Hi all and happy Thursday! No matter how much planning and budgeting you do, there always seems to be something unexpected during vacation. So in today’s post, we are going to share our top 5 hidden costs you may have in your next Disney World vacation!
We JUST got back from an impromptu visit to The World, so be sure to check out last week’s post with our latest Disney trip tips!
#1 Unexpected Necessities
This is always one of our most common hidden costs during a Disney World vacation! So, what do we mean by unexpected necessities? Well, picture this… You run out the door to get to your favorite park, but forget to pack any rain-friendly gear. Next thing you know, you see huge, dark rain clouds overhead. What do you do to stay dry? Head on over to the nearest shop and purchase either a Mickey umbrella or ponchos for the whole family! Or, it is just too darn hot and you break down and buy those Mickey Mouse cooling towels for some relief from the heat? Or, in our case one time, your footwear is causing too many blisters, so you get a pair of Mickey Crocs. Those unexpected necessities are almost guaranteed to creep into your vacation budget.
#2 Magic Bands
Now we all know Disney rolled out a new service called MagicMobile, that basically turns your smartphone into your park ticket and resort hotel room key. But did you know that you may not find this service very convenient? We definitely did not on our latest visit to Disney World! What did we do to make our lives easier? We purchased everyone brand new Magic Bands! Yes, they were expensive and unexpected, but totally worth the cost. Plus, it is simply a must-have accessory!
#3 Transportation
Transportation is definitely one of those hidden costs on your next Disney World vacation! Some transportation in and around The World is complimentary to guests, however, a lot is changing. For instance, the Magical Express is being discontinued. So now, you will need to find (and pay!) for a way to and from Disney World. Sometimes, the buses just take too long and you need to make it to an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) on time to avoid the fee! So, you call for a ride share service!
#4 Parking
That’s right folks, if you have a car at Disney World, get ready to pay for parking! If you are a Disney World Resort Hotel guest with a car, you’ll be charged a parking fee daily (theme park parking is included). The current parking fees are: $15/night for Value Resorts, $20/night for Moderate Resorts, $25/night for Deluxe Resorts and Villas. The only exception for the parking fees are guests who book stays using Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. And if you are staying off-property and want to visit one of the theme parks, you’ll have to pay at least $25 to park!
#5 Rentals
If you are traveling with kids, you’ll likely find yourself looking to rent some piece of equipment. One trip, we actually rented a full-sized crib (it was way more comfortable compared to the provided Pack-n-Play). Additionally, a lot of families opt to rent strollers for their littles! The Disney World Parks have stroller rentals available at each park entrance. However, you can also rent items from third-party vendors. We highly recommend Kingdom Strollers! They have it all for reasonable prices and convenient pick-up/drop-off. On the other hand, if you unexpectedly have mobility issues or have members of your party that may have trouble walking long distances in the park, you will likely have to consider renting ECVs (Electronic Conveyance Vehicles). You can rent them directly from Disney or from Kingdom Strollers as well!
So those are our top 5 hidden costs you’re likely to encounter on your next Disney World vacation! We hope this list saves you some money!
Until next time… Cheers!!!