park hopper

[Louisianafive]

Is having the park hopper needed? Or is having the basic ticket good? We are getting 7 day tickets for our family of 5 and are trying to decide about the park hopper.

 

[Kahana-ri]

My family prefers the hopper option. We like being able to go to one park during the day and another for the evening.

 

[disneyohana]

We like the park hopper because it is fun to just visit whatever park you want at any time. You can hop on the monorail from MK for dinner at EPCOT, then go back to MK. I don't think it is necessary but we do always get a park hopper. If you don't have the money then I think having so many days on your pass will be good enough. We only have a three day park hopper left from our last trip and I wish we had more days, even if it wasn't a park hopper.

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

It's a personal decision. We get the park hopper because (1) It isn't that much more $$.; (2) You can utilize EMH during the day or evening and not have to be at that same park all day.; (3) EMH parks are usually more crowded than non-EMH parks for that day. With the park hopper if the park gets too crowded then you can switch to another park without using a day's ticket. Hope this helps.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We did without the hopper option once and won't ever do it again. However, like OP said, we like to start the day in one park and end it in another. I like the option of walking into MK and deciding its way too crowded for us and hopping the Monorail over to Epcot....not be stuck and miserable. If you've never used a hopper ticket before and you enjoy your vacations at Disney with that touring style, I guess there really is no need to change up now, but we enjoy the flexibility and would be lost without it.

 

[tjmw2727]

We always get the hopper, in fact for our trip two weeks ago just got the 7 day base ticket thinking we would take it slower this trip but by the second day we wanted to hop. MK had gotten so crowded that we left for a pool break. NObody wanted to go back to MK so we added the hopper option and wend to Epcot. We ended up hopping every day the rest of the trip.

If your unsure then don't get the hopper. If at some point during the trip you decide you want/need the hopper option you can just add it. The price is based on the full length of the ticket so you won't save $$ by adding the feature later.

TJ

 

[1st_trip4us]

We did not get the park hopper option last year and will not this year. I think part of it depends on who is in your party. We are 2 adults and 3 small kids. I cannot imagine being at one park and deciding to leave and go somewhere else. When we get to a park we are there for the day. I see the point though of if the park is unbearably crowded. And that's a good point for those going at peak season but we go in September when the crowds are the lowest so it's less likely to be miserable with crowds. If we were a family with older kids and it wasn't as big of a hassle getting around WDW (folding up strollers, dealing with anxious kids while waiting for buses) then it may be easier for us to hop from park to park. Last year I had the hopper option and then decided I'd rather spend the $150 or so and do Mickey's Halloween Party. I did not miss having hopper at all.

 

[mabenoab]

My family likes the flexibility that the Park Hopper offers. We often hit one park in the morning, then do a different park in the afternoon. If we didn't have the option, we'd probably be ok, but we like (and are willing to pay the small difference) for options.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[deejohn]

I have always optioned out of the park hopper to save money and because:
1. Kids can't last all night
2. we go during value season and most parks close early...no where to hop but EPCOT World Showcase
3. DW is slow mover
4. Feels rushed if we want to get to the next park...

 

[RllngRckBrw]

As you have read the park hopper is pretty popular and I cant speak to the benefits of it because I have never had it, but I can tell you it is not a necessity for your trip. We did without it last year and are planning on doing the same next month. I dont think it would be worth the price for us. We are one of those "Disney or Bust" families, as we get to the park early and stay almost all day (we are planning on taking a few mid-day swim breaks this year) and doing one park a day is fine for us. I probabally wouldnt mind the hopper for the day we go to AK but it is not worth the whole week for one day. I dont know if this helped or not but just tont be discuraged if you dont get it that your trip will suffrer.

 

[Tess'smom]

We always get park hoppers. I don't like to be limited to eat dinner in the same park we are in during the day. We like to take advantage of late night magic hours too. Also, Animal Kingdom usually closes very early and we head over to MK or Ep for the fireworks.

 

[eeyoregon]

Coming up on my 11th visit to the world and have never had, needed or missed having hopper tickets. I prefer to spend my time in the parks, not on a bus!

If in doubt, purchase the hopper feature as it really is not very much more $$ to do so and better to have them than not.

 

[eliza61]

Is having the park hopper needed? Or is having the basic ticket good? We are getting 7 day tickets for our family of 5 and are trying to decide about the park hopper.

One year we went to MGM only to find out it was closing early (3 pm) because a popular radio station (tom Joyner morning show) was having a family reunion fund raiser there, people were complaining because they did not have the hopper option and had to leave MGM early with no where to go. We never travel without the hopper. What happens if the first park you go to is packed? It's great having the flexibility.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Coming up on my 11th visit to the world and have never had, needed or missed having hopper tickets. I prefer to spend my time in the parks, not on a bus!

I can totally see your point there. If I were at the mercy of Disney busses, I probably wouldn't bother hopping either-too much wasted time and trouble. We bring our own car and we zip all around in minutes. So I guess your mode of transportation at WDW should be considered when considering hopper vs non-hopper tix.

 

[SnowWhite12]

We always do the hopper, but honestly I think we could get by without it. And you'll be there 7 days; so you'll have plenty of time to see everything even with just one park a day. And for people that don't have much money, the hopper option DOES add a big expense. My sister is going and not adding the hopper. She is just thrilled to have finally saved enough to go to WDW with the kids.