How does one "Park Hop" and does it make your trip More Fun ...???

[fairytinkerbell]

I was reading interesting answers to a post about me taking a midday break? and
a few people mentioned that the y PARK HOP and go to 2 different parks in one day, or even 3 ! ?

How would this work and how what suggestions could you make to my
plan below, and what would be the benefits??

Pls. see my schedule - how would i change it to be more Fun or intersting?
is it a pain driving here to there etc?

SATURDAY (ARRIVAL DAY)
Animal Kingdom from 1130-430pm
then unpack @ hotel
Magic Kingdom for dinner :

SUNDAY :Magic Kingdom ALL DAY

MONDAY :MGM ALL DAY

TUESDAY: EPCOT ALL DAY

WEDNESDY: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ALL DAY

THURS>: Typhoon Lagoon, hotel, then MNSSHP (MK) irate:

FRI: FREE DAY TO DO whatever??

SAT: MAGIC KINGDOM ALL DAY :voila:

Any suggestion appreciated:!! I never park hopped before, and was wondering if it would be beneficial...... (we are 2 adults (married, 0 kids) we are RENTING a car and are staying at the HAWTHORN in Lake Buena Vista..... We want to make the most out of our trip, it's basically 8 full days....we also don't want to get bored or tired...but wonder about park hopping and driving here and there?? or taking a midday break?? HELP!! :eeK:

THANKS

 

[AimeeM]

We usually park hop in Janaury when the parks close earlier. Epcot is always open until 9, but during the week, MK can close at 6:30 or 7:00. Then we always hop over to Epcot on the monorail. We also park hop on the day that we go to Animal Kingdom as it closes at 5 in January. Sometimes we will hop over to Magic Kingdom on a night that is showing Spectromagic. MK is ALWAYS really really crowded on Saturdays, and its EMH day and any day that is showing Spectro. I would personally avoid MK on Saturdays and Sundays(Emh) except to hop over at night at see spectro. I see you have MK on your schedule on both a Sunday and Saturday. Expect high crowds on those days. Since you are staying off property, you cant take advantage of the Extra Magic Hour, so I would avoid the parks that have have the EMH for that day. Im also not sure how beneficial park hopping would be since you are driving. It might be too much trouble if you have to get to your car, drive to another park, park the car and get to the park. What are the park hours the week you are there? That would help in letting you know what would work best for you. I am taking my 8th trip in November and we have never been ones to take rests, naps and swims back at the hotel during the day. ( and we go with 3 kids too!!) We find ways to get some rest and down time while in the parks and still get things accomplished (like getting our MK parade spot an hour in advance, and eating lunch-Casey's- on the curb, then getting ice cream. By then its 3, we have rested & eaten while getting a great parade spot. By the time the parade is over, its been 90+ minutes and we are rested, full, and ready to go!!

 

[MulanMom]

There's nothing that says you absolutely must park hop to have a good time! IMHO, going to a park, returning to the hotel, then going back to a park works well when the parks are open late. If you are in an off-season, or going at a time when AK closes at 5 and MGM and MK close at 6 or 7, you may lose precious park time by taking that midday break. (Especially if that nap ends up being a bit longer than you planned!)

OTOH, park hopping can work to your benefit. If you're at AK, and it closes early, heading over to Epcot's World Showcase can extend your day.

The only thing that struck me while reviewing your plan is your arrival day. With going to the AK then returning to the hotel to unpack, I was wondering if your MK dinner was in the park or at an MK resort. MK can be a 15 minute drive from Lake Buena Vista, and by the time you park the car, take the tram, then take the monorail/ferry, then go through security, then go through the turnstiles....that can take a while. And if folks are lined up to view a parade when you arrive, it can take some extra time to navigate through the crowd. Just something to consider....

Also, given your graphic, you are aware that MK is nonalcoholic???

Looks like you've got a fun trip planned. Enjoy!!!

 

[DisFam95]

On your Friday you do some hopping. We usually spend a full day at each park and then split up the last days and go to 2 parks each of the last 2-3 days and hit some highlights. We've hopped to MGM just ride TOT and RnR 1 last time then left for another park.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I always plan for us to park hop. I love to go to one park in the AM, have lunch, head back to the hotel, and then head to another park for a nice dinner and a show (Illuminations, Fantasmic, etc.)

 

[Miniefan]

Like someone else mentioned above, you don't have to park hop, but for us it just made the trip more interesting. We would start out the day at one park and then about 3pm or before we would go back to the hotel and rest or swim then maybe go off property and eat dinner then go to the magic kingdom. In my opinion, the MK is better at night, the lights are all up, the castle is lit up, it is not as hot, and it seems to be less crowded, also by taking the breaks and going back, it seemed to make everyone have a second wind for the day. It just helped everyone not get burned out. HTH
Kim

 

[WaltD4Me]

Are you getting Park Hopper tickets? They are much cheaper than individual tickets for each park when you are there.

If you do get Park Hoppers, you can always decide when you get there. Maybe you will find Epcot isn't quite a full day park and you might decide to leave a little earlier than planned and can "hop" over to MK or MGM...or maybe nothing excites you for dinner at AK so you can decide to "hop" over to Epcot just for dinner. KWIM?

Of course you don't have to Park Hop, but once you are there, you may be glad you have the option.

I also agree MK on Saturday and Sunday probably isn't the best time to go to that park. You might want to think about making at least Tuesday an MK day to avoid some of the weekend crowds there.


Lisa

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'll add my two cents. During our first few trips, although we planned to park hop, we were so caught up in whatever park we were at we rarely did it. When we did, the travel time ate up allot of valuable park time.

IMHO during the off season I tend toward the water parks on weekends. Fl residents don't seem interested in them and it seems to be less crowded than the other parks. Of course, we go in December and that may not hold up when you go next month.

With 2 adults you might want to consider BB or TL. Although I love the theming at TL the slides are better at BB.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

i know sat. for mk is a busy day- but we're eating inside the park
around 8pm at Crystal Palace...so i figured we should have enough time...

How far is Lake Buena Vista VS Kissimmee to the parks????

Does anyone know?