2 parks, 1 day. No hopper. Is this allowed.

[Ellasgirls]

We are bringing our 2 youngest kiddos (ages 6 & 9) for their 1st trip to Disney World in January!!! We are flying in on a Sunday (plane lands at 3:30pm). We fly out the following Thursday at 4:40pm. I have a 4 day base ticket for each of us. No hopper pass. I am worried we won't use our 4 days if we get to the hotel late on Sunday and will only have a couple hours at best to be in Hollywood Studios. Our other option is to go Thursday morning before we leave from 9-11:30 so we make it back on time to catch the bus to the airport.
My question is this:
Can we go to Animal Kingdom in the morning on Monday (EMH starts at 8am) and stay until 2ish, then head to Hollywood Studio's & use another day to get into Hollywood Studios (3pm-8pm)?

 

[Wubar]

No. One day per park on base tickets. You can't use up two of your days on a 4 day base ticket on one day to visit 2 different parks.

 

[Ellasgirls]

Any suggestions?
We have a 4 day base ticket. Coming in Sun (plane lands 3:30 pm). Leaving Thurs (plane leaves at 4:40, so bus takes us at 12:40 if I read the paper correctly).
It is our youngest kids' 1st time so I don't want to not see a park at all BUT do you think we will have time to make it for a while Sun when we get in?

 

[AdamEfimoff]

We are bringing our 2 youngest kiddos (ages 6 & 9) for their 1st trip to Disney World in January!!! We are flying in on a Sunday (plane lands at 3:30pm). We fly out the following Thursday at 4:40pm. I have a 4 day base ticket for each of us. No hopper pass. I am worried we won't use our 4 days if we get to the hotel late on Sunday and will only have a couple hours at best to be in Hollywood Studios. Our other option is to go Thursday morning before we leave from 9-11:30 so we make it back on time to catch the bus to the airport.
My question is this:
Can we go to Animal Kingdom in the morning on Monday (EMH starts at 8am) and stay until 2ish, then head to Hollywood Studio's & use another day to get into Hollywood Studios (3pm-8pm)?

no get the hopper.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

You may make good timing with your flight, etc., and have a few hours on your arrival day. You can always add the hopper and adjust your plans once you are there if there's a delay or your just too tired to head to the park on your first day.

 

[Lesley Wake]

no get the hopper.

Yeah, agreed.

For pickup, the current schedule is DME picks up 4 hrs before flight. But that could change after the holiday season (we don’t know yet, just speculation). If you are confident in getting thru MCO security you can always consider getting a lyft/Uber to the airport instead of DME; it’s about $20-$30 and you can still do resort airline check-in so you won’t have your bags with you.

 

[Wubar]

Any suggestions?
We have a 4 day base ticket. Coming in Sun (plane lands 3:30 pm). Leaving Thurs (plane leaves at 4:40, so bus takes us at 12:40 if I read the paper correctly).
It is our youngest kids' 1st time so I don't want to not see a park at all BUT do you think we will have time to make it for a while Sun when we get in?

Are you staying onsite and using DME? If so....

IMO...You are arriving MCO at 3:30pm...It could take between 2-3 hours for you to arrive at your resort using DME (dependent on multiple variables), but if you have already done online check-in, you might be able to jump right on a bus and head to a resort by 6:30pm, which would put you inside a park by 7pm. Depending on closing times, that could give you anywhere from 1-3 hours, which would be enough to walk around a bit and perhaps a catch a nightly show or a few rides.

Same scenario presents itself on your departure date, if you are taking DME, you absolutely do not want to be late for your scheduled departure bus from your resort, which would be right around 12:40pm (maybe 1:40pm if they change things), so if you check your luggage with bell services using RAC and head straight to the park bright and early, you could get anywhere from 2-3 hours in the park.

You'll have 3 solid days Mon-Wed, so you'll have to play it by ear on which day you want to use your 4th day of your tickets. You could make that decision on Sunday once you find out when you'll be arriving on Disney property and how soon you can get to the park - if it's late, shoot for a few hours on Thursday morning. If it's early, and your kids are up to it and don't have to get to bed early (which might be a good idea if they have an early start on Monday morning), then head over on Sunday night. Either way, unfortunately, you probably won't be getting more than a few hours out of your 4th day. If you want to spring for park hoppers, then you'll obviously have a bit more flexibility....

Good luck!

 

[AdamEfimoff]

We are bringing our 2 youngest kiddos (ages 6 & 9) for their 1st trip to Disney World in January!!! We are flying in on a Sunday (plane lands at 3:30pm). We fly out the following Thursday at 4:40pm. I have a 4 day base ticket for each of us. No hopper pass. I am worried we won't use our 4 days if we get to the hotel late on Sunday and will only have a couple hours at best to be in Hollywood Studios. Our other option is to go Thursday morning before we leave from 9-11:30 so we make it back on time to catch the bus to the airport.
My question is this:
Can we go to Animal Kingdom in the morning on Monday (EMH starts at 8am) and stay until 2ish, then head to Hollywood Studio's & use another day to get into Hollywood Studios (3pm-8pm)?

where are you staying? 4 days. is not enough imho and jus disney or universal?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

How long is your flight that day? Meaning, are you arriving after a full, long day of travel so it might be more prudent to call it an early night/rest up? Or is it a short trip and everyone will be in high spirits that first night?

