How may people actually park-hop?

[SkylarKD]

We'll be getting park hopper plus tickets when we go to WDW for our honeymoon in August. It seems the best bet, to give us freedom to come and go as we please (we'll be staying in DTD, do no Ultimate park hoppers for us).

But what I'm wondering is, how many people actually go back and forth between parks in a day? I don't know if I can see us doing that, except maybe for dinner at EPCOT the day we spend at the Magic Kingdom. Anywhere that doesn't have a monorail seems like it would just take too much time to travel between, and besides, isn't there more than enough to see in each park to fill up a day?

Just curious.

 

[Timon@BWV]

When we go in the summer, June or July we park hop alot. If the line or crowds are to big we will try another park!

Also like you said dinner at Epcot. I have also been in one park and then at the end ot the day went into another to see fireworks/show.

Last June we had two weeks and I saw Illuminations 4 times. We did stay at the Boardwalk, so it was easy to walk in and watch.

 

[kilee]

I've had whole trips where I have and haven't park hopped at all. Sometimes, we just go to one park each day and stay put until we're done for the day (this tends to be when we take a larger group of family with us). We have hopped away on other trips. We don't usually take mid-afternoon breaks though. We try to go at off times, meaning the parks are closed by 7 pm (MK & MGM anyway). So, leaving for 3 hours really doesn't work out too well.

I think going at one's own pace is the best way to tour WDW. Sometimes places like AK can close by 5pm while MK could possibly be open to 11pm. So we tend to hop on over there for awhie longer.

 

[don8life]

There is more than enough in one park to do for the day. But for the people who have been there before, they know what they want to skip and don't dawdle as much. You can waste a lot of time standing around wondering what to do next. Frequent visitors don't have that problem. we know the layout. Doesn't take us as much time to do a park.

I believe animal kingdom is the only park without monorail. Should have buses though. I usually spend half a day in AK and half a day at MGM. Lots of people use the hopper option. You could spend the day at MK and go over to MGM to catch fantasmic.
Also, Mk closes earlier than epcot so sometimes if we have enough energy left we hop over there.

Have Fun!

 

[wannabee princess]

I think partly it may depend on how long you are staying. If you are going to be there at least a week I think hopping is needed.

For instance, if you are going to have enough time in the World to take a full day off from the parks, then when AK closes you can hop to another park. If you are not taking a day off, you can use the early closing at AK as a time to relax (because you definitely need some time to relax!).

Also, if you are staying at least a week, then it means you can take one day to revisit two parks. We like to split a day between AK and Epcot (because of our animal lover ds, we have to return to AK for at least one more safari ride! then watch Illuminations a second time, visit at least another country's restaurant, etc.), but thrill ride seekers may want to split Epcot and MGM.

Also, the boat that takes you from MGM to Epcot is an option - or you could walk - so the monorail isn't the only transportation to get you from park to park. If you are heading to WS to eat, this would be a good option, as you enter right by France.

There is not a monorail service to MGM.

 

[renniks]

When we were there we hopped several times, usually to Epcot for Illuminations. We were at the BC so it was a nice easy walk to see the fireworks. We also did AK one day and that night hopped over to MGM for Fantasmic at night.

 

[liznboys]

We park hop almost every day on our trips! It's part of the fun we think. We like to do one park for the first part of the day, and another for the evening.

 

[3for Me]

I agree that most of our "hopping" is either to see Illuminations, Fantasmic, or the parade or fireworks at MK in the evening. Lately, we have enjoyed EPCOT in the evenings for dinner - so many choices!

 

[Fantasmic303]

I can't imagine ever going and NOT park-hopping...but we've also been there enough times to inherently know how to plan our days in different parks without even thinking about it. I'm the commando type visitor who insists on being at a park for as many hours as I can, so it's really great!!


For people who are newer to WDW and planning to spend a day in each park, you may not need to parkhop. We usually parkhop more to catch the nighttime shows (particularly Magic Kingdom's fireworks and parades) than anything else, or to use our extra days to revisit our favorites. And let's not forget the shopping!!

 

[C.Ann]

I think the park hoppers are especially useful with the staggered park closing hours.. For instance - Epcot.. I don't think we have ever done it in an entire day, but rather a bit at a time after one of the other parks closes..

 

[AWilliams]

We've never done just one park all day. We go to one park in the morning, head back to the resort to swim/rest, then out to a different park. I like the variety and that way we see all 4 parks in our first two days, usually hit a water park for part of the third day, then back to do whatever we missed.

Depending on the hours everything is open you can hit one park from 9 to 1 then take a four hour break then back from 5 to 9.

Have fun! We leave tomorrow!!!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We hop! I did MK in half a day last time, there just isnt that much I want to do there anymore... same with AK, we were done by noon! So that gave us freedom to hit the highlights and keep moving... AND it means you have more freedom in places to eat. Personally, there is NOTHING I want to eat at MK, so this gives me the luxury to head to another park to spend my dining dollars =)

 

[jimmiej]

One of our favorite things to do on the day we visit MK is to park hop to Epcot for a late lunch, go back to the hotel for a nap or swim, & then return to MK in the evening.

 

[DreAnna Clayton]

we do not park hop every day we are there but to some days but we do like to have the option

 

[CamColt]

We usually do. We get to 1 park either at opening or EE for MK and AK. We leave there around 12:00-1:00 and go back to the resort. We sometimes grab a bite (or I like to have a liquid lunch...well a frozen liquid lunch, lol) by the pool. We take a dip to cool off then we all wash up and head out to the next park around 4:00-5:00. Getting to different parks when not on the monorail line is usually only a quick bus ride away. It doesnt take too much time at all.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We hop from AK, since it is a 1/2-day park for us. *
2) We hop to Epcot after MK and MGM close.
3) During the last day-or-two we hop for favorite rides.

* There isn't enough to keep us occupied at AK for a whole day. Even if there were, the lack of air conditioned shelter and good restaurants would drive us away in the afternoon heat.

 

[laurabelle]

Originally posted by CamColt
We usually do. We get to 1 park either at opening or EE for MK and AK. We leave there around 12:00-1:00 and go back to the resort. We sometimes grab a bite (or I like to have a liquid lunch...well a frozen liquid lunch, lol) by the pool. We take a dip to cool off then we all wash up and head out to the next park around 4:00-5:00. Getting to different parks when not on the monorail line is usually only a quick bus ride away. It doesnt take too much time at all.

Hey, it sounds like you're on my vacation!

 

[Aisling]

Since we're there for a week or longer usually, we always park hop. We like to breal up the day with a resort rest, and then head back out to another park for the second half of the day/night. This way, we get to vists all the parks on multiple days.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have 15 trips under our belt since Oct 97 and have park hopped every single day except one. We were moving out of our DVC home on that day and into another offsite hotel for one night before we left. It was Christmas Eve and we had dinner reservations, Family Magic Tour in the AM, so we stayed in MK all day. Big mistake. We were so worn out after spending the entire day in MK that we left early the next morning instead of hitting the parks one more time before heading home. We park hop all the time; one park in the AM, water park or hotel pool in the afternoon, then another park in the evening. Works for us.

 

[motaei]

When we went in December, even with the shorter hours, we park hopped. After AK, the rest of our party was tired, but DD & I were ready to go to MK for shopping, Space Mountain & fireworks!! Also, because we were staying at YC, we were able to walk over to Epcot for dinner a few nights. I am sure we will be park hopping this June (with the warmer weather & longer park hours)