Park Hopper pass regrets?

[kissy]

We got the hopper on our first trip and used it once. Every trip since then we haven't gotten it. I feel like with the kids, it's easier to stick to one park a day. However, when DH and I go on our solo trip next year, we'll be getting hoppers. Since it's just us (and no stroller, diaper bag, etc) I don't think it'll be a big deal to hop as much as we want. I will also tell you, we aren't an EMH (morning) family so we don't get to the park until after opening. Plus the times of year we go the parks don't seem to stay open late enough for us to spend 1/2 day at one park and 1/2 day at another.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

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.

This is why I love how Disney allows you to upgrade tickets after you have purchased them. I don't have to make the decision ahead of time, and if we decide we want to hop, or want to hit the waterparks, or want to add an extra day or two, we can. It's as simple as going to a guest relations, a ticket window, or the concierge desk at your resort.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

This year yes, we will need it because we are staying for 9 days but next years trip will be shorter so we won't get it. It all depends on how you play. We like a 7 am breakfast, park visit, then nap, shower news park for the evening. It depends on you.

 

[littlebit0863]

If it were just dh and I, then I would definitely get them. Not enough at AK or DHS to keep us entertained all day. But with the kids, I am going to skip them. I think it's too much to skip them.

 

[Marsheliz]

We normally do the park hopper and always use it but this time we didnt get it. I just couldnt see spending 300.00 on it just to hop and felt like we might can enjoy more things we normally don't get to do because we are rushing to get somewhere else. And maybe get to utilize the pool more!! I wish they werent so expensive!!

 

[miami305]

Depends on your touring style. We would be bored to tears spending all day at MK. We love it, but can ride all our top rides by lunch. The kids wanted to do 3 parks one day. I reduced that to 2. I couldn't hang!

The bus rides and bag checks went quickly and were a good rest break for us.

 

[jennylyn_b]

We have always had the hopper and I wouldn't do it any other way! Even now with our DD who will be in Oct on her 3rd trip! We love hitting a park then grabbing lunch and heading out. Dinner might be at that am park or not! Mostly not. We love the flexibility and freedom.


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[DreamSweetsLove]

I think it we depends on your style of enjoying the parks. For some people park hopping is vital and I think for longer visits it's a really nice option. If you are used to visiting the parks or have small kids I personally don't think it's necessary though.

 

[ghtx]

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.

I don't buy the argument that having little kids makes park hoppers less attractive. Little kids need a mid-day break from the parks everyday, right? So if you're going to have to go back to your hotel anyway, you might as well head out to a different park for the evening. No extra time wasted.

If anything, it's when my kids are older and don't need a break that I would be tempted to forgo the hopper and stick to one-park-one-day, saving both money and the time of hopping.

 

[gripp35]

I don't buy the argument that having little kids makes park hoppers less attractive. Little kids need a mid-day break from the parks everyday, right?

Well, I do buy this argument because of the way we do Disney. We did get PH with a large family group and I don't think we really got our money's worth because people didn't want to travel as much between parks once we got there.

On another trip we did lots of park hopping, but also ended up feeling like we were missing quite a bit of other stuff Disney has to offer. We planned a vacation where we would spend either the morning or afternoon/evening at a park and the other time we would spend at our pool or touring another resort (which is great if there's a dining reservation waiting at that other resort!). Granted, this might have been more interesting because it was near Christmas time when the resorts are particularly interesting to see, but it was nice to see some of the spaces in Disney I hadn't spent time appreciating before!

Either way, you're in Disney!

 

[ghtx]

On another trip we did lots of park hopping, but also ended up feeling like we were missing quite a bit of other stuff Disney has to offer. We planned a vacation where we would spend either the morning or afternoon/evening at a park and the other time we would spend at our pool or touring another resort (which is great if there's a dining reservation waiting at that other resort!).

Good point. Obviously, you shouldn't buy park hoppers if you plan on just spending a half-day each day at a theme park!

 

[beachta1]

I love the hopper! We wanted to eat a lot of meals at Epcot, but I knew we weren't going to spend all of our days at that park. I think it is nice to be able to mix and match what you're doing each day.

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

I think for smaller kids it's also good to just spend the day at one park because they really enjoy the little things like streetmosphere, looking at the flowers, clapping along to the band playing, finding hidden Mickeys etc. it's nice to take it slow with them and enjoy the details.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We used it once, I believe, in 2002. Haven't paid for it since.

You can add the option at any time once you are at the parks, so we figure if we need it, we'll add it when we get here.

 

[kirstenb1]

My answer totally depends on what time of year you're going.

If it's a busy time, we always have hoppers, so if the park we choose is crazy busy, we can go to a different one. However, if it's slow, then save the money.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

I don't buy the argument that having little kids makes park hoppers less attractive. Little kids need a mid-day break from the parks everyday, right? So if you're going to have to go back to your hotel anyway, you might as well head out to a different park for the evening. No extra time wasted.

If anything, it's when my kids are older and don't need a break that I would be tempted to forgo the hopper and stick to one-park-one-day, saving both money and the time of hopping.

Depends on how you approach touring the parks with your little ones. Our days were typically 9:00 am until 3-4:00 pm in the park, no break. Our idea was to have DD nap in the afternoon but she ended up falling asleep in her stroller around mid-day. No point in taking the buses back when she was already sleeping.

We actually thought we'd bought hoppers and made it to day 5/13 before attempting to use them. At first I was really annoyed (we were turned away) and didn't want to add another $110 so late in the trip but then we were happy we hadn't wasted the money in the first place. We'd AlWAYS hopped so being "forced" to stay in one park really opened up other opportunities. We saw more shows, more parades, ate at places we would have "hopped" away from. Before we were very quick to get bored at Animal Kingdom and would only do 2-3 hours. This time we spent one of our longest days there and had such a good time!! I was very happy to NOT have the park hopper. We're doing it again this year... maybe when DD is older and we can go to dinner and then out for a late night at another park we'll add them back again.

ETA: We're generally strict with bedtime. DD was in bed by 7:30 every night. I know lots of parents keep their LO's out late. If that is your touring style then perhaps a second park after break or dinner would work for you.

 

[Fjobe]

This is why I love how Disney allows you to upgrade tickets after you have purchased them. I don't have to make the decision ahead of time, and if we decide we want to hop, or want to hit the waterparks, or want to add an extra day or two, we can. It's as simple as going to a guest relations, a ticket window, or the concierge desk at your resort.

Yes! From now on, this is the way we will go. I booked that trip before I was Disneyfied.

 

[Fjobe]

I don't buy the argument that having little kids makes park hoppers less attractive. Little kids need a mid-day break from the parks everyday, right?

That is probably true for a lot of families. My kids don't nap and don't require breaks (other than mealtimes, grabbing a snack, etc.), so I am looking at it from a different perspective.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We have always had and used the park hopper pass and we have never regretted it at all. I did buy the water park and more tickets once and we didn't use that part of it so that was a waste, but no big deal.

I do like the fact that you can purchase park hoppers because of the flexibility, but I can sure see how easy it would be not to use them. It really just comes down to each family and how they want to tour. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

 

[jess1662]

This is our first year to get one, too, and I've been worrying we will not use it and it will be a waste of money... How hard is it to get from park to park? Do the shuttles go directly or do you have to go back to your resort and get on another shuttle?