Reservation Strategy for 3-Day Hopper in March

[pokee99]

I'm ready to make reservations for Thursday, Friday, Saturday the second week before March, but I'm at a loss to know how to organize each day, and which park to start at. So much has changed since we were there 6 years ago!

We love both parks, and we're excited for the new attractions that have been added to both - being huge Marvel & Star Wars fans. So there's no preference personally per park. A reservation strategy would simply be a means of maximizing the limited time we have there. We'll get Genie+ and definitely pay for ILL rides.

My only "nice to have" would be to actually park hop with our Hopper passes. But, I've heard that on busy days, once you've left the park you had a reservation with (say for lunch and a hotel break) you won't be able to return to that park if they've reached capacity. Seeing as we will be there during a very busy time, likely still with lowered capacity limits, this has me concerned.

Would love to hear any suggestions on reservations and itineraries that worked for you during a visit when the park was really busy.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I would be really shocked if you couldn’t park hop. As far as I’m aware neither park has been closed due to capacity since the parks reopened with a reservation system in place.

I would probably just do DL/DCA/DL for your start days!

 

[SheSingsAlong]

Deleted

 

[Becca1007]

I would choose Disneyland, Ca Adventure and then Disneyland.

 

[Wedgeout]

With the 1pm hopping, deciding depends on what you plan to do the morning hours in each park. In the past was great, you could immediately move back and forth and didn’t have to worry about things like dining reservation times. After 1pm you will have the full access again to bounce across as many times as you want.

 

[clb79]

We always start DL and end with DL. So as others mentioned we would do DL,DCA,DL. It depends on how you want maximize or use the mornings when you can’t hop though…

 

[mdmost]

I would choose Disneyland, Ca Adventure and then Disneyland.

This is how we always did our 3 day trips. We get the park hopper in case there's something in CA that we miss on our first day and want to go back to try to accomplish.

 

[pokee99]

With the 1pm hopping, deciding depends on what you plan to do the morning hours in each park. In the past was great, you could immediately move back and forth and didn’t have to worry about things like dining reservation times. After 1pm you will have the full access again to bounce across as many times as you want.

What is significant about hopping after 1pm, specifically? Or did you just use that time as an example for returning to the parks after lunch?

 

[Steven G]

if you aren’t aware, Disney doesn’t let you park hop until 1pm. You are “stuck” in your opening park until then.

 

[DCcook]

I had planned on DL/DCA/DL, but I snagged a reservation for Blue Bayou on our second day so we are currently doing DL/DL/DCA. I'm not sure I should be revolving meals around the starting park (as opposed to canceling BB and sticking with DCA in the middle).

On the other hand, our last day will be a Saturday during the Food and Wine festival so there might be some upsides to starting DCA early. But like you, OP, I was considering just putting starting DL for all our days. However, I do have a little boy that will probably love all that DCA offers.

 

[Wedgeout]

What is significant about hopping after 1pm, specifically? Or did you just use that time as an example for returning to the parks after lunch?

The 1pm was used just to show when currently a hopper ticket at DLR becomes valid, for planning which park to reserve as the starting park.

 

[pokee99]

if you aren’t aware, Disney doesn’t let you park hop until 1pm. You are “stuck” in your opening park until then.

I wasn't aware of this! Thank you!!! When did it become a "thing"?

 

[pokee99]

I had planned on DL/DCA/DL, but I snagged a reservation for Blue Bayou on our second day so we are currently doing DL/DL/DCA. I'm not sure I should be revolving meals around the starting park (as opposed to canceling BB and sticking with DCA in the middle).

On the other hand, our last day will be a Saturday during the Food and Wine festival so there might be some upsides to starting DCA early. But like you, OP, I was considering just putting starting DL for all our days. However, I do have a little boy that will probably love all that DCA offers.

I missed making reservations right when they were released, so all of mine will be luck of the draw, last minute. I guess in theory, it makes sense to make all dining reservations after 1pm so you can hop to the other park if you happen to be in the other (reserved) park?

 

[Dug720]

I wasn't aware of this! Thank you!!! When did it become a "thing"?

Since hopping returned post-COVID. You have to make a reservation for your starting park.

So far the only time I have heard of a park being closed to hopping was MK in Orlando on October 1.