6 Hidden Costs That Will Sneak Up on You in Disney World

Planning a Disney World trip can be a daunting task, especially if you’re on a budget.

You have to figure out all sorts of costs, including the price of airfare (unless, of course, you choose to drive, then you need to figure out the cost of gas). You also need to figure out how much your hotel will cost, what your souvenir budget is, and how much you’re willing to spend on dining. But there are SOME Disney World costs you may not be considering.

Let’s look at some of those hidden costs throughout Disney World so you can include them in your Disney World budget.

Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane

If you’re looking to skip the long lines at many Disney World attractions, you’ll want to consider the cost of Genie+, which will fluctuate depending on how busy the parks are. However, Genie+ doesn’t include ALL rides in Disney World: you’ll find the newer and more popular rides also require a SEPARATE cost per person (Individual Lightning Lane) to skip the lines. But that’s not all.

There’s another pretty significant cost you may not account for when buying Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane. Disney also adds taxes to your purchase, so you’ll need to factor that in a few extra dollars, too. It can add up if you’re paying $23-$25 per person for a family of five PLUS tax.

Tips

You also need to consider the amount you’ll spend on tipping while at Disney World. This may include leaving tips for Mousekeeping (a.k.a. housekeeping, usually $1 per person per day), as well as tips when you dine at a table service restaurant. Keep in mind that even if you’ve purchased the Disney Dining Plan, tips are not included, so you’ll still need to tip even if your meal is technically already paid for through the dining plan.

If you have a party of six people or more, an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill at table service restaurants. Also note that if you’re at a prepaid event like Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, the price of your ticket includes tips/gratuities.

Transportation

Although transportation around the Disney World resort is free, you’ll still need to consider how you’re going to get to Disney World from the Orlando International Airport if you’re flying. You have several choices, including renting a car, using a rideshare service, or using a shared shuttle service like Mears Connect Driven By Sunshine.

Depending on the size of your party, one of these options might be better than the other. But you will need to consider those costs in your budget.

Dining Cancellation Fees

If you book an advance dining reservation at a Disney World restaurant and need to cancel, you’ll need to do so within two hours of your reservation time. Otherwise, the credit card you provided when you made that reservation will be charged if you are considered a no-show.

If you’ve booked dining at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, you’ll need to cancel at least five days in advance or pay a $100 per person fee.

Memory Maker

You can find Disney PhotoPass photographers throughout all four parks, but if you want to get all the digital downloads of the photos that were taken, including Magic Shots, you’ll need to purchase Memory Maker.

Memory Maker will also include unlimited downloads of all your attraction photos. If this is a priority, be sure to include it in your budget.

MagicBands

MagicBands were once free to those who booked a Disney World vacation package, but they now cost an additional fee. You also now have the option to purchase a regular MagicBand or MagicBand+ (which is more expensive).

You CAN get MagicBands at a discount if you book a Disney World vacation package, but you’ll still need to remember to include that cost in your budget.

As you can see, there may be a lot of costs you aren’t initially considering when you start planning your Disney World vacation. So, we hope this helps you avoid any pricey surprises when you finally get to take that vacation.

Be sure to check back with AllEars again soon for Disney tips, tricks, and news.

Try THESE 2023 Dates for a Disney World Trip With Low Crowds

Has there ever been a hidden Disney World cost that surprised you while on vacation? Tell us all about it in the comments!