Has anyone ever bought tickets from Ticket Mania? They are highly acclaimed by Mousesavers.com. We are going to WDW for 6 nights in September, and wanted to get Hopper passes. But comparing the price, is it really necessary? We can get a 7 day pass without hopper privileges for $199. What we wanted to get was a 3 or 4 day hopper pass and just hop around between the parks. The 3 day hopper is $231 and the 4 day hopper is $253. So since we're going to only spend 3 or 4 days in the parks, it seems like it would make more sense to just stay in 1 park each day and if we want to hop, just use a new ticket since they will expire anyway. For example, we get tickets each, so Day 1 we could use 1 ticket at Magic Kingdom, Day 2 we could use one at MGM and 1 at Animal Kingdom, Day 3, 1 at Epcot one at MK, day 4, one at MGM, one at Epcot...something like that. Is there any reason why that would be a bad idea. I hear u don't have time to visit more than 3 parks in a day anyway with the hopper and most people only visit 2 in one day. I wanted hopper but I don't see why it's really all that necessary. Plus I heard it takes a good amount of time to go between parks anyway. Any input on that? I don't remember if they had hopper when I came as a kid, but I think we did one park per day. There were only 3 parks then but still...
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Why Hopper Passes?
- Thread starter jozzmenia
- Start date
OK, so much for saving money...ticket mania is saying u cant do what i just described...use 1 day in the morning and 1 in the evening at a different park. is that right? i dont know much about tickets...so how do the tickets work? i thought they would just give u 7 paper tix and u can use them for admission at each park any time during the 10 day period (or however long before they expire). I guess that's not right.
Still, I wonder what makes hopper passes better than 1 park per day...we did that at universal. we were going 2 days. we went to Universal one day and IOA on day 2. it was easier. so i know it would be easier at Disney than worrying about getting around... (and cheaper).
Still, I wonder what makes hopper passes better than 1 park per day...we did that at universal. we were going 2 days. we went to Universal one day and IOA on day 2. it was easier. so i know it would be easier at Disney than worrying about getting around... (and cheaper).
kachow
Member
Yeah, you could probably buy 7 individual park entry tickets and do what you say, but you would be paying that 1-day price for each of them, which is by no means a deal.
I don't know about others, but my wife and I get the park hopper for a couple of reasons:
1) We like the flexibility. We usually take a break in the middle of the day, and we like the option of going to one park in the morning based on what we feel like, and then being able to go to another for the nightime show and/or for a specific restaurant we want to go to for dinner. It just makes it easier overall if we can pick a park to go to in the morning based on what we feel like, and then pick the evening one based on what we want to do that night and what is easiest (i.e. if we want to eat on the Boardwalk and go to Jellyrolls or something, we would pick MGM or Epcot in the evening).
2) It's fun for us. It's fun to decide to start the day over at MGM just to ride RnR and ToT and then hop over to Epcot, or whatever. It makes it easier to see everything we want without feeling like we have to jam it all in one day.
3) Maybe we have ADD, but we also like the variety it allows. Sometimes we don't feel like being in one park ALL day. It's more fun to mix it up.
I don't know about others, but my wife and I get the park hopper for a couple of reasons:
1) We like the flexibility. We usually take a break in the middle of the day, and we like the option of going to one park in the morning based on what we feel like, and then being able to go to another for the nightime show and/or for a specific restaurant we want to go to for dinner. It just makes it easier overall if we can pick a park to go to in the morning based on what we feel like, and then pick the evening one based on what we want to do that night and what is easiest (i.e. if we want to eat on the Boardwalk and go to Jellyrolls or something, we would pick MGM or Epcot in the evening).
2) It's fun for us. It's fun to decide to start the day over at MGM just to ride RnR and ToT and then hop over to Epcot, or whatever. It makes it easier to see everything we want without feeling like we have to jam it all in one day.
3) Maybe we have ADD, but we also like the variety it allows. Sometimes we don't feel like being in one park ALL day. It's more fun to mix it up.
New2WDW
New Member
TRUE, one ticket per day! This was thought to be a loop hole as soon as this new ticket system came out, but was quickly noted..... But I still think the base ticket price and staying and enjoying the single park is the way to go. (at least for my family)
After looking into whether to purchase the 10day with No-X and use half the tickets one vacation and the other half the next trip, it seems like it would almost be the same to just get the amount of tickets you need per vacation instead!
The main purpose I have seen on the Hopper is just the flexibility to go to see fireworks or eat at a particular restaurant, etc.
