Which Disney World Enchanting Extras Are Worth It?
Walt Disney World has been added a barrage of upcharge add-ons and events throughout the last year, and has recently consolidated many of these under the “Enchanting Extras Collection” banner. In this post, we’ll take a look at which of these we think are worth the money, and which you should skip.
In addition to those explicitly included by Walt Disney World in the Enchanting Extras Collection, we’ll include any upcharge offerings that we think guests might be considering. As we’ve received questions about a few of these things from readers, it makes sense to consolidate our response in one place.
Please note that many of the Enchanting Extras Collection experiences we have not experienced firsthand. Instead, we are evaluating some based on our perception of value for money and worthwhileness as gleaned from years of visiting Walt Disney World. We feel comparing our experience (and what’s been “missing” from it) against Disney’s explanation of what each experience provides (and its cost) gives us the basis for an informed opinion on the offering.
In terms of our bias, we are generally frugal travelers who are willing to splurge on luxury experiences that ostensibly offer value commensurate with cost. Still, we are pretty conservative when it comes to spending, so our threshold for ‘appropriate’ value for money is likely higher than most.
Additionally, our default “philosophy” towards any new Walt Disney World upcharge additions (as described in more detail on this page of our recent trip recap) is skepticism. We think most of these have been hastily thrown together as a way to provide new revenue streams and priced highly without much consideration over the value they offer guests.
That’s probably enough of a preface, let’s go through the Enchanting Extras Collection at Walt Disney World and offer our take on whether each is worth the money…
Early Morning Magic – No – I’ve seen a lot of people do logical contortions trying to justify the value in these, but it just isn’t there unless you approach the parks as being E-Ticket checklists, with each ride on Toy Story Mania being worth $X. In which case, you should probably just buy a used Wii and a copy of this. What? Not the same experience as being at Walt Disney World? Exactly. There are easy ways to enjoy these attractions during a normal, leisurely day in the parks without paying a surcharge. (Here’s a review of it.)
Disney After Hours – No – After an initial flop that no doubt lost Disney money, this has returned and become more popular. It’s still not worth it. What makes the seasonal hard ticket parties worth the money is the ambiance and special entertainment, Disney going the extra mile for a special event. There’s nothing special about this–it’s the same thing as a normal day just with a harder cap on attendance. (Here’s a review of it.)
Club Villain – No – You’re paying a steep surcharge for the villains here, one that seems excessive to me. I suppose you could consider this a plussed up dessert party with better food and an entertainment component, would require enjoying that entertainment component. I find Disney fans parties to be an abomination and would sooner pay to not attend one, so perhaps I’m biased against the very concept. (Here’s a review of it.)
Highway in the Sky Dine-Around – Maybe – This was just announced a few weeks ago in a flurry of other upcharges, so it was easy to lump it in with the rest as ridiculous. However, when you break down the many elements of this, it might not be a bad deal. The value proposition really turns on alcohol, and whether you’ll drink all that’s included. If so, this might be splurge with value. If not, you should just book ADRs to do your own monorail progressive dinner.
Dining with an Imagineer – Yes – Some people might view the rockstar celebrity status Disney fans bestow upon Imagineers as laughable, but then again, I think it’s pretty laughable that “normal” people fawn over someone just because they’re good at singing or acting. In any case, there are a variety of Imagineering disciplines, but regardless of your ‘host’ here, you’re bound for an engaging and fascinating dining experience. I think this could be especially beneficial for kids at that impressionable age who need a ‘celebrity’ role model that isn’t some drug addict rockstar. (Here’s a review of it.)
Chef’s Tables – Yes – These experiences include Victoria & Albert’s, Flying Fish, and Citricos. If you’re a foodie, or just interested in gaining a greater appreciation for the art and discipline of preparing food, these are great options. Not only is the food delicious and the experience intimate, but you can learn in the process about the decision-making processes of chefs and their kitchens.
In-Park Cabanas – LOLNO – I feel like this $650+/day, ugly temporary tent is actually just a red herring to make the high prices of the other Enchanting Extras more palatable by comparison. The only other option is that Disney is actually serious about these pieces of garbage, and that’s just depressing.
