Is Park Hopping Worth $175 these days, given these circumstances?

[jbird327]

I have always park hopped, with or without kids. I like to go to Epcot in the evenings for dinner or back to the MK after a day at MGM or AK. I usually end up back in the room in late afternoon and then head back out at dinner time.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

If you go from a 7 day to a 10 day ticket you will only have to pay another $7.00 each---much cheaper than park hopping add-on!!

That is what we are doing this trip---buying a 10 day ticket for a 6 day trip that allows up to park hop on 4 days (by using another "day" admission at the new park).

If for some reason we don't park hop, I plan to pay for the no-expire option before we leave and save the days for next trip.

 

[beattyfamily]

If you go from a 7 day to a 10 day ticket you will only have to pay another $7.00 each---much cheaper than park hopping add-on!!

That is what we are doing this trip---buying a 10 day ticket for a 6 day trip that allows up to park hop on 4 days (by using another "day" admission at the new park).

If for some reason we don't park hop, I plan to pay for the no-expire option before we leave and save the days for next trip.

I'm confused. I thought you couldn't use more then one 'day' admission in one day, thus you cannot park hop without a park hopper?? I thought their computers won't allow that? Unless I'm totally misunderstanding what you are saying...that's certainly possible.

 

[cindyfan]

I'm confused. I thought you couldn't use more then one 'day' admission in one day, thus you cannot park hop without a park hopper?? I thought their computers won't allow that? Unless I'm totally misunderstanding what you are saying...that's certainly possible.

You're right...... You cannot use "2 days" instead of making it a hopper. The system won't allow you.

So..... Jessethecowgirl..... you probably want to re-think your options before you go. It would be frustrating to be faced with this as you are trying to enter the park.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Our past two trips we had park hopeprs and didn;t hop.We didn;t even use one plus. It was easier with the kids and the heat to stay in one park. This trip I bought base tickets and I'm hoping we don't get the urge to hop. If we do I will upgrade the tickets but I'll be kicking myslef while doing so.

 

[joanchris]

We had hoppers, planned to hop a few days, but never did. ITt was too much with the kids and we were too tired. One planned hopping day we just went back to the hotel to swim, another we were just going to hop to see Spectromagic, but it was late (for the kids) and I didn't think it was worth it. Our last full day there we were going to hop over to AK to see what we missed the first time, but there wasn't enough to see to justify our being out all day. We were at Epcot in the am and had ADR at DT Disney at 7 pm.....by not hopping we got to go to the room, swim, the kids got a short nap, and we enjoyed our dinner out.

 

[bicker]

As DVC members, that deal wouldn't apply to us.

In the end, it really sounds like we need to decide between 3 days at MK + 1 day at Epcot, or 2+2...

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

You're right...... You cannot use "2 days" instead of making it a hopper. The system won't allow you.

So..... Jessethecowgirl..... you probably want to re-think your options before you go. It would be frustrating to be faced with this as you are trying to enter the park.

Thank you both!!! I read this idea here on the DIS---maybe it was before the change in ticket media??

Looks like we will be going with the very $$$ Park Hopper option.

 

[Pig Pen]

We took my mom with us on our Sept trip. She had the Florida resident Play and Pay pass (or whatever it is called) - 3 days without hopping. Although DH and I have APs, we didn't miss parkhopping at all. Since there were no crowds, we were able to have a leisurely breakfast at the resort, head to a park around 10:00, eat a late lunch about 3:00 or 4:00 pm, then back to the resort for an early evening dip. Then we would head to the lounge for a margarita and some snacks before turning in.

Our only deviation was the night we saw a surprise preview of the MNSSHP fireworks at MK. We went to the park later in the afternoon, then to Ohana for an early dinner, then back to MK for the fireworks.

Actually, now that I think about it, this was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip!

 

[mickey0216]

I want to add that you can minimize the expense of hopping by buying longer length tickets. Using my upcoming trip as an example. Where the DW and I (no kids this time) will only be in the parks for approx 3 1/2 days. Rather than buying 4 day tickets, I purchased 7 day tickets. Why????

- An adult 4 day ticket that expires w-o/PH is $185 (46.25/day)
- An adult 7 day ticket that doesn't expire w/PH is $289 (41.28/day)

For my money, I am willing to spend $104 more per ticket to cover 2 vacations and have the option to hop on both vacations if we want to.

Note: The prices listed are Disney prices and do NOT include tax. I bought my tickets from Ticket Mania and paid $278 ea with tax, delivered to PA via USPS Priority Mail.

 

[GGOOFY1]

I would get the park hopper option. We never stay in one park per day. Love to hop just for fireworks and favorite rides.

 

[beattyfamily]

I want to add that you can minimize the expense of hopping by buying longer length tickets. Using my upcoming trip as an example. Where the DW and I (no kids this time) will only be in the parks for approx 3 1/2 days. Rather than buying 4 day tickets, I purchased 7 day tickets. Why????