Enjoy your vacation!
After looking into whether to purchase the 10day with No-X and use half the tickets one vacation and the other half the next trip, it seems like it would almost be the same to just get the amount of tickets you need per vacation instead!
The main purpose I have seen on the Hopper is just the flexibility to go to see fireworks or eat at a particular restaurant, etc.
Enjoy your vacation!
From my understanding you cant do what you described. The ticket is a 7 day ticket not a 7 park ticket. Once you go to one park on that day it is the only park the ticket will admit you to.
If you are going for 4 days and wanted to do it as economically as possible then get the 4 day pass with out park hopping. It is easier not to park hop but it is nice to have an option. There is no reason you can't find enough to do in each park to last a full day.
If you are going for 4 days and wanted to do it as economically as possible then get the 4 day pass with out park hopping. It is easier not to park hop but it is nice to have an option. There is no reason you can't find enough to do in each park to last a full day.
kachow
Member
Well they were trying to get a 7 day non-park hopper ticket to use over 4 days. They wanted to use more than one of their 7 days per day, to get a pseudo-park hopper experience, but as someone mentioned, the ticket will only let you in one park per day regardless of how many days you buy.
Regarding the no-expiration idea - my wife and I thought of that, but realized Disney was smart enough to set it up so it's not really worth it.
Regarding the no-expiration idea - my wife and I thought of that, but realized Disney was smart enough to set it up so it's not really worth it.
Sure you can see a lot in 2 days but you surely can't do it all. You will also be running yourself ragged trying to cram in as much as you can in those 2 days. If you have little ones with you forget it. They will snap trying to keep up with you.jozzmenia said:
If you elect to do this you will need to get to the parks at least 1/2 hour before opening and staying until closing. If you are staying at a Disney resort use the EMH. Eat counter service to save time and skip the mid day break. Most importantly make a game plan and be prepared to cut some popular rides from your itinerary.
Rob562
Well-Known Member
I'll toss in the suggestion I give to people that are having trouble deciding the hopper/non-hopper debate.
If you can't decide, and feel that the hopper option might be a waste of money, buy the non-hopper pass. The Park Hopping option is something that can be added to the ticket after purchase while you're there at the parks. That way, if on Day 2 you're at the Magic Kingdom and it is utterly packed and you'd like to switch over to Epcot, you can stop by Guest Relations at the entrance to the park and they can add on the Park Hopper option (ticket windows *might* be able to do this, too). It'd take you about 5 minutes and cost a flat fee of $40+tax per ticket regardless of how many days are on the ticket. If you go the entire trip without hopping, you haven't paid for something you never used. But it's something that takes little time to do if you decide to go that way. In the above scenario of a packed MK, without a park hopper you're stuck at that park for the day.
As for what *I* do, I'm usually down there with an Annual Pass, so it's a moot point for me. But when friends join me, they get Park Hoppers simply because I know how we'll be touring the parks, and the hopper is a necessary option.
-Rob
If you can't decide, and feel that the hopper option might be a waste of money, buy the non-hopper pass. The Park Hopping option is something that can be added to the ticket after purchase while you're there at the parks. That way, if on Day 2 you're at the Magic Kingdom and it is utterly packed and you'd like to switch over to Epcot, you can stop by Guest Relations at the entrance to the park and they can add on the Park Hopper option (ticket windows *might* be able to do this, too). It'd take you about 5 minutes and cost a flat fee of $40+tax per ticket regardless of how many days are on the ticket. If you go the entire trip without hopping, you haven't paid for something you never used. But it's something that takes little time to do if you decide to go that way. In the above scenario of a packed MK, without a park hopper you're stuck at that park for the day.
As for what *I* do, I'm usually down there with an Annual Pass, so it's a moot point for me. But when friends join me, they get Park Hoppers simply because I know how we'll be touring the parks, and the hopper is a necessary option.
-Rob
Well, it's just me and my boyfriend. I'm 26, he's 29. We can go a long time. The last time we did Universal we went from opening to close. We've done that at Cedar Point too, and we ended up staying well after close once til like midnight. we dont mind long days. i dont think we'll panic to see everything either. we already know there's no way to see everything in one trip no matter how many days we get. i'm more interested in having a fun relaxing trip. That's why 2 days might work. We can get a water park and have a day off to just swim and relax. I'm really indecisive about it though. I'm glad that unlike air and hotel, u dont have to buy park tix way in advance to save money.Master Yoda said:
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
I'm all about hopping around. I'd die if I were stuck in one park all day....esp on the DAK day...
