First trip...Park Hopper or not?

[missbarbie01]

We are taking our 8 year old daughter to WDW for the first time for Spring Break (the first week in April). We are staying off site and will be at the parks for 4 days. At first I thought the park hopper wasn't really necessary since it is our first time. My thoughts were just spend as much time at each park per day and that's it. NOW I am not so sure. Maybe I should get it? I don't know, a friend said I should consider it since certain parks close earlier then others...if we aren't ready to end the day we could go to another park.

What do you think? Just looking for opinions/advice? I haven't bought our tickets yet.

Thanks!
Barb

 

[juncker]

For the price that it costs, we don't do park hoppers any more. Especially if you are staying offsite. In the past, we have used them when onsite. We would visit a park in the morning and then go back to the room for a pool break/lunch. With a hopper, you could go to another park in the afternoon. I think that this strategy with an offsite resort is too much effort.

The one thing that I do miss about having hoppers is the ability to go over to Epcot for dinner. You have to schedule your ADR in Epcot for the days you visit the park.

Regardless, for the ~$500 that it would cost my family of 6 to add these for a week, we just learn to do 1 park a day. That isn't so bad. Whenever I feel bad that we don't have hoppers, I just try and count that money (of course, we just hand it over to Mickey Mouse anyways, but at least for something else).

 

[kchughes]

Start without, just get your basic tix. If you are there and decide you need to add the hopper option, you can add them at that point. That way you won't feel you have spent unneccessary money, but do have the option if you want it. I believe you can add it at anytime (as long as there is one day left) at the main gates, possibly even lobby concierge. You can also search for Cheshire Figments all things MYW tickets thread here in the boards. He is the ticket guru!

 

[missbarbie01]

Oh, well that is good to know that I can add it on at any time! I never would have know about that

Thanks!

 

[tms295psu]

Skip the hopper... days that you "finish" lol.. the park early or it closes early (think only AK closes before 8pm) you can go to downtown disney... Ride the monorail, tour the resorts, character diner @ a resort (Cape May, Park Fare 1900 ?, Chef Mickey's, etc)... I'd save the money!

Park Hours (including what days are Extra Magic hours for resort guests) are also available on numerous sites... allears.net, easywdw.com, disneyworld,com etc

 

[earthfaries]

I don't recommend the park hopper. We have always had it with our passes on vacation, and have it now on our Annual Pass, but rarely hop parks.

I say skip that option and then if you decide you want it once you're here you can add it on!

Have fun!​

 

[brockash]

When we first started going we always would get hoppers (not sure why, I guess we just thought we were supposed to ) Anyways, we NEVER used them. We don't get them anymore and obviously don't miss them at all, since we never used them to begin with.

It's in no way worth the money in my opinion.

 

[bochnikm]

For a four day visit and staying off site, you won't have time to hop. There is a lot to see and experience. Save the money and buy more souvenirs!

 

[missbarbie01]

Thanks everyone! I ended up not getting the park hopper. Just like all of you said, it just doesn't seem worth it to me. If need be, we can add it on I guess.

Thanks again! We leave this Saturday morning!! We are FINALLY telling my 8 year old daughter tonight! We are surprising her with the trip - we are doing a scavenger hunt!

Barb

 

[4butlers]

I had the same thought as you for our first trip. I thought we would use them since AK closed earlier, etc..
We ended up using them once our whole trip. We are now in the midst of planning our next trip and just last night we all had a family vote on whether to get hoppers again or not. We all voted no!
Have fun on your first trip!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Even though AK closes early what you could do is arrange to eat at the Poly and then go out on the beach at the Poly. You can see the MK fireworks from the beach. Inquire at the resort check in desk as to what time they will be lighting the torches around the resort. The preform a ceremony to light the torches.