In my planning I've noticed Disney has loads and loads of amazing things on offer - but at a cost! We've booked a few little extras (like the Segway Tour of Epcot) but there seems to be many more that look pretty brilliant!
So, my question is - which are the best value for money and which have you experienced that are a bit more expensive and have been a bit of a let-down (or just a bit over-priced)?
If you're at all into gardening, take the Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot's The Land pavilion. It's fairly inexpensive by Disney standards; I think it was less than $20 per person last fall but don't recall the exact price. Hubby is a gardener and thoroughly enjoyed the tour; I'm not much of a gardener, but I also found it interesting.
Erm, I think the Segway tour has been cancelled 
they are in the process of calling people who have booked I believe... Correct me if I'm wrong though.
I really enjoyed the keys to the kingdom tour, it was quite pricey but well worth the money to us. We did the haunted carriage ride at Halloween in fort wilderness, I think it was about $40 and worth every penny, very creepy too!
Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa
Robyn, from what I can find Disney has made no official announcement that the Segway tour at Epcot is cancelled permanently.
They are calling people to make refunds, but only but only those that aw booked so far out.
As a Christmas gift before last August's trip, I got my husband Lunch with an Imagineer.
I forget the cost, I'm guessing $60 or so.
He said it was fabulous!!! He had a wonderful lunch at the Brown Derby, and an amazing conversation with one of the Imagineers who had worked on the new interactive queue at Test Track.
One of these days I would like to book it for myself.
August 2008 and August 2009: Polynesian. August 2012: Beach Club. We're returning to the Beach Club in July/August 2014.
We did the lunch with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. It's neat to say you did it and the plate you get is nice, but I deffinetly do not think it was worth it. You have no choice of you you have lunch with, and honestly our Imagineer was boring as all get out. He pretty much told us his job was boring. Not something I would want to do again.
Erm, I think the Segway tour has been cancelled
I really enjoyed the keys to the kingdom tour, it was quite pricey but well worth the money to us. We did the haunted carriage ride at Halloween in fort wilderness, I think it was about $40 and worth every penny, very creepy too!
I'm really not sure about the Segway Tours - they haven't contacted us (and still have our money!) and when I rung them to ask they said they were not sure and someone would let me know if they were cancelled. It's a bit of a pain as its over $200 in limbo that I'd happily spend on something else at Disney! 
We did the lunch with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. It's neat to say you did it and the plate you get is nice, but I deffinetly do not think it was worth it. You have no choice of you you have lunch with, and honestly our Imagineer was boring as all get out. He pretty much told us his job was boring. Not something I would want to do again.
We did the lunch with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. It's neat to say you did it and the plate you get is nice, but I deffinetly do not think it was worth it. You have no choice of you you have lunch with, and honestly our Imagineer was boring as all get out. He pretty much told us his job was boring. Not something I would want to do again.
I did read about those and though t it was awesome, but not many dates in May we can make, sadly Too many lovely other plans!
We did the lunch with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. It's neat to say you did it and the plate you get is nice, but I deffinetly do not think it was worth it. You have no choice of you you have lunch with, and honestly our Imagineer was boring as all get out. He pretty much told us his job was boring. Not something I would want to do again.
I had the same experience. The food was good, the guests were pleasant and well informed, but even after asking a whole bunch of questions, I didn't learn any more than I could from any of the countless books on the subject of Imagineering. I wouldn't do it again or recommend it.
Also the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, which is worth the cost simply to see a utilidor, is basically the text of the MK park explorer guide book, which costs about $10. Very little new info there either.
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One of the best WDW values is no more. The Ice Cream Social was an opportunity to have a character interaction meal for the price of an ice cream sundae. To good to be true, so it's gone.
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Ah man, that really sucks that you didn't get a good person at lunch with an imagineer, we had such an amazing time and would jump at the chance to do it again
I hope they contact you soon if they are going to cancel, not really very fair on you if they are holding your money with no intention of going ahead with the tour. Do you have any idea of what you might do instead if they do cancel it?
