Best strategies for efficient park hopping?

[acamusic]

We normally do not park hop but because of free dining we'll have that opportunity on our next trip. We hate to waste time being out of the parks so what's the best, most efficient way to get between the parks? We are definitely planning to hop between the MK and EP, and maybe between the MK and HS, too. When is the best time to leave a particular park and avoid the mass exodus? Seems to me that if a park closes early there will be a large group of people doing precisely what we're doing--leaving and cramming on transportation to another location.

 

[tobikaye]

MK to Epcot: Take the monorail or ferry to TTC and then transfer to the Epcot Monorail.
MK to DHS: Take the bus from MK to DHS.

I park hop often amd normally it is unplanned. If I plan a park hop, it usually means I am taking a break that day and will go to a different park after my break. If you plan to wait until a park closes to hop, then you will have some crowds, but many of those will be headed back to resorts or cars and will be done for the day.

So, if you were leaving MK at close to go to Epcot, I would look at the lines for the express monorail, resort monorail and ferry and chose the one that might get you moving quicker. Now, if those all look crazy, you could consider taking a bus to BC/YC, BW, or Swan/Dolphin and taking the IG entrance, but then you hav lines for those going back to their resorts. Going between parks that have direct buses should not be too backed up at closing.

Unless you are waiting for something going on at closing, you could leave a bit earlier and have an easier transfer.

 

[agavegirl1]

I always use Park Hoppers and try to use the morning Extra Magic Hour (EMH) for onsite guests. I leave that park as it starts to get crowded and hop to the least crowded park of the day based on one or more touring plan sites. If I am going between Epcot and the Studios, I will usually just leave via International Gateway (back of World Showcase) and walk. Or use the reverse strategy if I go to HS first. I have beat the boat and bus times most times I have done this...YMMV.

Keep in mind that by afternoon, the park with evening EMH may begin to get crowded late afternoon. You need to prioritize wait times with hours in the parks or dining. We frequently end our evenings with an Epcot ADR so we hop a lot.

Agree that the monorail is the best option for MK to EP.

 

[CAS239]

We park hop every Disney day

Rope drop for first park, leave around noon, head to second park around 3/4pm with fast passes set up for the second park when it's busy.

And we always drive as we stay offsite and enjoy a few hours back at the hotel during midday when it's the hottest and most crowded

 

[pens4821]

I didn't get hoppers a couple years ago after reading about the time it takes. This time we decided to, and I wil never go without again. It's nice knowing that I can head back to any park at any time to see something I want.

As for strategy, we did as someone else mentioned. We went to the AM EMH and rode the headliners. We then hopped to another park and used FP. Even a couple times we hopped to another park in the PM.

I think leaving one park early and going to a more recommended one in the afternoon was a great idea. We left the early park around 10 (after hitting major rides) and were at the other park before 11. We didn't have any extra long waits (maybe 15-20 as they say though) for the buses park to park even early.

 

[Shanti]

We normally do not park hop but because of free dining we'll have that opportunity on our next trip. We hate to waste time being out of the parks so what's the best, most efficient way to get between the parks? We are definitely planning to hop between the MK and EP, and maybe between the MK and HS, too. When is the best time to leave a particular park and avoid the mass exodus? Seems to me that if a park closes early there will be a large group of people doing precisely what we're doing--leaving and cramming on transportation to another location.

Maximize your use of extra magic hours. Attend one park's EMH, then hop to the other park, with FP's booked for the non-EMH park. If you do this with evening EMH, that will take care of your "mass exodus" question, as most visitors will have already left by the end of evening EMH.