Everyone wants to make their Walt Disney World vacation a magical one where you are the star of the show. Did you know you can find amazing one-of-a-kind VIP experiences that can fit most budgets? We’re talking VIP Disney experiences, behind-the-scenes tours, backstage passes, hands-on experiences, and more! We have dug up the most affordable memory-making experiences to be had at Walt Disney World that we bet you haven’t even heard of!
Exclusive Disney World Tours
Before we go into the experiences that won’t break the bank, let’s take a look at the amazing opportunities available if budget isn’t an option. Hey! You never know, the Powerball Jackpot has been over $1 billion, or you might just bump into Elon Musk one of these days and become besties. You should know everything available so you can keep your options open…
Rent out the Park!
Could you imagine renting out a whole Disney park for you and your friends?! Well, don’t get your hopes up just yet. Currently, you can’t exactly rent out a park, but you can rent out a section after the park has closed.
Back in 2016, Walt Disney World introduced Fairy Tale Weddings where you can rent out areas of Walt Disney World for your wedding. Here’s the catch, it’s either around midnight or right before the crack of dawn. Oh, and it starts at $180,000. We sure hope coffee is included. And bottomless.
Disney has hinted that in 2023 they are going to open up the possibility of renting out the parks in non-peak times. How much, you say? Well, Animal Kingdom will start around $2,000,000 per day, and Magic Kingdom will start around $5,000,000.
Think about it - On a typical Magic Kingdom day there are 57,000 people. There’s a reason why it feels crowded. It’s because it is. Even the After Hours parties sell up to 30,000 tickets, so imagine if the entire park had only 10,000 people… That’s $500 per person and the park would feel empty!
Private VIP Tour
Grab 10 of your closest friends and get ready for the best day ever! You can make arrangements for a VIP Tour Guide around one or more parks in a day and they will plan it all for you. Tell them what rides and attractions you want and you will be escorted to the front of the line every time like royalty, all while learning Disney fun facts every step of the way! Grab lunch and do Disney like a star without waiting in lines or wasting precious Disney park time!
Cost: Between $4,500 - $9,000
Keys to the Kingdom Tour
You may think you know everything there is to know about Walt Disney World and the man behind the mouse, but you haven’t seen nothin’ yet! The Keys Behind the Kingdom tour is a 5-hour walking tour that takes you backstage and underground into the famed utilidors. You will learn everything there is to know about the dream and the man who started it all. Lunch is even included! There is one major rule, however. Absolutely, unequivocally no photography is allowed anywhere backstage.
The price tag on this excursion is very reasonable, and the perfect experience for the fan that has visited Disney World many times. We highly suggest binge-watching all episodes of Imagineering on Disney+ to gather any and all questions beforehand.
Cost: $114 per person
Totally Affordable Disney World Tours and Experiences
Time to come down off that mountain top, but never fear! We’ve come to the list of unique experiences that the average joe can do, and there’s something for everyone!
Behind the Seeds Tour
Are you a big fan of the Living with Land attraction in EPCOT? If you leave that ride wanting to know more about how Disney is leading the way in unique horticulture sciences, then you need to try the Behind the Seeds Tour. This tour takes a walk through the Land Pavilion to take an up-close look into 4 greenhouses and the fish farm with a horticulture specialist dishing out all of the details. You can read our full tour review here.
Cost: $35 per person
Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Have you always dreamed of taking a private African safari at night? There’s no need to venture all the way to Africa, you can book the Starlight Safari Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This trek will put you in an open safari vehicle with night vision devices to watch animals like zebras, ostriches, and over 20 other species, all without the threat of predators. It’s all fun with no danger. Plus, it’s totally affordable!
Cost: $75 - $89 per person
Amorette’s Patisserie Cake Decorating Experience
It’s not a Disney vacation unless you enjoy at least one Mickey dome cake, but what about making a Mickey dome cake? Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs is offering cake decorating classes to create that iconic treat. You will not only have the cake you make, but you will also receive a treat from Amorette’s, plus free coffee, tea, and select alcoholic beverages. The price includes 2 people, so bring a friend!
Cost: $199 for up to 2 people
Caring for Giants
This 60-minute up close look at elephants will take you behind the scenes in Disney’s Animal Kingdom to learn more about nature’s majestic beasts. You will come up close in their habitats and care centers, all while spending time with the elephant’s caretakers. Read our Caring for Giants review here.
Cost: $35 per person
EPCOT Seas Adventures - DiveQuest
Venture through clear water to view more than 2,000 sea creatures in a way like no other. On this tour, you will get a backstage look into the nation’s second largest aquarium and then jump into a 40-minute SCUBA dive. You will see sea turtles, stingrays, reef fish, and even sharks. (Don’t worry, they're well-fed, so they won’t bother you.) Guests must be SCUBA certified to participate.
Cost: $219 per person
EPCOT Seas Adventures - Dolphins in Depth
Who hasn’t dreamed of becoming a Marine Biologist to work with dolphins? You can live the dream for 2 hours with this private dolphin encounter where you get right in the water with them and learn more than you could imagine. Learn all about the dolphin care program at Disney and well as their initiative to save the dolphins. Get ready to be splashed and get wet, so bring a bathing suit!
Cost: $119 per person
Savor the Savannah
Savor the Savannah is a private tour where you will discover different lands, animals, and yes, food! While you “visit” and learn about the different regions in Africa, sample African-inspired premium eats, drinks, and regional beer and wine. You will see the safari in a private open safari vehicle and quickly forget that you are still in Walt Disney World.
Cost: $174 per person
Colors of Coronado Painting Experience
Love the wine and paint experiences that you can enjoy back in your hometown? Now you can create Disney-themed paintings led by master artists over in Disney’s Coronado Resort. Enjoy the gorgeous backdrop and the touches of Disney without all of the over stimulation of the parks. This is a great experience idea for your non-park resort day.
Cost: $35 per person
Up Close with Rhinos
Did you know that rhinos are the Earth’s second largest creatures, but also gentle giants? You will learn fun facts like these while enjoying the rhinos in a special viewing area during your Up Close with Rhinos Tour. This is a 60-minute guided tour where you will see the rhinos backstage and have all of your rhino questions answered by Disney’s knowledgeable staff.
Cost: $45 per person
Wild Africa Trek
Combine your love of animals and adrenaline with the Wild Africa Trek tour through Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Walk along the sky-high paths over the animal exhibits in this 3-hour tour to see the animals as the birds do. There are multiple types of terrain involved with this tour, so pack your adventure pants! You will start in the grasslands, then cross the high rope bridges, and finish with the safari vehicles. On this adventure, you will see animals like hippos, giraffes, rhinos, crocodiles, and more!
While this tour is one of the more expensive “affordable” tours, you will also receive VIP extras. A Disney photographer will follow you along your trek capturing real-time photos of this once-in-a-lifetime moment that you will all receive for free at the end of the day. Also, at the end of this adventure, you will have worked up an appetite. Finish your day with African-inspired snacks and treats like chicken curry, hummus pitas, and smoked salmon. Read our full review of Wild Africa Trek here.
Cost: $199 per person
Private Photo Shoots
Whether it’s an engagement, a birth announcement, or even just your family Christmas card photo, Walt Disney World is the perfect backdrop for your good news.
Capture Your Moment
Capture Your Moment is a new service from Disney where you can book a private 20-minute session with a Disney Photographer. If you have purchased Memory Maker, the photos from these sessions are included! You can choose any of the 4 parks for your session, and even the location within the parks. Whatever makes your moment perfect!
Cost: $99
After Hours Parties
It’s no secret that Walt Disney World is THE place to go for magic and joy. That’s why it’s so crowded. Did you know that you can purchase a ticket for an After Hours event at select parks on select days instead of a regular park ticket to enjoy lower crowds, low wait times, exclusive entertainment, and free goodies! The only catch is that you need to be a real night owl. These parties take place after the park closes and go until 1:00 AM in the morning.
Grab some coffee and let’s talk After Hours!
After Hours Events
Regular (non-themed) After Hours Parties happen in the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. You can enjoy all of the rides with almost no wait with these tickets, and the evening included FREE UNLIMITED popcorn, Mickey Premium Bars, Mickey ice cream sandwiches, and soda. You can stop at a snack kiosk after every ride if you want. Live your best life!
These After Hours events will make you feel like you won the lottery and booked the place for yourself, it’s so empty!
Cost: $99 - $159 per person