Need strategies for park hopping.

[Lucius Best]

Never had luck with this. Seem to waste more time than anything. Haven't gotten hoppers prob the last 4 times just cuz it's never seemed time efficient. What am I doing wrong?

You're not necessarily doing anything wrong. We had trips in the past where we hopped almost every day. Go to morning EMH park and then hop to a less busy park later. Or start day in one park and hop to MK when open late. During off season when parks close early, hop to MK or Epcot every night. We had some free dining September trips where we hopped to Epcot for dinner almost every night.

But on our first FP+ trip, we decided to employ a different strategy, and did not purchase park hoppers. Goal was rope drop, with 3 FPs reserved 10am/11am/12pm. Then hit a FP kiosk as early as possible to get additional FP. Any hopping would have added travel time during the day and delayed that 4th FP (and also reduced what was available). Note that we had a long (9 park days) trip, with multiple days at each park. There were a couple of nights where we could have hopped, but it wasn't worth the cost to just hop once or twice. Now if we had a shorter trip (say 4-5 days), we probably would have planned differently, might have purchased park hoppers in order to maximize time in parks.

 

[Raya]

Here's what we did on our last 4 park in one day adventure (we had no fast passes):
Took a boat to HS from our resort - left around 8:30ish. Did Tower of Terror (10 minute wait), Rockin RollerCoaster (30 minute wait), and saw the Frozen parade (while eating pastries for breakfast).
Took a bus to AK, arrived around 11. Had a sit down lunch at Yak and Yeti, road Everest, checked out the park. Taxi back to our hotel. (It was too hot to wait for the bus)
Pool time from 2 until 4.
Walked from hotel to Epcot, ate our way around the world. Grabbed a monorail to MK.
Arrive at MK at around 6:30pm. Did HM, BTMRR, SM, and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. hung out until park close at 9pm.

Here's our last 'with FP day':
leave hotel around 8ish/8:30, arrive at AK just after rope drop. Ride Safari, EE, KRR. (short lines due to early morning times)
bus to HS
HS, lunch, use FP's for Rockin' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, and Star Tours
bus to MK
rest of the day in MK/try for more FPs.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

No, we use Disney transportation.

There are buses from MK to AK or DHS
There is the monorail from MK to Epcot
There are buses from Epcot to DHS and AK
There is a boat between Epcot and DHS, but you can walk it a bit faster
There are buses from AK to MK, DHS, and Epcot
There are buses from DHS to MK, AK, and Epcot

Is this a new thing? I was always told a person had to go to a resort to hop park to park.
Very good info tho. Thank you

 

[Alesia]

Is this a new thing? I was always told a person had to go to a resort to hop park to park.
Very good info tho. Thank you

There has always been direct park-to-park transportation.

 

[Lucius Best]

Is this a new thing? I was always told a person had to go to a resort to hop park to park.
Very good info tho. Thank you

Definitely not new, like Alesia said. Note however, in our experience, depending on the time of day, the park-to-park buses can run quite a bit less frequently. I remember some long waits for buses mid-morning. Now we always rent a car.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

But now, with FP+, you can indeed have a new strategy. You can hit park #1 in the morning and get the benefit of lower crowds for several hours. Don't book any FPs there. When the crowds get to be unmanageable, you leave and head to park #2. Only at park #2, you use your three FP+s to bypass three long lines. This works best if you are hopping to a non-tiered park (MK and AK). Whereas hopping into AK at noon in the past might have meant confronting 75 minute waits for the Safari and Kali Rapids, and a 45 minute wait for Everest, now you can hop into that park and walk on all three rides using your FPs. Now, I have to admit that I still have an issue with paying for the hopper upgrade just to hop once or twice in a 7 day trip. But at least there is a strategy out there that makes sense due to FP+. Ignoring all the noise in the echo chamber about the negatives of FP+, it is undeniable that FP+ is a huge positive when it comes to making park hopping worthwhile.

100%.

We usually do 2 parks every day. And often take a break back at the resort during the afternoon.

We can knock out (currently) most all of AK by 1PM if we open it, even EPCOT. Now we have 3 FP+ for that evening at either MK or DHS.

Those nights used to be far less productive. Now its TSM/TOT/ST and Fantasmic, or BTMRR/7DMT/SPace and Wishes all with minimal waits.

We even open MK (or DHS) and do most of that by noon, then hit DHS again that night maybe this time with RNR, or even EPCOT a couple nights, one with SE/Soarin/Pals and another with T Track instead of Soarin, then dinner/countries/Illuminations.

The change of park scenery twice a day is nice as well.

 

[Canuck16]

100%.

We usually do 2 parks every day. And often take a break back at the resort during the afternoon.

