Park Hopping - Observations + Thoughts 2021

[cjlong88]

If I start at park #1 and then hop to park #2, I wonder if Disney is going to allow me to return to park #1? For example, rope drop HS, head over to Epcot right at 2pm for some eating/drinking at WS for a few hours, then return to HS for the last hour or two to hit some last minute rides.

 

[lanejudy]

If I start at park #1 and then hop to park #2, I wonder if Disney is going to allow me to return to park #1?

My understanding is that a park reservation guarantees you access to that park throughout the day, including leaving and returning.

 

[evlaina]

If I start at park #1 and then hop to park #2, I wonder if Disney is going to allow me to return to park #1? For example, rope drop HS, head over to Epcot right at 2pm for some eating/drinking at WS for a few hours, then return to HS for the last hour or two to hit some last minute rides.

Since you scan into another park, you essentially lose your original reservation, according to DisneyFoodBlog:

Since guests will have the ability to hop to a second park in the afternoon if it has availability, we wondered if our decision to leave the park for a break would cause our “spot” in the park to become available to others, creating the possibility that the park would fill up in terms of availability and we would be prevented from getting back in later in the day. The Cast Member we spoke to said it would not impact our trip. Instead, they said a Guest’s reservation “spot” at a particular park doesn’t become “available” for others to then take advantage of to Park Hop until that guest scans into a NEW park.

So you can leave for a break, but not to come back after hopping, unless they have room at that park.

 

[yulilin3]

If I start at park #1 and then hop to park #2, I wonder if Disney is going to allow me to return to park #1? For example, rope drop HS, head over to Epcot right at 2pm for some eating/drinking at WS for a few hours, then return to HS for the last hour or two to hit some last minute rides.

all speculation at this point as Disney has not given any real details on how this part of the process may work. With the parks closing so early in Jan and Feb I don't expect many people trying to park hop at 2pm to come back to park number one which will close at 8 or 7pm and is Epcot

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We are at the Boardwalk this trip. I am hoping we will be able to hop into Epcot a couple of nights to get a couple of rides in and maybe grab some dinner.

 

[disneylover102]

I’m really hoping hours are extended for at least some days in January. Our last day is the Saturday of MLK weekend and I just can’t imagine MK closing at 6 on a day like that... I definitely want to PH to MK for the evenings but they need to extend hours for that to happen

I wonder if you could have a park pass for one park and then once you enter the park cancel your park pass and get one for another park? I’m sure that doesn’t work right now but maybe it will starting in January? Probably not but maybe.

 

[Skippyboo]

I got a Yacht Club stay at end of January definitely planning to park hop. Going to AK then later to Epcot or HS if available. There are probably some later hours than aren’t being fully used than the afternoon park hopper can take advantage of. I have an AP but if I just had regular tickets and staying somewhere that didn’t have close park access probably wouldn’t bother with it until the hours are longer. But being in walking distance to 2 parks definitely will plus park to park transport like MK to Epcot monorail is going to return

 

[cjlong88]

I wonder if you could have a park pass for one park and then once you enter the park cancel your park pass and get one for another park? I’m sure that doesn’t work right now but maybe it will starting in January? Probably not but maybe.

I believe the answer is no, you cannot enter a park, then cancel the pass and get another pass. The only way to park hop will be to have a PH ticket, which are made available to guests beginning January 1, 2021.

 

[disneylover102]

I believe the answer is no, you cannot enter a park, then cancel the pass and get another pass. The only way to park hop will be to have a PH ticket, which are made available to guests beginning January 1, 2021.

I meant a combination of having a PH and getting a new park pass. But still I’m guessing it won’t be possible unless they specifically make reservations for park hopping

 

[cjlong88]

I meant a combination of having a PH and getting a new park pass. But still I’m guessing it won’t be possible unless they specifically make reservations for park hopping

Ah, I see. A CM I spoke with last week told me that more information will be coming out that will outline the specific details regarding PH closer to January 1st, but I wouldn't be surprised if they create some kind of reservation system to make park hopping more straight forward. Could you imagine seeing that there's availability at Epcot, so you bus over there only to find out that by the time you get there that they reached capacity? Will be interesting to see how Disney structures this entire system, and also makes me glad that I'm not visiting until early February!

 

[sethschroeder]

Rumors are said to be more information but I have not heard anything other than possibly more information will come at this point.

I still think Epcot will be an open door to hop to at least for January when I am there. Even with 35% capacity limits that 116% of average crowds pre-covid. I can't see January or February seeing Epcot blowing away the average crowd size from normal times.

 

[sethschroeder]

I am thinking with the ticket deals coming possibly Disney sees a "excess" of capacity. I am thinking park hopping might be even more secure outside of possibly HS which even there after 1/2PM and people don't get a boarding pass they leave for the day or go elsewhere.