Express/VIP Transportation – Maybe – As much as this one really irks me because Walt Disney World should be improving its entire transportation fleet instead (and as such, I will never book this on principle) this express transportation, which operates via backstage routes and allows you to bypass security when park hopping, could be worth it if you purchase it for the duration of your trip. (Here’s a review of it.)
Wild Africa Trek – Yes – I’ve heard nothing but unanimous praise about Wild Africa Trek from those who have done it. While the price tag has kept us from doing it, when I think about how much an experience like this would cost elsewhere (even at the the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, special experiences are pricey) it seems fair. I wouldn’t hesitate to splurge on this if it’s something that appeals to your family. (Here’s a review of it.)
Other Animal Kingdom Animal Stuff – Maybe – Until I saw all of these listed on the Enchanting Extras page, I had no clue all of them existed. You know the upcharge thing has gotten excessive when I can’t even keep up with it all.
Epcot Seas Tours – Yes – I’ve done DiveQuest (albeit years ago when it was less than half the current cost) and it was one of the coolest diving experiences I’ve ever had. The prices do give me pause, but prices of aquatic experiences like these anywhere give me pause.
Sleigh/Wagon Rides – Maybe – If you want to enjoy a different side of Disney, I could see the carriage rides being worth it. However, at nearly double the cost during the month of December (blatant price gouging) when the same experience transforms into a sleigh, it’s not worth it. (Here’s a review.)
In-Park Dessert Parties – No – “It all started with a mouse dessert party.” ~Walt Disney. I feel like the success of dessert parties is what opened the floodgates for so many other upcharge offerings, and frankly, they are not worth the money. I suspect this will be met with the most staunch opposition as a lot of people enjoy dessert parties, but when you compare the value of the desserts versus the price and seating/location advantage, it does not work out.
You’re paying too significant of a premium for the reserved seating. In my opinion, too many planners fret about finding a viewing spot for shows. It’s really not that challenging to find a good spot–even on crowded nights–at the last minute. (Here’s a review of one.)
Dessert Cruises – Maybe – These come with premium desserts as compared to the standard dessert parties, but they also come with premium pricing. The ones open to the general public would garner a “no” on the value question, but the (even more expensive) renting out of a whole boat might have some appeal if you’re having a wedding party or are a bunch of Exxon executives celebrating your good fortunes. (Here’s a review of one.)
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League – Maybe – They are expensive–and BBB is arguably a bit creepy–but a lot of kids love both. When looked at from a strict value perspective…it’s difficult to really assess this one way or the other. There are some things that you cannot quantify, and that ‘specialness’ your kid has as they walk around the park feeling like a princess or pirate is one of them.
Pirate Adventure Cruises – Yes – There are four of these, and we’ve heard near-unanimous praise for them, with many parents saying this was their child’s favorite part of the trip. In any event, it’s 2 hours of entertainment for a relatively reasonable price, making it something that’s easy to recommend given the overwhelming positive feedback. (Here’s one review.)
Backstage Tours – Maybe – I think these will appeal most to those who have ‘been there, done that’ and are looking for a new perspective from which to enjoy Walt Disney World. While being backstage could ruin the illusion for some, I think seeing how the sausage is made, so to speak, can give others a greater appreciation for what takes place on stage. We’ve done a number of backstage events over the years, and have found them to be hit or miss in terms of value, but the totality of those experiences has been a deeper interest in how the parks and attractions operate.
VIP Tours – No – This is another one about which I’ve heard near-unanimous positive feedback, but in this case, I still don’t buy it. The price is so astronomical that it is impossible to reconcile that with the benefits inured. If money truly is no issue, perhaps I could see it. If that’s the case, though, you wouldn’t be consulting a blog post that analyzes which extras are “worth it.” (Here’s a review.)
In re-reading the above, I realize this post has a distinct ‘Debbie Downer’ tone to it, but it’s my sincere belief that most of the upcharge offerings at Walt Disney World are not worth the money for most guests. I think many first-time or infrequent guests have a fear of missing out or concern that their trip won’t “be magical” unless they throw as much money at it as possible.
