First non-hopping trip

[Lora]

We have always had APs or hoppers since our first family trip in '99. This year, we have family joining us for a week and they will not be hopping even though my family will have APs. I'm fine with that. I want them to save money. I'm just wondering how much I'm going to miss hopping and if my normal plan is going to work. (Normal plan = morning in the park, lunch at the room, rest a while, return to a park around 3).

It makes sense for us to return to the room when we're just going to be visiting a different park in the evening, but it makes less sense when we're going to schlep back to the same park later that day - especially since don't have young kids. I understand the need to get out of the heat and chill for a while, but for us that means a lot of walking or a lot of time on the bus. (We will be staying at BWV and usually walk to HS and Epcot). For AK I have already determined that we will not take a break from the park since we'll have the evening to rest. I'm wondering if that should be the plan for the other parks as well....especially if we don't have plans to see a nighttime show.

Thoughts? Experiences?

 

[wdwrich]

Being devoted hoppers, we would truly miss not having the flexibility to head to a different park after a break or in the evening after dinner. That being said, I'm sure you'll make it work and still have a wonderful time.

 

[lanejudy]

We haven't used hoppers in many years, and we also rarely go back to the hotel until ready to stay for the evening. We take advantage of indoor, air-conditioned spaces for a "break" - but we also do not go at the hotest times of the year, so I'm not sure how well that would work in the really hot months. Instead of a big TS meal at dinner, we often do TS for lunch, which also helps provide a break.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[WillowBelle]

We haven't hopped in years, and haven't really missed it. The first time we didn't hop it felt strange, not in a bad way, just a different way.

We are a sun-up to sun-down family, often making sure we are in a park hosting PM EMH's even. We only take MAYBE one break mid-trip, during the day, so my DDs can swim but more importantly so I can do laundry. We stay at the value resorts and the laundry room is typically jam packed at night.

 

[Cherinva]

I've done trips both hopping and non-hopping (usually for short trips)....it was different knowing we couldn't hop, but it worked out just fine. However, without hoppers, we just stay in the park until close.

 

[DreamnDisney]

My next trip will be my first without hopper also! It will be my DBF an I and we have no kids. We are going the last week in September and I've heard the crowds are lower so I think we should be fine! We are planning on visiting the park with evening EMH during the day so we can go back in the evening and ride our favorites! My last few trips were in June, crowds are larger and park hours run later..makes more sense for hoppers in that situation!

 

[sydsmom1997]

We haven't used hoppers in many years, and we also rarely go back to the hotel until ready to stay for the evening. We take advantage of indoor, air-conditioned spaces for a "break" - but we also do not go at the hotest times of the year, so I'm not sure how well that would work in the really hot months. Instead of a big TS meal at dinner, we often do TS for lunch, which also helps provide a break.

Enjoy your vacation!

The bold is exactly what we do, since we have been going in August and September when it is brutally hot. I can't give any advice on the not hopping thing though, as I have always hopped. I'm sure that it will feel a little weird, but as previous posters have said, you will still have an amazing time! It will just be different.

 

[Cadyrose]

This will be our first time non-hopping too...

But we are doing a 4 day trip with only one of those days being a potential for hopping, so for us we just could not justify the extra cost. I would rather spend it on other stuff. I think it will be interesting to see HS for the whole day (it's usually just a half day park for us as my kids don't like the big rides) although I am a bit bummed that there will be no character palooza (going in Dec.)...

But for 7 day trips in the summer...we would probably go back to hoppers....

 

[danceintherain]

We didn't hop at all on our last trip and are devoted break takers. I will say that we didn't go back to the parks in the evenings very often, which wasn't a big deal for us, because we were traveling with a 3 month old, and wanted to get some sleep.
I'm not really planning on hopping for our next trip either, but we'll see what happens. When we did have hoppers, we only used them maybe once or twice during a 10 day trip, which was time we could have spent having some down time.

It does take a bit of a different mentality, but it's not that hard to plan on the same park in the evening. Keep in mind that just because the people you're traveling with plan on not hopping, doesn't mean you can't. Maybe they'll decide to stay at the hotel in the evenings, which will allow you to do whatever you want.
In my experience, the parks are also the most crowded in the middle of the day, so the amount you can get done is minimal.

Look carefully at your usual plan. What does hopping actually get you? Do you hop to Epcot in the evening of your Magic Kingdom days and visa versa?
I usually map out my trips by mornings and evenings with around 4-5 hours allotted for each (9-1 & 4-8) with a 3 hour block of time in between. I usually allot time in this order - MK, EP, DHS, AK. On a standard 7 day vacation I would have around 11 blocks of time and they would fall something like this:
MK: 4 blocks (2 days)
EP: 2-3 blocks (1 day + arrival or departure day)
DHS: 2 blocks (1 day)
AK: 2 blocks (1 day)

The only park that really poses an issue is AK, because of the shorter hours. The other ones can easily be done with a break. It really just depends on how much time you "need" in each.

