Is switching parks midday too exhausting? (HS and AK in one day?)

[brendie72]

Hello!
Currently planning our trip for the beginning of next February. We plan one day at Busch Gardens, one day at US/IOA, and definitely MK and Epcot. We want to have 5 days of parks, which leaves a decision for our 5th day:

-full day at HS (not sure if it's worth a full day) or
-get a park hopper and do 1/2 day HS and 1/2 day AK or
-skip 3rd day at Disney and do Sea World instead

We've been to all these places before, so we kind of know what's there, but the one thing we haven't done is try to switch parks in the middle of the day.
We will be staying offsite and have a rental car.
Is it an awful waste of time and absolutely exhausting to switch parks midday, going through the parking and getting to the parks hassle?
Please be honest-we're 42 and 52 (but a young 42 and 52 of course) with no kids in tow. And if you've done this, which would you do first and which second? (Probably also have to consider how late the parks are open, too-but we can't see that yet because it's too soon)

Thanks!!!! I reallllly appreciate any input

 

[Robo]

Hello!
Currently planning our trip for the beginning of next February. We plan one day at Busch Gardens, one day at US/IOA, and definitely MK and Epcot. We want to have 5 days of parks, which leaves a decision for our 5th day:

-full day at HS (not sure if it's worth a full day) or
-get a park hopper and do 1/2 day HS and 1/2 day AK or
-skip 3rd day at Disney and do Sea World instead

We've been to all these places before, so we kind of know what's there, but the one thing we haven't done is try to switch parks in the middle of the day.
We will be staying offsite and have a rental car.
Is it an awful waste of time and absolutely exhausting to switch parks midday, going through the parking and getting to the parks hassle?
Please be honest-we're 42 and 52 (but a young 42 and 52 of course) with no kids in tow. And if you've done this, which would you do first and which second? (Probably also have to consider how late the parks are open, too-but we can't see that yet because it's too soon)

Thanks!!!! I reallllly appreciate any input

Many do it.

We've certainly done it numerous times.

Start at DAK (which closes earlier than the other parks) and hopped to DHS for Fantasmic! or Epcot for IllumiNations.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Totally doable. I think a car makes it easier.

In February you will have the nice cooler weather working in your favor.

I would do AK first then DHS.

 

[brendie72]

Wow, thanks so much for your super fast replies!
This is really what I want to do-but it might take some convincing of my significant other. I think he thinks the itinerary is a bit too packed.

 

[kmb584]

We hop a lot and don't find it to be too much. It's actually nice to have different scenery and attractions for each part of the day.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We keep a cooler full of cold drinks in the vehicle specifically for Park Hopping. I would term this part of the day "refreshing", not "exausting" at all. It's a good time to get away from the crowds and in your own air conditioned space for a few minutes.

For a DHS/AK day, I like to go against the flow. I would start off at DHS and schedule some FP+ for the headliners. Then head to AK later in the afternoon after the place clears out. The lines for the attractions can be pretty sparse during the last 3 hours or so of operation.

Then head back to the vehicle and get refreshed again. Who knows, you may be up for another visit to the MK for some late night fun.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Wow, thanks so much for your super fast replies! This is really what I want to do-but it might take some convincing of my significant other. I think he thinks the itinerary is a bit too packed.

Maybe get a lunch ADR in one of the parks so you have an hour or as long as you'd like to just chill. Maybe that can help convince your SO. I know it helps with mine. Have fun planning.

 

[lmillercrew]

We hop a lot too, even with kids, but without kids it will be even easier. I never feel that it is too much. It's great to change up the scenery sometimes.

 

[Manders77]

Are you only going to do one day of hopping? Will the park hopper be worth it for one day. We always had the hopper but we always started in one park went back to room midday then headed to a second park.

 

[DOOM1001]

Park hopping is definitely done by many people so DHS and AK in one day is definitely very doable but I would also question spending the extra money to hop one day.You say you've visited these parks before so if it were me I would go to Sea World,great coasters,great shows and a very relaxed atmosphere.

 

[mjohnson96]

We hop all the time, and I agree with going to AK first. This trip I don't think I have one day planned without a park switch and on 2 days it was better for me to schedule our fastpasses in the afternoon during the 2nd park because of what we would want to do.

now I have little ones so we also take a couple hour break in the afternoon and stay onsite so it makes it a little bit easier.