Please get all judgmental about this Newbie's plans....

[SplashMo]

I like your plan. Keep the park hopper. Maybe skip the arrival day. Instead head to POR and take boat to DTD for a sundae at Ghirardelli and/or hang at pool. I have done arrival day and it may be a bit much.. However extra FP+ at MK is a major bonus in favor of your plan.

I almost always do 9-12 on departure day in AK. Just avoid Kali on the departure day. Evening EMH are worth it for sure. I also like to see MSEP at MK and the fireworks at MK, Epcot and F+ at DHS.

Hopping makes a lot of sense. At MK rope drop for two hours then use FP+ and get 5-7 FP+ at MK.

AK needs hoppers. We usually go 9AM to 1PM and then hop to DHS for parade, 50s Prime Time Diner, RN, TOT and in line early for F+ No need for FP+ at AK. Keep hoppers for DHS.

Hopping to evening EMH is worth it...

 

[scrapquitler]

My only thought is - why are you doing so much hopping? Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to hopping (we always buy park hoppers), but you will see more if you dedicate each day to one park. It takes a huge chunk of time out of your day to travel so much - WDW is vast! I would suggest, at the very least, not doing 3 parks in one day. And I guess I don't understand why on May 10 you are starting in MK and then hopping to EP and on May 11 you are starting in EP and then hopping to MK? Why not just do MK on May 10 and EP on May 11? In the time it will take you to travel between parks, you could be riding more rides, seeing more shows or simply having a leisurely lunch. That's really my only advice - cut down on the hopping. It's a time suck.

OP has mentioned a break every day at lunchtime and then hopping to a different park after the break. We always do that, and it's no more travel time than if you took a resort break and then travel back to the same park you were at in the morning. I agree that it wouldn't make as much sense to hop in the middle of the day just for the sake of hopping.

 

[TGM]

My plan is to start at either Epcot or HS, depending on sick we are of Epcot.

There is no such thing as 'sick of EPCOT'.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

OP has mentioned a break every day at lunchtime and then hopping to a different park after the break. We always do that, and it's no more travel time than if you took a resort break and then travel back to the same park you were at in the morning. I agree that it wouldn't make as much sense to hop in the middle of the day just for the sake of hopping.

OP mentioned hopping to three parks on one of the days and getting stressed out over hopping and making FP+. If hopping is stressing you out that much and you haven't even arrived yet, I think starting with one park, per day and then seeing how you feel, is sound advice.

 

[NewbieMouse]

OP mentioned hopping to three parks on one of the days and getting stressed out over hopping and making FP+. If hopping is stressing you out that much and you haven't even arrived yet, I think starting with one park, per day and then seeing how you feel, is sound advice.

I think this is what we will do. I'm going to get the hopper but use it as energy/interest dictates while we are there.