiance, and if you are trying to maximize your rides, the late-night hours for deluxe guests only at MK and Epcot cannot be beat. We especially love the Epcot resort area because being able to walk to 2 parks is SO convenient and that really adds value to our trip.
- Special Dinner at Signature- We recently have done Citricos, California Grill, Topolino's Terrace, Tiffins. All wonderful. Much needed change of pace after the chaos of the parks.
-Cirque Du Soleil at Disney Springs- I would only recommend this if that is your type of thing. But it was something different that was still "Disney" and I loved pairing that with dinner at Disney Springs for a date night.
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MVMCP/MNSSHP- We have done each once and I loved them! They aren't a must-do for every trip, but if you are a big fan of either of those holidays, it is so much fun.
ONE AND DONE
- Wild Africa Trek- I am glad we did this once, but I don't think we would do this again. Our guides were fantastic, and that was probably the best part. The hippos weren't in the mood to be fed, which is fine (I appreciate that Disney doesn't force anything on the animals to make tourists happy), but without that, I felt like really what we paid for was the suspension bridge and lunch. The part in the truck was very simlar to the regular safari for us. The lunch was good, but besides me, nobody in my party ate everything (one doesn't like seafood, one doesn't like meat, etc.) So while it was a cool experience for someone who has been to WDW many times, I was kind of underwhelmed for the price we paid. By all means, give it a try if you haven't done it yet though! I don't regret it, just wouldn't do again at that price.
- MK After Hours- This was probably more a problem with our party as we had some ticket issues that took up 45 minutes of our "after hours" to get straightened out. It was super cool to be in the park with it so empty, but still, the whole event flew by and we just didn't feel like we got our money's worth. Never enough time I guess! We will stick to staying deluxe and making do with the after hours. I have heard that the DHS one is much better though so YMMV.
-MK Dessert Party- This was 10 years ago so things might be different now, but we were underwhelmed. Usually by the end of the day the last thing I want to do is gorge myself on sweets. You can get a good fireworks view with just a little bit of thought and planning. I would skip this unless they have made it much better!
HAVEN'T DONE BUT WANT TO
- Victoria and Alberts- We just got off the Disney Fantasy and LOVED our dinner at Remy, which was created by the head chef at V&A's. It has made me want to go there even more now! This is a total splurge (and on the cruise we spent about $700 on this one dinner), but it is an EXPERIENCE. I felt like royalty. And in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the parks, it was much appreciated. Fingers crossed we make it there someday!
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Jollywood Nights- I started another thread wondering if this is coming back this year. I hope so! I loved the "grown up" feel of this in contrast to MVMCP (which I also love) and just some of the unique offerings. Plus seeing DHS done up at Christmas is so fun!
- Galactic Starcruiser- This one is just wishful thinking! But if they ever bring back a piece of it, I am there!