1 wdw splurge?

[MarkNC2Disney]

I'd never try to talk you out of club level. I'm a fan myself, but as for you saying it would be worth it just for the alcohol, I have to disagree. Club level can cost anywhere from 150- 350 extra for standard size rooms lately versus the same room type non club. There is no way one person is getting that value in alcohol. It's not a full bar situation. There are several types of beer, usually a cider, some relatively modest wines. These are only out from 5-7 in the evening. Any other time you have to request them. Some clubs burst out a bottle of bubbly for breakfast mimosas or during appetizers, but it's like one or two bottles for everyone. There are evening cordials, but how much Grand Marnier can a person drink . Most clubs have a stash of hard seltzer or a bottle of vodka for mixed drinks by request, but those things are monitored and you have to ask.
Specifically for your statement about alcohol for one, you would do far better to just buy some bottles in the resort convenience shop. There's more variety there as well as some higher end items you won't find in the club lounge, and you don't need anyone's permission to have a (large) pour whenever you like.

lol this all sounds so lame. Thanks for the info.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Capture your moment better than any other splurge

 

[Simba's Mom]

My biggest splurge is I think discontinued. It was called the Sunset Savannah tour at AKL, a 1 1/2 hour tour of the savannas of both Jambo and Kidani followed by Family Style dinner at Jiko's. Come to think of it, it's been so long that the first time I did it Kidani was being built, so we only toured the Jambo savanna. Less costly was "Lunch With An Animal Keeper", which I also loved, it was held in a private alcove at Sanaa, also Family Style, with an animal keeper from the resort. That too has been discontinued, but the last CM I spoke with said that it "may" come back.

 

[glocon]

My biggest splurge is I think discontinued. It was called the Sunset Savannah tour at AKL, a 1 1/2 hour tour of the savannas of both Jambo and Kidani followed by Family Style dinner at Jiko's. Come to think of it, it's been so long that the first time I did it Kidani was being built, so we only toured the Jambo savanna. Less costly was "Lunch With An Animal Keeper", which I also loved, it was held in a private alcove at Sanaa, also Family Style, with an animal keeper from the resort. That too has been discontinued, but the last CM I spoke with said that it "may" come back.

Wow- both of those would have been awsome to do.
You’re so lucky you got to do those!
I hope the “Lunch With an Animal Keeper” does come back!!!

 

[Dicentras]

Before we bought DVC, Poly club level hotel stays were a “worth it” splurge for us. One you factored in the cost of meals we no longer had to buy, plus the convenience and fun of it? Totally worth it!

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

any trip to wdw is a splurge , but if you could only do 1 extra paid activity what would it be? ke: firework dessert party, after hours event, tour whats your splurge?

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

 

[Lumpy1106]

We’ve been very fortunate to have been able to do quite a bit on the splurge list.

Two things I’ve always wanted to do:

1) VIP tour with a plaid
2) Club 33 at DLR- we looked into membership at one point but it seems almost impossible with the waiting list.

I've done Club 33 and it was very cool. DW's BFF works for So Cal Gas and SCG has a membership - from there I don't know details how we rated, but glad we did. We've sat in the SCG seats at an Angels game a couple of times and that's very cool too. You are on screen on TV when a righty bats. I guess it's pretty easy money selling natural gas to Southern California because they have all the perks.

Absolute, impossible (?) dream wish would be a stay in the dream suite above POtC in DL. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Dream_Suite

 

[Lumpy1106]

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.

I am totally on board with Wild Africa Trek - if it was at Caring for Giants prices. Both are massively overpriced for what you get IMHO.

We did a Mickey's Not-so-Scary party at DCA and swore never again. Lines were LONG and we ended up not riding anything. We got candy but we could have stopped by Target and bought candy at a fraction of the price. It was so late the kids tried their best but got pretty cranky. DD realized we had not ridden any rides on the tram on the way back to the parking lot and lost it. Sure, there have been lots of stories about really good after-hours events, but there are no guarantees and we have such bad PTSD from the one we did. Hard pass - thanks.

 

[buzlite]

Building a lightsaber…as a 30+year old man. Best cash I’ve spent in the parks.

 

[japanese maple]

Our splurge last trip was a droid.

