First time using park hoppers -- need help!

[audrey13]

We're going for a week in late Feb 2008 (NOT president's week) and I've decided to spring for park hoppers. My ADR window opens up next Monday and I'm at my wit's end trying to figure out where we'll be on what days so I can make ADRs.

Last year we went for a week for DS's first trip and did not get PH. We spent a day in each park, usually at the park which had evening EMH, and that worked out great for us. I could figure out which park we would be at each day, and make an ADR for a restaurant at that park. We had plenty to keep us busy in each park, so had no need to hop.

For those of you who get park hoppers, what is your strategy? Do you go to a non-EMH park during the day and then hop to evening EMH? Or do you go to a morning EMH park and then hop somewhere non-EMH later? How do you decide where to make ADRs?? There are too many options!!

TIA!

Audrey

 

[DisneyJimbo]

From the sounds of it, you and your family enjoyed your last trip without park hopping. So, why do you feel you need to park hop this time?

If you and your family are happy staying in one park all day, then I'd say plan for that and save the extra $$$ for park hoppers. Not only will it save you money, but it sounds like you'll get to keep your sanity, too!

 

[audrey13]

Well, I am a bit on the fence about getting the PH, and may change my mind if it turns not to help us much. I was thinking of getting them partly so we could do dinners at other parks (such as Epcot), maybe not do a whole day at Epcot but head over there late afternoon a couple of the days after doing another park, and hit the highlights and have dinner at WS. But maybe it's not worth it to do that . . . .

 

[DisneyJimbo]

Well, I am a bit on the fence about getting the PH, and may change my mind if it turns not to help us much. I was thinking of getting them partly so we could do dinners at other parks (such as Epcot), maybe not do a whole day at Epcot but head over there late afternoon a couple of the days after doing another park, and hit the highlights and have dinner at WS. But maybe it's not worth it to do that . . . .

It's funny...I've had exactly the same thoughts as you every time I start thinking about planning a trip.

But, once I actually sit down and plan out the days, hopping to another park for dinner never seems to make sense for what my family and I like to do.

Maybe I just have a mental block against park hopping...or maybe I'm just too cheap to spring for the park hoppers?!?!!!

 

[ParrotBill]

The park hopping gives you flexibility to change your mind and go to a different park, if the crowds are high or you are done at one place, or it rains and you want to go somewhere with more shelter... and flexibility to get to an ADR no matter where.

We usually pick the places we want to go, and I lay out a schedule trying to pair dinners with evening shows, breakfasts not on an EMH day, etc.

Then we fit in the rest around the ADRs... not always planned in advance. We let the ADRs drive where we need to be each day.

 

[stitchlover]

We start the day in one park, take a swimming break at the resort mid-day, get cleaned up and finish the day in another park. Usually we have one ADR each day (breakfast or dinner) and that just determines which park we will start or finish the day in. We usually don't go into the trip knowing which park we will be in each day, except for the meal. We play that by ear once we hit the ground. DH and I will usually look at a day or a two at a time based on what we have gotten done so far. We take a 10 day trip, 8 full days in the park.