Theme Park Extras Worth the Splurge (and the Skips)
You chose the dates, bought the tickets, and started making reservations at the restaurant. You’re off to a great start, but there’s more to planning a theme park vacation than just the big stuff. In fact, there are all kinds of add-ons and extras that can make or break your vacation — things like skip-the-line, VIP tours, dining packages, and after-hours parties can add to the overall cost of your trip.
But not all of these theme park additions are worth the cost. I’ve been visiting theme parks around the world for over three decades and I’ve seen how the parks have changed to make the extras a must-have. Here’s my take on what you should add to your vacation budget and what you can safely skip.
Worth the Extra Cost: Line Pass (but with a Caveat)
One of the easiest ways to save time on your next theme vacation is to purchase skip-the-line passes. At Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, this service is called Lightning Lane. At Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, it’s called the Express Pass. Other regional theme parks around the country also have their own versions of skip the line. Although these add a little to your vacation budget, the time you’ll save by not standing in long lines will be worth it because you’ll be able to get more during the day.
One caveat to this is knowing which parks the line passes are really worth and which parks you can do in one day without an extra cost pass. I always suggest people buy Lightning Lanes for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. EPCOT at Disney World is a great place to have, but it’s not necessary, it depends on what you want to ride. I suggest skipping the Lightning Trails at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, as it’s an easy park to cover in one day. Additionally, I always buy the Lightning Lanes at Disneyland because it’s so easy to park hop and get to multiple attractions in one day.
At Universal Orlando Resort, Express Passes are expensive. However, if you stay at one of the Signature Collection hotels (except Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Loews Hotel), you will receive free Express Passes, included in your reservation. Additional hotel costs can exceed the cost of Express Passes for your entire vacation.
Skip: VIP Tours
I have been fortunate enough to do VIP Tours at Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World. With VIP Tours, you are accompanied to the park by an experienced guide who can share information and secrets about the park, and escort you to the front of the line. They’re great, but if you’re sticking to a budget, they’re not worth the extra expense, even if they make you feel like a celebrity for the day.
Worth the Extra Cost: Seasonal Parties and After Hours Events
After-hours events and seasonal parties seem to be getting bigger and better at theme parks across the country, especially with the rise in popularity of Halloween (hello, Halloween Horror Nights and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party). But there are plenty of other seasonal parties and after-hours events if you’re not on Halloween. These extra cost tickets are usually worth the extra cost, especially if you are using them as your main event of the day.
For example, if you’re going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party at Magic Kingdom, consider spending the morning and afternoon at your hotel pool or Disney Springs. Then, when the ticket goes live at 4:00 pm, head into the park to do a few things before the party starts at 7:00 pm.
Some of my favorite seasonal parties and after-hours events are Disneyland After Dark at the Disneyland Resort, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort.
Skip: Dessert Parties
Although fun, dessert parties and other add-ons like these are usually not worth the extra cost. These in-park parties are an additional cost on top of your admission ticket and essentially give you a guaranteed seat to the nightly shows with the option of a sweet countdown.
Worth the Extra Cost: The Character Dining Experience
I like to experience the food of the characters. Not only is the food great, but the fact that you get to see a handful of characters in about 90 minutes is a huge time saver. I like to book early in the morning before the theme parks open, or in the evening, so I can enjoy the food and then return to the theme parks for the nighttime entertainment.
If you’re considering a character dining experience, take my word for it that one can’t miss Story Book Dining at Artist Point and Snow White at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World. You will meet a lovely princess, several of the seven little ones, and the Evil Queen herself. Over at Disneyland, I love Goofy’s Kitchen, where you can see Goofy and his friends.
Character dining options at Universal Orlando are somewhat limited, but the Marvel Character Dinner is delicious, and you’ll meet some of Marvel’s superheroes. And if you’re going to the park during Grinchmas, the Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast is a must-do.
Skip: Dining Plans (Sometimes)
Walt Disney World is the only major theme park with a dining plan (a service where you pre-pay for snacks and meals), but it’s usually not worth the extra cost. While many Disney World restaurants participate in the dining program, not all do, which can limit diners’ options. Additionally, you’ll still pay something out of pocket since tips are not included in dining programs (except for the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Cinderella’s Royal Table).
One caveat where dining plans may make sense is when they are offered for free. For example, currently at Walt Disney World, children ages three to nine get a free dining plan on eligible 2026 vacation packages where adults also have a dining plan.
Worth the Extra Cost: Stay at an On-Site Hotel
Depending on which park you go to, staying at an on-site hotel can cost more. For example, a stay at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel allows you early entry to a designated park each day, convenient transportation to and from the hotels, and Signature Collection hotels offer free Express Passes. At Walt Disney World, benefits include 30 minutes of extra time in the morning at each of the four theme parks, round-trip hotel transportation, and free admission to the water park in the summer.
Staying at an on-site hotel means you’re very close to the parks, allowing you to sleep in after a while, return to your hotel in the afternoon for a break if you want, or enjoy all that these high-end themed resorts have to offer.
Skip: Park Hopper Tickets (But With a Caveat)
Most of the time, buying tickets that allow you to go from one park to another in one day is not worth the extra cost. This is especially true at Walt Disney World, where each of the four theme parks has enough to do to keep everyone in your family entertained all day. If you end up hitting the park early (like Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which usually closes in the evening), consider making late reservations at a hotel or Disney Springs, or hitting the hay early to prepare for another day of adventure.
One caveat to this is Universal Orlando Resort, where you cannot ride the Hogwarts Express without having a park-to-park ticket as the train picks up and drops off at two different theme parks. If riding the Hogwarts Express isn’t your priority, skip the park-to-park tickets and enjoy what each park has to offer.
Worth the Extra Cost: Water Park Tickets (Depending on the Season)
If you’re going to a theme park during the warmer months, an extra cost is water park tickets. Walt Disney World has two water parks, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Universal Orlando Resort also has its own water park, Universal Volcano Bay. Additionally, smaller regional theme parks such as Dollywood and Silver Dollar City have special water parks for some fun.
Pro-Tip: Walt Disney World will be offering free water park admission to everyone staying at a Disney World hotel on the day of their check-in this summer. This is a great way to start your journey. Another way to maximize this is to get an early flight and spend most of the day at the water parks, or book an off-site hotel if you have a late flight, then transfer to your Disney hotel the next day to take full advantage of this benefit.
Skip: Renting a Cabana at the Water Park
Even at water parks, there are many add-ons and additional costs, from towel rentals (just bring your own) to large cabanas. I always say to skip renting a cabana at the water park. You’ll probably be out enjoying the lazy river all day, so you won’t spend much time here. If you know you’ll need some shade, get to the park early and look for seats under trees or umbrellas.
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Theme park extras worth the splurge (and one to skip)
Reporting by Megan duBois, FamilyVacationist.com / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