Dwarful
Well-Known Member
I think the only day it would be a problem would be DAK day, as someone mentioned above. But if you are pool or minigolf fans then do that in the evening and enjoy the night. You certainly don't need the hopper option and as someone else mentioned above you can add that option on onsite. There are many days we don't hop at all and others that we do hop. But it certainly wouldn't ruin our trip if we couldn't hop.
amykissangel
Member
I completely agree...AK is only usually open until 6, and then what do you do for the rest of the night? Also, if MGM is open until 8, and there's EMH at MK, it's great to go for a couple hours and get on some of the bigger rides. It's great to be able to spend all day at MK, then head over to see Illuminations and eat at a nice restaurant at Epcot. We couldn't do base day tickets...
If you want to see only two parks, then get the two day base pass...but don't waste money on hopping...if you haven't been before, or have only been once or twice, you will only see half of each park and there was no point in purchasing the hopper.
If you are really set on the 2 day hopper, I'd do something like this : (totally just my opinion and you can totally ignore me if you want
)
(BTW, I'm assuming park hours here because you're not sure when you're going)
Day 1:
Eat a quick breakfast (granola bars, etc.)
Get to AK 20 min before it opens
Do Dinosaur, ExEverest, PEWhirl, Bug, (and anything else you like)
Eat a counter service lunch
Take a bus over to MK
If you want to do the mountains, get fast passes for Space, then head to Frontier Land and do Thunder, get a fast pass for Splash
Try to use fast pass as much as possible for your other faves
Eat dinner at a counter service
Do ALL the rides you can while the daytime parade is going on
Watch Spectromagic and Wishes
Day 2:
Eat a quick breakfast
Get to MGM half hour before it opens
Hurry over to ToT and RRC
Do Great Movie Ride, and you can perhaps fit in two shows before you go
Have counter service lunch
Bus/Boat over to Epcot
Get Fast passes for any of the three: MI:S, TT, Soarin (I'd skip MS if I were you, but that's just me :~))
Take in a couple Future World rides
Walk around the countries
Have a nice dinner at one of the countries at around 7:30
Watch Illuminations at 9
That way you get to see the the biggest fireworks shows in WDW...you'll have to skip Fantasmic at MGM (which is my favorite thing there), but you can't see everything. Have fun!!!
If you want to see only two parks, then get the two day base pass...but don't waste money on hopping...if you haven't been before, or have only been once or twice, you will only see half of each park and there was no point in purchasing the hopper.
If you are really set on the 2 day hopper, I'd do something like this : (totally just my opinion and you can totally ignore me if you want
)(BTW, I'm assuming park hours here because you're not sure when you're going)
Day 1:
Eat a quick breakfast (granola bars, etc.)
Get to AK 20 min before it opens
Do Dinosaur, ExEverest, PEWhirl, Bug, (and anything else you like)
Eat a counter service lunch
Take a bus over to MK
If you want to do the mountains, get fast passes for Space, then head to Frontier Land and do Thunder, get a fast pass for Splash
Try to use fast pass as much as possible for your other faves
Eat dinner at a counter service
Do ALL the rides you can while the daytime parade is going on
Watch Spectromagic and Wishes
Day 2:
Eat a quick breakfast
Get to MGM half hour before it opens
Hurry over to ToT and RRC
Do Great Movie Ride, and you can perhaps fit in two shows before you go
Have counter service lunch
Bus/Boat over to Epcot
Get Fast passes for any of the three: MI:S, TT, Soarin (I'd skip MS if I were you, but that's just me :~))
Take in a couple Future World rides
Walk around the countries
Have a nice dinner at one of the countries at around 7:30
Watch Illuminations at 9
That way you get to see the the biggest fireworks shows in WDW...you'll have to skip Fantasmic at MGM (which is my favorite thing there), but you can't see everything. Have fun!!!
Summerland24
Member
For Us.....hopping is key...if you are going to be there that many days i suggest doing all the parks a day at a time find the things you like and the things you know you can skip....that way for the last few days you really only doing the things that you want to do..
Another note, the benefits of going from park, hotel, restaurant, fireworks show to show....I personally think there are huge advantages to it
Another note, the benefits of going from park, hotel, restaurant, fireworks show to show....I personally think there are huge advantages to it
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
The day we go to Disney's Animal Kingdom...there is no way I could stay there all day and then have nowhere to go that night.jozzmenia said:What's a "DAK day"???