How vital are hopper passes?

[Pancakes]

I'm going to Disney in June and we're debating whether or not to get hopper passes. Hopefully we'll be staying at BWV, so we thought the hopper passes would be convenient but we're not sure about our budget.

Should we get them? Or is it tolerable without them?
I've actually done it once without the hopper. It was fine, but that was my parent's decision. Now that I'm going with a group of friends, we've been thinking about it but we're not sure about the extra money it costs.

Opinions?

 

[auntread]

We always get hoppers. We plan it right into the budget from the get-go. I cannot imagine being without the freedom they allow. you will probably get an even number of yeas and nays to this question, but whatever you decide to do, have a wonderful time!

 

[CdnCarrie]

We never get them. Defeats the point of collecting fastpasses earlier in the day. Plus we often just do 3/4 days with young kids - RD until late afternoon so need to hop. We go in the winter however.

 

[WDWTeri]

I'm going to Disney in June and we're debating whether or not to get hopper passes. Hopefully we'll be staying at BWV, so we thought the hopper passes would be convenient but we're not sure about our budget.

Should we get them? Or is it tolerable without them?
I've actually done it once without the hopper. It was fine, but that was my parent's decision. Now that I'm going with a group of friends, we've been thinking about it but we're not sure about the extra money it costs.

Opinions?

We always get hoppers, just like the possibilities available. The Boardwalk Resort area is actually the perfect location to get your $$ out of your hoppers. We love to walk over to Epcot at night or hop the boat to Hollywood Studios. We usually are very scheduled to get the most out of daytime at the parks, but nightime is more relaxed.

If the extra cost will keep you from missing out on a great meal or a special show, then I'm sure you can have a great trip without hoppers.

 

[Mckys#1Fan]

That is one of the first questions about tickets that my boys ask....Do we have park hoppers? We would not go without them!!! Whatever you decide.. I know you will have so much fun!!!

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

We've never gotten them, but we stayed at BWV in Sept and wished we'd had them. It would've been nice to pop over to EPCoT on the evenings that we got back from another park early. If it's in your budget, I'd go for it, but like another poster said, don't miss out on something else to get them. You can plan your trip just fine without them too.

 

[patink]

I'm going to Disney in June and we're debating whether or not to get hopper passes. Hopefully we'll be staying at BWV, so we thought the hopper passes would be convenient but we're not sure about our budget.

Should we get them?

Get your tickets without the hopper option and after you get to Disney buy them when you are ready for your first HOP!

If you are fine not hopping you saved the $$$ and if you really want to go to another park you just purchase the hopper then. It costs the same either way.

So wait until you need it... don't try to decide now.

 

[tinka-belle]

It really depends on your park going style.

Basic tickets make sense if:

You tend to stick to one place and do most of what it has to offer.

You typically do just 1/2 to 2/3 of a day in a park (starting early or late), then spend time at your resort or pool, at hotel or non-park restaurants, DTD, or other non-park activities.

You tend to watch the crowd levels and avoid a crowded park altogether, OR

You don't mind crowds and a few waits in line, knowing you might skip an attraction if it's crowded.


Since the PH add-on is a flat rate no matter the number of times you use it, even using it on a few of your days might make it worthwhile. You can always wait to purchase the add-on until you know you will use it, same cost. PH is the most popular pass option, most people DO get their use out of it, but there are a few people who would not. It offers the most flexability, especially if the members of your group can't make a firm decision on where to go each day.


Park hoppers are better if:

You like the parks better than the resort activities. The pool or DTD would only hold your interest for a few hours.

You tend to hit just the highlights of a park, then want to get to the next one and hit the highlights there.

Would be likely to spend the entire day/night in parks. For example head to Epcot when AK closes at dusk.

Abhor crowds and will head to another less crowded park if attendence gets high mid day.

You want to "go with the flow" of your mood for the day. That might not include staying in the same park.

Since you're at the BWV you are very close to Epcot. Lots of nice dining there and it closes later than AK or HS,
so you could plan a later dinner at one of the countries for example, after a day at another park.

 

[airhead]

We hop!

 

[KimK2006]

We tend to always "hop" to Epcot around dinner time. We like the food better there!

