3. Backstage Tours

If you’re looking for something that’s a bit different than the typical park day at Disney World, you should consider one of the many tours they offer. 

There are many choices to choose from here, and many of the options are very affordable. The Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour, for example, is around $30 per person. This tour gives an overview of Walt Disney’s life and his concepts for the Magic Kingdom.

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour is probably the most popular of all the Disney World tours. It costs around $80 per person, but it also includes lunch. This tour is about twice as long as the Marceline to Magic Kingdom one, lasting around five hours total. You’ll cover most of the Magic Kingdom, including some backstage areas, like the utilidors, which are underground passages used for Disney Cast Members. Lunch is typically served at the Columbia Harbor House and is included with the tour. Many people have reported that they received a special pin as a gift once the tour was complete.

Most people will agree that $30 for a 2.5-hour tour is very reasonable, and $80 for a five-hour tour (plus lunch and a souvenir) is a great price. Since tours also require a regular park ticket, you’ll need to factor that into the cost, as well, but most people agree that they’re a great option for guests who are a little bored of a typical park day.

Toss Up: Memory Maker

Memory Maker is an add-on offered by Disney that lets you download photos from your trip for your own personal use. It includes ride photos, photos taken by Disney Cast Members throughout the parks (you’ll see them positioned with their cameras at certain areas; they’ll give you a Photopass card to download the images online later), and restaurant photos. You can even add special graphics to your photos to enhance them, like Disney World emblems or cartoon characters.

Best of all, the photos show up automatically in your account when you scan your Magic Band for any of these picture opportunities. All of this is included for one price–but it’s not cheap.

So, is Memory Maker worth it? That really depends. If you have a large group who loves to take photos, then absolutely. If you have a smaller group who loves to take photos, then probably. But, if you have a small group who doesn’t like photos, then you should probably skip it.

The total cost is $169 if you pay in advance. It’s about $50 more if you buy it once you arrive. That sounds really pricey until you consider than a single ride photo will cost you about $15. You can also opt to purchase Photopass pictures individually, but they cost $15 a pop, too. To figure out if it’s worth the money for your group, just estimate how many photos you’ll want. If it’s 11 or more, go ahead and get the Memory Maker. 

Sometimes, Disney offers Memory Maker for free with your package. If this is an option for you, it’s definitely worth it since it’s free. Just remember to use every photo opportunity you can to get the most of the experience. Disney World Cast Members generally do a great job taking photos, so you don’t need to worry about quality.

One more thing to remember: Cast Members will also take a photo with your camera for free. I’ve found that they usually don’t try as hard to take a good shot this way, though. I’ve had some Cast Members who seemed a little disgruntled about it, in fact. But others have been very polite and helped us pose for a great shot. If you decide to skip Memory Maker, just know that free photos are an option, too–the quality of them is a bit of a gamble, though.

There are lots of ways to kick a Disney World vacation up a notch. Some of them are pricey, and some are very affordable. If you’re looking for a great deal, though, these ideas are a great place to start.