There are a ton of free and low cost activities to do at Walt Disney World, like riding the monorail, enjoying time by a pool, and watching an outdoor movie at any of the resorts. However, there are also a lot of ways to burst your budget, especially if you have children that you want to spoil rotten.
1. My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party
Image: Disney
Ages: 3-9, with an adult
Price: $334.64 for one adult and one child
Little girls love having pretend tea parties, so Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa thought they would take the concept and make it as extravagant as possible. The party is hosted by Rose Petal, a magical flower from Princess Aurora’s garden. Rose Petal entertains the children with stories and songs and leads the guests in a princess parade around the Grand Floridian lobby. Later in the party, Princess Aurora herself makes an appearance. Of course, it wouldn’t be a tea party without tea, which is served with juice, grapes, cheese, tea sandwiches, and cake. The princesses (or princes) also receive an Aurora doll, a tiara, a bracelet, a necklace, a scrapbook set, and a “best friends” certificate for their new doll friend. The entire experience lasts about an hour and a half.
2. Wonderland Tea Party
Ages: 4-12
Price: $40.00
If you are looking for a less-costly, but just as fun tea party experience, children will love the Wonderland Tea Party, located in 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This party only lasts an hour and although parents can stay, they aren’t required to. In this party, characters like Alice and the Mad Hatter lead the children in games, crafts, and cupcake decorating while sipping on juice and eating peanut butter and jam sandwiches. This party is great for prince and princess who prefer a sillier tea time in a less formal setting or who want to spend quality time with their favorite Wonderland characters.
3. Kid and teen spa packages
Ages: Varies
Price: Varies
Adults may enjoy spoiling themselves with a day of pampering at the spa, but that doesn’t mean they can’t spoil their kids as well. Both the spas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort offer a children’s menu that features a 25-minute manicure and pedicure, which are each $30 and $45, respectfully.
Mandara Spa at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort also offers a variety of services for teenagers, including a 25-minute back message for $75 and a 50-minute facial for $110. There are also 25-minute manicures for $30 and 45-minute pedicures for $50. If you want to spend more quality time with your teenager, there are mother-daughter and father-son messages that range from $165-$220.
4. Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage
Ages: Any
Price: $41.00/child, $69.00/adult
For pirate and fireworks lovers of any age, there is the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage, a pirate themed event that takes guests on the Seven Seas Lagoon to watch Wishes. First, guests meet their pirate guides in a ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort where they are given a special bandana. Inside the ball room are snacks and drinks (including cake and ice cream), along with treasure chests of pirate themed tokens. Captain Hook and Mr. Smee join in, meeting guests, signing autographs, and participating in pirate games.
After all the pirate guests have met the characters, they go out to the Contemporary Resort docks to get on their pirate ship. The boat goes to the center of the Seven Seas Lagoon so everyone gets a great view of the Magic Kingdom and the fireworks. As the boat sails to and from the Contemporary, the pirate guide keeps the guests entertained with trivia questions, stories, jokes, and prizes. Once the boat arrives back at the Contemporary, Peter Pan is there to greet guests and sign autographs.
The entire event doesn’t last that long (about two hours), but Disney does its best to keep everyone thoroughly entertained the entire time. There is a limit on the amount of guests in the event so every family gets attention from the characters and cast members. There are also PhotoPass Photographers standing by to get pictures of guests with Captain Hook, Smee, and Peter Pan. All together, it’s a great way to meet characters, have fun, and see Wishes from an amazing location.
5. Dessert Parties
Image: Disney
Ages: any
Prices: $29/child, $49/adults
For princes and princesses who love fireworks and sweets, the dessert parties around Walt Disney World are perfect splurge for the night. There two events, one in Magic Kingdom and one in Epcot. The Magic Kingdom party, Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party, is located on the covered patio by the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant and features cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, ice cream, and hot and cold beverages, including sparkling cider. The Epcot party, IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party, is similar but is not in a covered location and does not include seating. However, the desserts served represent some of the international pavilions around World Showcase, like baklava from Morocco and cannolis from Italy. Both parties start an hour before the fireworks begin and have excellent views of the night shows, plus delicious, unlimited desserts.
6. Magical Makeovers
Image: Disney
Ages: 3-12
Price: Varies
Neither Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique nor the Pirates League are a secret – in fact, they are so popular it can be hard to get a reservation. However, they are both great ways to spoil your princess, knight, or pirate.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique has various packages that turn little girls into Disney princesses. The basic package is $59.95 and includes a choice of hair style, makeup, nail polish, a sash, and a tote bag. The most expensive package, which is $194.95, includes everything, plus costumes, accessories, and a photo package. There are also Frozen themed packages to transform girls into Anna or Elsa, plus various holiday packages depending on the time of the year. There is also a “knight” package for boys that include a gel hair style, a sword, and a shield.
The Pirates League is a slightly cheaper, but just as immersive experience. The most basic package, at $29.95, is themed around the Disney Junior show Jake and the Never Land Pirates, where pirates in training can get a Jake bandana with fake hair, plus makeup, a sword, a necklace, and a Pirates League bag. There are also various packages for boys and girls to make them look like pirates, ghosts, zombies, and mermaids, all with makeup, jewelry, and temporary tattoos. Like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the more expensive packages include costumes and can go up to $79.95. The only big difference between the two is that Pirate League kids get a pirate name, a personalized pirate oath, and an invitation to take part in the daily Adventureland Pirate Parade.
While short, both experiences make each princess, knight, or pirate feel special by giving them one-on-one attention with a cast member. Each child walks away feeling like they are a real fairy tale character.
