Forget the spinning teacups and hugs from Winnie the Pooh—there’s an entire world of experiences happening at Walt Disney World for those in the know. Truth be told, not everyone is sweating it out in line for the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster. There’s a way to skip stressful Genie+ planning and dining-reservation wrangling in favor of a blissful day bopping between rides and ridiculously good food. From phenomenal properties to private tours, here are the most extravagant ways to enjoy that Orlando trip.
Private VIP tours
The VIP Tour is so much more than a way to skip the lines on attractions across Walt Disney World. Led by professionally trained staffers who know the ins and outs of everything at the Orlando parks, VIP guides—lovingly referred to as “plaids” because of their uniforms—simply get the job done, no pixie dust required. They’ll pick you up from your accommodations, customize an itinerary just for you (at one or more parks), bypass lines, and fill the day with fun behind-the-scenes facts and stories.
Once you’ve booked your tour (or a non–Disney Vacation Club reservation at certain levels of room type), you have further access to the Signature Services team of concierges. They can help arrange reserved seating at parades or dining reservations, or clue you in to the ideal viewing spot for fireworks over Cinderella Castle. Pricing ranges from $450 to $900 per hour for up to 10 guests with a seven-hour daily minimum; theme park admission and gratuity not included. For VIP tours, call 407-560-4033 to book beginning 60 days in advance. For Signature Services, call 407-939-7777.
This dish of hamachi and watermelon radishes is available only at Victoria & Albert’s, the AAA Diamond–rated restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Ultra-fancy dining
Although you may not think “fine dining” and “Mickey Mouse” go hand in hand, Walt Disney World’s Victoria & Albert’s (inside the stately Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) earned a Michelin star in 2024, the first restaurant owned and operated by a U.S. theme park ever to win that accolade. Its tasting menu and oft-booked Chef’s Table make it the pinnacle of edible experiences at Disney World—although plenty others are hiding in plain sight. A private dining experience in Cítricos’s wine cellar at the Grand Floridian, a customized California Grill meal served deep beneath the Contemporary Resort’s A-frame structure, and an extravagant one-night-only Disney dinner series can be made possible through Disney’s Signature Services concierge.
Even Disney Springs, the hybrid mall–entertainment complex just beyond the parks, offers high-end dining at restaurants helmed by such famed chefs as José Andrés (Jaleo by José Andrés), Masaharu Morimoto (Morimoto Asia), and Art Smith (Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’) with various special and seasonal events. Prefer a taste of the champagne life in lieu of a full glass? Don’t miss the “Outstanding by the Ounce” menu of tasting-size pours at Wine Bar George, also in Disney Springs, a must-do for wine aficionados.
Home ownership in Golden Oak includes access to Markham’s, a restaurant exclusive to the Golden Oak community.
Courtesy of Walt Disney World
A Disney castle of your own
You can’t move into Cinderella Castle, but for the discerning Disney guest who hopes to permanently set up shop in the Mouse House, there’s Golden Oak, a community of luxury mansions four miles from the Magic Kingdom. Each of the approximately 300 homes comes with benefits like round-trip park transportation, exclusive events (ranging from unique food and beverage offerings to holiday parties), a zero-entry swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness center, an 18-hole golf course, and private access to Markham’s, a newly remodeled restaurant packed with rustic-modern touches and subtle nods to Disney history.
Golden Oak’s steep price tag will make that week at Disney’s Grand Floridian seem cheap—the homes here range from $1.5 million to $20 million—but a community this idyllic explains why so many owners reside year-round. Guests looking for something even more luxurious can scoop up Golden Oak mega-mansions built in conjunction with Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. These large-scale properties, starting at $5 million, grant full access to the golf course and pools at the AAA Five Diamond Resort hotel as well as luxe built-in features, like chef’s kitchens for in-home hotel catering. Some new Four Seasons homes are currently in the works, with sales on boutique homes expected to start in late 2024. Contact Golden Oak Realty at 407-939-5577 to inquire about both Golden Oak and Four Seasons ownership options.
Enchanting extras
Rest assured, there are plenty of ways to send your Walt Disney World trip over the top without buying a mansion. Everything from its deluxe resorts (some rooms let you gaze at Cinderella Castle from your balcony) to on-site spas, upscale Disney Springs shopping, and in-room surprises can enhance your next visit for an affordable sum.
Disney Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons cater to guests celebrating once-in-a-lifetime events. Whether you’re taking a private pontoon boat out to watch nightly fireworks from the water or attending an in-park dessert party, there’s always a way to make your trip that much more special.
This article was most recently updated on September 20, 2024, with current information.