From what you describe, I think I’d lean towards hitting a park that arrival evening vs your departure day. But I could go either way I think.

As to some of the advice above, while I do use/value hoppers myself, I don’t think they are critical for everyone.

 

[peg2001]

you can always consider getting a lyft/Uber to the airport instead of DME; it’s about $20-$30 and you can still do resort airline check-in so you won’t have your bags with you.

This is the best plan, IMHO, with the late afternoon flight time, and much cheaper than adding the hopper option to all your tickets.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The six year old likely still needs a car or booster seat, so unless OP is bringing one with them, Lyft isn’t an option. Uber may be an option as you can get one with a car seat, but it’s more expensive and likely sized more for a baby/toddler, not a six year old.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Any suggestions?

get the hopper

 

[peg2001]

The six year old likely still needs a car or booster seat, so unless OP is bringing one with them, Lyft isn’t an option. Uber may be an option as you can get one with a car seat, but it’s more expensive and likely sized more for a baby/toddler, not a six year old.

Florida law states:Children 5 years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system.

The parent would need to make the decision on whether they feel it is safe for the child to use a regular seatbelt to the airport.

 

[TCB in FLA]

Any suggestions?
We have a 4 day base ticket. Coming in Sun (plane lands 3:30 pm). Leaving Thurs (plane leaves at 4:40, so bus takes us at 12:40 if I read the paper correctly).
It is our youngest kids' 1st time so I don't want to not see a park at all BUT do you think we will have time to make it for a while Sun when we get in?

I would take advantage of whatever park closes late than first day or EMH for that last day.

 

[KenHutch]

You could go to a park on your 1st day, check the times and pick the one with the later closing time.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I'd play it by ear and add the hopper if you need to.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We are bringing our 2 youngest kiddos (ages 6 & 9) for their 1st trip to Disney World in January!!! We are flying in on a Sunday (plane lands at 3:30pm). We fly out the following Thursday at 4:40pm. I have a 4 day base ticket for each of us. No hopper pass. I am worried we won't use our 4 days if we get to the hotel late on Sunday and will only have a couple hours at best to be in Hollywood Studios. Our other option is to go Thursday morning before we leave from 9-11:30 so we make it back on time to catch the bus to the airport.
My question is this:
Can we go to Animal Kingdom in the morning on Monday (EMH starts at 8am) and stay until 2ish, then head to Hollywood Studio's & use another day to get into Hollywood Studios (3pm-8pm)?

With your plane landing at 3:30 pm and DHS closing at 8 pm almost every night in Jan., you will essentially be getting the same amount of hours either day you go (Sunday or Thursday). I think it really depends on how much time you want to spend in DHS and how much time you want to spend in AK. If 2 1/2 hours is enough for DHS, I would probably plan on doing DHS on Thursday so you don't feel rushed on your first day. Or, if you really only want to spend half a day in AK, go for the 3 day hopper (it's the same price as the 4-day base).

 

[unveilmyeyes]

Drop to 3 day ticket and use the savings to splurge on a dessert party, character meal, or resort upgrade?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We are bringing our 2 youngest kiddos (ages 6 & 9) for their 1st trip to Disney World in January!!! We are flying in on a Sunday (plane lands at 3:30pm). We fly out the following Thursday at 4:40pm. I have a 4 day base ticket for each of us. No hopper pass. I am worried we won't use our 4 days if we get to the hotel late on Sunday and will only have a couple hours at best to be in Hollywood Studios. Our other option is to go Thursday morning before we leave from 9-11:30 so we make it back on time to catch the bus to the airport.
My question is this:
Can we go to Animal Kingdom in the morning on Monday (EMH starts at 8am) and stay until 2ish, then head to Hollywood Studio's & use another day to get into Hollywood Studios (3pm-8pm)?

On our last visit, we landed at MCO at 6:10 and still had plenty of time for a quick visit to DHS. The big difference is that we use Dollar Express and drive ourselves which saves a ton of time.

We arrived at the park at 7 pm and had time for Star Tours, Rock & RollerCoaster, Toy Story 3 times, Tower of Terror 3 times, Fantasmic and Star Wars fireworks. Not bad for only 3 hours.

 

[tinkerjo]

Right now DHS doesn't have a lot to offer. Make 3 good fast pass plus reservations late on arrival day if you really need to hit this park ( and then go to the hotel and rest up) otherwise I would skip that park, get some rest, enjoy your resort pool, and be ready to tackle the next day. You will never see/ do it all anyway so if you need to miss a park it is no big deal. I would rather have 3 quality days then try to wear myself out trying to cram another day in and IMO park hopping is a pain and takes too much time and energy. Hope you figure it out and have a great trip!!