 

[Murron]

I understand your concerns. But ... you've been going to WDW since '99 and I would think pretty much have done it all..yes? This is from an old timer whose been there since the '70's. Our normal schedule is exactly like yours. We have AP's -- go to park, back to resort (usually BWV), stroll through Epcot at night. This year we are also bringing my brother and sister in law and I think, like you may have to do, the plans will change. They also do not have hoppers (yet...I'm trying to change their mind!!) -- but we figure we will go longer at the park we are in that day, come back to resort pool around 5 or 6, and do a late dinner. BWV has activities in the evening and Jellyrolls (no young kids right?).....Beach Club sometimes has movies on the beach...hang at the pool....just go non-commando and enjoy.

On the days we want to see evening fireworks, we will hang at the resort earlier and go to the parks later -- get a ADR say at Epcot, and watch Illuminations.

I'm probably over simplifying things, but we are very laid back to begin with and I'll just go with the flow.

 

[anty30]

We just did our first non-hop trip. I was really concerned it would be difficult for us too. However, it ended up being fine. We have been to WDW many times and so we were not in a rush to get to any one thing. We also have 2 children who like to sleep in. So, we all slept in everyday, got up and went to the pool, and then hit the parks. We always went to the park that had EMH in the evening. Sometimes that meant the park was open til 1 or 2 am! The only exception for us was when we went to AK 1 day. We got there around 11 and stayed til closing, which was 7ish.

I would say, dont worry. Relax, enjoy yourselves, and wing it. Any day in WDW is better than a day at work!

 

[Lora]

In my experience, the parks are also the most crowded in the middle of the day, so the amount you can get done is minimal.

Yes - this is the main thing that is keeping me on my old schedule. I live it TX, but I am not a fan of being in the sun/heat for too long!

Look carefully at your usual plan. What does hopping actually get you? Do you hop to Epcot in the evening of your Magic Kingdom days and visa versa?
I usually map out my trips by mornings and evenings with around 4-5 hours allotted for each (9-1 & 4-8) with a 3 hour block of time in between. I usually allot time in this order - MK, EP, DHS, AK. On a standard 7 day vacation I would have around 11 blocks of time and they would fall something like this:
MK: 4 blocks (2 days)
EP: 2-3 blocks (1 day + arrival or departure day)
DHS: 2 blocks (1 day)
AK: 2 blocks (1 day)

You sound exactly like me. This is what I usually do - plan in am and pm "blocks" and shift them around as we see fit. My only difference for this trip w/ my sister's family is that we're doing our 2 full "days" in Epcot instead of MK. We have 2 full days of absolutely nothing planned on the weekend so we can decide after the main tour days are done where we want to return. I also am planning a lot of downtime at BWV.

The only park that really poses an issue is AK, because of the shorter hours. The other ones can easily be done with a break. It really just depends on how much time you "need" in each.

Yep - that's exactly why we're eating lunch in AK instead of the room on that day.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. It's always good to hear the experiences of others when you're in the planning stages. We have been there MANY times, but my sister and her family have only come once before with us. My goal is to plan now so we don't have to even THINK while we're there!

 

[pooh2001]

We plan on plain park tickets next time too.
We had hoppers and only hopped once
So to save some $$'s we will just do the generic tickets.

AK - we do in 1 day
EPCOT = 3 days
MK = 3 days
DHS = 1 day

8 days = arrive on a Saturday, and stay till the Sunday of the next week.
Arrival day we do either EPCOT or MK, who ever has the later hours.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We used to hop but then it got to where we were only using the option once, maybe twice in a 10 day stay. This didn't make sense financially for us so we decided to start buying the base tickets. To us, we would much rather go in the morning at RD and do all of the major rides before the crowds got there, and once it was getting crowded, we would head back to the resort for some R&R and a dip in the pool. Then when it is time for dinner we will head back to the park for dinner and the nighttime activities. This has worked out well for us the past few years and it still works out well for us. I guess when the kids get old enough to where they are able to go off to a park alone, we may get the hoppers again just incase they want to hop to a different park while DH and I go off to Epcot or somewhere else.

 

[ann marie27]

This is my 1st time with no hoppers as well. I am hoping with some planning to take a more relaxed pace (normally Im a go - go -go person) yet still have a GREAT trip. I'm thinking a little extra sleep in the more for my twins (turning 13) will be nice and we will stay late in the parks catching all shows.
My plan is
Day 1 (arriving afternoon) ck in swim CApe May for B-day dinner celebration
Day 2 Water park (openning) 10-1pm back to resort change 3- closing @ Epcot
Day 3 same but HS
Day 4 AK (maybe back for a swim from 12-2(ish) depending on temps
Day 5 Water Park 10-1pm again back to change Epcot World showcase
Last day Morn swim at resort MK then home

Im sure you will have a magical trip!

 

[amberpi]

We hop at least once or twice a day so I can't imagine doing WDW without it, but you will still have a blast! What fireworks do your companions want to see? that might talk them into park hopper!, or I would hope so.