first time with park hopper -questions?

[cat_herder]

Hello,

We will be heading to Orlando for a one day trip and this is the first time we have ever bought a park hopper. Last year we spent Christmas in the Magic Kingdom, 2004 Christmas in MGM and 2003 Christmas in the Animal Kingdom. So by rights I guess we should go to EPCOT, but EPCOT has never really did anything for me. And I just read there were little Chrismtas decorations there this year. So I thought we could just buy the park hopper and visit the parks and rides we like the best for Christms this year.

1) I just got through reading about 2 hours waits on the Disney buses. I'm not going to have that kind of time to waste, so will it be quicker to just drive our car from park to park?

2) I'll be in a scooter for the first time ever (had it about 2 weeks now) for Disney. I can walk but not for more then 10 minutes or so without back and hip pain that get worst as I go. I remember seeing scooters, wheelchairs and strollers parked out side rides with bags in them. I had always wondered about if people had any trouble with other people messing with their things while they are on rides?

I'm looking for any other advice you all might have for me.

Dianne

 

[Mickiethepooh]

It really depends on which parks you want to do. you can get from MK to EPCOT by way of Transportation and Ticket center on your scooter on the Monorail. from epcot you can get to MGM by boat or walkway, the only one you would actually need to take your car for would be AK

 

[Wendy1953]

As far as the parks go.....a hopper is always the best buy....if one park is too crowded you can leave go to anotherpark, and then if you want return later to the other park or visit a completely different one.

As far as leaving things in the scooter....why tempt someone...take your belongings with you...I've heard stories of people;s strollers being stolen....you leave it...you take your chances of it not being there when you come out.....of course if you are riding all the way up the line where the CM's help you out of your scooter, and help you onto the ride....the chances of something being taken out of it are slim to none.

 

[Love That Stitch]

Hopping - we hop every year. Usually we plan on around an hour for travel time. Sometimes it is less. I found it to be relatively easy to travel with my scooter (I rented one from an outside company). The easiest way to travel with an ECV is on the monorail. They are really accomodating. You can get a bus to MGM and AK from EPCOT and you can take your ECV on them. If you are planning on renting an ECV at the parks then you will have to turn it in when you exit the park and they will give you a voucher. When you get to the next park you can get another ECV.

ECV - When I used mine at the parks I left stuff in the basket. I took the valuable stuff (camera and purchases). I would leave my water bottle or other drinks and things. The person that mentioned "why tempt people" makes a good point. I carried a small bag that was lightweight and when I got out of the ECV to go on a ride I could easily carry it with me.

I hope this helps you. I understand not being able to walk for long distances. It is a challenge but Disney is very accomodating.
One suggestion - rent from an outside company. They will deliver the ECV to your resort and they are a better quality ECV. They are smaller, faster and in better shape than the ones you rent at the park. We used a company called Walker.

 

[cat_herder]

Thanks everyone. We are off to Orlando.

 

[Frantasmic]

In general, a park hopper is a good idea. I'd question that strategy for a one-day Christmas visit however, with people reporting many parks reaching capacity by 11 a.m. on Christmas Day.

A hopper won't guarantee you entrance into an already closed park and it won't get you back into a park that you just came from and try to go back to if it is closed as well.

Just something to consider. I've never been on Christmas and am just reporting in general what others, who have been, have said about crowds that day.

 

[cat_herder]

Thanks for the help everyone. We had a great time at the MVMCP. It was our first time to attend it and it was very cool. Lines were practically non-existent. I think the longest was about 6 people, so I was able to walk to most of them and for space mountain we got a park wheelchair to go up the ramp which was just about as much fun as the ride it's self. Poor hubby pushed me up hill and laughing all the way

The monorail CMs was fantastic, they had a small ramp for the scooter at the ready for me to use before I was even ready to use it. All the CMs in the whole park went out of their way to talk to me and ask if they could do something for me. I talked with several other people in scooters or chairs and got some great tips from them. Most the guests in the park was great and friendly.

During the Christmas parade we had to find a space for my scooter next to a seat for the hubby and one lady who was saving seats for her family offered (without us asking) to swap around so the hubby and I could be next to each other. In return the hubby brought her hot coco and a cookie while we waited for the parade.

Our trip to Downtown Disney was just as wonderful for the most part. A couple of shops were a little tight on space for the scooter but nothing worth complaining about.

For the first time in years the hubby didn't have wait on me to rest my back at every bench or catch my breath, but I was very careful to make sure he sat down and rested .

We went to the Gaylord Palms hotel to see the Ice! display there and their staff were great too. They gave me an extra blanket for my legs since I wouldn't be generating heat by walking through the 9-degree display rooms.

We stayed off site at the motel 6 in Kissimmee and the staff there was great too giving us a handicap room even we didn’t have a handicap sign with us.

Thanks for all the help DIS.