Park hopper on first trip?

[Klayfish]

While I'm sure it might be for some, I can assure you it's not for all. We've toured like that for years and I can't say we've never had an issue but it certainly doesn't ruin any following days so long as you plan accordingly.

What exactly sounds exhausting? Arriving at rope drop? Not having a mid day break?

The exhaustion thing really is purely an individual thing. We're a very fit family. We can do several days in a row of not taking midday breaks, but I'd qualify several as maybe 3 or 4. And by not taking breaks, I'd say we can do 9am to 4pm or so. We really don't do 9am to 9pm days, pretty much ever. We'd just get too tired. It would definitely have an impact on subsequent days. Happened to us last summer. We had a very long trip, 17 days. Didn't do 12 hour days, didn't run around like crazy, but we did do a lot. By mid-trip we were just tired. I remember one day where we had plans and just decided to bag it. We did a few things, then went back to our condo to recharge our batteries.

We've adopted a few strategies to help avoid getting exhausted, such as not doing any rope drops, not doing a late night followed by an early morning, etc... But it can still be tiring.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I agree. Any time we rope drop we usually plan on early evening or a night without the parks and if we do go to a park, it's for the nighttime entertainment only. Again, it's where Hoppers can really help us out.

We can start the day in one park, leave as the crowds build then head to another park that night if we want for the night time entertainment.

 

[loves to dive]

We have always had hoppers since the first time we went, when my son was just shy of 3. There were only 2 parks then. We don't plan, never have, never will so hoppers make sense for us. If we are at a park and it's too crowded or we go back to the room to rest, more often than not we hop over to a different park. In over 30+ years of going, we have only spent the entire day in one park once and that wasn't on purpose. We ended up taking a DVC tour from Epcot and it took us back to Epcot, at which point we were tired and just grabbed something to eat and went back to the room. We had planned on going to another park after the tour but it lasted twice as long as it was supposed to.

 

[klmall]

Another family that always traveled with PHs! Our very first tickets in 1990 came that way (no other option at the time) and that was with only 3 parks and a 4 year old. Except for free 1 park tickets we have always had PHs. We spend lots of time on rides rather than shows and parades and like to choose many different locations for meals. It is only now as we are much older that we are slowing down enough to appreciate all that the parks offer!

Given all the above, today I would probably choose 1 park a day tickets if we were first-timers with young children and trying to plan a trip with all the FPs and ADRs required! One park a day will force you to explore whatever that day's park offers. It might limit your food options if you have picky eaters etc. but it is certainly doable.

 

[gorkt]

I got them when my kids were little and it was kind of a waste. The kids could only make it for about 1/2 or 3/4 of a day until they wanted to go back to the hotel and swim. One trip we bought them and never used them. However, on our latest trip, we LOVED them. The kids wanted to go morning and night so we often started early at a park, taking a break, then going to another park in the evening for the night time show/fireworks.

 

[joanchris]

We've been several times since 2005. Only had park hoppers for the last trip. I honestly was glad to not have the pressure of hopping our first trips. Once we'd been a few times it seemed more feasible to hop. I would say no to getting hoppers for a first trip. IF you decide you want to hop, you can always add it while you're there.

 

[minoh]

So many good points have been raised, I really appreciate all these different perspectives.

We love park hoppers but I think it depends on where you're staying too. For example, when we stay at Beach Club, PHs are a necessity for us because we're always walking into Epcot for dinner, to grab a snack, hit a quick ride, etc. But, if you're not within walking/monorail distance of a park, it wouldn't matter as much especially if you have your days planned like you do. Also, being a first timer with young children, it might be overwhelming to hop. I say to keep your plan and then add on once you get there if you want. Have fun!!

We're staying at CR, so being able to go to MK any time is pretty appealing, now that you mention it.

I have quite a bit of stamina and can envision going to a couple parks in a day, but I'm not sure that my parents or the wee ones would be as up to it. The weather will certainly play a role, and so will the crowds. If it's crazy busy than being able to check out a different park does seem like a good back-up. Good thing ADRs can be cancelled the day before. That way we can always see if it makes sense to have everything planned for just 1 park/day.

 

[minoh]

Also, I already feel overwhelmed with all the planning I've done for the trip (not realizing previously how much planning goes in to going to WDW these days), and can't imagine planning for multiple parks, haha. I think having this first trip under my belt will make future trips/planning way easier (if we ever get another chance to go).

 

[nacho113]

I personally do it although there have been a few days here and there where we do stay in one park. It just allows for us to be spontaneous and also I think if you wanted to leave the park and take a break and then come back you need the park hopper. I could be wrong.

If you are returning to the same park that you entered in the morning, you don't need the hopper (only if you want to return to a different park after your mid-day break)

 

[DisneyNB]

Thanks so much for all the input! We've kind of planned to be at each park for full days followed by dinner and then just relaxing for the evening. So maybe the park hoppers wouldn't be all that useful if we don't plan on any evening or night park time. I guess the only thing is that maybe grandparents could stay with the kids and my sister and I could go exploring in the evening if we did have the park hopper. Just hard to say if we'll be too tired by then. It'll be March so I'm assuming it won't be too hot then... Now I'm flip-flopping on what might be better. Either way, it's good that we can always add them on (and then perhaps we'd just add it for some of us and not everyone if they're too zonked).

It's always hard trying to plan these things in advance without any prior experience to go on, so I definitely appreciate hearing all of your strategies!

We bought the PH on our first trip and didn't "Hop" at all. My kids are 7 & 11 and we find one park per day plenty.