I don’t subscribe to this philosophy (to the contrary, I think the more money spent, the more expectations and pressure increase, as do the likelihood of an “adult meltdown” resulting therefrom). However, a lot of people love all of these additional offerings, and my perspective on them certainly is not the only one, nor is my word the gospel. To assist in seeking out a range of opinions, I’ve gone back and added links to reviews that differ from mine. If you are considering any of these experiences, it might be worthwhile to read those counterpoints before making a decision. Likewise, if you’ve had your own experience with any of these (or other) upcharge offerings at Walt Disney World, please share in the comments!
I’ve done the BBB twice with different family members and it was completly worth it. I don’t think the makeup is extreme and the entire experience for the girls and their families is unforgettable. Both times the girls brought their own dresses so we just went with the basic package. I do think location matters here, I’ve only been in the castle.
Dine with an Imagineer was not a good experience for me. I’m one of the few that don’t rave about the Brown Derby so the food was just ok. The Imagineer we had was bad. Her answer for everything was “I can’t tell you.” And didn’t really provide anything to make it worthwhile.
Finally, Wild Africa Trek was amazing and worth every penny.
The express transportation between parks is interesting, but ultimately we would probably not use it for two reasons. First, entering the parks, especially MK, through the main gate, and more especially during Extra Magic Hours, is a major part of our experience. Second, and more important, after having exhausted ourselves going hard for several days on end when we had small kids, we now insist on a break at our resort during the early afternoon. We use Park Hoppers and visit two parks each day, with a rest in the middle. No way to get to Port Orleans on this new express system.
I recently did EMM (Fantasyland, not HS) as a solo-adult gal and I really enjoyed it. Since it was just me, I was happy to eat the cost, and the fact that I could go on Peter Pan as many times as I wanted (an old family favorite) seemed already worth the price. I also rode 7DMT for the first time, and then again, and again, and again, with many pictures of me on a completely empty train both in the front and in the back. And then I had my pick of Carrousel horse (sounds dumb, but when you really want the horse that you rose and have a picture of as a child, it makes sense) and it was all topped off by a better-than-average-MK breakfast. I loved it and hope they offer it in the future, because that’s how I’ll start my MK touring each time!
This past fall my 2 kids and I did the Aqua tour (snorkel diving) at EPCOT. It was fantastic and much less expensive than a similar opportunity at our local aquarium in Chicago. So fun to swim and wave to the visitors and diners!
We’ve been taking our kids to WDW for years. Changes over the past few have been shocking. Too many things closed at once, construction going on too long, and a bunch of strange, last minute add-ons. We still go with our adult kids, but skipped this year because of the shutting down of so much (we figured we’d wait until late next year, give Disney some time to finish). In 2014, we added the Villains Sinister Soiree to our Mickeys Halloween Party (Yes, a paid extra party WITHIN a paid extra party) for desserts and to see villains take over Cinderella’s Castle. While fun, esp. when one of the ugly stepsisters informed my son she was adding him to her list of men to marry for approval by her mother (He was dressed up as a wizard from Harry Potter, Ravenclaw, with a wand. The ugly stepsister was very excited and hoped he could help them overthrow the Fairy Godmother). Each villain visited the table, we got pics, and it was in the castle. The food was blah, though, and we wouldn’t do it again. Then, in 2015 they added an Osborne Lights dessert party with blocked off seating in the area. We did it the first night it started – desserts were meh, but sitting under the lights for two hours with only a handful of people, priceless. Got a weird, cheap blanket too, made last minute. Also bought the special cups, ornaments and t-shirts for the final year of the lights. But that one isn’t going to happen again. Those are the two we’ve done, but most do not seem worth it. The only reason we did those was because – inside Cinderella’s Castle, and Osborne Lights.
I read the review you linked for the premium transportation, and maybe I’ve just been lucky in my Disney travel (which I find hard to believe, as I normally visit at the most crowded times of the year), but I have never waited more than 30 minutes for a bus – and that’s what I consider a long wait. The writer made it seem like not a bad deal if you miss the bus on the half hour, but I think that would be pretty darn annoying, and I don’t think that buses every 30 minutes sounds appealing. I don’t want to have to follow a schedule for transportation – I just want to stand in a line and wait 5-20 minutes for the next bus. Though, bypassing security does add value.
