Parkhopping First-Timer Tips?

[CharleneTheDM]

Hi all, we will be in the parks this Thursday, flying down from Canada!

This is the very first time we will be parkhopping, so I'm a bit nervous!

There are 2 days (Thursday and Saturday) that we will only be in the parks between MM/rope drop to noon. Should we get MaxPasses for non-full days? Or should I do paper FPs?

What are your typical parkhopping strategies?

Thanks in advance---I'm a bit frazzled!

 

[Pamela M]

How many day's total are you in the park? What are you goals for your trip, Rides, shows, dining, mix.. How many people are in your group? What are their ages.

 

[Plip]

First, I would wait before making a decision about Saturday. By Saturday morning, you'll have used MaxPass all day Friday (and possibly Thursday morning), and you're going to have a lot better idea whether it's worth $15/person to you. So don't even worry about Saturday for now.

Thursday, for me, is the more difficult decision. Personally, I would do it. I don't like feeling like I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to getting on attractions, and that's kind of how I'm going to feel if I'm running for the FastPass kiosk while others are just opening their phones. But that's just me.

I could also see the argument that there's plenty of other things for you to get used to your first few hours in Disneyland without needing to worry about MaxPass. And if you do use paper FastPasses on Thursday, it would give you something to compare MaxPass to before deciding about Friday.

Apparently you have something else scheduled for Thursday afternoon? Will you have time to go back to Disneyland Thursday evening? That might make getting MaxPass more valuable for Thursday. But there's really not a wrong answer, so don't be frazzled.

 

[CharleneTheDM]

First, I would wait before making a decision about Saturday. By Saturday morning, you'll have used MaxPass all day Friday (and possibly Thursday morning), and you're going to have a lot better idea whether it's worth $15/person to you. So don't even worry about Saturday for now.

Thursday, for me, is the more difficult decision. Personally, I would do it. I don't like feeling like I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to getting on attractions, and that's kind of how I'm going to feel if I'm running for the FastPass kiosk while others are just opening their phones. But that's just me.

I could also see the argument that there's plenty of other things for you to get used to your first few hours in Disneyland without needing to worry about MaxPass. And if you do use paper FastPasses on Thursday, it would give you something to compare MaxPass to before deciding about Friday.

Apparently you have something else scheduled for Thursday afternoon? Will you have time to go back to Disneyland Thursday evening? That might make getting MaxPass more valuable for Thursday. But there's really not a wrong answer, so don't be frazzled.

Hi @Plip! I am headed to Universal's HHN on Thursday night, so def not back to the parks. Doing Knotts Scary Farm on Saturday, so only half days
But I'm doing Magic Morning on Thursday and the earliest Minnie's Breakfast on Saturday.

I'll take a look at paper FPs, haven't used them in a while! Thanks!

 

[CharleneTheDM]

How many day's total are you in the park? What are you goals for your trip, Rides, shows, dining, mix.. How many people are in your group? What are their ages.

Hi @Pamela M!
It will be my boyfriend and myself. We can be fast walkers if need be.
We got dining resos for lunches and evenings. We're doing WOC Dessert Party, RBT F! dinner for shows.

I would love to learn more about how to take advantage of our mornings, especially with Rope Drop and how to maximize the rides in both parks! :O

 

[smartlabelprint]

Hi @Pamela M!
It will be my boyfriend and myself. We can be fast walkers if need be.
We got dining resos for lunches and evenings. We're doing WOC Dessert Party, RBT F! dinner for shows.

I would love to learn more about how to take advantage of our mornings, especially with Rope Drop and how to maximize the rides in both parks! :O

Check out the touring plans from Disneyland daily.
dh and are going alone soon and we’ll both get MP each day, even out first short day.

 

[ashley0139]

No reason to be nervous for park hopping. The parks are 100 yards or so from each other. Very easy.

I would not buy MaxPass the days you will only be in the park until noon. You will rarely need fastpass that early in the morning, and if you do you can just pull a regular fastpass.

 

[Chickinvic]

No reason to be nervous for park hopping. The parks are 100 yards or so from each other. Very easy.

I would not buy MaxPass the days you will only be in the park until noon. You will rarely need fastpass that early in the morning, and if you do you can just pull a regular fastpass.

Truth! I remember the good old days when I could run around like a maniac early in the day collecting my paper fastpasses and wait until afternoon/evening to use them all (before they enforced the return end times) lol. Never bothered using them in the morning.

 

[lindyv321]

I also say not to get it Thursday if you are going to be rope dropping and leaving by noon you won’t really need it. You could purchase for just one if you though to use the Photopass feature if that’s important to you.

I would definitely get it for your full day then you can decide on Saturday if you want it or not based on your previous two days!

Have fun!

 

[CharleneTheDM]

Thank you everyone for the advice---Parkhopping was SO much fun!!
I think One Park A Day is great when someone is new to the parks, but once you're more familiar with the layout of the parks, know what rides/shows you wanna catch, It's definitely fun to be able to book Maxpasses for the other park for later and stroll over.
We had a blast and now I fully endorse Parkhoppers now too!