Can't imagine NOT hopping. But, I can see how those who don't go often would have plenty to do at each park for a full day. For us, AK and HS are not full park days. We hit them at rope drop, leave for a swim in the late afternoon and head somewhere else in the early evening. As previously stated, it depends on how you plan on touring.

 

[redheadx3]

You are going to get 50 % say get them and the other 50% don't.
I see a few reasons you would need hoppers.
1. you just don't like to plan out the whole trip, so you don't know what you will be doing from day to day.
2. you are there less than 5 days. Need to hop to get the most done
3. you want to eat dinner in Epcot most nights. Can't spend every day at Epcot
4. going with a large group that won't follow your lead

I try to plan our itinerary so that we don't need the hoppers. Once I have planned out each day, typically there is only one time that I might want to use hoppers and it is just not worth the $. Besides, I like to optimize on the FP, collecting in the morning and using them later in evening.

 

[nothnbutherainsir]

We did it last year but this year we just can't afford it! I do worry about what we'll do in evenings when some parks close early but we'll make due! It would be about $200 more and for all that we can spend it on a meal plan and a few souvies!

 

[patty57]

We ALWAYS hop. We stay at BWV or BCV and walk in and out of Epcot and DHS frequently...especially food at Epcot. We also hop around MK and AK, but we have teens, so it's easy to stay out late and jump around. If I had younger kids, I might be happy to go to one park and stay around the pool more. Good advice by others to wait and add the Hopper option on if you want it when you get there.
Have a magical trip!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

We didn't hop last year and it was great. We hopped this year and it was better. It's just a matter of convenience.The one poster was dead on when he or she said if it's not gonna pinch you, do it. If it's gonna sting, don't do it and you will be just fine.

Planning is the key. We were planning to get the hopper for a day, but the cost of one day versus the 7 we were there was negligible, so we just added it the whole trip. We have different faves so it helped in that regard. At HS, there are only three rides I like: TT, RR and SW. That's it. I can take or leave TSM, and I won't think twice about it.

Because of FP we can usuually do HS pretty quickly -- three to four hours -- with touring time. Then what? Well, it's great to hop to Epcot and take in sodas around the world or Spaceship Earth. Top it off with dinner in Mexico and Illuminations, and you have used your FP wisely. Now, there are those who are like MEGA HOPPERS and go to three parks in a day, but that is a bit much. And again, you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want.

I can spend two or three days apiece in MK or Epcot -- easily. No hopper required. You know, you could try it for a day and just see what you think. Have the parks you want to go to already in mind -- and at least some form of touring plan and you will be one happy Mousketeer.

Best of luck! And remember, no matter what, you are in Disney World!!!

Lucky duck.

 

[racreel]

We always hop!

 

[Reddog1134]

It's absolutely doable without hoppers but having them gives you a lot of flexibility.

If you are only going for a few days, then hoppers will make it easier to hit all your favorite attractions in every park. If you going for a longer stay, you'll probably spend whole days in one park so they won't be as necessary.

If you're traveling with friends, hoppers may help if you decide to split up one morning but want to spend an evening together.

I plan to get hoppers on my next trip because I'm staying at AKL. Since AK usually closes at 5, I can go there in the morning and then spend a few hours in another park.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

As a veteran of June trips to WDW I strongly suggest you do get park hoppers. As the month goes on the crowds get bigger and bigger. If you end up at a jammed park you will no have no other options. With the hopper you can simply jump over to a less crowded park.

At the end of our last June trip we were amazed how crowded the parks got. We were there for around 10 days and only the last couple were really jammed. It was a waste even trying FP as the retrun times were way later.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

The ability to go to a park without caring if it's too crowded when you get there (because you can "hop" somewhere else if necessary) = PRICELESS!!

 

[Silver Queen]

For all of the reasons mentioned above we always get hoppers. In our opinion it makes the trip more flexible and more fun.

 

[nothnbutherainsir]

I should add that we'll be there for 4 1/2 days. That's 1 full day for each park+any EMH we choose to do. The 1/2 day will be an evening at Epcot! Hoppers are nice but if you have at least one day per park, you'll be okay without them. We aren't the kind of people who go back to our resort and nap or swim, go shopping or make reservations for resturaunts in other parks so we hardly need them.