Park Hopper pass regrets?

[mad madam mim78]

Did anyone ever purchase the park hopper option and end up not using it. Maybe you only hopped once? Any regrets with the park hopper?

 

[RMAMom]

Never! I wouldn't go without a hopper because I like the freedom it gives me.

 

[graceesmom]

We didn't regret it. We generally hop a few times per trip. On our first trip as a family, we didn't buy the hopper option until we got there and saw how our days were going. I think we upgraded on the 2nd day and then used them a few times after that.

I could have a perfectly happy trip without them, but we will use them for catching evening entertainment at a park we didn't go to in the am. or for dinners in Epcot.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I guess a lot would depend on your touring plan. We also like the flexibility and frequently head to another park after our daily break. We are also not planners. I guess if you plan your schedule ahead of time, you can easily do without the extra expense.

It may also depend on the dynamics of your family/group. When my children were younger, they were with me at whichever park I was at. Then as the older two got older sometimes they would like to split off and revisit a park that we had already visited, especially if it meant they would have another go at some of the thrill rides like Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, etc. They would head to that park while we would head to MK because that is where our youngest would always want to be. So our party would be doing split parks during the day, but then after meeting back up and taking our break, we like to head to whatever nightly entertainment or dinner together. So if we spent the day at MK and then wanted to head to Fantasmic at HS, it would be move convenient having the hopper option.

 

[usd2bmd]

when planning a trip to Disney, a Park hopper is just part of it for us.
we would rather save up until we can stay in a moderate and go with the Park Hopper, water park and more option.

 

[scootch]

We are MK lovers.... and stayed at BLT. Went to MK 6 out of 8 nights with the hopper and really loved spending a week at MK. For us, the hopper was sure worth it. Missed the lines at the other places.

 

[crisi]

If you think you'll regret it, buy your pass without it and add it later.

We always have it, love it, and wouldn't dream of dropping it. We have "morning parks" and "evening parks" and often hop for dinner reservations (the other nice thing about hoppers is you don't need to plan your days around your meals).

 

[Maggie'sMom]

On one trip, I went ahead and got the hopper option when I booked our reservation. I used it on my ticket on for a couple nights when DD went to a kids' club, but she never hopped. In hindsight, I'd wished that I had waited to add the option only if we needed it.

The next trip I bought just the base tickets, but ended up adding the hopper option on the second day of our trip. We hopped a lot that trip.

 

[shaylyn]

It was such a hassle for us to unfold strollers, carry all of our gear while holding strollers and managing kids, and then waste the time going back and forth between parks.

We only used our hopper once during our 2004 trip and we didn't get it at all on our 2nd trip last year.

 

[SweetMissy]

We did the park hopper option for our first trip but never again...for us it was a waste of the extra money, we did hop just 1 day. For our other trips, we were busy all day in each park. I just wouldn't want to waste the time standing in line for a bus, loading everyone on, etc.

 

[klineyqueen]

Love the hopper. We generally start out day at the park with morning EMH then hop on out of there around lunch.

 

[mad madam mim78]

It was such a hassle for us to unfold strollers, carry all of our gear while holding strollers and managing kids, and then waste the time going back and forth between parks.

We only used our hopper once during our 2004 trip and we didn't get it at all on our 2nd trip last year.

That's kind of the feeling I'm getting about it. With the little ones it might be too much. Maybe when they're a little older it will be way better.

 

[disneyfreak18]

My family and I couldn't live without the Park Hopper. We got to at least two parks every single day we are there, sometimes even three. We love how we can have a lot more freedom on how we spend our days. We go to the park that has extra magic hours in the morning and usually end at the park that has extra magic hours at night. It also allows us to go catch the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom after spending the day at Epcot and other things like that. It is also nice that you aren't tied to one park all day. I know that personally I couldn't spend an entire day at Animal Kingdom so it's nice to not have to feel obligated to spend that much time there.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I just posted about hoppers on another thread! I used to always want them! I felt like we needed to have them for the flexibility, but last year we didnt get them and I think our trip was MORE relaxing. We didnt get them again for our next trip. Not saying I never will, but I didn't miss them AT ALL!

 

[ktmo]

Our first we had hoppers and I don't think we hopped more than once. The girls were little and we were staying at ASMu. The next trip we stayed at BCV and hopped daily, usually in the evening to Epcot. Totally worth it. This last trip we didn't have hoppers and didn't miss it. Although, we did have water parks and more. So, kinda hopped with them BB and then Epcot, AK then Disney Quest. So, if we didnt have WP&M we would have got hoppers.

 

[Neelloc]

Yes, we have regretted getting hoppers.

DH and I always hop when it's just the 2 of us. So, when I made our iterary for our first big family trip for last year, of course I bought them beforehand.

We used them ONCE! (9 days/8 nights.)

My girls (8 and 6 at the time) were perfectly happy to get to a park at rope drop and stay all day, eat dinner at that park and then go back to the hotel at park closing to swim before bedtime.

The only day we used them was our AK day. We hopped over to MK that night so we could see Wishes. We were there the week after Labor Day when the MK closed at 7pm due to NOJ and MNNSHP. And, we did go to a MNNSHP as well, so we saw Hallowishes.

I would say if you're not sure, wait to add them when you are there and know you'll need and use them. I could have used that $200 for something else that trip.

 

[Fjobe]

Last summer we got park hoppers and water park option and didnt use any of it! I never regretted it because I probably would have been wishing we had it if we hadn't purchased it. With our kids' ages (2,4,7) and the length of our trip, we just didn't have time to squeeze anymore in. We also love downtown Disney, so when a lot of families may be returning to parks, we head to DTD.

This summer we did the base tickets, and it was great for us. I plan on doing the same until the kids are a bit older. When they are old enough to roam on their own, we will for sure get hoppers.

 

[design_mom]

Did anyone ever purchase the park hopper option and end up not using it. Maybe you only hopped once? Any regrets with the park hopper?

I won't say I "regret" buying the park hoppers. I don't regret it, but probably if you look at it strictly financially, we don't get a lot of value.

We usually only hop once or twice a trip. On our last trip, we didn't hop at all.(Hopping takes time out of your day and if we plan well, we don't need to hop much.) However, I *love* having the option/flexibility... So park hoppers are still worth it for us.

 

[tmerz]

We love the park hopper...we got it again for our trip in a few weeks. Love the freedom and not being stuck at just one park. Plus if we take an afternoon break, we can go back to whatever park the kids want to. Definitely worth the $$. I would rather skimp somewhere else in order to have enough for the park hopper! We don't get the waterpark option...I am not a fan of waterparks (too overwhelming with three kids and water!), if kids want to go swimming we just go back and enjoy our hotel pool!

 

[RachaelA]

Our very first trip we got didn't use them. We've used them every time we've bought them since then. Our last trip in December 2010, we didn't get them and I didn't miss them.

We have APs now, but I think if we didn't, we probably should skip the PH option because we aren't going to going all over with a baby.