Park Hopper or Not?

[BK190]

Our trip is March 3-10. We are staying at the BWV. I can't decide if we need the park hopper or not. Please advise
Sat: arrive O'hana dinner. Spectro Parade
Sun: MGM Day. Spoodles dinner
Mon: Epcot Day. Garden Grill dinner.
Tues: Pirate ship for kids . DTD day. Flying Fish dinner.
Wed: MK day. California Grill dinner
Thurs: AK day. Boma dinner
Friday: MK no dinner plans
Sat: depart

I am open to suggestions about my schedule. We really want to go to Marrakesh but it is worth buying a park hopper pass to do so on maybe Friday? I have planned this so long ago and now we are 44 days out and I'm not sure I have made good choices. HELP!

 

[cdrn1]

I personally LOVE the flexibility of a hopper pass. It doesn't cost that much more, especially for a trip as long as yours. It's so great to be able to change your plans on a whim; we had rain on an MK day in May and gave up about 11a; the rain stopped and we went back at 5. It was PACKED. We hopped on the mono and went to Epcot and had a great time there with moderate crowds. To me, the extra $$ is worth it. We can go to our park of choice in the a.m. and go somewhere else for a dinner reservation or fireworks in the evening.

 

[MassJester]

I think I've gotten the park hopper option everytime, however I think I've only made real use of it when I stay at the Epcot resorts, particularly those around the Boardwalk. Otherwise I'm pretty sure I've just wasted the extra money.

Momentum can be a ponderous force.

 

[disneyfreak74]

We always get park hoppers. But then again I have a 3 and 7 year old that LOVE "Epercot" so we MUST go there everyday. They can take or leave MGM, it doesn't matter. But we love to be able to hop on over to Epcot and ride Test Track and Soarin' especially since DD3 is now tall enough to ride most everything.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I must agree. I'm going in April and plan on getting the park hopper. i don't want to limit myself to just one park per day. I may get tired of one or want to go from MK to Epcot or one of the others. I can't do that with a base ticket.

 

[bab31]

I want the flexibility. Go catch fantasmic and then hop over for EMH in the evening for MK. Thats one of my plans

 

[Robo]

You can do one park in the day-time, and then hop to another for the night-time show(s).

Animal Kingdom generally closes before the others, so I can do Fantasmic! or IllumiNations even if I've spent the day at AK.

 

[reelmom]

We are not doing park hoppers this time. We decided that we always miss so much by hitting just the high points at the parks. So we are staying in one park all day to see everything that we usually say we will do next time.

 

[Geoff_M]

I suppose it depends on your "style", but we rarely can limit ourselves to just one park per day for the same reasons others have already mentioned here.

 

[Tinker_]

I would get the park hopper- you never know how your plans will change.

Did you know If you book a vacation package from 4-15 to 6-02 you can get a free ticket upgrade! This means you get free hopper option, free admission to water parks, and free admission to Disney Quest. There is a min stay of 3 nights, and the number of packages are limited, so book quickly.

The code is ZEY for Magic your way packages.

The code is ZFC for Magic your Way Plus Dining.

I hope this can help someone save some money!

 

[reelmom]

TINKER- Very cute signature!

 

[bopper]

I think it depends on your personality. Some people like things planned. When they get to a park, they stay there. They don't need park hoppers. Some people like things not so planned. They like flexibility. They need park hoppers. What are you like? I am in the first category...I am not going to waste time going back to my hotel room during the day (we have older kids). I will eat at the park I have gone to for the day. Others like to do one park in the morning, go back to hotel, do another for dinner.

 

[Palendat]

If your plans are basically set, and you are wondering if Marakesh is worth an extra $45 or so, per person, I'd say no. We enjoyed Marakesh, but not an extra $45 worth. If you change your plans, and hop on a few other days, then go for it!!! You can always add the hopper option while you are there.

 

[farcus17]

The park hopper is a great option.. It might be something that you will regret if you dont get.. I have got it every time and have used it every time.. Not every day but at least a few times.. I will be there in March as well (6-12) and have got the hopper option because we have it in our plans to hop.. So decide if there is a chance that you are going to hop and if so i recomend getting that option.. It can be a great way to break up a day..

 

[Tasmen]

I would say get the park hopper. You'll be happy you have it once you get there. It offers a great deal of flexibility for very little additional cost.

 

[princesstigerlilly]

I think your dining/park choices look great!

We didn't hop on our October trip, and it was great for us It was our first trip and what sealed the deal for me to not hop was the fact that the parks weren't open really late (the hours during our trip were similar to the ones when you'll be there). We knew we couldn't see it all and we didn't know how the kids would do with the time change, so it seemed to be more laid back to just make the commitment to one park and stick with it. As it turned out, we got very lucky with or park/day choices

*If you really want to work in Marrakesh, what about an early lunch on your EPCOT day (and a lateish GG ADR)?
OR
*You could do lunch there on your DTD day, after the Pirate Ship, making FF a later ADR.
OR
*You could even move FF to your last night (an early dinner that works in a break and leaves you time to return to MK after your meal) and go into EPCOT for dinner on your DTD day. We actually did CM at 11am, DTD during the day and then we went into EPCOT (R&C 8p,) for dinner and Illuminations.

I think it would be less money to add one more day to your tickets than adding the hopper option you'd only use once. And if you factor that additional money you'd pay for hoppers to use only for that single meal at Marrakesh, that makes for a pricey meal!

Whatever you decide, you'll have a great trip!

 

[bopper]

The park hopper is a great option.. It might be something that you will regret if you dont get.. I have got it every time and have used it every time.. Not every day but at least a few times.. I will be there in March as well (6-12) and have got the hopper option because we have it in our plans to hop.. So decide if there is a chance that you are going to hop and if so i recomend getting that option.. It can be a great way to break up a day..

I am pretty sure you can add it at any time (of course you are paying for it as though you had it the entire time)...so if you really feel like you are missing out, you can add it.

 

[OhioBob]

I don't feel the park hopper is worth the extra money unless you're staying at least 4 days. Having said that, we always get the hopper as we love Illuminations, and every night of our stay we head to Epcot to see it.

 

[Aprilnjosh]

YES! YES! YES!

Then you can change your mind about anything at any time.

 

[tjmw2727]

I am pretty sure you can add it at any time (of course you are paying for it as though you had it the entire time)...so if you really feel like you are missing out, you can add it.

Yes - you can add the park hopper to your tickets any time during your stay. So if your at AK and its not working for you and decide you want to go over to Epcot just stop at GR and add the hopping option and head to Epcot.

Although we have always hopped I am tryring to take things slower this trip. Looking over our tentative plans we were only hopping one day so I switched things areound and purchased our tickets without the hopper option. This saved me 180.00 plus tx for our family of 4. I do have the $ put aside in case we do decide at some point we we want to change parks. If that happens I will just add the hopping option - no money lost. If we don't end up hopping I won't have paid for something we didn't need.

HTH
TJ