Every October, I tell myself I am prepared for the price increase news. Every October, I still end up staring at a spreadsheet and muttering, “but I only wanted to watch fireworks.”
It is a ritual at this point, and honestly, I think my cat has started to judge me for it.
Walt Disney World has raised prices on several of its add-on experiences, including three guided tours and the Magic Kingdom fireworks dessert parties. The increases are modest, $10 on each of the three tours and $5 to $10 per adult on the dessert parties, with one more change at EPCOT. Here is everything that changed. Prices are per person, before tax, and many of them vary by date.
Keys to the Kingdom at Magic Kingdom went from $169 to $189 to $179 to $199. This is the five-hour guided walking experience that takes guests behind the scenes at the park.
Savor the Savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom went from $199 to $209 to $209 to $219.
Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom went from $229 to $239 to $239 to $249, which keeps it the most expensive of the three.
That is a $10 increase on both ends of the range for each tour. It is also a much smaller jump than we saw last October, when Keys to the Kingdom went up $20, and the other two went up $10. Some tours did not change at all this year, so if you are comparing options, it is worth checking each one’s current price on Disney’s website.
This is where the dates start to matter, because the prices vary depending on when you go.
The Pre-Party and Post-Party versions of the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party went from $99 to $109 for adults to $104 to $119. The children’s price stays at $59.
The seated version at Tomorrowland Terrace, which gives you a spot to watch the show with desserts, went from $124 to $134 for adults to $129 to $144.
So every adult dessert party price moved up by $5 to $10, depending on the date. Last October, the dessert parties did not get an increase when the tours and other extras did, so this year they are catching up.
There is also a change to the 21-and-over GEO-82 Fireworks Experience at EPCOT. It used to be a set price of $179. It is now variable, with prices reaching up to $194 depending on the date, which is up to $15 more than before.
I will be honest, I do not think anybody should feel pressured to buy any of these. A reserved dessert party spot is a lovely way to see the fireworks with a snack in hand and no jostling for a viewing spot, and plenty of families find it worth the splurge. But guests with Magic Kingdom admission can still watch the fireworks without buying a dessert party, so you are paying for the convenience and the treats, not for access.
Here is how I would think about it. If you are choosing between the three Magic Kingdom dessert party formats, compare all three before you book, since the location, the timing, and the price all differ. If you are watching the budget, the children’s price staying at $59 on the Pre-Party and Post-Party versions is a real bright spot for families.
If you are considering a tour, think about how it fits the rest of your trip. A five-hour tour is a big chunk of a park day, so it works best when you plan your whole itinerary around it. And if the experience is a priority, book as early as you can, because the best dates tend to fill up first.
This is also not the only increase at Walt Disney World this week. We have covered the Annual Pass and ticket changes and Memory Maker’s One Day price, and reports say most food items rose by anywhere from about 10 cents to a dollar. None of these changes is huge on its own, but they do add up, which is why I love a good spreadsheet and a plan.
If you are trying to figure out which extras are actually worth the money for your trip, a travel agent through Adventure Awaits Travel Company can help you compare options and plan your budget at no cost to you.
We will keep tracking price changes around Walt Disney World, so check back with Theme Park Scope before you book your next extra.
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