- An adult 4 day ticket that expires w-o/PH is $185 (46.25/day)
- An adult 7 day ticket that doesn't expire w/PH is $289 (41.28/day)

For my money, I am willing to spend $104 more per ticket to cover 2 vacations and have the option to hop on both vacations if we want to.

Note: The prices listed are Disney prices and do NOT include tax. I bought my tickets from Ticket Mania and paid $278 ea with tax, delivered to PA via USPS Priority Mail.

Just an FYI...in case you weren't aware...you cannot hop with a pass that does not have a hopper feature. They have made the computers not let us use another admission ticket once you've used one already. So if you've used one and then want to go to another park and try and use another day's admission for hopping, it won't work.

Not sure if that's what you meant by "if we want to" but just in case!

 

[Lewisc]

Skip the hoppers. Once you leave a park the kids will probably want to unwind.

Are you staying in BWV/BCV? When I stay in the EPCOT resort area I'll normally eat in a WS restaurant even if I've been to a different park earlier in the day but given the ages of the kids I wouldn't bother. I agree with the suggestion of the previous poster who suggest that at least you and Ms. Bicker might purchase a longer pass with hopping and use the extra days for a future trip.

 

[bicker]

We've got some issues, this time, that we normally don't have, most notably, my sister-in-law who has dietary restrictions (basically: she needs stuff bland). We're staying at VWL. And, as you mentioned, we've got the children to consider. So between those three aspects, the WS restaurant angle isn't something we plan on doing this time. We'll do one meal there (Chefs de France), and that's it.

I thought about getting a longer pass, but even if it were a 10 day pass, we'd only have four days left for our next visit, which doesn't compute. And we'd have to pay extra for the no expiry option. It just doesn't seem worthwhile, especially since it is one more thing we need to keep track of for a full year.

 

[patsal]

At first I didn't think so myself, but after I booked my own trip and tossing it around for a few days I added a day and the hopper option. At that time I figured it would be $152--$35 for hopper option and $3.00 for the extra day--When I made the change the total was $124 making the total $31 per person. Apparently there is a discount if you make the change when purchasing the tickets ahead of time. My thought is that if a park is way more crowded than I want to deal with--example MK, may be fine in the AM, but crowd up at night--Epcot may not be so busy and I can hop over there. For my family it doesn't so much matter haw we arrive at three MK days and it doesn't matter if they are spread out as 9-3 Mk, 4-9 Epcot, 9-4 MGM, 5-closing MK, etc. For me it was more piece of mind, I know in July we couldn't have done without park hopping as crowds could become insane, especially on PM EMH park--I think all without park hoppers go from open to close and it gets crazy crowded.
Sounds like the child involved may benefit from a broken up day thing as well. MK can be a sensory overload for kids and breaking up the day with Epcot may allow the child to get some rest while in a stroler.

 

[Luv2Roam]

For a short visit I don't think the hopper option is worth it.
We have PAP's. But when guests come they buy the least expensive, with no hopping.
No hopping has not taken away from our enjoyment yet. There is always something to do.

 

[PatsGirl]

Another consideration is the time of year you go. We have always gone in the winter months when parks close between 5 and 8. By the time we have dinner, the parks are closed. I also don't know that I'd have the energy to keep going after dinner even if the parks were open later. My bedtime is 10

I think if I were going with just adults, I'd hop so that I could spend most of my evenings at Epcot -- I have the dream of eating dinner at each of the countries, all in one trip!

That being said, we are going on T'Day again this year, will spend one or two days in each park, a day or two relaxing, and have ADRs almost every night at about 6 p.m. so we'll be heading back to the room about 8 for a cocktail or two by the pool while the kids rid themselves of whatever energy they can still muster.

Brenda

 

[bicker]

I suspect this is going to be Benjamin's only trip to WDW as a child. I might be able to bring him back as a young teen, but probably not before. That's weighing on my thinking as well. We brought Rachel at age 5 and then age 10 -- I don't think we'll be as fortunate with Benjamin.

 

[deltabayou]

We thought about that (obviously Disney did too, LOL). The CM told me that you cannot do that. Without park hoppers, it is one park per day.

Kathleen

 

[Lucky4me]

By buying a 10 day hopper, non expiring, you will save money.

Ticketmania has them for $353 through Mousesavers link right now. I look at it as 15 park days. 10 major, 5 water parks or PI. I can easily get 2 week long trips out of that pass. 5 days in the parks, 1 water park day, 2 nights at PI.

I can't see buying any other ticket if I know I'm going back again. It's the most economical way. If I thought I would go into the parks more than 5 days (or in your case, 4) on the second trip, I'd buy another 10 day hopper before that trip. When I get home, the hoppers go right into the safe, or at least my sock drawer. I always photocopy them. In case I ever do lose them, they can issue me new ones. I've been buying this ticket for years. I especially like it when the prices go up and I have a hopper for my next trip already paid for at the lower price.