2 Day Park Hopper or 3 Day Base Ticket for a "quick" trip?

[mom22boys]

We are heading to FL the first week of January. As part of the trip we want to come to WDW for a "quick" visit. We will be heading to WDW in February with our extended family (group of 12) for a longer trip, but in January it will just be my group of 4.

With my group of 4 in January, we just want to enjoy the atmosphere, jump on a couple of our favorite rides, and see Toy Story Land. We know that the parks will be crowded, so it truly will be more about the Disney atmosphere than about a list of what we accomplish. Our thought going in is not to do every ride or see every show. We just want a couple of days to enjoy the magic together. That being said, originally we thought we might just buy 2 day park hoppers ($292/person), but I then I started to compare prices for 3 day base ticket and found tickets at $304/person. My thinking is that for $12/person we would get another set of pre-booked FPs which would be awesome, and an extra day in the parks. But...our goal is really to take it easy and not overdue it on this trip. With 3 day tickets, I am not sure if we would have the self-restraint to take it easy.

Has anyone headed to Disney for a "quick" trip just to enjoy the magic? If so, if you are not AP holders, what tickets did you buy? Any thoughts you can share, would be appreciated!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've done weekend trips here and there. IMHO, I don't find hoppers to be very relaxing. I honestly think the 3-day base tickets make things a little easier. You can focus on one park per day and really take your time to enjoy what that park has to offer instead of breaking up the day and spending time heading over to another park.

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

For such a short trip I'd go with the 3-day base tickets, too. You would have to decide which three of the four parks you would want to do, though. For me, Magic Kingdom and Epcot are "musts." Since you want to see Toy Story Land, the third park would have to be Hollywood Studios. (although I personally would choose Animal Kingdom since it's my favorite park). Any chance you could do 3-day hoppers? If so, I would split Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom on one day, all day for Epcot and all day for Magic Kingdom.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a magical vacation!

 

[Mome Rath]

I do 2/3 day trips quite a bit, and I think either way would work, but for me I always do a hopper. I love hitting 2 parks in one day; opening one park and then afternoon/evening at another. It's just what I really enjoy so it is worth it for me. I have also hit 3 parks in one day (FoP is my fav. ride ever, so I rope drop that, and then on to EPCOT, then end in MK for example). I love the flexibility for a short trip. I don't really rush, but I don't want to be stuck in just one park.

Sounds like you'll have fun either way!

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

I’d go with the 3 day. You can then be flexible and leave a park early for a nice night at the resort or Disney Springs, or have a late morning in a park if you’d like. With the 2-day hoppers, you will feel obligated to fill your days with parks and make for a more exhausting trip. We are doing 3-day tickets (one day will likely be the day of MNSSHP so the park closes early) and I can’t wait to have early night with park done at 6. I’m thinking dhs will also be an early night.

 

[amcnj]

I guess I would look at the number of attractions that are “must do” for that short trip and decide if three versus two days of fast passes will better allow you to hit them all. Also I am assuming since you are going back the next month again, hitting all the parks is not necessary?

 

[mom22boys]

Thank you so much for all of the feedback. I really appreciate it. Since our DSs are older most of our "must-do" attractions are the headliners. If possible, they would love to do FoP, EE, ToT, RnRC, BTMRR, and SM. If the weather allows it, they would also enjoy Splash. We will not be going to Epcot on this trip since we will be heading back in February. To be honest, we have never done trips back to back like this, so I have no idea what this will be like. There is normally 1-2 years in between our trips, but with our DSs getting older and college just around the corner, we just keep trying to squeeze in more memories. Thanks again!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thank you so much for all of the feedback. I really appreciate it. Since our DSs are older most of our "must-do" attractions are the headliners. If possible, they would love to do FoP, EE, ToT, RnRC, BTMRR, and SM. If the weather allows it, they would also enjoy Splash. We will not be going to Epcot on this trip since we will be heading back in February. To be honest, we have never done trips back to back like this, so I have no idea what this will be like. There is normally 1-2 years in between our trips, but with our DSs getting older and college just around the corner, we just keep trying to squeeze in more memories. Thanks again!

If that's the case, I would recommend the 3-day base. That way you can focus on getting 3 pre-reserved FP+ at each park.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would go with three more relaxed park days, alternate morning in the park with resort time or Disney springs at night and then maybe a relaxing day with parks at night.

 

[MooseBucks]

Agree with no park hopper...Better for FP+ with selecting the more popular rides and can be more relaxed if you don't feel like you have to make it to the other parks in the same day.

 

[jbish]

Thank you so much for all of the feedback. I really appreciate it. Since our DSs are older most of our "must-do" attractions are the headliners. If possible, they would love to do FoP, EE, ToT, RnRC, BTMRR, and SM. If the weather allows it, they would also enjoy Splash. We will not be going to Epcot on this trip since we will be heading back in February. To be honest, we have never done trips back to back like this, so I have no idea what this will be like. There is normally 1-2 years in between our trips, but with our DSs getting older and college just around the corner, we just keep trying to squeeze in more memories. Thanks again!

How long will your trip in February be? At some point, you may hit a tipping point where the annual pass might be a similar price - especially if you have access to a discount on APs like DVC or Florida resident. Just a thought. This year, for me, we did a family trip in June for a week and I had also signed up for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Knowing I'd be back within the year, I got an AP for myself, not for the rest of the family. And now there's a chance we might all go down again in January for a gymnastics meet for a long weekend and kicking myself that we didn't upgrade everyone else to the AP too! Those 2-3 day passes are so much more expensive!

 

[mom22boys]

How long will your trip in February be? At some point, you may hit a tipping point where the annual pass might be a similar price - especially if you have access to a discount on APs like DVC or Florida resident. Just a thought. This year, for me, we did a family trip in June for a week and I had also signed up for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Knowing I'd be back within the year, I got an AP for myself, not for the rest of the family. And now there's a chance we might all go down again in January for a gymnastics meet for a long weekend and kicking myself that we didn't upgrade everyone else to the AP too! Those 2-3 day passes are so much more expensive!

Our trip in February will have 5 park days. We found 5 day base tickets for $393. If we purchase one 3 day base ticket at $304 and one 5 day base ticket at $393, we will be at $697 total. I debated about buying one AP for me, but we do not have a discount available to us, so one AP would be $904. With Memory Maker on both trips and the food and merchandise discount, I am sure we would could justify the extra $207 for at least one AP.

 

[jbish]

Our trip in February will have 5 park days. We found 5 day base tickets for $393. If we purchase one 3 day base ticket at $304 and one 5 day base ticket at $393, we will be at $697 total. I debated about buying one AP for me, but we do not have a discount available to us, so one AP would be $904. With Memory Maker on both trips and the food and merchandise discount, I am sure we would could justify the extra $207 for at least one AP.

Hmm... that would be pretty close. Whatever discount you got on your 5-day tickets would also bring down your $207 gap - you can just upgrade that at Guest Services when you first get down there and pocket that discount. I could probably justify it, especially if you would be ordering Memory Maker anyway. But then again, it doesn't take much for me. Heck, I even signed up to run a Half Marathon to justify it!!

 

[mom22boys]

But then again, it doesn't take much for me. Heck, I even signed up to run a Half Marathon to justify it!!

I don't think it would take much to convince me either, but I am afraid I might have to draw the line at running a half marathon. Is there a yoga event I could sign up for instead. Good luck with your race! What an accomplishment!