Disney World Enchanting Extras Guide: Which Special Experiences Are Actually Worth the Money?
Trying to decide which Disney World Enchanting Extras are worth the money? Here are my honest rankings and reviews after experiencing nine of Disney’s best special experiences.
If you’ve been planning a Disney World vacation for very long, you’ve probably stumbled across something called Enchanting Extras.
Maybe it was a behind-the-scenes tour.
Or maybe it was a fireworks dessert party.
Maybe you saw photos of little girls being transformed into princesses or families building droids in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Then you looked at the price.
It’s fair to wonder whether any of these experiences are actually worth the extra money on top of an already expensive Disney vacation.
Over the years, my family has slowly added Enchanting Extras to our trips—not all at once, but one or two at a time when they fit our budget or celebrated a special occasion. We’ve now experienced nine of Disney World’s most popular Enchanting Extras, and honestly, they’ve been some of the most memorable parts of our vacations.
Some absolutely exceeded my expectations.
Some were surprisingly affordable.
And one is still enjoyable, but I’d book it differently if I ever did it again.
Here’s my ranking of the Disney World Enchanting Extras we’ve personally experienced, along with who I think each one is best for.
What Are Disney World Enchanting Extras?
Enchanting Extras are special experiences that require an additional fee beyond your park ticket.
Unlike Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass, these aren’t designed to save time in line. Instead, they’re unique experiences that simply aren’t available to regular park guests.
Examples include:
- Guided tours
- Animal encounters
- Fireworks dining packages
- Princess makeovers
- Star Wars building experiences
- After Hours events
Some cost less than a table-service meal.
Others are significant vacation splurges.
The good news?
Not every expensive experience is automatically the best one.
My Rankings at a Glance
| Rank | Experience | Park | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Wild Africa Trek | Animal Kingdom | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 🥈 | Magic Kingdom After Hours | Magic Kingdom | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 🥉 | Hollywood Studios After Hours | Hollywood Studios | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 4 | Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique | Magic Kingdom | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 5 | Droid Depot | Hollywood Studios | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| 6 | Behind the Seeds | EPCOT | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 7 | Caring for Giants | Animal Kingdom | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 8 | Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package | EPCOT | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 9 | Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party | Magic Kingdom | ⭐⭐⭐ |
One thing you’ll probably notice is that my top four are all five-star experiences.
Honestly, asking me to rank those first four is almost unfair.
They’re completely different experiences aimed at completely different audiences.
If you have a five-year-old princess fan, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique might be your number one.
If you’re traveling as adults, Wild Africa Trek might become your favorite Disney memory.
The rankings are less about saying one is “better” than another and more about how broadly I’d recommend each experience to someone planning a Disney vacation.
Who Should Skip Disney World Enchanting Extras?
This might surprise you coming from someone who genuinely loves Disney’s Enchanting Extras, but here’s my advice:
Not everyone needs to book one.
In fact, if you’re visiting Walt Disney World for the very first time and you’re already stretching your vacation budget, I’d probably tell you to skip the Enchanting Extras altogether.
Hear me out.
There are so many incredible experiences included with your regular park ticket that I wouldn’t sacrifice them just to squeeze in an additional paid activity. If skipping an Enchanting Extra means you can stay an extra night, enjoy a special table-service meal, purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, or simply avoid stressing about your budget, I think that’s the smarter choice.
After all, no one comes home saying their Disney vacation was ruined because they didn’t build a droid or take a behind-the-scenes tour.
On the other hand, I think Enchanting Extras become much more appealing if one or more of these situations applies to you:
- You’ve already visited Disney World before and you’re looking for something beyond the traditional rides and shows.
- You’re celebrating a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or first family trip.
- You have a child who’s at the perfect age for an experience like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
- Your family has a specific interest, whether that’s animals, Star Wars, gardening, or fireworks.
- You’re willing to splurge on one unforgettable memory instead of several smaller purchases.
