Don’t Overlook These Walt Disney World Enchanting Extras

Although Disney World is globally known for their thrilling and immersive attractions, first in class restaurants, and Broadway-caliber shows, there are also lesser-known experiences that can provide an even more enchanting Disney vacation. These experiences can offer a different perspective of the Disney World property, and can even provide an escape to the intense crowds and long lines that you typically experience at Disney World.

We visit the Disney World property weekly and are always looking for new experiences to enhance our Disney experience. Whether they are behind the scene tours, a sweet treat, and place to relax and take in the Disney magic! Although we always make time to experience the thrills and excitement of Disney World's most popular attractions and shows, we love taking time out to experience more overlooked or enchanting extras to a Disney trip.

Let's get into our list of 10 overlooked Disney World enchanting extras that you should consider for your next Disney vacation!

1. Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Magic Kingdom

You may not be able to afford Disney World's VIP Tour, however, you can get the next best thing if you book the Keys to the Kingdom Tour of Magic Kingdom! The tour offers a small group of guests an exclusive look at areas of the park that are usually off-limits. The tour is designed for those who want to experience Magic Kingdom in a deeper, more insightful way, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the magic, history, and operations of the park. The most exciting part of the tour is being able to walk through the “Utilidor” tunnels which allow Cast Members, including characters, to travel beneath the park sight unseen!

This tour has multiple start times each morning and costs between $149 and $169 per person. The tour also includes a delicious lunch and access to several attractions such as Jungle Cruise or Haunted Mansion with no wait. Unfortunately, the price does not include the cost of admission to Magic Kingdom, but I promise it is absolutely worth it and a great way to see the park in a different light and learn tons of interesting trivia about Disney World.

2. Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness Lodge

The Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is a charming, old-fashioned ranch that offers guests a variety of unique activities, all with a Western theme. Located at the Fort Wilderness Resort, this ranch is a hidden gem that many visitors to Disney World have never heard of before.

Triple-Circle-D Ranch is home to Cinderella's ponies that can be visited by anyone, even if you aren't staying at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The stables are open between 10 AM and 5 PM daily and are free to guests to walk around and enjoy. You are also able to book horseback riding or horse-drawn carriage rides for $65 per person, plus tax (advance reservations are highly recommended). These horses also provide relaxing horse-drawn carriage rides throughout Disney's Port Orleans – Riverside Resort!

Although the horses are the main attraction, you can also visit the Tri-Circle-D Ranch gift shop or the many other fun things to do at the Fort Wilderness Resort!

3. Scavenger Hunts at EPCOT

For a small fee, EPCOT offers an extra dose of fun with their scavenger hunts! Their most famous scavenger hunts are seasonal and take place during the International Food and Wine Festival and the International Flower & Garden Festival. Guests will be on the lookout for Remy figurines scattered throughout the World Showcase during Food & Wine, and guests have to try and find Spike the Bee during Flower & Garden!

If these festivals aren't taking place during your next trip to EPCOT, you can still purchase a World Showcase Passport and collect stamps from Cast Members from each of the countries throughout the World Showcase! These scavenger hunts create fun memories and are one of the most overlooked enchanting extras at Disney World.

Read More – We Went on a Hunt For Disneyland Secret Menu Items – All the Foods We Found!

4. Create Your Own Popcorn Mix at Magic Kingdom

Although Disney World's regular popcorn served all throughout the parks is delicious, you can take the flavors even further by creating your own popcorn mix at the Main Street Confectionary, located on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. Select from four different popcorn flavors, add your favorite flavor of chocolate drizzle, and add two or three candy mix-ins to complete your personal popcorn concoction!

These sweet and savory popcorns are a great way to customize your Magic Kingdom treats and have a little fun! Oftentimes the Confectionary also creates their own mix of seasonal flavors based on holidays or even upcoming films!

5. SCUBA Dive in the Seas Aquarium at EPCOT

If you're a certified SCUBA diver and love Disney, you should absolutely consider booking a DiveQuest experience at EPCOT! I've seen several friends book this experience and have nothing but great things to say about it. Divers will immerse themselves in a SCUBA experience with guaranteed calm seas, clear visibility, no current, and incredible marine life. The 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium is home to over 2,000 aquatic animals including sea turtles, reef fish, stingrays, and sharks. A great part about this experience is that friends and family can watch and take pictures of the dive from the upstairs viewport tunnel of The Seas with Nemo & Friends.

This experience costs between $229 and $249 per person and includes all diving equipment including shorty wetsuits. All divers are required to show proof of open water SCUBA certification prior to participating. The entire experience lasts about two hours, including approximately 40 minutes in the actual dive.  Although the SCUBA divers participating in the event do not need park admission to EPCOT, any friends or family wanting to watch them participate in the dive will need valid park admission to EPCOT.

6. Tequila or Sangria Tastings

For those 21 and over, there are two highly recommended tequila and sangria tasting experiences located at La Cava at EPCOT and the Coronado Springs Resort.

• Sangria University takes place at Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Although guests under 21 years old or non-drinkers can also enjoy this experience, it costs the same price. The price for Sangria University ranges between $69 to $79, plus tax and gratuity. Led by sangria professionals, guests will learn a history of sangria and reveal the recipes used to make the several in-house varieties served at Three Bridges Bar and Grill. The lesson is followed by a tasting of the four sangria offerings and will be accompanied by a light appetizer, usually chips and guacamole.
• La Cava Experience is located at the La Cava del Tequila bar inside the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT. This experience takes place each day, although reservations are highly recommended. A certified tequila ambassador will teach you the history of the quintessential Mexican spirit while providing samples, some of which are exclusive to La Cava. This experience costs $180 per person and includes a light appetizer such as chips and guacamole. Park admission to EPCOT is also required and not included in this experience.