Also with the cabanas – if I heard correctly, these things don’t have air conditioning…. sounds downright miserable in the summer months. Also, I think people can see in them. Because if that wasn’t the case, I could see why they might be appealing for someone’s… err… romantic bucket list! xD
I completely disagree about the cabanas. We did it and it was amazing. Besides how nice the cabanas are, for some people it would be heaven sent. There are those that for medical reasons don’t have the stamina to spend a lot of time at the parks, and leaving the park takes up precious time and energy. These cabanas have couches that are large enough for 2 large adults or 4 children to nap at a time. The front curtains close all the way as well, so you can use them for changing as well. It rained all morning the day we were there and even wearing ponchos we eventually got soaked. We were able to change into fresh clothes and were off again. We also were able to let the kids change into and out of their costumes there as well. I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it, but it definitely was. I would say if you have young children, stamina issues, are planning on spending a very long day there (we were there from 9am until midnight), or just need a place to decompress to prevent a headache, this is well worth it.
As for the cabanas being an eye sore, I wonder if the author hasn’t seen them lately. They are hidden from view by portable shrubbery. This gives you a huge amount of privacy, extra security and it helps to maintain the theme of the park.
Totally loved this post. As with all your posts, your honesty & explicit descriptions make it easy for a WDW novice like myself to make better ‘data’ based decisions.
Thanks!
I did the Keys to the Kingdom backstage tour in 2000. Long time ago, but I want to say it was well under $50 and well worth it. I’m an engineer by training and am and was fascinated by the engineering marvel that is WDW. So this backstage tour is a Yes for me.
I had no idea there were so many upcharges available. Express transportation? That’s crazy. Early morning magic that still requires a day ticket? That’s also crazy. Next thing you know, Fastpasses will cost extra. Oh boy.
The thing I liked best about my last trip to WDW a few years ago – I’m a Disneyland fan – was that most of it felt rather all-inclusive. I could pay a set amount for the trip, and have accommodation, food (although I know you’re not a fan of the Dining Plan!), Magical Express, the bus servies, and more, all taken care of. And there would be nothing inside the parks which would differentiate between those who could spend a little more and those who couldn’t. The family with the most money to throw around still has to wait in line with the rest of us at Peter Pan’s Flight. Magic didn’t come at an extra cost, and it didn’t discriminate between different levels of disposable income. It wasn’t that you got any extra “magic” just because you had more money to spend than another family.
With all these “premiums,” it feels as if regular guests are now just seen as inferior. How horrid.
We did early morning magic at Magic Kingdom and it was worth it. I have 2 little boys who love roller coasters (the Disney kind, they are way too little to do serious amusement park costers like at Universal or 6 flags). There is no way to get 7 back to back rides on mine train in “during a normal, leisurely day”. Maybe not worth it as a group of adults who only care to ride once or twice. But for kids who like repeat rides there’s no other way to do it short of a VIP tour which is of course even more expensive.
Totally agree. I think the “value” here depends on the family situation. My sister did Early Morning Magic with her 6 & 8 yo boys, and for them it was completely worth riding mine train 5 times (especially since this was a once a decade visit). Partly, it meant that they didn’t have to do another RD at MK. I’ve been to a dessert party at DHS that was comped, and it was very nice, but worth only about half of what the sticker price was. But the WOC Dessert Party at DCA? I paid full price for it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat so that the seniors and preschoolers in our group had a seat for the show.
The only one of these experiences I can speak to is Bippity Boppity Boutique and I will say as the parent of a princess Loving 4 year old it is WELL worth the value. We just did the base package & brought our daughter her own dress (bought on clearance at Target). The fairy godmothers were amazing, the whole experience incredibly special & she still talks about it months later. I was holding back tears watching her transformation. If you have a child who loves princesses then the $60 is well worth it.