 

[sethschroeder]

I have been looking and between yesterday and today the start of January went from multiple days yellow to every day green for January. Previously you had the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 9th with yellow in different categories.

This seems to point to an easier park hopping experience for people as well if true.

 

[yulilin3]

I have been looking and between yesterday and today the start of January went from multiple days yellow to every day green for January. Previously you had the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 9th with yellow in different categories.

This seems to point to an easier park hopping experience for people as well if true.

every week there's a shift in park availability, nothing new. No increase in capacity has been announced but they can very well do so without telling anyone. January is a slow month especially since there's no marathon so it should be fairly easy to park hop to almost any park (other than DHS)

 

[sethschroeder]

every week there's a shift in park availability, nothing new. No increase in capacity has been announced but they can very well do so without telling anyone. January is a slow month especially since there's no marathon so it should be fairly easy to park hop to almost any park (other than DHS)

Except we are talking about the Friday/Saturday of the holiday week. No other days in December had the same "correction" occur. Yet every single date in January opened back up.

 

[Rich M]

Happy to find this thread. We are coming Jan 9th to the 14th and going to the parks the 10th to 13th. We went in October but are bringing my grandson for his birthday. We felt very safe in October but we missed the park hopping. We bought the park hopping so we can go to Epcot in the evening. We won't even bother going to Epcot before 2PM. We are staying at Beach Club. I can't wait to see what happens the first week and follow along.

We are going to MK the 10th and plan to Hop over to HS for dinner. I didn't even think about HS and how it fills up so I guess I will have to keep an eye out to see if I need to change my strategy.

 

[sethschroeder]

We are going to MK the 10th and plan to Hop over to HS for dinner. I didn't even think about HS and how it fills up so I guess I will have to keep an eye out to see if I need to change my strategy.

It will be interesting to see what happens. I could see HS having spaces open up as people leave for the day or swap parks after not getting the 1PM boarding group.

 

[Heather07438]

We added hoppers to our 9 day ticket and i dont expect having capacity issues Jan 8-16. Plan is to hop to EP 3 nites from Beach Club and 1 MK from Poly. Might squeeze in a hop to HS too.

Hours expanded 3 times in Dec for our dates so far, with a better selection of 8&9am openings and 8&9pm closings now. (And it looks like the week from 15th on is still due to get a last adjustment)

I notice on WDWs hopping page they mention that guests will soon be able to check MDE for most up to date hopping hours as they could start earlier at a later date. As it stands now, hopping still works for us because most days we’ll break 12-3.

 

[Rusty2rules]

It will be interesting to see what happens. I could see HS having spaces open up as people leave for the day or swap parks after not getting the 1PM boarding group.

The statement I have bolded brings up a question for me. It's my understanding that you can leave the park ( for an afternoon break for example) but still come back later in the same day. So do "spaces open up as people leave"? Theoretically, if that statement is true, I could leave, someone could take my "space", and I could still come back later that day, essentially doubling the attendance at that park. There's a serious flaw in there somewhere if Disney is trying to keep attendance down.

 

[Heather07438]

The statement I have bolded brings up a question for me. It's my understanding that you can leave the park ( for an afternoon break for example) but still come back later in the same day. So do "spaces open up as people leave"? Theoretically, if that statement is true, I could leave, someone could take my "space", and I could still come back later that day, essentially doubling the attendance at that park. There's a serious flaw in there somewhere if Disney is trying to keep attendance down.

Not that many guests hop in the first place, it's a small portion of attendance on any given day. Right now even less of them are buying hoppers with shorter hours and no night shows. It will be a small portion of ticket buyers and APs hopping, and most don't even do it every day. I really think by the time crowds increase enough for potential problems, WDW will have a system in place to deal with it.

EP is the most hopped to park, likely even more so since it's now the park open latest. EP has plenty of room to absorb hoppers before it comes anywhere near capacity. Attendance there has been down as well due to construction.

While HS may seem like a popular hopping choice, I'm not so sure about that. Instead we'll probably see most people starting their day at HS for extra shots at RotR and to ropedrop the newer headliners like SDD and MFSR. And many of those people will choose nearby EP to hop, especially once the Festival starts 1/8.

AK, not worried here at all for the near term. Having the earliest closing makes it less desirable to hop and plenty of guests call it a short day there already.

MK. If any park ends up having to bar hopping due to capacity that day, my bet would go to MK being the first experience. MK usually has the latest hours outside of EP right now, and it's also the park guests try to plan more time there if they want to accomplish the huge number of attractions it has.

Some have brought up ADRs. There is precedent for capacity stages to let those folks in, this may be no different. At minimum I'd expect WDW to waive the $10 CC holds if asked.

We have 9 day hoppers starting Jan 8 and have confidence it's not going to turn out seriously flawed. We'll watch next week to have a better idea of the process. We'll report back our experience as well