Opinion...How many days?

[Boatingmom]

I need an opinion....Our family of four is planning on spending 6 days in Orlando next April. We're booked at WL. Do I really need a 6 day hopper ticket? We may taxi to Seaworld, do a trail ride or mouse boat. I've been to WDW before. As I recall, we got to the parks early and were tuckered out by about 2:00pm. We never really used the hopper option. We were "dizzed" out by about day four. Should I stick with Dis and save Seaworld, IOA and NASA for another trip?

 

[Darcy03231]

I don't get the hopper passes because I've found we really don't use them. If you don't either you can save some $ by not adding that option. On our last trip we were there for 7 days and I got a 5 day pass which was plenty.
We took a day and went to Sea World and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend going. We also took a day to just hang out at the pool and relax mid-week.

 

[momandseandodisney]

our trips are always all WDW for 10 + days at a time, and I would never go without the hopping option!

 

[ldo]

Easter is 3/23---so peak will be 3/15 thru 3/30 for 2008. Every week further in to April will be less crowded. You will do fine without a PH at that time. The advantage to PH for peak times is that you can go to AK or MK every AM ealry, ride all the rides you want and then go to Epcot and walk around, or to MGM and do the shows which accommodate larger crowds.
We go every Easter week and got PH for this very reason and we really NEED them and going to MK in AM and then to MGM really works well for the crowds. But, as said, for next year, you should not need them for an April trip. Also, get the 6 days--it's not much more than the 4 or 5 day---and, if budget is an issue, then save Seaworld and Universal for another trip. universal usually runs a deal for a week pass--then you could stay near Universal or onsite and enjoy that one. Esp. since 6 days is almost the same price as 5 day--that way, you can enjo9y the parks at a leisurely pace and go back to your favorites--and if you don't need the extra day--you're not out very much $$---but everyone has a favorite and it's fun to ride again, or see a great show again for a few pennies.
We are locked into the week before Easter every year b/c of Soring break--I would LOVE to go in April next year!! Have fun!

 

[Elmo888]

I would definitely do park hopper (allows you to go back to your room, rest, swim and back to a different park for dinner), and I would only do Dis. I can't imagined being Dis-ed out by day four. With 4 parks, lots of entertaining dining experiences, and a beautiful resort like WL, I can't imagine that you will run out of new things to do. You could spend just one day wandering around WL, taking the tour, eating, swimming, etc. You could take the boat to FW for HDDR for something different. I understand that you can get tired of touring (it is tiring), but you could just go to a park and hang out instead of "touring". Hanging out at WS in Epcot is great. It is nice to snack and shop (even just window shop). DD6 liked the Kidcot Funstops where they color a mask and collect cutouts from every country. We had drinks and bopped around the shops, even managing to run into a character or four without even trying. Take your time, soak it in. AK is also a place to take it slow. There is so much to see. You can do all of the attractions by 2 or 3 pm, but there is so much more to just soak in.

If you are there for 6 days (5 nights), you could probably just get 5 day hoppers with hanging out at the resort for the arrival day or departure day (depending on when you arrive or depart). Or pick a day in the middle to hang at the resort, walk to FW, etc.

 

[Boatingmom]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I got Dizzed out last time because we were up early and toured from opening, straight through until 2:00 pm. The kids were 3 1/2 and 6 yo at the time. By the tile evening came, we didnt want to go back to the parks. This time I think We'll get the hopper option. Only because we're not renting a car, and will go to either the other parks or resorts for for dinner. Do you think I should get the water park too? Never made it to either one last time. Also... Do they still have trail rides in FW?

 

[disneyjunkie]

our trips are always all WDW for 10 + days at a time, and I would never go without the hopping option!

I agree.

OP, I would not count on all of April being super slow next year. NYC public schools and many of the surrounding school systems will have spring break in April instead of March next year. Spring break will fall during Passover. If that's the same time as Patriot's Day (New England) then the parks may be more crowded than expected.

We were there during that time in 2004. Many who were used to going then, posted how bad the crowds were. (They seemed fine to me ) I watched as many people were turned away from restaurants if they did not have ADRs. Add Grad Night to the mix (MK closed at 7:00) and the hopper passes were a must.

 

[StoneMaps]

For me, the park hopper gives us the flexibility to be spontaneous. After spending sooooo much money on the entire trip, the little bit extra it costs was worth it to us so that we could move about as we wished.

 

[mikamah]

We took our first trip in dec=7 nights and 8 days and got 8 day parkhopper plus water parks. We didn't go to the parks on arrival day or the morning before we left and would have been fine with 6 days, but the extra days are only a couple of dollars so it was nice to know we had that option. We did use the park hopper option several days and it was a quieter time of year. We'd take a rest at the hotel in the afternoon before going out in the evening. April is probably pretty warm, and our day at Typhoon lagoon was a nice cool break from the parks. If your kids like waterslides, they would love the water parks.
This past trip was the only time I planned to just do disney. On 2 other trips, before I had my son, I always planned to do seaworld, but stayed at a disney hotel and never got to seaworld. There is so much to do in WDW.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We normally go to Disney for 8 days. We are park commandos though and are there first thing in the morning and then there at closing.

I normally time it so we are getting to Orlando early (9am) on arrival day and that we don't leave until around 8pm on the day we go home. Our norm is that 6 days are spent in the 4 parks (with the hopper option), we do one day at TL or BB and then our last day is spent going to the different resorts to poke around and doing DD. Our kids would be lost without the waterpark for at least one day, so for us, its not an option to do without it. We love the hoppers cause we are never in the same park at the end of the day. Lots of times we do a day at MK, but we want to eat in Epcot that night..so that is where our hopper makes it easy for us. I'd hate to have to plan my meals or park days around each other. I think you have to find what works for you and your family. Everyone has a different touring style.

 

[Elmo888]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I got Dizzed out last time because we were up early and toured from opening, straight through until 2:00 pm. The kids were 3 1/2 and 6 yo at the time. By the tile evening came, we didnt want to go back to the parks. This time I think We'll get the hopper option. Only because we're not renting a car, and will go to either the other parks or resorts for for dinner. Do you think I should get the water park too? Never made it to either one last time. Also... Do they still have trail rides in FW?

Here is some info on FW - they do have horseback rides, but I wasn't sure if that is what you mean...

http://www.allears.net/acc/faq_fw.htm

As for the water parks, I would only get the option if you are planning at least a day to go to one of the water parks. I wouldn't get the option "just in case". Maybe I missed it, but how old are your kids? They might be happy enough with half a day at the resort pool (WL has a slide and my DD6 loved it - she hasn't been to a water park and doesn't know what she's missing!). It is just something different to do and if that is what you are looking for and you think that your family will enjoy it, then go for it.