That’s really how we’ve approached these experiences over the years.
Selective Splurges Over the Years
We didn’t book all nine at once. We added them gradually across multiple vacations as our interests changed and our daughter got older. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique was the perfect choice when she was five and completely obsessed with Disney princesses. A few years later, Droid Depot made much more sense because she had become a huge Star Wars fan. And experiences like Wild Africa Trek and Behind the Seeds were things we appreciated even more as adults than we probably would have on our very first Disney trip.
For me, that’s the sweet spot.
Use Enchanting Extras to make a great Disney vacation even more memorable—not because you feel like you have to check another box.
Sometimes the best Disney memories come from the rides and attractions that are already included with your park ticket. But if your budget allows for one carefully chosen Enchanting Extra, it just might become the story your family is still telling years later.
1. Wild Africa Trek
If someone gave me enough money to book exactly one Enchanting Extra tomorrow, I’d choose Wild Africa Trek.
It’s that good.
This isn’t just an upgraded Kilimanjaro Safaris.
👉 Read my complete Wild Africa Trek review.
It’s a genuine behind-the-scenes adventure that includes crossing rope bridges over crocodiles, riding in a private safari vehicle, getting incredibly close to giraffes and rhinos, and finishing with a beautiful meal overlooking the savanna.
There were several moments when I genuinely forgot I was inside a Disney theme park.
Yes, it’s expensive.
But unlike some premium experiences that leave you wondering where your money went, Wild Africa Trek felt like a true bucket-list experience from beginning to end.
Best for: Adults, teens, photographers, and animal lovers.
(Read my complete Wild Africa Trek review.)
2. Magic Kingdom After Hours
I knew this event would be good.
I didn’t expect it to completely change the way I think about visiting Magic Kingdom.
Walking onto attraction after attraction with little or no wait is almost surreal.
Instead of spending the day carefully managing Lightning Lanes and watching the clock, you simply…ride.
Again.
And again.
And again.
We accomplished more in a few hours than many guests do during an entire park day.
Throw in complimentary ice cream, popcorn, and bottled drinks, and it becomes one of Disney’s best premium values.
If waiting in long lines stresses you out, this experience is worth serious consideration.
👉 Read my complete Magic Kindgom After Hours review.
3. Hollywood Studios After Hours
Hollywood Studios has become one of Disney World’s hardest parks to tour because so many of its headline attractions are incredibly popular.
After Hours solves that problem beautifully.
One of my favorite memories was simply walking through Galaxy’s Edge after dark.
The atmosphere feels completely different.
Instead of shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, we were able to slow down, take photos, and enjoy the incredible details Imagineers built into the land.
We also rode several major attractions with minimal waits, making this event feel like a completely different version of Hollywood Studios.
If you love Star Wars or simply hate standing in line, this event is fantastic.
👉 Read my complete Hollywood Studios After Hours review.
4. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
This experience has nothing to do with efficiency.
Nothing to do with ride counts.
Nothing to do with maximizing your park day.
It’s about magic.
When our daughter was five years old, she was in peak princess mode.
I secretly packed a Cinderella dress without telling her.
Watching her realize she was about to become a princess is still one of my favorite Disney memories.
Years later, she doesn’t remember every attraction we rode.
She absolutely remembers becoming Cinderella.
Would I recommend this for every child?
No.
But if your son or daughter is at that perfect age where Disney magic still feels completely real, I honestly can’t think of many better splurges.
👉 Read my complete Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique review.
5. Droid Depot
I’ll admit something.
I’ve never been able to justify spending the money on Savi’s Workshop.
I love Star Wars…
…just not enough to spend that much on a lightsaber.
Droid Depot, however, felt like the perfect middle ground.
Building the droid is interactive, creative, and genuinely fun.
Everyone gets to customize their own design, and then comes the magical moment when the droid is activated for the very first time.
Watching my daughter’s face light up made the experience worth every penny.
👉 Read my complete Droid Depot review.