LOL on BBB being creepy! I’m the mom to a 2 year old girl who will no doubt want to do this one day, but I can’t help but find the full pageant makeup look a little unsettling.
Awesome post given what is happening right now at Disney with all of these ridiculous upcharges. Couldn’t agree more with most of your thoughts on this matter
I’m sure it’s all harmless, good fun, and I’d probably let my child do that someday if that’s what they really wanted (difficult to say how I’d parent before even having kids…), but it does bother me.
I will say that I’m glad Disney has gone a different direction lately, featuring empowered female leads who aren’t helpless without a man. While I enjoy all of the animated classics, I would prefer my child see more of the former message…
Thank you for saying this, Tom. (All of it.)
Hi.
Long time listener, first time caller. Thanks so much, Tom and Sarah, for your terrific insights, news, and commentary. I thought I’d contribute a little detail about one of the “Other Animal Kingdom Stuff” offerings–the Wanyama Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which my wife, daughter (10), and I did this past summer. It’s expensive–a little shy of $200 per person–but a really terrific experience that I think delivers value commensurate with the price. It begins at 3:30 pm with a reception at Jiko, at which there are cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks and a nice spread of hors d’oeuvres. Then the group (I think it’s a max of 16; it was 8 when we did it in late June) piles into an open-side van for a guided tour of the AKL savannah. The guides are animal care specialists, and they take a lot of time to talk and answer questions. You get very close to a wide variety of animals, and there are great opportunities for photographs. After about an hour-and-a-half, it’s back to Jiko for a 4-course tasting menu with wine pairings. The dinner is family-style; each guest gets an amuse, a plated trio of tasting-portion appetizers, platters of main courses and sides for the table, and a plated dessert trio. So all in all, you wind up tasting around 12 dishes. Some are drawn from the regular menu at Jiko; others are unique to the dinner. Everyone gets a nice gift at the end of the night–some tea, chocolate, and a pin.
We usually visit WDW once per year, and tend to be very skeptical of upcharge experiences–this was our first, to celebrate my tenure and my daughter’s birthday. But we are also foodies who live in New York City, so we’re accustomed to paying a lot of money for fine dining. With that in mind for context, we loved every part of the experience and highly recommend it.
Hope this is helpful.
Thanks for sharing! This is an experience we will probably never do (until today, I didn’t even know it existed), so it’s great to hear feedback from someone else. Especially someone who is a long-time reader, and is therefore very wise. 😉
Just thought I’d second the amazingness of Waynama safari. I got it as a gift for my husband and it was definitely worth it. The food was spectacular but I really enjoyed learning about the backstage parts of the AKL and AK with regards to the animals. Our tour guide specialized in vultures and I learned so much from her. I highly recommend it.
Also – for what it’s worth I actually think pirates league is a much better value than BBB. They have a pirate princess and mermaid for girls and my daughter definitely like it better.
Great recap, and I’m inclined to agree with you on most points. In my opinion, upcharging really has to give you something, which you shouldn’t just be getting by default (transport, after hours).
Disney Paris being my home park, I was shocked this week to realise that the cost of their behind-the-scenes tour has managed to double since September, whilst seemingly not offering anything extra.
Really hope this direction of pricing people out won’t continue.
Having done Club Villain in October, I would gladly do it again.
It’s expensive, but the show is entertaining and the food was really good. If you price out what a similar meal and show might cost, plus alcoholic beverages, it’s not too bad of a deal.
It’s definitely far, far better value than a dessert party.
Thanks for offering a different, first-hand perspective.
I was under the impression that the ‘show’ element is pretty light (it’s not choreographed or scripted to the extent of Spirit of Aloha or Hoop Dee Doo, is it?) and the rest is a DJ/dance party. Is it more involved than that?
Unfortunately I haven’t done Spirit of Aloha or Hoop Dee Doo yet, though I’m hoping to do the latter on my trip next year. So the best I could manage to compare it to is Medieval Times.
It definitely isn’t a full scripted show and calling it a DJ/dance party is certainly fair. Every 10 or 15 minutes either the Host or Dr. Facilier would come out and do a scene. There were a few times they summoned people to the dance floor to teach us all a dance. Once you add in the character interactions and the occasional plate refill, there really wasn’t much downtime. It went by pretty fast.
