How many parks in one day?

[XtraEdGe]

How many parks can a family do in one day? 2? 3? We're staying at WL and we're thinking of doing at least 2 if possible.

 

[kam1011]

We normally do 2. We've done 3, and I've seen reports of people doing all 4. However, hopping takes a long time no matter what method of transportation you use. We usually do one park in the morning and then go back to the resort for a break, then head out somewhere different in the late afternoon. Leaving one park, travelling, and entering another park can take an hour or more.

 

[robndani]

I agree... 2 is easily done, three would be way too much travel time for my family (2 4 year olds)!

 

[Pkltm]

Honestly depends on your family. When the kids were smaller we did 2, on occasion 3. Now they are older, we have done 4 plus a water park, when the park hours allow.

The first time we did four was a challenge, and it was fun, we made t-shirts. Our last trip it just happened. It was our last day and wanted hit all of our favorite attractions.

We like to hop using all modes of transport too, bus monorail and boat.

 

[amberpi]

We ALWAYS do at least 2 (and a long mid day break) and usually 3. We RD and then if things seem crowded or we've done what we wanted (we'll knock out AK or DHS before 11-12 typically) then swim, nap, hit Epcot and maybe hit MK too since the hours are usually longer and we always seem to hit nighttime MK EMHs. There's just the 2 of us to worry over though.

 

[Sco]

We normally do 2. We've done 3, and I've seen reports of people doing all 4. However, hopping takes a long time no matter what method of transportation you use. We usually do one park in the morning and then go back to the resort for a break, then head out somewhere different in the late afternoon. Leaving one park, travelling, and entering another park can take an hour or more.

I think it is very easy to drive on property and takes so much less time. You should not have to drive more than 15 minutes from any parking spot to parking spot between any parks.
Obviously it all depends on how busy the parks are, but with a car you can make 4 parks in an afternoon no problem.
It is luck of the draw as to where you get to park in the lot, but Epcot and HS are almost always faster to walk than take the tram. MK is the only real difficult one since you almost always have to take the tram to the TTC and then something to get to the park.
My first few trips I was amazed at the size of the grounds, then I drove and realized how close everything really is and that the buses are just slow and take odd ways around. Most people take buses so the roads are not all that crowded either. I have made 3 parks after work before, but that was a slow time of year.

 

[becd]

We usually do two, but over Mardi Gras we hit 3 on our last day (March 7). Initially we took the boat to Epcot from the Swolphin, around lunch time we hit the monorail (and buses since MK monorail was still down) to MK for our 3 FP's, then took the bus to AK around 4:30. Shut it down and headed to the airport. Had we woken up earlier we could have done HS too but my crew still had packing to do. So I guess what I am saying is 3 is totally doable and 4 can be done if you push it.

 

[2girlsmom]

I'd say it kinda depends on how much you are trying to do in each park and also when you are going. Since FP+ is only able to work in 1 park per day, and is only 3 rides/meets, most of the time you can do first park at rope drop, catch a few rides with short standby times, then hop to your FP park second and at least do your FP rides. Doing any more than that would put you in standby lines that by that point in the day are probably as long as they are going to be, so if you are there in a busy time, that may limit your ability to do much else.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We rarely do more than one. Once in a blue moon we will park hop one or two days.

I don't see the appeal of moving from park to park. I would rather relax, smell the roses and explore each park leisurely.

 

[minnie mum]

We rarely do more than one. Once in a blue moon we will park hop one or two days.

I don't see the appeal of moving from park to park. I would rather relax, smell the roses and explore each park leisurely.

This is how we roll too. Hopping from park to park is fine if you only want to do a couple of attractions at each place. But I'd rather stay put and see everything than spend time sitting in a car or bus getting from one park to another.

I think a lot of people under estimate the travel time needed to park hop. Walk out of the park. Wait for a bus/monorail or take a tram/walk to your car. Travel to the new park. Park. Wait for a tram/walk to the gate. Walk into the new park. Not the Disney experience I'm looking for when I could be using that time to see another attraction or sit on a bench and snack on a Mickey bar.

 

[XtraEdGe]

Thanks everyone for the input. Gives us an idea that 2 parks in one day are doable. We're thinking AK in the morning, then MK in the evening; another day Epcot then Hollywood in the eve. Now, having this plan looks good on the excel spreadsheet, but making it work that day will probably be a different story.

 

[georgina]

We've done 3 with a car. An example - hit AK at 8 AM opening, leave by 1, go to Epcot for the afternoon/evening (our preferred park for dinner), leave around 8, head over to MK for evening fireworks/a few rides (open until 12 in the summer). Taking the monorail from the TTC to Epcot is a nice trip, then back to go to the MK. It's a long day, but my kids are adults, and with short trips we try to do a lot. We spend other daylight hours in MK, but do like to see it at night once a trip, and spend most evenings at Epcot. The trams are usually quite quick in the parking lots, they run continuously.