Park Hoppers vs Water parks

[cheerupem0kidx0x]

This will be our 2nd trip, last time we went we had the Disney YES program tickets that included park hoppers and water park option. We never used the hoppers a single time but we did use the water parks and enjoyed them. This time we are doing the free dining package so I have to get either park hoppers or water parks tickets. The water park option is slightly cheaper (like $21). Our trip is a little shorter this time so I do like the idea of park hoppers I just don't know if we would actually use them! How much time do you lose going from park to park? Is it easier to park hop or to take a midday break at water parks? Last time we just spend 1 full day at each water park and spend full days at each park so we never tried it that way.

 

[Iowamomof4]

This will be our 2nd trip, last time we went we had the Disney YES program tickets that included park hoppers and water park option. We never used the hoppers a single time but we did use the water parks and enjoyed them. This time we are doing the free dining package so I have to get either park hoppers or water parks tickets. The water park option is slightly cheaper (like $21). Our trip is a little shorter this time so I do like the idea of park hoppers I just don't know if we would actually use them! How much time do you lose going from park to park? Is it easier to park hop or to take a midday break at water parks? Last time we just spend 1 full day at each water park and spend full days at each park so we never tried it that way.

I don't see how it could possibly be *easier* to take a mid-day break at a water park than to just hop from one park to another. You would have to change in and out of swimming suits, shower, etc... For my family that would take a significant amount of time. Hopping from one park to another isn't always quick (you have to factor in the time getting out of one park, waiting for the park-to-park transportation, getting through security at the next park, etc...) but it does sound easier to me than making use of water parks if I didn't have full days set aside for that.

 

[Pkltm]

How long is your trip?

 

[Pkltm]

I don't see how it could possibly be *easier* to take a mid-day break at a water park than to just hop from one park to another. You would have to change in and out of swimming suits, shower, etc... For my family that would take a significant amount of time. Hopping from one park to another isn't always quick (you have to factor in the time getting out of one park, waiting for the park-to-park transportation, getting through security at the next park, etc...) but it does sound easier to me than making use of water parks if I didn't have full days set aside for that.

Many people take midday breaks at the pool, this is no different. We do it fairly often as the lure of the lazy river is too great for me.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Many people take midday breaks at the pool, this is no different. We do it fairly often as the lure of the lazy river is too great for me.

Ah, but then you're comparing a mid-day break at the pool with a mid-day break at a water park. OP asked about the difference between park-hopping vs. going to a water park in the middle of the day. Two very different comparisons.

 

[cheerupem0kidx0x]

I don't see how it could possibly be *easier* to take a mid-day break at a water park than to just hop from one park to another. You would have to change in and out of swimming suits, shower, etc... For my family that would take a significant amount of time. Hopping from one park to another isn't always quick (you have to factor in the time getting out of one park, waiting for the park-to-park transportation, getting through security at the next park, etc...) but it does sound easier to me than making use of water parks if I didn't have full days set aside for that.

True that's what I thought too. But I know a lot of people say they take midday breaks at the pool. Last time we went we stayed off site and didn't take any mid day breaks at all.

 

[cheerupem0kidx0x]

How long is your trip?

Right now the plan is 4 days at Disney, on the 5th day DH and DD will spend 1 more day at Disney and me and DS will go to universal. Then the 6th day we were going to do mini golf or Disney springs before leaving that evening to go to my aunts, but we could use that for a full water park day.

 

[californiamomofboys]

In the 5 or 6 times we've been to WDW, we've never needed to park hop. We do enjoy the waterparks very much and plan a waterpark day in between our park days, to use as a day to re-charge. I suppose if you've been to all the parks enough times and have seen and done it all, a hopper would come in handy if you only had say 2 or 3 days and wanted to hit all of your favorites in all 4 parks. For us, each park takes a full day (some more) to see and do everything.

 

[eyeblaura]

We've never park hopped either. We also had to buy one or the other this time to get free dining so we chose water parks and more. If you don't think you'll park hop go with the water parks option and even if you don't visit the waterparks you'll still have your golf and disney quest for disney springs.

 

[Alesia]

It generally takes 30 minutes or so to get from one park to another.