Keep or drop park hopper?

[MommatoLandE]

I need your expert opinions! We are going to Disney for 3 days in September. Day 1 will be a combo resort/MNSSHP. We currently have planned Day 2 as a full MK day and Day 3 as a combo HS/DS day. We have 2 adults, a 3 year old (who loves Toy Story), and an almost 1 year old. We currently have park hopper, but are planning to drop it, since we don't think we will need it. But, part of me wonders if we should try to make time on Day 2 to hop over to Epcot and check out Food & Wine Festival. What do you all think? We are planning to come back next fall for a longer trip and could do Epcot/AK then, if that makes a difference.

 

[Mome Rath]

I love park hoppers, but in this case I agree with dropping it. With kids that age and everything you have planned I think it would just add more exhaustion and/or stress. But, you know your fam best too, so it's ultimately up to you.

 

[Robo]

Simple answer:
Drop it for now.
Then (day-of) if you WANT to Hop... add it right THEN, on your way to the park.
(Same price.)

 

[MommatoLandE]

Robo - Thanks! I didn't know you can do that. Logistically, how would it work?

 

[intertile]

Robo - Thanks! I didn't know you can do that. Logistically, how would it work?

you go to guest services and ask them to add it. Pretty simple process, just have to wait in line.

You can add days as well

 

[Robo]

you go to guest services and ask them to add it. Pretty simple process, just have to wait in line.

You can add days as well

Or any ticket booth (lots of them outside all of the parks.)

If you are staying at a WDW resort, the Concierge desk in the lobby (all WDW resorts have them) can add hoppers and days.

Just ask for what you'd like added to your ticket.

 

[PrincessDaisyDuck]

I would drop it personally, especially since you'll be coming back for a longer trip. Have fun!

 

[MommatoLandE]

Or any ticket booth (lots of them outside all of the parks.)

If you are staying at a WDW resort, the Concierge desk in the lobby (all WDW resorts have them) can add hoppers and days.

Just ask for what you'd like added to your ticket.

This is brilliant! Thank you so much. We can see how MNSSHP goes and get a sense as to how long we'll need at MK on Day 2. I assume I will need to make the change before we use the first day of the 2-day pass?

 

[loblolly]

I don't go to Disney often, and I never go for longer than a week (sometimes less), so when I do go it's still a new-ish place for me. I don't care about experiences that would cause me to spend time at one park, and than hop to another to see, or do, something else. So, for somebody like me, I spend the entire day exploring one park at a time. If I leave the park, it's to go back to the resort during peak hours for a break, and than back to that same park. Extra magic hours are my best friend. With crowds as heavy as they are all year round now, and the cost of admission, I wish they stayed open later every day.
The only time I would get park hopper is if I were staying for longer than a week, and had the luxury of time. And, my kids are at an age where we can seperate for the things that we don't want to see/do/repeat together. When they were younger it definitely took some time to accomodate everyone happily.

 

[maccagerl]

This is brilliant! Thank you so much. We can see how MNSSHP goes and get a sense as to how long we'll need at MK on Day 2. I assume I will need to make the change before we use the first day of the 2-day pass?

No, you can add it any day - so if you wake up on day 2 and decide to hop, you can add it anytime that day.
Have fun!

 

[gharter]

Drop the park hopper. With kids as young as yours, I think that would be too much.
Do you have time built into your schedule to go back to your resort for naps for the kids in the afternoon? When our kids were young, that was very important.

 

[MommatoLandE]

Drop the park hopper. With kids as young as yours, I think that would be too much.
Do you have time built inot your schedule to go back to your resort for naps for the kids in the afternoon? When our kids were young, that was very important.

We are sort of planning to play it by ear and see how the kids do. We will go back if needed. We also plan to encourage stroller napping!

 

[DisneyFive]

Drop it.

Dan

 

[Scribble Kitty]

No, you can add it any day - so if you wake up on day 2 and decide to hop, you can add it anytime that day.
Have fun!

Also to note that if you decide to upgrade to a hopper you're upgrading your whole ticket, not just the days you have left. So if you decide to upgrade on day 3 you still pay the difference between a 3 day base ticket and a 3 day hopper

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Based on what you have planned, you could afford to drop it. We've done plenty of trips both ways- hopping and non-hopping. We've have hopped with young children many times, so I wouldn't say a young child automatically = no hopping.

While you can add it back later, modifying tickets does take time. Sometimes the process is quick, but other times it ends up taking quite a bit longer than it should, IMO.

So my only caveat is that I wouldn't personally modify my own tickets more than once if I could help it.

 

[Robo]

Also to note that if you decide to upgrade to a hopper you're upgrading your whole ticket, not just the days you have left. So if you decide to upgrade on day 3 you still pay the difference between a 3 day base ticket and a 3 day hopper

Yup.
That's why I mentioned that it is the "same price" to buy the Hopper BEFORE the trip
or to upgrade to Hopper DURING the trip.

Same exact price to be paid for the hopper on the last day of the trip as if you had bought it in advance of the trip.
No "discount," and no "extra" cost.

Obviously, if you WANT to hop on the first day, HAVING it on the first day would be advantageous.

But, if there is DOUBT as to actually WANTING to Hop, the advantage is in NOT paying for that
option unless and until the actual need/desire arrises.

Then, at that exact time, you'll know the cost and the need and you can add that
option, on-the-spot, at any park, at any time of day, and ON any day of the trip.