Xxxx
Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa
mrhub wrote:We did the lunch with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. It's neat to say you did it and the plate you get is nice, but I definitely do not think it was worth it. You have no choice of you you have lunch with, and honestly our Imagineer was boring as all get out. He pretty much told us his job was boring. Not something I would want to do again.
I had the same experience. The food was good, the guests were pleasant and well informed, but even after asking a whole bunch of questions, I didn't learn any more than I could from any of the countless books on the subject of Imagineering. I wouldn't do it again or recommend it.
Also the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, which is worth the cost simply to see a utilidor, is basically the text of the MK park explorer guide book, which costs about $10. Very little new info there either.
Exactly Colonel! We did the Keys to the Kingdom tour too and came out with the same thought. We actually got left in the Utilidor's by ourselves because another person got sick and the guide had to take her out.
I hope they contact you soon if they are going to cancel, not really very fair on you if they are holding your money with no intention of going ahead with the tour. Do you have any idea of what you might do instead if they do cancel it?
Xxxx
Not sure, Robyn - to be honest we are stretching the credit card a bit with the holiday, so might back off a bit if they do cancel and just go round Epcot and enjoy the sights and the festival! I wish they'd give me a real answer, though
One special event I would HIGHLY recommend is the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Fireworks Party. The cost is around $31.00 for adults and IMHO is well worth the cost. It is held at the TT on certain evenings just before the fireworks start (which depends on what time of year you are there).
You sit on the lower level at assigned tables and help yourself to all the dessert goodies they have available--and believe me--thay have TONS of delicious desserts just waiting for you. The chocolate dipped large strawberries and the creme brule are my favorites, but there are lots of other goodies available.
You finish eating at about the time for the fireworks and can watch from where you are without the crowd-crunch. If you are VERY lucky, Tink may fly right over your head!! She did this past February!
We ALWAYS include this special event in every trip we take to WDW. Non-alcoholic drinks and the tip are included in the price.
"If you're at all into gardening, take the Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot's The Land pavilion. It's fairly inexpensive by Disney standards; I think it was less than $20 per person last fall but don't recall the exact price. Hubby is a gardener and thoroughly enjoyed the tour; I'm not much of a gardener, but I also found it interesting." Catcrazyperson is correct--the Behind the Seeds Tour is well worth the money AND is cheap by Disney standards.
mrhub: so much depends on who your expert is for the lunch/dinner experience and they are all volunteers. This past February I thorougly enjoyed both of our dinner with and lunch with. The dinner was with an imagineer (Robert Sias--the manager of sponsor integration) at Flying Fish. It was supposed to last about 1 1/2 hours--we were still there 3 hours later! He is the manager of the team that decides how to integrate the corporate sponsors into the Disney experience. Fascinating--and NOT in any book I've found.
The other experience was lunch with an animal handler from the savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was held at Sanaa. It also was very interesting and not something you would already know.
I would do either of them again and heartily recommend both!
Patti 
If anyone knows how to eliminate/erase 2 of my 3 postings, please feel free! I have NO idea how all 3 got there. I'm pretty sure I entered it only once. Oh well 
Patti
All taken care of hawklady. 
mrhub wrote:We did the lunch with an Imagineer at the Brown Derby. It's neat to say you did it and the plate you get is nice, but I deffinetly do not think it was worth it. You have no choice of you you have lunch with, and honestly our Imagineer was boring as all get out. He pretty much told us his job was boring. Not something I would want to do again.
I had the same experience. The food was good, the guests were pleasant and well informed, but even after asking a whole bunch of questions, I didn't learn any more than I could from any of the countless books on the subject of Imagineering. I wouldn't do it again or recommend it.
Also the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, which is worth the cost simply to see a utilidor, is basically the text of the MK park explorer guide book, which costs about $10. Very little new info there either.
Ah, this is very handy - thank you Although it might be interesting, if trhere isn't anything really new or any fab insider knowledge on the tours I don't think I'd be keen.
Patti that was loads of brill info - thanks so much! The fireworks party was on my list, but when I made my ADRs they wern't accepting bookings - I think it's time for me to give it another go based on your fab recommendation!
x 