are hoppers really needed?

[Gisele]

One of the reasons why they are called hoppers is because you literally hop hop hop..... not walk... walk..... walk.... or even run.....or skip or jump ....


lol

 

[Gisele]

ok so why is it that when you choose a larger font size you still end up with ant size? Hate it.....

 

[SplashMo]

You have enough days to cover both parks without hoppers. However I much prefer hoppers as the parks are very close and if you are heading back to the hotel anyways why not go back to a different park? Also it really helps with teens to let them go over to DCA and ride the coasters /TOT, etc... It is also nice for evening events where you can get FP for F! and spend all day in DCA and come back at night for F! also WOC if it is open.

 

[Gisele]

You have enough days to cover both parks without hoppers. However I much prefer hoppers as the parks are very close and if you are heading back to the hotel anyways why not go back to a different park? Also it really helps with teens to let them go over to DCA and ride the coasters /TOT, etc... It is also nice for evening events where you can get FP for F! and spend all day in DCA and come back at night for F! also WOC if it is open.

Just curious how fast or quickly are you able to hopp? Like a bunny? In which case a jack rabbit or a domestic rabbit. Or hop like a deer? Or a gazelle? Not to be confused man with Giselle. lol or Hop like a froggy? or a cricket? Or of course a kangaroo or a wallaby. Keep on hoppin either way man!

 

[sophies*mom]

No they are not necessary... I find we enjoy the parks so much more if we just stay put...When we don't hop, we get immersed in the magic and get to really explore. To each his own and I know I am in the minority.

This. I like to devote a whole day to each park and plan to do so on our upcoming trip.
Now, before DCA was re-done, I definitely got hoppers because we were done with that park by 5pm so at least that way we could head back to DL.

 

[Canuck16]

We always get hoppers as we like to have the flexibility of changing parks if we want but that's just how we like to tour.

Like OP have said stick with the single park tickets and upgrade when there should you think you need it.

Have a great trip!!

 

[princessme21114]

I have always bought hoppers and then never hopped, so it definitely can be done. This time I'm going to get hoppers again because I'm expecting it to be super busy and also the are a couple grad nights So I want the option.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We use PH's so much that we don't even consider single day use tickets anymore.

 

[tygersclaw]

We got hoppers but, really did not really use the "hop" too often.

Friday we started in DCA and did all the Frozen aspects as well as rides in Bugs and Radium Springs etc. It was not until evening, after the fireworks, that we "hopped" over to DLP to take a peak and was so happy to see the castle lit up and open. We hopped the train and took a short ride on it, and walked back down DMS.

Saturday, we used the hopper more as we had breakfast at Ariel's in the morning, and did a couple rides in DCA and then slipped over to DLP for the afternoon and evening as we had reservations at BB for F! dinner, and did as many rides as we could.

Sunday, we spent the whole day in DLP. We did not visit DCA at all this day.

Having a hopper gives you a lot more flexibility if only there for a few days when it comes to FP for rides and shows, as well as crowd planning.

A hopper is good when you are there for only 2 or 3 days, but when there for 5 days as you are, you could easily alternate days in each park and still have lots of flexibility.

 

[dtnrhi]

I did not ever know a trip without parkhopping before my trip in December 2013. We went before Christmas, and spent one day at DCA, and one day at DL without hoppers. We had COMP tickets to DL that helped us decide this.

In this instance, it was awesome. We had ample time to do what we wanted, and see the entertainment we wanted.

If I am going for longer than two or three days, though, I would definitely want hoppers.

One reason is the CROWDS. If one park is really crowded for some reason, you are able to walk back out and across the esplanade to a better situation. Also, I see you are going in June. If there are grad nights during your trip, I'd definitely recommend hoppers. It's nice to get away from the teens that don't act like normal crowds - their touring habits are quick and kind of unpredictable.

The extra two hours per night of hopping back to Disneyland would help seal the deal for me. As long as you are in line for a ride before closing, they will let you wait it out, no matter how long it is. You can get quite a bit done in this bit of time.

 

[Carolynleanne]

We are getting 5 non hopper day tickets and staying onsite. I figured we would do three days at one and two at the other. I have read not to cut expenses on this but I plan to do morning and evenings at the park and taking a break in the afternoon. I think we would save $150.

With a 5 day pass, I really don't think you need to hop. We always do 5 days as well and just make sure to schedule our days so that we can hit entertainment in both the parks. You'll have plenty of time to do what you want to do with that many days!

 

[cmpeter]

Going in June with high crowd levels, yes I would want park hoppers...to help avoid the crowds. If I was going during a less busy season, then I would probably opt to not get the hoppers, knowing that I could upgrade at the parks if I changed my mind. We usually do three days in the parks. One day at DL, one at DCA (hoping over to DL when DCA closes early) and the third day hopping between to two parks.

 

[ClaraOswald]

For my family, YES...hoppers are absolutely necessary. We hop every single day. I can't imagine doing it any other way.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have to hop because we only go to parks one day every time we come. It's a long day and we hit at least 3 and sometimes 4. Just the big rides. I would never go if we had to just stay in one park all day. We are here now for 2 weeks and will go to parks one day. I could easily never go but my husband insists on at least one day.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

We like to hop, but we go frequently and usually only on day-trips, so it's good to get what we want when we want. I did not become a fan of hopping for years after DCA first opened though. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I realized there are times when I want to start the day in DCA (RSR and Frozen anyone?), but that I want to spend the majority of my day in DL because...well, it's DL! You can absolutely manage a trip without hopping though. Seeing how the cost of tickets has skyrocketed in the past 20 years, it makes sense to not hop. Then you can spend the money you saved on a nicer meal, souvenirs, or saving for your next Disney trip!

 

[nikerbokers]

When we usually go to DLP, we spend 3 days in the parks. 2 at DL and 1 at DCA. We never hop. But if we stayed longer than the 3 days in park, we would hop. For 3 days, considering we leave for 3 hours to take a 2 1/2 hour nap per day, we don't want to waste time hopping from one park to the other.

It's all about personal preference.

 

[IdahoMike]

For us, parkhoppers are a must, but I can totally see the argument for the opposite. We like having the option of going where we want, when we want. Especially when DL gets really crowded, its nice to escape to DCA. If you are taking a break mid day, PH might not be as much of a necessity though. Either way, have fun!

 

[DSNY4ever]

We have always hopped, and it is so easy that I cannot imagine not doing it. But then again it is one of those things where once you have gotten into a routine of doing that and then Disney takes it away and makes it an additional cost to add onto your ticket, they already have all of us hopping addicts hooked and now we spend the extra money to do it. But I think if you have 5 days you won't "need" to hop because you won't have to try to cram everything into a shorter trip. But they are nice...

 

[ClaraOswald]

For us, parkhoppers are a must, but I can totally see the argument for the opposite. We like having the option of going where we want, when we want. Especially when DL gets really crowded, its nice to escape to DCA. If you are taking a break mid day, PH might not be as much of a necessity though. Either way, have fun!

We went back to our hotel each day in the afternoon. A lot of times we'd come back after our break and head to a different park. It was quite nice.

 

[Aladora]

We went back to our hotel each day in the afternoon. A lot of times we'd come back after our break and head to a different park. It was quite nice.

This is exactly why we get hoppers. We always go back to the hotel to rest for an hour or two and most times we will go back to the park that we did not go to in the morning.

Hoppers are not essential to DL/DCA but I don't think we would do a trip without them.