Our splurge this trip will be the Christmas Party. Actually any after-hours event that's happening during our stay. All of them together will be one big splurge.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I’ve done a lot of very big splurges in recent memory.
VIP tour with a plaid for my 40th birthday. Our tour guide was amazing and I loved every minute of it, but it’s totally not something you need to do if you’re proficient with Lightning Lanes on a busy day. This was my dream splurge and I did a lot of savings activities (earn money on Swagbucks, pay with all discounted gift cards) to make the day a bit cheaper. We did a group of 7 and I paid for almost all of it.
We did the Galactic Starcruiser in the one bedroom suite. I had convinced my best friend and her husband that we should go before the place closes (I correctly called that one before it even opened). It ended up costing each adult about 1900 dollars since there were 4 of us in the room, but for the amount of time it was a total splurge! I loved it, and I’m not the Star Wars fan in our group, but I had a great time and was very glad I got to go before it shut down operations.
We’ve eaten at V&A’s twice over the years and the food was always great. My husband and I thought it should have a Michelin Star and are glad it does now. Totally worth it if you’re a foodie!
CL stays at Contemporary and AKL were also great splurges but yeah you can’t really get your full money’s worth in alcohol that’s for sure.
After Hours at MK is always fun, but exhausting!
MNSSHP is something that I would always pay for just to watch the gravediggers dance in Boo to You!

I don’t think I’d ever do the MVMCP ever again because it was so oversold (we went during the time period when it was like 9-2AM and my family hated having to stay up so late, my parents said it was a waste of money).

Next on my splurge list is a Keys to the Kingdom tour but it never seems to align with our Disney World plans.

 

[dsanner106]

For us, adding Hoop De Doo Review is a splurge we love to make

 

[MPD]

We've been fortunate to do one splurge nearly every trip (there are just two of us) and my top recommendations are Wild Africa Trek and After Hours events. We got SO much done at the After Hours events in January at MK and HS (the only ones available during our stay) and wouldn't hesitate to go to any that are offered on future trips. We did Wild Africa trek awhile ago and hope to add it to our list next visit. I also really like the Fireworks viewing parties - but for the view, not the food. But they are definitely behind After Hours and Wild Africa Trek to me. I hope to get scuba certified to do the Dive at Living Seas some day!

 

[Shughart]

Best ones we’ve done: private MK fireworks cruise (my husband would do this every time), Minnie vans, Elephants tour at AK, Behind the Seeds tour, Morimoto’s date night, Hoop Dee Doo, Tiffans, carriage ride, early entry breakfasts (please bring those back), using DVC points for 1 bedrooms over a studio (now we’re ruined and will never go back).

On the list to do someday: VIP tour, any other tours really, V & A’s, Copper Creek cabins, I want to stay for a full 2 weeks someday too

One we’ve done but did not enjoy was MVMCP. My kids were just too young and sleepy cried the entire time. We left after the parade. I want to give it another chance this year so I’m not making any calls until then.

Carriage rides? Do tell?

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

Carriage rides? Do tell?

At Fort Wilderness - I should've been more specific, because I think they do them at Port Orleans too. Ours was during the Christmas season. I want to say it was $75? It was a nice way to end the day.

 

[serenitynow]

Right now I don't think there is anything special for me, other than the MNSSHP. And even those prices combined with the high number of tickets they are selling gives me pause. If I do it's for DS#1 who loves it. (DD & DS#2 did Africa Trek and LOVED IT!) We've done a number and just not sure I'd repeat most.

What I will say if something new pops up and you heart immediately yearns to go, and you would be upset if you didn't if it goes away, do it! We did Club Villain and it was one of the best extras Disney ever created, worth 1000% of the price. I really wish they brought it back seasonally and kept the flex space for all kinds of cool creative extras and events ... not some dumb Cars "thing".

Club Villain was the best!

 

[UpstateMick]

We haven't used them yet, but we're using Tiffany town car.

We have used TTC for almost 12 years! They are amazing; however, they do have a change in luggage policy (charge) so make sure you check that before you travel!

 

[Shughart]

We have used TTC for almost 12 years! They are amazing; however, they do have a change in luggage policy (charge) so make sure you check that before you travel!

Um, what would that be? We've never used them before and we travel in 17 days..I don't see anything about luggage charges on their website. We booked months ago.

 

[joyjoy]

Building a lightsaber…as a 30+year old man. Best cash I’ve spent in the parks.

My son, who is 40, actually CRIED when he did this experience. I mean.....

 

[Kait_]

For me it's sit down lunches. My kids are small and you can tell how special they feel having lunch with the characters. And for my mom and I (my Disney partner in crime) getting to sit down for 1.5 to 2hrs in the peak of the crowd times, in AC, with alcohol available is the recharge we need. We've basically sworn off counter service (for meal times in the parks). The battle for a seat, the crowds pushing in, the dirty table and sticky floors... it's more stressful than relaxing and not even that much cheaper than the fancy character meals, almost not cheaper at all than the "regular" table service.

My youngest is too small for most the "enchanting extra" tours. But I would probably do a safari one in the future when she's able. I looked really close at all the different fireworks options and opted against them. The "free" locations are actually better for seeing the castle projections (which is what the MK fireworks are all about to me) if you can get a good spot. So I buy my kids a new toy and everyone an ice cream and we camp out early. A fraction of the price and I think everyone likes it more.