Do we need park hoppers? (How do you use yours?)

[Jessirip]

I've already paid for our package in full, but now that I am planning out the days, I really only have us going to one park per day. There is an afternoon break in there, but I have us returning to the same park that evening. I guess that is just the way I planned it and we could always do a different park at night, but not sure why?

The only thing I can think of is if HS continues to have so many issues with rides down, I'd hate to waste a park day and we would hop to another one, but still not sure that is worth $300?

Why do you prefer to have the option? Or don't for that matter? Thank you!

 

[chris benton]

If you are staying at a Disney Resort that grants you access to emh, I would entertain the thought of getting hoppers, especially for AM emh.
If I was staying at a resort with very easy access to parks (Epcot area, or Monorail, but much more so Epcot) then I would definitely get hoppers.
Everyone has their own take on why they are useful. IMO, if you stay at an Epcot area resort, hoppers can be a very good thing.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We always buy park hoppers and use them everyday.

For us DS is a half day park, we like to go for rope drop and then to a different park in the PM. We like morning rope drop at one park, a daily break and then to a different park for dinner and night time touring.

If you are only going to use it for one day, the cost is hard to justify. We feel like we are getting plenty of use since we use it every day.

One other option could be to go to DS during the AM and then Disney Springs at night.

 

[PSUGuy]

We're Food&Wine people so we hit a park at rope drop and tour until noon or 1 pm then hop to WS every day except Sat., crowds in WS are horrible there on Sat. With hoppers we catch the evening shows in parks other than the the ones we hit during the day. Our experience wouldn't be as great without Hoppers.

Bill From PA

 

[MrsDuck]

Personally, we don't really hop unless it's for dining. If you're all planned out for 1 park per day and are happy with how your trip flows, I'd leave it.

In our experience, hopping can cause stress and waste time. Of course, there are advantages to hopping but I think it really depends on personal preference.

 

[AngiTN]

Oddly enough, even with an AP, we don't hop all that often. Most days we do 1 park and are good with that.
I think if you have planned your days without it, don't buy it.
If you get there and find out you really do need it, add it then. Doesn't matter if you add it now, on day 1 or on day 10 of a trip, the cost is the same so you gain nothing by buying it now, if there is any doubt about your using it. Wait till you know

 

[mousehouse23]

While I certainly don't think hoppers are necessary to have a great vacation, I like the flexibility they afford and the chance for spontaneity. If a park is particularly crowded on that day--or we're able to secure an unexpected, 4th FP we weren't anticipating for a different park--we have been known to reshuffle our plans accordingly.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

We don't hop every day. But we like to eat in Epcot more than the other parks, so we may go there just for dinner (and to ride the boat ride in Mexico).

On our next trip, my daughter and I will go back to AK a second day to ride FOP, while my husband and son go to Epcot. My daughter and I will meet up with them in Epcot later in the day. Sometimes, even though we know it isn't faster, we will take a walk through Epcot then ride the monorail to MK.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I always buy park hoppers, but then hardly ever use them. We mostly stay in one park all day unless it's for a dining reservation. I like having the flexibility though and would feel "nervous" without.

 

[bcactus]

While I certainly don't think hoppers are necessary to have a great vacation, I like the flexibility they afford and the chance for spontaneity. If a park is particularly crowded on that day--or we're able to secure an unexpected, 4th FP we weren't anticipating for a different park--we have been known to reshuffle our plans accordingly.

YES! So many times spontaneity gets lost with all the planning that goes into these trips! Nothing like pulling a random 4th FP and bolting to another park on a whim!

 

[Ensusieasm]

I've already paid for our package in full, but now that I am planning out the days, I really only have us going to one park per day. There is an afternoon break in there, but I have us returning to the same park that evening. I guess that is just the way I planned it and we could always do a different park at night, but not sure why?

The only thing I can think of is if HS continues to have so many issues with rides down, I'd hate to waste a park day and we would hop to another one, but still not sure that is worth $300?

