is it me, but I don't see the need for a hopper ticket?

[RedSox68]

We've done WDW 6 times with lengths of stay ranging from 2 weeks to three days.

In all honesty, I think the park hoppers work best for the shorter 4 or 5 day stays because it gives you the chance to see more parks in a day and make use of the short stay. However, if you are staying for a week or more, I don't think they are necessary. But honestly, you really have to plan to make sure the parks you pick each day will be the ones you want to stay in all day. While you can come and go all day from that one park, you are stuck with it if it becomes too crowded. But that's easy to do with all the crowd calendars available now.

I bought them for our 4-night stay post-cruise in December because we know we want to park hop to certain events and attractions between at least two parks a day. Plus, we are going to attempt the 4-park challenge on my birthday.

I think it's a great way to save money. As far as ADRs, if you don't plan on eating at the pricey character buffets or higher priced table service restaurants (which we never do), there are plenty of walk in opportunities and counter service that will fit your budget nicely.

HOWEVER, isn't the date you are going offering free dining for places like Port Orleans? i thought there was a deal for certain moderate and value hotels to get free dining for a minimum night stay.

 

[nkereina]

I didn't read all the replies so I'm sure I'm repeating. But for us, we like having the option to do what we want when we want. Disney is not a place that's good for spontaneity, but I always plan a day or two with no ADRs so we can be a little spontaneous on those days. If we want to do DHS at rope drop solely for TSM, and then hop over to Epcot for the rest of the day - we have that option.

Other good points I've seen mentioned are hopping when it's more crowded than expected and hopping to take advantage of EMH. We also like to revisit our favorite things in each park near the end of our trip by doing half days at some of the parks, so hopping allows us to do more than one per day.

So ultimately you're paying for the flexibility and convenience of having options.

 

[nkereina]

so at what point is getting AP's worth it?? Just curious

If you need 11 day tickets or longer, you would have to get an AP. Disney sells up to 10 day tickets and anything beyond that would warrant an AP.

 

[RedSox68]

Just a tip: we always buy our tickets from Undercover Tourist. But this only works if you don't want to do a whole WDW package. Since we rented DVC points and weren't adding dining, we saved hundreds.

 

[dixiegirl]

OP - I think it just depends on your style of touring and your length of stay. For DH and I - we love the hoppers and make use of them pretty much everyday of our trips. But I could also see the benefit for many people to skip them. I think with having 10 days you will be fine without them. Hope you have a fabulous trip!!!!!

 

[ashleyfallis]

We're not planners (hands of destiny to decide parks on the day!) so hoppers are a must for us - we'll go in the morning and do all the rides and things then leave around lunch and either go to another park or go home then back out to another park. And we're usually there for 14 nights... 21 this time tho!

 

[wdwlver]

I think it might be more of a draw depending on where you stay. We always stay at an Epcot resort so walking into Epcot at night for dinner and touring is a big part of our trip. Wouldn't be without hoppers!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

We're not planners (hands of destiny to decide parks on the day!) so hoppers are a must for us - we'll go in the morning and do all the rides and things then leave around lunch and either go to another park or go home then back out to another park. And we're usually there for 14 nights... 21 this time tho!

so do you just get AP's? Im just trying to figure out what so many don't get AP's that go twice a year or for longer trips?? Also, does Disney still sell "no expiration tickets", I tried to price and they said I needed to call?? A 10 day with PH was about 200 less than an AP, but when I tried to look for no expiration it didn't come up. Haven't had to think abut tickets in ages, but DD may join us and she lost her ticket - and I can't figure out when it was purchased - i think 2007 from AAA but they have no record and neither does Disney, so now trying to figure out what she should get

 

[abmitch01]

we're staying at POR, no free dining. I don't want to pay full price for a room to get it. DD would be counted as an adult on the dining plan but she eats like a bird. I'll price it out one more time though

 

