How to only do one day of park hoppers on a two day visit?

[lucybalue]

Helping a friend out. She is going to DW for two days but only wants one day to be park hopper. She is looking to just purchase a one day ticket and then an additional one day with park hoppers. Is there any reason why this isn't a good idea? She is not sure if she wants the park hopper day to be the first day or second. I suggested doing the park hopper day on the second day and just upgrade her second day while there but she is worried park hopper would sell out. Does that happen? Thanks

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

If she adds park hopping to the two-day ticket, she will pay for both days, whether she adds it on the first day or the second day. It is based on the ticket length, not how many times it is used. She can price out a one-day base ticket and a one-day hopper and compare it to a two-day hopper - the two day hopper is probably cheaper.

I have never known park hopping to sell out - she shouldn't have any trouble upgrading her ticket.

 

[lanejudy]

Above is correct that you cannot add hopping to just 1 day of a 2-day ticket; hopping is all-or-nothing and priced by the length of ticket regardless of how many days you hop or when you add it.

Hopping on a 1-day ticket adds approx. $59-$90 (plus tax).
Hopping on a 2-day ticket adds approx. $80-$85 (plus tax).

I suggest she price out two separate tickets (1-day hopper and 1-day non-hopper) for her dates and compare to a 2-day hopper for those same dates. She may need to solidify her plans somewhat to do this because a 1-day base ticket comes with the theme park reservation and is priced according to park.

NOTE: hopping cost can vary by date, so use above as a ballpark

 

[MousetersInc]

She should check in case her dates are different, but I just looked at this same scenario and found that "one day 1-park plus one day park-hopping" was more expensive than two days hopping.

 

[BigOHawk]

I had the same question and have never parked hopped before although been to WDW many times. So, in essence, there is no advantage to try and 'hop' for ONE day of a 3-day ticket? Looks like you are paying for length of ticket either way.

 

[BigOHawk]

Or, and follow me.....what if you did the following (it may or may not be logical or perhaps mess up plans/reservations/MDE). This assumes a 5 night stay and 3 days of park tickets.
1. Reserve hotel with 25% off (no park tickets)
2. Purchase 1-day park hoppers only in a single transaction from WDW
3. Purchase 2-day base tickets from WDW

Would this confuse the app or could you add/link these if, for some reason someone didn't want to hop for all three days? I may have not done this correct but I went back in under the 'stay and play' promo for 3/5-3/10 stay and added hopper to all three days and it was actually more expensive to do steps 1-3 above under a 1 day hopper vs. a 3 day hopper.

 

[lanejudy]

You can buy separate tickets -- a 1-day hopper and another ticket for non-hopping day(s).

Whether you should do this depends entirely on whether it's a better price.

It might be a better price but depends on dates and park plans. The hopping option essentially equalizes the price differences between the 1-day non-hoppers. If your non-hopper would be a 1-day AK ticket, that might be a cost savings to do as separate tickets. If your non-hopper would be one of the other parks, or a multi-day, probably no savings to split your tickets. But price it out because so much depends on specific dates.

 

[Pyxie]

nvm. misread.

 

[Moliphino]

Or, and follow me.....what if you did the following (it may or may not be logical or perhaps mess up plans/reservations/MDE). This assumes a 5 night stay and 3 days of park tickets.
1. Reserve hotel with 25% off (no park tickets)
2. Purchase 1-day park hoppers only in a single transaction from WDW
3. Purchase 2-day base tickets from WDW

Would this confuse the app or could you add/link these if, for some reason someone didn't want to hop for all three days? I may have not done this correct but I went back in under the 'stay and play' promo for 3/5-3/10 stay and added hopper to all three days and it was actually more expensive to do steps 1-3 above under a 1 day hopper vs. a 3 day hopper.

You would probably have to go to Guest Services before entering a park to make sure it uses the right one. There is no way for a guest to prioritize a ticket in MDE.

 

[seashoreCM]

Adding hopping to a base (non-hopping) ticket never becomes sold out.

But the specific second park you wanted to visit could become sold out and this would affect any applicable ticket regardless of whether it was bought with hopping or had hopping added later as an upgrade.

 

[subtchr]

You would probably have to go to Guest Services before entering a park to make sure it uses the right one. There is no way for a guest to prioritize a ticket in MDE.

Now with park reservations, this is no longer an issue.
The system uses the ticket that you booked the park reservation with for that day.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Adding hopping to a base (non-hopping) ticket never becomes sold out.

But the specific second park you wanted to visit could become sold out and this would affect any applicable ticket regardless of whether it was bought with hopping or had hopping added later as an upgrade.

This is not an issues. PH was only stopped once, to the MK for a couple of hours on its 50th anniversary.

Basically, PH is always allowed.

 

[ohdewer33]

Depending on how often you can get to Disney and your affection for everything, I would then think about park hopping. Also, consider what you really want to see and do. The easiest parks to do the most are Animal Kingdom and Epcot. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios can be tricky do to the most popular things. To me, Park Hopping is always worth it, even it just spend the evening in Epcot checking out all the pavilions or watching the light shows on the buildings in Hollywood Studios.

 

[Moliphino]

Now with park reservations, this is no longer an issue.
The system uses the ticket that you booked the park reservation with for that day.

Maybe they fixed it, but it definitely wasn't with the initial implementation of park reservations. I had issues with the wrong ticket being used multiple times in 2020/2021 with park reservations.

 

[subtchr]

Maybe they fixed it, but it definitely wasn't with the initial implementation of park reservations. I had issues with the wrong ticket being used multiple times in 2020/2021 with park reservations.

They have.

 

[loves to dive]

Tell your friend to check UT. Their tickets are always less than WDW and they have comparisons on the site between single and hoppers for the exact dates you want to book. I find if Disney has a hotel on discount going, then getting my tickets through UT comes out much less. In the very least, the site will give them real cost for the different tickets for the exact days so they can compare.

 

[lanejudy]

Tell your friend to check UT. Their tickets are always less than WDW

Actually, for 1-day or 2-day tickets, WDW is most likely the least expensive. The authorized resellers are not able to discount these tickets and it often costs more. Always good to check anyway.

 

[subtchr]

Tell your friend to check UT. Their tickets are always less than WDW and they have comparisons on the site between single and hoppers for the exact dates you want to book. I find if Disney has a hotel on discount going, then getting my tickets through UT comes out much less. In the very least, the site will give them real cost for the different tickets for the exact days so they can compare.

UT includes this disclaimer for all the 1- and 2-day tickets they sell.

 

[MickeyMice]

she should just buy a 2 day hopper. even if there is a favorable price difference between the 2 day hopper vs. 1 base + 1 hopper, i doubt it will be enough to be worth the logistical hurdles.

 

[loves to dive]

Actually, for 1-day or 2-day tickets, WDW is most likely the least expensive. The authorized resellers are not able to discount these tickets and it often costs more. Always good to check anyway.

UT includes this disclaimer for all the 1- and 2-day tickets they sell. View attachment 737142

Good to know, you learn something new every day. I've never bought one or two day single tickets so have never looked at that but I'm assuming they would still be able to see the price difference between those tickets and hoppers. But then again, you can also see that on MDE when putting together a package.