I have partaken in both tastings and definitely think they are great, but often overlooked, enchanting extras you should consider on any Disney trip!

7. Conservation Button at Animal Kingdom

A small, but meaningful souvenir can be acquired by simply rounding up your purchase to the nearest dollar at most gift shops found throughout Animal Kingdom. Guests have the opportunity to donate in exchange for a special conservation button as part of the Conversation for Conservation initiative. This program helps raise awareness and funds for wildlife conservation efforts supported by Disney and its partners. The button is typically available at various locations throughout the park, and proceeds from the donations go toward supporting animal conservation projects.

The button designs change periodically, and there may be different designs or themes depending on which conservation issues Disney is focusing on. Past pins have featured elephants, tigers, rhinos, pandas, and other animals. Not only are you supporting an amazing cause, but you can take home different exclusive buttons!

8. After Hours and Seperately Ticketed Events

One of my favorite enchanting extras include Disney World's After Hours events! These seperately ticketed events allow guests to enjoy three extra hours of magical fun at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or Hollywood Studios. All of the most popular attractions are open and have little to no wait times during these events. Additionally, guests can enjoy UNLIMITED ice cream novelties, popcorn, and select bottled beverages all evening!

These events are perfect for those who want to focus on riding attractions. Although there are no special character interactions, and most restaurants will be closed during the event, it's a perfect way to add more to your Disney park day. Since this is a seperately ticketed event, you do not need to purchase park admission on the day of the After Hours event. Although the events take place after the parks close, you will have access to enter the park a few hours before official closing. I personally love to get to the park as early as possible in order to watch the fireworks and grab a meal before enjoying the low wait times and unlimited snacks!

9. Amorette's Patisserie Cake Decorating Experience

Over at Disney Springs, guests can book a special cake decorating experience at Amorette's Patisserie! For $199 per reservation (which can include up to two guests), guests will decorate a character dome cake during a class taught by a talented Disney pastry artist. This 90-minute experience takes place in Amorette's show kitchen before the shop official opens for the day. This experience also includes refreshments including specialty coffees, teas, water, and select alcoholic beverages.

Create a Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse or Amorette’s Choice Dome Cake when you book on the following days: available Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

I recommend booking this experience at the beginning of your Disney trip so you can enjoy the cake throughout your Disney stay. These cakes are quite large and can serve as a tasty treat each night in your hotel room!

10. Fireworks Dining and Dessert Packages

Disney World is known for their iconic fireworks and nighttime spectaculars that are “must do” experiences on any Disney vacation. However, for an even more exclusive fireworks experience, we highly recommend one of the many fireworks dining and dessert packages.

These packages include choices for the following shows:

• EPCOT's Luminous the Symphony of Us Dining Package: EPCOT's newest fireworks show, Luminous the Symphony of Us, debuted at EPCOT in December 2023. Guests have several options to reserve a dining package at one of two restaurants. Guests will have reserved seating at these restaurants in order and enjoy the fireworks as they dine. Luminous includes both original scores as well as Disney classics and aims at reminding us that we are more alike than we are different. Reservations are highly recommended for the Luminous dining package especially during the busiest park days.
• Hollywood Studios Fantasmic! Dining Package: Fantasmic! is a breathtaking water show that features colorful waterworks, fantastical fireworks and a host of Disney characters. The Fantasmic! Dining Package offers guests the choice of five magnificent restaurants: 50's Prime Time Café, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, Hollywood & Vine, and Hollywood Brown Derby. Each dining package includes one entrée, dessert and nonalcoholic beverage at select full-service restaurants or one full buffet, where applicable. The best part is that each package includes guaranteed seating for Fantasmic! in a reserved area!
• Magic Kingdom's Happily Ever After Fireworks Dessert Parties: Magic Kingdom does not offer a full meal dining and fireworks experience, however they do offer a great dessert party option during their Happily Ever After fireworks show. They offer a “pre-party,” which takes place just before the fireworks shows, as well as a “Seats & Sweets” party in which guests can enjoy their desserts and drinks while watching Happily Ever After. There is also a “post-party” which guests can enjoy desserts after viewing the fireworks spectacular in a reserved area. In addition to the Happily Ever After fireworks show, Magic Kingdom also offers dessert parties for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. These are both seperately ticketed events that offer special fireworks shows, which make these dessert parties even more unique.

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Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Treasure, is another Wish class style ship with the same awe inspiring designs that we loved about the Disney Wish. The new staterooms on the Disney Treasure are inspired by the theme of adventure that is the focus of the design for this newest cruise ship. The Disney Treasure brings a lot of new offerings to the Disney Cruise Line experience like a brand new Haunted Mansion bar, a Jungle Cruise and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Lounge, along with a brand new Coco dinner show. We got a first look at some of the special suites on the Disney Treasure including the highly anticipated EPCOT Spaceship Earth suite and one of the Royal Suites aboard the ship, as well as a look inside the staterooms.

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Soarin' Around the World is a fan-favorite ride at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure that takes riders on a simulated hang-gliding flight above some of the most iconic and beautiful locations around the globe. Following the recent transformation of EPCOT dividing Future World into three new neighborhoods, the finale scene of the ride has been updated to reflect the recent changes to the park. In addition to this update, one particular scene has received a change that dramatically improves the ride experience.