Park Hopper?

[VT GAL]

We are in the beginnings of planning our Daughter's first trip to the world in October of next year. She is going to be 18 months old when we travel and we are traveling with a group of family and friends. Our big question is if a park hopper is going to be a good thing or if we would be better spending our time at one park a day.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this will also be our first family vacation!


Thanks!!! <O</O

 

[Monty]

With an 18 month old, you're probably going to need a nap break or two during the course of your day. You can easily fill a day at one park with any of the parks.

The advantage to hopper tickets is if you want to see the fireworks at another park after spending your day at DAK or if you get bored with a park and want to head elsewhere. With a younger child, she'll likely set the pace such that you won't need hoppers.

That said, if you're travelling there with a large group, you might want hoppers for the group and your spouse and/or family can take turns watching your daughter and you can do more stuff while she's gone down for the night...

 

[tigsmom]

I'm a park hopper kinda girl, especially with little kids. You will want to leave the parks to take a rest and you may not always want to head back to the same park. We only spend a few hours in MGM and then head out to another park. Also it give you more options to dine in the different parks, see the parades or fireworks.

Also if you are travelling with a larger group you may want to split up...have somebody watch the baby while you hit a couple of your favorite rides and then meet up in another park for some shows, etc. Its also good if you want to take advantage of EMH (especially morning hours). :wave:

 

[VT GAL]

Thanks!!!

Those are both great ideas!!!!

I have one more...is it better to book my trip early or wait a little bit to see if there will be anything like free dining around when we are planning the trip?

 

[kal1484]

I would go ahead and book it. Free Dining, unless next year this time, won't be around. They are only doing it to get people to come down during hurricane season.

 

[Monty]

Book now, if free dining is offered and you haven't paid in full yet, you can change the booking to include it. I never pay in full until check-in, that way I can tweak my booking when deals come along.

Next year I'm going down three times [and a fourth the following year on the same APs], I'm off-site in February, booked at Contemporary in late June and Pop Century in late August. I'll be watching for AP discounts for June and/or August and free dining [if they do it again around the same times] in August. Then I'll need to decide which is better, PC with the AP discount or without a discount and free dining [I'd have to buy two one-day base tickets to get the free dining, but can apply the cost to renewing our APs].

Although there are no guarantees they'll offer discounts or dining for the times I've booked or whether either will work out as savings for us, it's nice to have the flexibility if they do.

 

[VT GAL]

Thank you sooooo much MontyMon!!!!

It is great to get such awesome advice!!!!

 

[Rob562]

Just a note on MontyMon's post: Waiting to pay off the balance until check-in is only an option for a room-only reservation. Most packages that include room and tickets (and dining, if purchased) must be paid off 45 days before arrival.

As for the park hopper choice, there's another option: For those who think they might not need hopper capabilities, you can buy your ticket without it, and then add it on later if you find you want to use it. It only takes about 5 minutes to do at a ticket window or Guest Relations window.

-Rob

 

[daverube]

We mostly use the Park Hopper function to hit the WS for dinner after spending time at the MK, AK and DS during the day. Personally, I think its a waste of time to jump between the parks during the mid-day hours....unless its to get a Dole Whip Float....

good luck...

dave

btw....VT Alum '95 - Go Hokies!

 

[kachow]

If it were just you and your daughter going, I'd say you definitely don't need the park hopper, since your child is going to find more than enough to entertain herself at one park per day. With a group, you may want to consider it, since it may make it easier to ensure that you see everything you all want to see. My wife and I get it, primarily for the additional feeling of freedom we get from it. It's just worth it to us to know we can go wherever we want throughout the world. But if we had to tighten our belts, sure, we could get by without it.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Thanks!!!

Those are both great ideas!!!!

I have one more...is it better to book my trip early or wait a little bit to see if there will be anything like free dining around when we are planning the trip?

One suggestion would be to book through Kingdom Konsultants. It doesn't cost any more than doing it yourself, but Pam and her associates will keep an eye out for any specials or rate changes so you don't have to. They may also be able to point out some rates that you might not be aware of.

While I have done all my own booking for years, it is just so much more convenient to have Pam watching, so I don't have to.

 

[VeRTiGo91]

We needed it for 2 young-en's...needed to crash after all the morning excitement...and headed back out no prob!

V

 

[DisneyBride94]

My firstborn's first trip was at 15 months of age... (I"ve also brought subsequent children at ages, 3 months, 4 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years...etc. and here's my advice...

Get the hopper pass... that way you can plan on getting to MK for EMH and then head out for lunch around 1PM when the crowds are crazy... go back to the hotel...let her take a nap...then head to another park, like EPCOT for dinner and a few rides and fireworks... Also, Animal Kingdom is a park best to do early in the morning... take her on the Safari ride and do the animal trail.. then take her to see the Lion King Show and to meet the characters... then take her over to Dino Land and let her ride the Dumbo-like dinosaur ride there... then go to the Boneyard, UPSTAIRS and let her sit in the giant sandbox to dig and relax while you sit for a few under the shady covering that makes this one of the few cooler spots at AK.... Have lunch inside at Rainforest Cafe....or outside at Flametree BBQ by the water... then head out... let her have a nap back a the hotel... and then go to MGM for dinner and rides like The Great Movie Ride and the Back Lot tour... let her play at Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area (there are fountains and slides she'll enjoy)... Not sure how late the shows for Voyage of the Little Mermaid or the PlayHouse Disney Shows run--but she'd love those... she may be too young to sit through the stage production of Beauty & The Beast... You're call!

But you see....it's nice to go to a park EARLY.... and leave...relax at the hotel (maybe take her for a dip in the pool) to recharge everyone's batteries...then go back out again... Park Hopping, IMO, works really well with little ones....

 

[VT GAL]

I know I have said it before, but thank you to everyone!!! It is so nice to have a place to come to where people are so helpful!!!!

And yes...

GO HOKIES!!!!!!!!!

 

[L Fisher]

PH is the way to go..More freedom, and again with a 18 month old you need all the time you can get..Go in the morning come back for a nap then head back for the evening events..If you're still not sure, you can always add it when you get there..Have a great trip!!:wave: