Planning a Disney World vacation includes examining your budget time and time again. It’s not a cheap trip, even for the savviest of vacation planners. That said, you can usually wrap your head around most, if not all, of the expenses associated with a Disney World trip so you aren’t caught off-guard with sticker shock. That doesn’t mean hidden costs don’t exist, and if you aren’t diligent, the could still sneak up on you.
I’m not talking those impulse purchases in the gift shop (though that’s totally a thing to be aware of ). As you prepare for your upcoming Disney World vacation, it’s worth reviewing the following hidden costs that can and will add up quickly if you aren’t careful!
Lightning Lane passes
This may go without saying for some of you, but others may be unaware that the days of complimentary skip-the-line passes at Disney World are a thing of the past. These days, Lightning Lane is the system you’ll need to know about if you want expedited wait times in line, and it will cost you.
For a brief recap on Lightning Lane (I have an ultimate guide below that goes into more detail), here’s what you need to know ahead of time so you aren’t surprised by the cost: Lightning Lane Multi Pass is what you’ll want to purchase if you want the ability to book return times for most of a park’s rides and attractions. At this time of writing, the daily cost of Lightning Lane fluctuates based on the park you’re visiting (Magic Kingdom costs more) and day of the week (weekends and holidays cost more).
On average, you can expect to spend as little as $15 per person daily on Lightning Lane Multi Pass and upwards of $45 per person daily at Magic Kingdom on those peak days. Multiply that times the length of your stay and the number of people in your party, and that’s hundreds of dollars extra you need to budget for.
The TL;DR on my thoughts on Lightning Lane are this: you do not need to buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass every day, but it is something you need to accept as part of your vacation budget if you want to maximize your time in the parks, especially at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY WORLD LIGHTNING LANE GUIDE
Tips and gratuities
Tips and gratuities are a normal function of interacting with the service industry, but there are times where you may be caught off-guard when they pop up. Most notably, when planning a Disney World vacation, it’s important to keep in mind that tips and gratuities are NOT included in the cost of the Disney Dining Plan.
The Disney Dining Plan is a meal plan that covers the cost of a set number of meals and snacks based on the length of your Disney World Resort hotel stay. For example, if you pick the Standard Disney Dining Plan and you have a 4-night Disney World resort reservation coming up, you’ll receive four (4) Table Service meal credits for each person whose name appears on the hotel reservation.
So while your meals are pre-paid for, the tips and gratuities provided to your server are not covered. It is important to plan ahead for this so it doesn’t catch you off guard (and please remember to tip your Cast Members!).
READ MORE: IS THE DISNEY DINING PLAN RIGHT FOR YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION?
Things you forgot to pack
It happens to the best of us. You come up with the most meticulously-planned packing list, and you Tetris your way to a perfectly-packed suitcase. Then, when you open your suitcase at your hotel, you are shocked to find you forgot to pack sunscreen. And ibuprofen. And shampoo. And ponchos.
The good news here is that you don’t have to worry about securing these items. Disney World’s hotels and theme parks are well stocked with all of the essentials you may have left at home. The bad news is that it’ll cost you, and it will more than likely include an upcharge compared to what you would have paid at home (and you will certainly spend more than what you would have if you remembered these items).
The simple solution here is to remember to pack everything you might need for a vacation. Make your packing list well ahead of time so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute to remember what to bring. Be on the lookout for sales at your local supermarket or big box store for even more savings.
READ MORE: UNIQUE ITEMS TO PACK FOR DISNEY WORLD YOU PROBABLY AREN’T THINKING OF!
Snacks and beverages
Let’s be honest: Disney World is all about the snacks. Everyone loves a Dole Whip. I’m not going to come on here and tell you to avoid snacks, or your favorite fancy coffee, while on vacation. Disney World snacks are what make the world go ’round.
What I will warn you about, however, is a runaway snack budget. Left unchecked, a dining budget can balloon quickly, especially if you’re counting items like that latte or cold brew you have to have every morning (that will run you $7 or $8 a day) or alcoholic beverages (my beloved Avocado Margarita in the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT rivals $20 these days).
If the goal is to spend as little as possible, set a strict snacking budget. Consider buying a gift card at the start of your trip and use that as your snack budget. Or, just be mindful of how much you are spending. Calculate your daily total at the end of each day to keep track, or have some ebb and flow to your budget. I know I typically spend more on snacks and drinks at EPCOT, so I usually pump the breaks in the days that follow to accommodate.
Another tip is to bring satiating snacks with you from home and munch on them throughout the day so you aren’t buying snacks every time you feel a little peckish. A protein bar makes for a great mid-morning snack to carry you over until lunch, for example, and they’re easy to throw in your bag when packing.
READ MORE: HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION
Expedited transportation
Disney World offers several complimentary transportation options to bring you around the property, whether that’s to and from your Disney World Resort hotel or between theme parks if you’re Park Hopping. These include buses, the Skyliner, Monorail, and boats, and they are available to all guests whether or not you are staying on-property.