Why do you prefer to have the option? Or don't for that matter? Thank you!

It depends on what works best for you. For me, I was going to buy a 4 day park hopper ticket for my 9 day stay at a cost of 425.00. That was until I realized I could add 5 more full park days without hopping for 430.00. Um, that's one dollar a day!! Case closed!

 

[ArielSRL]

I like them for the flexibility. This past year we did a split day between Epcot and DHS (we had 7 day hoppers) because I wanted two days of FP for Epcot because of all the Tier 1 rides, and we wanted two evenings in DHS to experience both the Star Wars projection show and Fantasmic. We had also planned a split day between MK and AK so we could do two days of FP at AK but we ended up just going back to MK that night.

I did, however, get my tickets from a discounted ticket broker (with a buy 4 get 3 free promotion) and the price for hoppers was only a little bit more than base tickets.

 

[Sugart]

Rope drop, back to the hotel, then park in the evening. We have been staying at the boardwalk a lot recently so we always seem to end there at night since the walk is so easy.

 

[srwarden1928]

like hoppers, and currently have an AP. That being said, the first four days of any trip are spent one full day in each park. After that, I pick a theme for the day and hop around to different parks within the theme--the best of the best attractions, thrill rides, classic attractions, etc. Also, I have been known to hop to an evening EMH park, although that option is not what it used to be. Hopping for restaurants is another good reason. Hopping can be a lot of fun. It is NOT for everyone. Those with little children have enough trouble getting to everything anyway even without hopping. Disney newbies usually don't need hoppers. I wouldn't NEED hoppers for a short trip myself.

 

[GlennN]

We always buy park hoppers and use them everyday.

For us DS is a half day park, we like to go for rope drop and then to a different park in the PM. We like morning rope drop at one park, a daily break and then to a different park for dinner and night time touring.

If you are only going to use it for one day, the cost is hard to justify. We feel like we are getting plenty of use since we use it every day.

One other option could be to go to DS during the AM and then Disney Springs at night.

We are the same way. We always get PH, and use it almost every day. Whether it is to go to another park on DHS day, or go for dinner at a different park (usually Epcot), or switch to a park with later closing hours, we love the flexibility. We went one time (with inlaws) and didn't have PH, and it felt like we were not getting our maximum Disney exposure! I vowed, then and there, this shall not stand!

 

[DisneyHardin]

We bought hoppers one time and used it one day to have dinner at Epcot. For us, going to one park per day works best.

 

[cleophus12]

For us it kind of depends on where we stay. If we are at an Epcot resort, we like to have the PH so we can have dinner at Epcot whenever we want. If we are at another location, we don't miss the PH so much because we don't mind returning to the same park later in the day.

 

[hllb]

I consider it a bit of an insurance policy. We've had two trips before, one with hoppers and one without. I think when we had them, we used them once, but easily could've gone without them. But, if the park is more crowded than expected, or rides broken down, it's nice to have the option (or meals, for that matter). This trip, we are actually planning in a hop day as our last day to hit AK again (hoping for FoP FPs) and then whatever other park(s) the kids want to see again.

 

[Jessirip]

Thanks all for your input. We do have small children this trip (3 & 6) so really aren't going park commando (or at least trying not too). I've got the dining packages for Fantasmic and ROL so those are one day parks (both are late breakfasts) for sure. I don't foresee us loading up the kids and stroller more than twice per day.

Trying to keep it "easy" seems to go both ways... force us to plan just one park per day or have the flexibility. I guess I do feel a bit nervous without it, especially since we'll be going during Easter so the crowds may play a big factor.

Eh I'll leave it for now. I'm just in that "What can I plan next??" phase waiting for our FP window to open.

 

[Belleofthehouse]

We rarely get park hoppers. If I have them I feel compelled to use them=an exhausted family!! I much rather basic park tickets. Then we have time to do other things, like relax, swim, and nap!!