Park Hop During Value Season?

[lucincia]

Read this in another thread and thought I would get people's opinion on this.

We'll be on-site at the park for 8 nights in Nov/Dec, basically the value season.

One of us will have AP (if it has good enough room discount code). One other adult, one junior, and one infant.

Is it worth it to have park hop option during value season when park closes early? We just plan to do the 4 theme parks. No water parks or DQ.

Thanks!

 

[Cinderella822]

We've gone in the off season several times and we really didn't park hop much at all. I feel you waist a lot of time traveling, especially if the park hours are shorter. I did do a lot of park hopping last August, due to the crowds and heat. Needed a break. I wouldn't bother during the time you're going though.

 

[kandmwedding]

I vote no. I've found that even when we have park hoppers we generally don't hop during times where hours are shortened. We went in January 2004 and hopped once because we forgot to buy a souveneir that we saw. We didn't ride any rides or anything, just went it, got the souveneir, and went back to our original park. So, basically, my vote is no park-hopping for shortened hours.

 

[dolphindan1]

We go the 2nd week in Dec every year which is still value season....We hop sometimes....its rare....this past Dec....we left AK at closing and went to Epcott for awhile just cause we were not ready to go home....We also went to MK one night to see Spectro....Usually there is no need to hop...of course we always avoid EMH days except AK last year....So I cant really comment on how much busier that makes the parks that time of year...AK was still not bad a 25 minute wait for the Safari....no wait for Dino, ITTBAB or Rapids

 

[scrump]

You know, I've never thought about this, and now I wonder if I've been wasting my time all these trips. We always go during value season, have started to "invest" in the AP for the room discounts and always thought that Park hopping was a given. I think for us, it would still be a must. Ending the day with Illuminations, regardless of where we started in the morning, is sort of a ritual for us. Plus, during the later days of our trips, we usually just like to hit our favorites in each park, and obviously the Hopper option allows us to do that. Not sure if we've ever just leisurely spent an entire day at one park, but that's just us.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I had originally decided not to get hoppers (going at the beginning of Dec) but it was a decision that I have now changed. My reasons:

1. MVMCP will be on 3 of the 5 nights (Tues, Thurs, Fri) I am there which means that MK will close early those nights (around 6pm).

2. EMH's in either the morning or the evening. With shorter park hours I hope to take full advantage of these.

3. The difference in the price isn't that much - on the WDW website it is $223 + tax for 7 day tix with hopping and $199 + tax without hopping.

But of course, to each his own!

 

[DanceRC28]

I think it works best when you dedicate a day to each park. This way you get to enjoy the park without having to worry about running from place to place. Have fun!

Renee

 

[lucincia]

The thing is we're planning to go back to our room after lunch for the two kiddies to relax and take a nap before heading out to the parks again. But I can see how shortened park hours can put a damper on this. Hmmm ....

 

[becka]

We use park hopping during value season but we do so mostly because we always take an afternoon break. With little kids we find the afternoon break to be essential so sometimes after our break we like to hit a different park than one we visited in the morning. Plus since Epcot is the only park open late we end up there a few times in the evening after the other parks close. For example if AK closes at 5 PM we can still hope over to Epcot for another 4 hours which is nice. Also during value season the parades/fireworks are not every night so it is nice to be able to go to another park those days and just hit MK the night of the parade.

It really is a personal decision but for our family we like the flexibility.

 

[Bill From PA]

We developed the habit of hitting the EE park then hopping to Epcot every day when all our trips were taken during the Spring Break time, Disney's 'High Season'. This Jan. we were there the first 10 days of 2005, one of the slowest times of the year and still we did the hopping. By early afternoon we'd hit all the attractions we wanted to, the crowds, though small, still created some 30+ min. standby lines and frankly, we get bored after 4 - 5 hrs in the same park. Also, we stayed at the Swan the first part of the vacation and the Dolphin the last part so it was great to end the day at Epcot, walk to the hotel and freshen up for the evening. Dodging crowds is only one of the benefits of hopping, but those who are satisified with 'one park a day' would probably not benefit much from the extra expense in Value season.

Bill From PA

 

[KevinM]

This past February we stayed offsite at a house my In-laws rented. DD5 decided to stay home and swim one day so me and the wife went alone. We hit all 4 parks in 1 day, riding all of the "adult" rides that we couldn't go on with DD in tow.

When DD5 was with us, we always went to 2 parks each day. With Disney transportation, it's very easy to leave if a park gets a little crowded but you still want to play. Hop on the bus and head to EPCOT or MGM!

Also, in my opinion AK is not a "full day" park, especially in the value season when lines are short. We could generally do everything we wanted in AK in a few hours then hop to another park.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

WE too enjoy hopping to Epcot in the evening for or after dinner. We always go value season and the other parks close early. We almost always go to another park late in that day when we start the day at AK. So yes, I think it is worth it.

Jordan's mom