While free, they aren’t often the most efficient modes of transportation, especially during peak morning and evening hours. To combat this, you may be tempted to hail a ride share like Uber or Lyft, or you can even book Disney’s own ride share service Minnie Van (located within the Lyft app).
Obviously, these are unnecessary purchases and can add up fast if you rely on them daily. Uber and Lyft rides can cost around $15-$30 one way, while Minnie Van can easily cost double. The best way to avoid this cost is to allow for more travel time in between parks or to/from your hotel. If you want to have the option to book a ride share (because those bus lines can be brutal), allocate $30 per day or a different set amount so you aren’t caught off guard.
READ MORE: THE BEST DISNEY WORLD HOTELS FOR AN ADULTS-ONLY VACATION
Daily rentals
Some unexpected costs are more avoidable than others. In the case of daily rentals, this is less about avoiding the cost and more about being aware of them ahead of time so you aren’t met with sticker shock at the end of the trip. If you’re traveling with little ones and you need a stroller, you may want to consider bringing one from home rather than rent one. You may also decide that the cost of renting a stroller is worth not needing to deal with traveling with your stroller — whatever floats your boat.
Disney World provides single and double strollers available for rental at the theme parks. At the time of this writing, single strollers cost $15 per day or $13 per day if renting for the length of your stay. Double strollers cost $31 per day or $27 per day if renting for the length of your stay.
Another sneaky rental cost is lockers. Lockers are available at all of the theme parks for $10 per day (small), $12 per day (large) and $15 per day (jumbo; available at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT only). Water park locker rentals are $10 per day (small) and $15 per day (large). Water park lockers are little hard to avoid unless there is someone in your party willing to sit with your belongings while others go on the attractions.
I’d advise doing whatever you can to avoid locker rentals in the theme parks. Pack your park bag strategically (trust me, you don’t need to bring everything plus the kitchen sink to the parks) and avoid shopping for large souvenirs until closer to the end of the day (or if you’re heading back to your hotel for a midday break). Smaller souvenirs can easily fit into a backpack and shouldn’t weigh you down if you packed your park bag lightly.
We can only hope that Disney World decides to bring back its services where you can send souvenir purchases to the front of the park to be held for the day or resort delivery. Until that day comes, however, you have to be a little more strategic.
READ MORE: MY DISNEY WORLD PARK BAG ESSENTIALS (IT’S LESS THAN YOU THINK!)
Emergency portable batteries
Do not underestimate the drain your phone battery will experience at Disney World. Between booking Lightning Lane return times, checking wait times, Mobile Ordering food, and taking all of your family photos (and immediately posting them to social media), your phone’s battery will drain far quicker in Disney World than it does at home.
Disney World has multiple FuelRod stations throughout the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. FuelRod is a convenient way to charge your phone battery, and when the power bank runs out of juice, you can swap it for a full one at the nearest station. If you’re new to FuelRod, it’ll include an up-front cost of $40. Swapping your old FuelRod for a new one is free of charge at Disney World FuelRod kiosks.
Select FuelRod kiosks also include longer cables for $20 and FuelRod MAX10 power banks for $80 (these hold more juice and offer wireless charging options). Similar to the smaller FuelRods, once you make the initial purchase of a FuelRod MAX10, swaps at Disney World kiosks are free.
I personally use FuelRod as a backup power solution, but I bring other power banks with me that hold more of a charge. The older FuelRod models are lighter and smaller, and the free swapping makes for a very convenient in-park service. I personally think FuelRod is worth the cost, but it is still a cost to be aware of if you find yourself with a dying phone and no power bank on hand.
READ MORE: HOW TO SURVIVE THE SUMMER HEAT AT DISNEY WORLD
Last-day baggage storage and meals
This last item can sneak up on anyone, including repeat visitors. I just experienced this realization myself. Let me paint the picture: I love to maximize my time at Disney World. This includes booking the earliest flight in on my arrival day and the latest flight on my departure day.
While I was comparing flights as I planned my next trip to Disney World, it dawned on me. I considered booking a cheaper evening flight coming home that gave me at least a bonus half day in the parks. However, I realized I would likely spend far more on food in the parks that day versus booking the “pricier” flight leaving in the morning.
It is important to scrutinize every financial decision you make when planning a Disney World vacation, even the ones that make it seem like you’re saving money. This conundrum comes up a lot, such as the Disney Dining Plan (it’s actually hard to break even on the Dining Plan). If you’re planning a short Disney World trip, however, it could make sense to book a later flight to maximize your last day in the parks.
You’ll also want to be prepared for any tips or fees associated with baggage storage should you choose to extend your departure day and enjoy time in the parks.
READ MORE: HARD-TO-GET DINING RESERVATIONS AT DISNEY WORLD
8 Disney World Hidden Costs That Add Up Fast (What to Know Before You Go) was originally published on The World of Spark.
