To Park Hop or not to Park Hop

[SuperSaint]

Park hoppers are a must for me. Absolutely. I subscribe to the philosophy of using early mornings to get on the biggest rides, taking a midday break, then using the afternoon to be a bit more spontaneous. There wasn't a single day we were there we didn't go to 2-3 parks in a day. Having the freedom to decide where I'd begin and end my day was great.

Granted, being off property makes parking in new lots all the time a real pain, but it was always worth it.

 

[debpeduz]

My family has always park hopped. I think it is just the convenience and the flexibility that makes the hopper nice. This way, you have the option to cahnge parks or to go somewhere totally different for dinner or a fireworks show.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Park hopper here. We are home to the Quadfecta. On day 5 of 5 in 2006, all 4 parks in 1 day riding almost major E-ticket attractions.

 

[DisneyDeb13]

Our family loves to park hop. We have been in three parks in one day. We start in on park - dinner in EPCOT - and always end the night in MK as this is the park that stays open the longest. We want to spend every minute we can in all the parks. Also, love to be one of the last to leave Magic Kingdom!!

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

I'm a fan of park hopper. Here's why. No, my family doesn't use it each day. Some days we are content to stay in just the MK or Epcot. However, the MK has a very limited table service selection. Epcot is a monorail ride away so it makes sense to go there for dinner. I suppose that could be avoided by dining at a resort, but it seems like park dining experiences are faster than those of resorts. Plus, we love the monorail. DHS and AK are two different creatures altogether. There is no way we could spend a full day at either of those. The AK is a get there early and get out park because it gets so hot in the afternoon. DHS just gets overwhelming after too long. It only has a few family-friendly attractions (I'm talking little kid stuff) and a few major attractions. The lines get outrageous, and when the Tower breaks down, forget it. A half day at each is plenty. We sometimes go back to the resort for a rest. There's not a set rest pattern. We just go with it. Park hopper helps give us that freedom. If we get tired before we get finished with a park, we can just hop over later to do whatever. I see the point that it is an expensive add-on. I think the best thing to do is make your plan and see if you will need it. Either way, you are going to DISNEY WORLD!!! :sohappy:

 

[WDW 3]

Hakuna matata

If you plan your days right then you won't need to hop (;

Spending our days hopping is "right" to us

Don't do many ADR's to tie us down. We don't have any little ones that tire so we like to stay out late and sleep in. Don't really like to hang at the resort either. According to DH, "If I was just going to sit around, I could do that at home". We don't hit the parks commando style either, pretty leisurely.

 

[WorldKey]

Love Park Hopping

Totally love park hopping for a few reasons, the 2 biggest are DHS and AK - either because they close early or there is not as much at these parks to fill the day (IMO). After each of these parks there is plenty of time to enjoy a couple of attractions and the night show at MK or EPCOT. The other main reason is that if you only have 4 days at WDW, since there is so much more to see at MK and EPCOT it's worth the extra money to be able to have the freedom to fit everything in and not be stuck to one park each of the 4 days. If you have 7 days then regular tickets might be fine. The cost to me is worth the flexibility.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Although Scar is right, I really can't picture our trips without PH'ing anymore. Its become part of our daily routine. And of course the nights when I break away from the family is solely to go around the resort and go from hotel to hotel, park to park, could only be possible WITH PH. Nothing like those nights

 

[SAV]

We bought the hopper's in the beginning and didn't hop, so we don't get them anymore. It was a waste of $$ for us.

On the day's where a park closes earlier, we head back to the resort and chill out and get ready for the next day.

 

[bjlc57]

see.. we go commando at WDW.. Get up and get to the park WHEN IT OPENS OR BEFORE.. and try to stay until closing.. or at least normal closing. and so with 8 days.. I don't really need the PH.. would I like it, sure.. but the COST is too much right now.. they should put it at $25 and then everyone would buy the thing.. its too high for a family of 4 or more.. way too high..

and don't get me started on passes that you have to pay for no experation..
wow.. what a way to make extra money.. for FREE.. We get your money and put it in the bank NOW.. and you may or may not come back.. ever.. or remember what tickets have extra days on them.. That's the real kicker.. does this ticket have "time left " on it?

 

[DisneyDadof5]

Park Hoppers are a must for my family. There have been several times that the wife and I had lunch at the Crystal Palace in MK, walked outside at 1PM and saw a Level 10 crowd. We just look at each other and go "Epcot?", and hop on the monorail.

To our family it's worth it for that flexibility. However we never get the water parks and more option as the resort has a pool, and cooling down there to me is just as good as a trip to Blizzard Beach, and it's closer to our room for an afternoon nap.

If you don't get the park hopper, and the park you choose is packed or it's an all day downpour, there is plenty of Disney things to do (Tour resorts, hit the arcades, Disney Downtown, the Boardwalk..) or take a DVC tour and get a snack or take the tour for the elusive DVC Fastpass for use on a later day.. :lookaroun

 

[RiversideBunny]

Does the Easter Bunny have to buy a Park Hopper ticket?

 

[jeffk410]

I can't imagine not parking hopping !

 

[woodardfamily]

Family needs seem to dictate whether or not we get the PH. As kids get older, it seems like a more logical idea. Families with young kids may get more out of staying at a park all day. IMHBAO.

 

[Studios Fan]

I like having the option to park hop.

 

[MagicMegan]

I like park hopping... sometimes I hit 3 in a day. I like to do things alone now so once in a while I'll go with my family to one park, then leave and go somewhere else alone.

I don't do water parks though... now that PI is gone I don't think it's worth it.

 

[RedFoxRunner]

I couldn't imagine not park hopping. Like other people said, many of the parks will close early.. 7pm to 9pm. I'm not the type to get up super early and start my day as a park opens. I usually roll in around 10 to noon and would much rather stay up late and be at the parks until they close. I personally think the Disney parks at night time are a totally different and unique experience.

Also, being able to "hop" can be a huge advantage with the crowds/weather. We've gotten to MK or AK and it has begun storming all day.. so we would switch to DHS or Epcot where there seem to be more "indoor" things/rides to do. Without the ability to hop there would be some pretty miserable days. Once we have hit each park we'll spend the last day or two re-riding favorite rides and will sometimes do 3 to 4 parks in a day if crowds allow.

 

[fosse76]

Park hopping is a must for me. As someone who travels solo, I can easily be done with the Magic Kingdom by 3pm at the latest (assuming I arrive around 10am-11pm). And no, I don't rush around. I'm pretty good at managing my time with judicious use of FPs and only doing one section at a time so I'm not running all over the place! (It also helps to going during the slower months). Of course, being solo is what makes that possible, as I can skip anything with a long wait and come back to it later when the wait is shorter.

I think it depends on your style and your needs. I personally am not the lie-down-and-relax type when on vacation, so if I finish the Magic Kingdom at 2pm you bet I'm going to visit another park. The best advice I ever heard on this board (which no longer applies to me since I bought an AP) is that don't add a Park Hopper to your ticket until the moment you decide to visit a second park on the same day. That way, if you don't hop you won't have wasted the money.