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9 Outrageous Ways to Splurge Your Money at Disney, Universal, and Beyond: Tours

There’s no question that even a standard theme park vacation can easily cost your family thousands of dollars. Most visitors are looking for ways to trim the excess and spend less, but if you’re sitting at the other end of the spectrum and looking for a little something to add to your trip, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Whether you have a few hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket, or you just want to daydream a bit, these exclusive – and expensive – tours will give you plenty to consider.

1. Disney’s Holiday D-Lights - $209

Image: Disney

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World during the holiday season, you’ll find the parks transformed into a wintery wonderland. While you can take in the sights with any standard park ticket, you can also go above and beyond with a private tour of the magical holiday highlights around the resort. The Disney’s Holiday D-Lights Tour lasts five hours, and takes you to three theme parks. You’ll experience the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and watch as Cinderella Castle is “iced” for the season at the Magic Kingdom.

During the tour, you’ll also meet members of the Event & Decorating Support team and enjoy a light buffet featuring holiday-themed dishes. Guests receive an exclusive keepsake pin to take home.

2. Disney’s Dolphins in Depth - $199

Image: Disney

If you’re itching to meet Disney’s dolphins up close and personal, this backstage experience will let you do just that. The three-hour tour includes about 30 minutes in waist-deep water with the dolphins as well as a backstage tour of the dolphin training area. Participants get to meet some of the marine mammal specialists that work with the dolphins and even sit in on a training and research session. This tour includes a special dolphin photo-op and souvenir.

3. Epcot DiveQuest - $175

Image: Disney

If you’re SCUBA certified, you can experience the marine life at Epcot in a whole new way. Literally jump into the aquarium in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion and peruse the world of sea turtles, angelfish, sharks, rays, and dolphins.

The Epcot DiveQuest experience lasts three hours, but only 40 minutes of the tour are spent in the water. The remainder of the time is spent touring the backstage area behind the creation and maintenance of the 5.7-million-gallion saltwater aquarium. At the conclusion of the tour, participants have the option to purchase a DVD of their dive.

4. Epcot Seas Aqua Tour - $140

Image: Disney

If you’re not SCUBA certified but still want to experience the Caribbean Coral Reef tank in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion, you can sign up for this snorkeling experience. The 2.5-hour tour includes about 30 minutes in the water. The remainder of the tour includes a backstage look at the aquarium. Participants in the Epcot Seas Aqua Tour receive a complimentary photo of themselves in dive gear.

5. Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights Private RIP Tour - $1,299+

Image: Universal

Gather a party of up to 10 guests and experience Halloween Horror Nights in a whole new way with the Private RIP tour. You and your guests will ultimately decide what course the tour will take since this is a private experience. Your tour guide can grant you priority access to the houses and attractions and priority seating for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure. You also have access to the RIP lounges, though you do still have to pay for drinks. Valet parking and a Photo Connect Star Package are included.

While this is a pricey option to be sure, the fact that you can include several people in the tour will reduce the price significantly.

 
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