We can knock out (currently) most all of AK by 1PM if we open it, even EPCOT. Now we have 3 FP+ for that evening at either MK or DHS.

Those nights used to be far less productive. Now its TSM/TOT/ST and Fantasmic, or BTMRR/7DMT/SPace and Wishes all with minimal waits.

We even open MK (or DHS) and do most of that by noon, then hit DHS again that night maybe this time with RNR, or even EPCOT a couple nights, one with SE/Soarin/Pals and another with T Track instead of Soarin, then sinner/countries/Illuminations.

The change of park scenery twice a day is nice as well.

This was exactly our strategy as well

 

[J'Adore Disney]

You can save a tremendous amount of time by having your own transportation. We've hit all 4 parks in 1 day, visited over 20 attractions and didn't even start until noon.

In my humble opinion, park hopper tickets are only worthwhile if you know your way around the parks like the back of your hand! If you don't, download a map and study it beforehand. Have your Fast Passes all lined up. Make sure everyone in your party/family is willing to hop and that they understand all that comes with hopping (following the plan, dodging crowds, running to catch a bus, having your bag checked again which means standing in another line, etc., and patience, lots of patience!!!)

Park hopping is totally doable but it's a team effort!

When I go with DH - I don't hop!!! He doesn't like to take orders and he doesn't like to run all over the place like a chicken without a head (which is what my kids and I look like when we are parking hopping).

 

[eliza61]

We love park hoppers. Not sure if there is a right or wrong way to use it though. It's pretty easy for use, we go in August so most of the parks are open to 10 or 11.
We go to one park in the morning, cool out for a few hours in the afternoon and then head to another park in the evening.

We've never felt rush, we never run around and with parks like AK and HS where there is not alot to do, no way could we spend all day at HS. we'd be bored after 4 hours.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Park hoppers are a must for us. We rope drop one park (usually the morning EMH). Hop to second park to use FP+ either directly to the park depending on when we leave the first park and when our FP+s are scheduled or with a break at the resort for rest and/or swimming. Then evening at EPCOT for dinner and Illuminations or MK for Wishes. We usually fly so we use Disney transportation exclusively. With the park to park buses it never took more than 45 minutes transit time. With a resort stop the actual travel time is never more than an hour. I don't mind the bus rides. It is a good time to meet and talk with other guests. I like visiting with people on the bus because we all have a common interest, WDW! In the summer with long park hours (8:00 to midnight or later) an hour out of the day is no big deal. We end a lot of days at EPCOT because of the dinner choices. If you can afford it give the park hoppers a try. Cheers!!!!!

 

[JPKnapp]

We like the hoppers because it allows our party to split up sometimes without worry of forcing someone into a park they dont fully enjoy. Especially if you have large multi-family trip. It allows some people to go to one park and meet up with others for dinner. Or, in the case of our next trip, wife and I are getting a "date day" while the parents watch the kids at the condo. So MK or HS in the morning and Epcot at night for dinner.

 

[winthropf]

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are going from another park to WS in Epcot, you can also take the bus to BC or BW and walk to the International Gateway entrance. Saves walking through Future World.

 

[EmmaCate]

As several people said, one park in the morning, take a rest, 2nd park late afternoon, evening.

 

[Nohal]

Love my park hoppers and would never go to Disney (unless a really short trip) without them. We usually have ADR's at Epcot and end our day there so we start at another park. This year we went to all 4 parks in one day. Started at AK EMH did Safari, Lion King, Flights of Wonder, Dinosaur, and It's tough to be a bug. Since we were staying at All Stars it was quicker to get a bus to the resort than to another park as it was early in the day. Took bus to HS where we had FP+. Took boat to Epcot for ADR. Then took monorail to MK to watch the Electric Light parade.

 

[gzmtlock]

Ignoring all the noise in the echo chamber about the negatives of FP+ . . .

Sorry, but just had to say, I love this phrase!! Gonna have to file this one away - if I ever use it, I'll give you the credit!

 

[eliza61]

Op, also wanted to add that park hoppers allow you to go to another park if the one you are in is crowded. Believe me I've had many a day where the supposed "best" park of the day was packed. loved the ability to go somewhere else.

 

[margot31]

I found it very's for everyone. To us Animal kingdom is a half day for my husband and I. That is one day we get up early and head to the safari ride first thing when we go. We are normally done by lunch and head to another park. So its what works for you.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

For us, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdoms are not full day parks. We usually split our HS day with Epcot, either morning or evening depending on if we want to do fantastic. We usually go to Animal Kingdom in the morning and Magic Kingdom at night.

it works for how we do our trips but it's not for everyone!