Walt Disney World's Enchanting Extras
- Ruth
- Apr 11
- 5 min read
If you’re looking for a way to sprinkle a little extra magic into your next visit to Walt Disney World Resort, look no further than Disney’s Enchanting Extras Collection of experiences. From fishing excursions and boat rentals to cake decorating and crafts, there is an experience for everyone. Whether you are into golf, horseback riding, fireworks cruises, tequila tasting, or dessert parties, the assortment is as vast as it is enchanting. Having tried a few myself, I'm excited to share my experiences, ranking a variety of the most popular offerings.
No.5: The Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Pre-Party - $99-$109
With this experience you get to enjoy such delights as a variety of desserts, cheese & crackers, and beverages (including beer and wine). You start at Tomorrowland Terrace before moving on to a reserved fireworks viewing spot on the hub grass in front of Cinderella Castle.
While it sounded like a great way to end the day, it fell short of our expectations. The desserts were just okay, and the beer and wine pours were conservative, but unlimited. The biggest issue was the viewing area; post-party guests have access to the area first, leaving pre-party guests towards the back, and this is almost as crowded as the general area. Overall, this party felt like a high cost for quite little reward. I’m happy to have tried it, but probably would not book again.
No.4: Keys to the Kingdom: $149-$169 for a 5-hour tour
Keys to the Kingdom will take you on a 5-hour walking tour of Magic Kingdom including back-stage areas, and the famous utilidors below the park. As well as the tour, the experience includes lunch and private passes to a couple of Magic Kingdom’s most popular rides.
On my tour, the rides were Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion. It was interesting to learn some of the tricks and guest diversions for each.
I’ll preface my additional thoughts on this tour by saying that before taking it, I’ve already had some back-stage experiences through Disney Institute ( discussed in a prior blog: Disney Institute: Magical Professional Development). I‘m also a fan of the Walt Disney World documentaries on Disney+.
If you don't know much about Walt Disney World and are ok with giving up 5 hours of your park day, this tour is amazing and educational. However, it is highly dependent on the quality of the guide, as they are your sole source of entertainment for 5 hours. My guide was new and "earned her ears" at the end. The tour felt longer than necessary, with much of it spent standing, just listening to the guide, which was tough on the legs and back. More movement or seating options would have helped, so please be aware of this if you are planning to book. I appreciate that my experience may not be typical, so I still recommend this tour for those who want a glimpse into Walt Disney’s vision for the Magic Kingdom.
No.3: Behind the Seeds - $45 for a 1 hour tour
If you enjoy the Living with the Land attraction at EPCOT, definitely consider Behind the Seeds. This fun, one-hour tour takes you through the fish farm and four greenhouses in The Land Pavilion. It's perfect for anyone who loves their gardening or natural sciences. Most days, there are 7 tours, each with up to 15 guests. This was my most recent Enchanting Extras tour and I thought it was very well done.
Our guide, Rachel was a University of Virginia graduate, who started her Disney career at Animal Kingdom. She was extremely knowledgeable and led the tour in an engaging manner, taking plenty of questions and keeping things fun. Because the greenhouses change from season to season, this is a tour I’d definitely do again.
No.2: Sangria University - $79 for 2 hour experience
This tour takes place at Coronado Springs resort which, if you’re not staying there, can be accessed by Disney bus from any Disney theme park or Disney Springs. Note that because of the amount of alcohol you will consume, driving yourself is not an option.
This experience is only offered at 1pm on Saturdays so it’s a perfect experience for a non-park day, or after a morning at one of the parks. Before I arrived, I was wondering what would I need to know about Sangria and how will that fill two hours? Actually, the time went by quickly and it was super interesting. We were greeted at our table by our sangria professor who brought each of us a tower of 4 glasses of sangria which you sip and sample as you learn about the ingredients in each. At the end you even get to select your own ingredients to make your own sangria. You’re awarded a diploma as proof of your new Sangria wisdom. I would do this again in a heartbeat, especially if staying at Coronado Springs.
No.1: Wild Africa Trek - $229 for a 3-hour trek
Stampeding home at No.1 is Wild Africa Trek. This was BY FAR my favorite Disney experience and one that is widely recommended by members of our WDWAO Facebook group. With only 4 tours per day and 12 guests per tour, this expedition has become increasingly hard to book as word has spread about how amazing it is. It is perfect for those who want an exciting and more challenging experience. The tour hikes through the woods, crosses rope suspension bridges, lets you peer into the habitat of hippos and crocodiles, and cross the savanna in a rugged safari vehicle. Your knowledgeable guide will ensure no question goes unanswered, and that everyone is safe. A trained photographer travels with you, capturing the most amazing photographs of not only the wildlife, but also of you and your tour group. Photos are linked to a card that you get at the end of the tour and downloads are included with the initial cost.
Part way through the tour you will stop at the outpost building on the savanna for lunch with a gorgeous view of the savannah. I particularly loved the zebra and giraffes. As with the Kilimanjaro Safari ride, unpredictability of the animals ensures that no two Wild Africa Treks are the same. I promise you one thing though; it will be an unforgettable experience.
Booking Info & Tips
When reserving tours inside the parks, remember that park admission is not included and must be purchased for the day of your event. These Enchanting Extras are popular and book quickly, so it's best to plan ahead. Reservations open on Walt Disney World Resort’s website 60 days in advance at 12:00 AM EST for the length of your stay at a Disney resort. Offsite guests and day visitors can also book 60 days in advance of their visit. Even with early booking, your preferred tour or activity may not be available, so flexibility and having a list of interests can help reduce stress during the reservation process. No matter what you choose though, you can look forward to extra magic and memorable experiences.
Please note that prices were correct when the blog was published and are liable to increases.
Have you ever booked an Enchanting Extras Experience? We would love to hear about it in the comments below.
If not, which of the experiences would you love to try?
Please let us know in the comments below.
Great insight, Ruth! Keys To The Kingdom Tops my list and is a great way to immerse yourself in Disney History.
I have done the Caring For Giants at AK but have yet to hit the Wild Africa Trek.
I've done several Sweets and Seats Parties and they are my favorite! Book at least one every trip and have found them to be fantastic at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
I've only done Keys to the Kingdom, but we really loved it! I'm such a Disney nerd so seeing all the behind the scenes things in MK was great for me
I would put the keys tour higher on the list but from what I have learned from speaking to other people about it , we had an amazing guide that seems to have made a difference
Another great, informative blog. Can't wait until the day I get to go and try out your suggestions.
I have been fortunate enough to do all of these Enchanted Extras. I enjoyed them all and agree with your observations. I have done all three dessert parties and really don't recommend the desserts - they are really poor for the price point. I would say the post party is the best one to do, as much as I liked having a seat at Seats and Sweets, the post party gives the best view and experience. I also really enjoyed the Sangria University, but was a little unhappy at the upcharges for the mixing experience. It should all be included in the price. Great blog though Ruth. A very interesting read!