Park hop or not to park hop??

[Monk6552]

Hi all,

My husband and I will be going to Disney May 4-7th. We have have 2.5 park days - Thursday May 4, Saturday May 6, and Sunday May 7 until about 2 PM. I’m trying to decide if we should get park hopper and what starting park to reserve which day. A few notes - right now we aren’t planning to do HS at all. We did it twice last time and I know it will be packed on May 4. My husband also hasn’t been to AK and really wants to go - right now I have us there for a half day which I suspect is enough but open to suggestions. We definitely will want to spend a day/ part of a day at flower and garden and he really wants to do Guardians. I also want to see fireworks at both Epcot and MK. Below is what I’m considering:

Thursday, 5/4
Likely start with MK. We really want to do Tron and my guess is Thursday will be the lightest day at MK.

Saturday, 5/6
Likely start with Epcot. I do know it will be flower and garden then - and I’m curious how packed it gets on the weekend especially with locals??

Sunday, 5/7
Likely do AK all day.

I think we could get away without park hopper but we are also staying at Yacht club so it might be nice to be able to decide to come back midday - especially for Epcot. I also wonder if it makes sense to do MK for first half of 5/4 and then go to Epcot midday and then back to MK at night - or vice versa on Saturday (start at Epcot then go to MK at night when Epcot is busier because of flower and garden).

Any thoughts are much appreciated!

 

[Genie+]

Is there a reason to skip Fri? I get the draw for a hopper while staying YC but there’s only so much you can do in 2.5 days and using the hopper will cost time. Adding another day to the ticket instead could work too. Do a full day at MK/EP/AK and the short day use to double up a park. Epcot will be somewhat better on Fri compared to Sat as well.

 

[WEDcryoHEAD]

If you don't add that extra day than I would recommend getting he hopper.

 

[Monk6552]

Is there a reason to skip Fri? I get the draw for a hopper while staying YC but there’s only so much you can do in 2.5 days and using the hopper will cost time. Adding another day to the ticket instead could work too. Do a full day at MK/EP/AK and the short day use to double up a park. Epcot will be somewhat better on Fri compared to Sat as well.

Unfortunately I have to work on Friday and can't log off until 4:00 PM or so, so we were going to do the evening at Disney Springs since I don't think it's worth spending the money for less than half a day at the parks.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm pro hopper, we have always gotten it and will always do so. Especially for shorter trips, it really comes in handy. With your schedule and keeping your park reservations, a day with hoppers might be.

MK until around 1 or 2, go back to the resort and rest, walk over to Epcot to do some booths and maybe a few rides. I'm assuming that time of year, Epcot and MK will be open until at least 10 and HS 9, AK maybe 8. So wander up to the front of Epcot, snacking along the way, hop on a ride or two at the front and either go back to MK if you want some night time fun or stick to Epcot.

Epcot - you've knocked out a booth or two and a ride or two the night before. Start your day there and head to Remy then the front of the park until the booths open. Ride a few more rides, wander back around to the IG and back to YC for a break. Now you've probably hit most rides at Epcot and a number of booths, you've hit a number of rides and maybe a night time show at MK. You can either walk back through Epcot to catch the monorail to MK or catch a bus to MK or (what I'd do) walk over HS for some night time fun there or even go over to AK to catch a ride or two there to get a head start on the next day.

AK - By now you have knocked out most if not all rides at Epcot and a number of rides at MK. Take your time at AK. It's not all about the rides here, there are a number of little trails that wander around exhibits and the park is full of just beautiful things to look at. Maybe grab a walk up reservation at Nomad Lounge (you can do this on MDE or in person).

A lot of people feel that hopping wastes too much time travelling between parks but I really don't see it that way. I always use Disney transportation (or if staying in the Epcot resorts walk between Epcot and HS) and always take a hour or two afternoon break back at the pool/room and still get everything done I want to. For short trips you just have to know you aren't going to get as much done as you would a longer trip. I can do everything I want in all four parks in a 3 full day trip and most of it even in a two day trip. And I'm not exhausted since I always take a break.

 

[Her Dotness]

Epcot can get pretty hectic on weekends during the festivals since Disney offers special weekend-only events every so often, too. Not nearly as crowded as a more cramped area like Main Street but enough that you’re weaving about to get through.

I doubt any of us can offer much useful advice. I think it depends largely on how much being able to go to other parks matters to you.

For us, the PH is essential because we like to make dinner ADRs wherever we want to eat. I like to wander about when DH naps in the afternoon and would hate being stuck with a single park all day. I often head to a park to shop for something specific I recall seeing when there earlier or to go to a shop in another park.

We both are hoping this silly PH-after-2:00 limit vanishes soon. Oftentimes, we’ve gotten to a park and found it too crowded or just wanted to go elsewhere on a whim. (Ok, whine over.) Seriously though, how much that may restrict your use of the PH could really be a drawback with such a short stay.

 

[Monk6552]

Thank you all this is incredibly helpful. I think I’m leaning towards getting PH - I just really like the idea of the flexibility though recognize that we may not be able to use it to its maximum potential.

 

[Genie+]

Thank you all this is incredibly helpful. I think I’m leaning towards getting PH - I just really like the idea of the flexibility though recognize that we may not be able to use it to its maximum potential.

Hoppers are really nice to have - especially from YC. Depending how hard you want to go, you could take the boat over and catch the 10pm showing of Fantasmic after watching Harmonious at Epcot.