6. Behind the Seeds
This may be Disney World’s most underrated tour.
If you’ve ever ridden Living with the Land and wondered how Disney actually grows all those fruits and vegetables, this tour answers those questions—and many more.
I expected an enjoyable greenhouse walk.
Instead, I found myself fascinated by Disney’s hydroponics, sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management, and plant research.
It’s inexpensive compared to many Enchanting Extras, lasts about an hour, and completely changed how I experience Living with the Land.
Sometimes the smallest tours end up being the biggest surprises.
👉 Read my complete Behind The Seeds Tour review.
7. Caring for Giants
This tour is short.
It’s affordable.
And it’s surprisingly fascinating.
The elephant care team does a wonderful job explaining Disney’s conservation work while giving guests an up-close look at these incredible animals.
The experience isn’t flashy.
It’s educational.
If you enjoy learning about animals rather than simply looking at them, Caring for Giants is an excellent value.
👉 Read my complete Caring For Giants review.
8. Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package
There are several ways to watch the nighttime spectacular at EPCOT.
This became my favorite.
Instead of camping out for a viewing location, we enjoyed a leisurely dinner at Spice Road Table before walking into the reserved viewing area.
It completely removed the stress from the evening.
The food was excellent, the waterfront location is beautiful, and having a reserved viewing section meant we could actually relax instead of worrying about finding a spot.
If you’re already planning a nice EPCOT dinner, I’d seriously consider this package.
👉 Read my complete Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package review.
9. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party
I enjoyed this experience.
I just wouldn’t book it the same way again.
Here’s why.
We chose the Pre-Party, which meant we enjoyed desserts before Happily Ever After and then headed to the reserved viewing area.
The problem?
Many of the best viewing locations had already been claimed by guests attending the dessert parties that take place during or after the fireworks.
We still had a reserved viewing area.
We just didn’t have the premium viewing location I expected.
If I booked it again, I’d absolutely choose the During Fireworks or After Fireworks versions instead.
I think those provide much better value.
👉 Read my complete Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party review.
Which Enchanting Extra Is Right for You?
If you’re overwhelmed by the options, here’s where I’d start.
Traveling with a princess-obsessed child?
Book Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Want the biggest “wow” experience?
Wild Africa Trek.
Hate waiting in lines?
Either After Hours event.
Star Wars fans?
Droid Depot.
Love nature and conservation?
Behind the Seeds or Caring for Giants.
Looking for a relaxing evening in EPCOT?
Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package.
Are Disney World Enchanting Extras Worth It?
Overall?
Yes—but selectively.
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is assuming every Enchanting Extra is worth booking simply because Disney offers it.
I don’t think that’s true.
Instead, I think the best Enchanting Extras are the ones that match your family’s interests.
For us, Wild Africa Trek was unforgettable because we love animals.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique was magical because our daughter was exactly the right age.
Droid Depot was perfect because she’s a Star Wars fan.
Those experiences created memories that lasted far longer than another ride on Space Mountain.
On the other hand, I’d rather spend my money on an After Hours event than book multiple smaller extras just because they’re available.
Final Thoughts
When I look back on our Disney vacations, I remember plenty of attractions.
But I especially remember the moments that felt different from an ordinary park day.
Watching my five-year-old spin around in front of Cinderella Castle after Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Crossing a suspension bridge over crocodiles during Wild Africa Trek.
Seeing our daughter’s droid spring to life for the first time.
Walking through a nearly empty Galaxy’s Edge late at night.
Those are the stories we still talk about years later.
If your budget allows room for one special experience, I think an Enchanting Extra can elevate an already wonderful Disney vacation into something truly unforgettable.
Planning Your Disney World Vacation? Read These Next:
- Disney World Rides Ranked
- Disney World Shows Ranked
- Disney World Early Entry Guide
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass Guide
- Disney Resort Reviews
- Disney World Rope Drop Strategies
- Disney Table Service Dining Reviews
