Park Hopper or not

[kshark1958]

We will be staying at BCV in early Sept. 2014. We have always purchased the park hopper option with our tickets. Thinking back we very rarely ever do more than one park in a day and were thinking about not purchasing the PH option and saving some money. Four adults would equal 240 in savings.Has anyone ever done this and what were your opinions

 

[jenninaustin]

The way we tour, we've never bought it - it's not worth it for us. I've seen some posts from folks who like the idea of doing RD at one park then hopping somewhere else and doing their FP+s at that park - and I can see how that might make sense for some touring styles.

In short - it makes more sense for us to focus on one park at a time.

I do think that if you haven't used it in the past, it's one area where you could sure save money - and maybe use that for a great meal or something!

 

[morethananyonex]

You are the first to attempt Disney without a park hopper.

Seriously though, if you don't really use it you probably won't miss it. You know how you tour, only you can decide if you need it or not. From what I understand, you can always add the hopper on when you're in Disney if you decide you want to hop. That's probably the better option if you're unsure.

For what it's worth, we find we use hoppers most when we're staying at a hotel like BC with such easy access to a park. Hard to stay away from Epcot when it's right there!

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Probably more relaxing if you don't get one. We rarely do. One park per (full) day and a great meal each night ! My kinda trip !!

 

[TNDisneyNut]

It's a bit embarrassing to admit but I rarely use it but always purchase it. I like staying in one park for one day. However, I DONT like the idea of not having that option. Probably very wasteful on my part!

 

[spleuchan]

We went a few years ago in early December and stayed off site and didn't get a hopper and didn't feel like we needed one. We'd go to a park without EMH at rope drop and stay until about dinner and head home. Light crowds and nice weather.

We are going to BCR this August and we are doing park hopper this time because we will do the morning EMH, come back to our hotel for a break/swim soon after lunch and return around dinner to the parks.

September has low crowds, so its probably not needed unless you are a big foodie and want to enjoy dining at Epcot most nights.

 

[DLBDS]

I plan our visit so well that we don't need park hoppers. The last thing I want to do is go from one park to another in a single day anyway. The ONLY reason I would want park hoppers is to pop into the park we're staying at (always the MK) in the evenings after dinner for just a little while. Ride the TTA and 1 or 2 of the main attractions if possible. That little bit of park time just doesn't make it worth the extra expense.

 

[NHDisneyFan]

I plan our visit so well that we don't need park hoppers. The last thing I want to do is go from one park to another in a single day anyway. The ONLY reason I would want park hoppers is to pop into the park we're staying at (always the MK) in the evenings after dinner for just a little while. Ride the TTA and 1 or 2 of the main attractions if possible. That little bit of park time just doesn't make it worth the extra expense.

This is THE reason we get the hopper and the expense is worth it to us. Nothing like spending the morning and early afternoon in AK, taking a break and finishing the day at MK.

 

[DLBDS]

This is THE reason we get the hopper and the expense is worth it to us. Nothing like spending the morning and early afternoon in AK, taking a break and finishing the day at MK.

I hear ya. It's just already so expensive that I can't justify it. I decided that the resort was more important to me. Those deluxe resorts are just so frickin' AWESOME. So, we go hard all day and crash after dinner. Ya don't miss the park hoppers so much that way.

 

[Mamiamjo]

We usually do purchase PH Tickets, but with the FP+ limits of only 3 and only 1 park, I am rethinking my strategy. We probably won't purchase them on our next visit.
Typically we would park hop only 3-4 days out of 7 anyway. We especially liked hopping to Epcot or MK in the evenings. Maybe instead of park hopping to another park we could just stay at the resort, or even go offsite for dinner or something.

My advice is to not purchase PHs and if for some reason you decide you want them later, you can add the PH feature on.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would also skip it, and if you decide you really want to hop when you're there add it on. If you don't usually hop much you are unlikely to miss it.

Sometimes we hop, sometimes we don't. For us it depends how late the parks are open, the resort location, etc..

 

[librarymom2007]

We plan so well we don't need park hoppers. Last visit we used them just one day so for us it is a waste of money.

 

[alicia080979]

We are staying at the BCV this September and trying to decide the exact same thing. The only reason I am leaning towards it for this trip is the Food & Wine Festival and being able to just walk over whenever. Will you be there during F&W Festival? That might be a reason you could find them useful but otherwise I probably wouldn't. I know if it weren't for that, we would be skipping PHs this trip for sure.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

We will be staying at BCV in early Sept. 2014. We have always purchased the park hopper option with our tickets. Thinking back we very rarely ever do more than one park in a day and were thinking about not purchasing the PH option and saving some money. Four adults would equal 240 in savings.Has anyone ever done this and what were your opinions

~We did the same thing for several years and we also use to buy the water parks and more too. When I learned that the park hoppers can be added any time during our vacation -- I stopped buying them in advance and haven't used park hoppers since. But, I'm always prepared to buy the just in case.

 

[kshark1958]

So I want to make sure I have this right. We just did a day at AK we are sitting in our room but then we decide hey let's go to Epcot tonight to just wander around. I can go to GS and say I want the HP added to our tickets for the same price that I would get if purchased in advance

 

[mjkacmom]

I couldn't do it, based on where you are staying. We hopped a lot on our last trip. We'd pick a park for rope drop, stay until about 2 or 3, head back to the resort (BCV), maybe swim, or head to DHS for a parade, then stroll over to Epcot for dinner most nights.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Simply because of where youre staying...at BCV....I would keep the PH's. You have two parks right at your door step. Its so convenient.

I normally stay at a value or moderate...both of which arent as close to the parks as BCV. We always get PH's but RARELY use them at all. In my case, I probably shouldnt have even gotten PHs. But if i stayed at BCV, you bet i'd keep em! I'd change my touring style if i were you. Park in the morning, rest, then a different park at night. I love the parks at night, its much cooler and comfortable.

 

[goofyintoronto]

So I want to make sure I have this right. We just did a day at AK we are sitting in our room but then we decide hey let's go to Epcot tonight to just wander around. I can go to GS and say I want the HP added to our tickets for the same price that I would get if purchased in advance

Yes thats correct. Ideally, its better to get it at the start of your trip (either in advance or as soon as you get there). That way you can park hop whenever you want for the duration of your trip!

 

[AthenaBolina]

This is THE reason we get the hopper and the expense is worth it to us. Nothing like spending the morning and early afternoon in AK, taking a break and finishing the day at MK.

This is why we do it too. Last time I didn't use the park hoppers as much, but because this will be our last trip for probably at least 5 years, we need to make it worth while. Even if we don't park hop every day, if we do it a few times it's still worth the extra $60 pp for us...especially our last day we want to do AK in the morning, EP in the afternoon for WS and then MK in the evening to use our FP+ And our first night we are using it for evening EMH at the MK, which I have never done before, and we are pretty excited to do.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

So I want to make sure I have this right. We just did a day at AK we are sitting in our room but then we decide hey let's go to Epcot tonight to just wander around. I can go to GS and say I want the HP added to our tickets for the same price that I would get if purchased in advance

~Yes! That's awesome isn't it?!? And, I didn't know this for years!

~Anyway, you can add park hoppers right when you're ready to use them. Once you arrive at the park you're hopping to -- you can purchase the park hoppers at the guest services ticket window just before you enter the gates. Have fun!