[hakepb]

so do you just get AP's? Im just trying to figure out what so many don't get AP's that go twice a year or for longer trips?? Also, does Disney still sell "no expiration tickets", I tried to price and they said I needed to call?? A 10 day with PH was about 200 less than an AP, but when I tried to look for no expiration it didn't come up. Haven't had to think abut tickets in ages, but DD may join us and she lost her ticket - and I can't figure out when it was purchased - i think 2007 from AAA but they have no record and neither does Disney, so now trying to figure out what she should get

If you get an AP, then you have to start planning more mid-year trips to maximize that AP

You can get an idea of non-expiring pricing at undercovertourist.com
I think non-expiring pricing only works if you get 3+ full trips on the ticket, otherwise just buy (2) 5 day passes.

 

[jtclark]

We will be park hopping for the first time this September. We decided it was worth the additional cost to have maximum flexibility since our 20 month year old son will be tagging along this time and we have no idea how he will handle the parks. Being able to change our plans on the fly might prove to be very useful. We are also going during the food and wine festival this year so we want to try to hop over to Epcot whenever time (and the boy) allows.

 

[lustergirl]

I like the convenience of being able to hop to another park at night. I always take a break in between parks by going back to their resort. I like to venture back out at night to whatever parks has extra night hours to see the fireworks.

 

[bbak3030]

We have only done hoppers and wouldn't do it any other way. We have never spent the entire day in one park.
Do what works for your family-- everyone is different!

 

[Iralyn]

Originally we had free park hoppers for this trip, but then we were able to get free dining instead which was a better deal for us. We decided to opt out of PHs for now BUT we will upgrade and add them back on later if we decide that we want to add it when we are at WDW. My understanding from talking to a CM is that is costs the same ($60) to do it now or later. Same for potentially adding an extra day (as we don't currently have tickets for our departure day). Hoping this plan works for us!

 

[abmitch01]

I cried when my 7 yr old son hugged Buzz lighter. When DD4 ran into Winnie's waiting arms. When it was a down pour and my family would not go out in it to hear Arlo Guthrie play :"this Land Is Your Land" bawled like a baby, the whole crowd singing. I didn't expect Disney to do a folk star I love. I always cry my last time on Soarin'

the weird thing is I am not by nature a crier. My family is surprised by it.

 

[andyman8]

Some people sware by them, others are just the opposite.

Personally, I don't "hop" that frequently even though I have an AP (which includes hopping) as it can just eat up so much time. You're talking about at least 30 minutes but usually closer to an hour. For me, that's a lot of time. Some don't see it that way; doesn't make anyone wrong just a matter of which you care about most.

 

[LilyWDW]

I get Park Hoppers. One because I enjoy the flexibility in my planning for things like ADRs. Two because I also go during Food and Wine so I enjoy being able to go to Epcot but not have to give up days at other parks to do so.

One of the days in my upcoming trip I will be doing DHS during the day. By having Park Hoppers I was able to also book the Wishes Dessert Party for that night because nights with Wishes during October are slim pickings. Now I am not stuck at MK on a day that is expected to have higher crowds, but I can still see Wishes which is my favorite nighttime show.

 

[njmom76]

We've done both. We mainly get the hoppers when we stay at an EPCOT resort because it is so convenient to just stop be EPCOT for a snack/meal/anything. I have enjoyed trips without them just as much though (but at other resorts).

 

[juliehoey]

10 days is a long stay to not need one. My only reason for wanting them is weather. Some parks are better than others to navigate in the rain. Having the capability to switch plans due to weather if you've already been to a certain park that day is important to me. But with your length of stay I wouldn't really see a need to buy them.

 

[Frozen2014]

First time going, but we didn't feel a need for park hopper, and in fact, didn't want to waste time travelling from one park another other. We have 2 full days planned at MK, one at HS and one at Epcot and have organized attractions around that. Only day we will be switching parks is on our last day where we will start at Epcot and then head over to MK for MNSSHP.
It did take early planning to figure out which park which day, and then figure out ADRs accordingly.