But $129 is not cheap, so I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. It’s a splurge, but you do get something unique out of it. You’re not paying for a sketchy fireworks spot like the Star Wars Dessert Party (why is it under a tree?) or the equivalent of a few fastpasses. And since its in the Sunset Showcase, you’re not really negatively affecting anyone else by occupying a space that would have otherwise been open to everyone.
“Preferred parking” is another upcharge I see around, and which I don’t understand (why people purchase it). I suspect it’s mostly people with lots of passengers in the car, for whom the per-person cost is lower, but even there it’s still a marginal time saving.
I predict it won’t be too long before we see “Premium Dining Reservations”. I.e., once standard slots are sold out, “premium” dining slots will be available for a non-refundable $x/person.
Thanks for bringing that up, because it’s another ridiculous ones. We just got this out at Disneyland, and it’s already proven so unpopular that they are giving “free” upgrades to preferred spots because they aren’t selling (and there’s a shortage of parking at DLR, already).
I had a Disney VIP tour once and it was the most amazing Disney thing I’ve done. It was a gift from a Disney exec I did a serious solid for. I’ll never do it with my own money. As brain meltingly good as it was, I’m way below the tax bracket where that is trivial money.
Your experience seems to be pretty much the norm. We’ve had a plaid on a couple of occasions (never paid for it, and was not in a strict VIP tour sense), and while the guides were always great and convenient, it doesn’t appeal to my personalty type. So it’s a non-starter for me even before getting to the issue of money.
Hi Tom, I agree with a majority of these. Though, I really would like to do club villain one day, however it’d have to be around a $75 price tag and not the current one. This thanksgiving we did the fall harvest buffet at Disneyland which had a terrifying price…. and we loved it, and think we might do it again in the future. That’s rare for us, we don’t usually spend the big bucks like that. I think that’s the most expensive meal I’ve attended in my lifetime. But the food quality, characters, atmosphere, and live band music made it worth it for us. I see club villain Having similar pros just slightly not as strong which is why I think it should cost less than the thanksgiving dinner and be more of an expensive character meal.
We always did the boat fireworks shows when I was kid but we had to stop because they got too expensive. I miss them, but not enough to spend the money on them again.
We’ve avoided the dessert parties like the plague. And i have no problem with the cabanas. Don’t get me wrong I would never use one however if people want to give that much money to Disney that’s fine maybe we ll get nicer stuff out of it 😉
Merry Christmas 🙂
If Club Villain were around $75, I’d be a lot more forgiving. That brings it into the realm of other dinner shows (even though it’s not one), which seems more appropriate.
I agree 100% with you, Tom. The upcharges are mostly ridiculous. You missed one of the most recent upcharges and that is the 7 hour(yep, I said 7 hours) star wars tour in HS. This does include exclusive seating for the SW fireworks. That’s not a draw for me, as I don’t usually stay for any fireworks; seen them all before. I also agree with you about the reason for these, and it saddens me to see what Disney world has become under Eiger. It seems like there is one money grab after another lately. The transportation one seems to be one that’s not needed. They need to just update and increase the regular transportation for everyone. I guess their idea to fix it is to charge more for an “exclusive” transportation experience. Personally, I like the entrances to the parks, and they are a big part of the “show” for me. Maybe I’m just a cheapskate, but I find more than enough to do without all these extra charges. I also am in the minority, according to the many Disney sites online. Where will all these lead to, and at what cost to the “show” and the regular paying guests.
Have they started that yet? I thought it was coming in 2017.
In any case, you would literally have to pay me to do that tour. I know people say that a lot, but I’m not even kidding. I read the description when it was announced, and 7 hours of Star Wars entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios sounds like a miserable way to spend a day (especially when half of that entertainment flat-out sucks), and I wouldn’t even do it for free.
I assume the people who are going to book this are ones who want a “FastPass” to Jedi Training Academy for their kids, or Star Wars fans who don’t realize Star Wars Land is open yet.