Should I buy Park Hoppers

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

We haven't had a full WDW trip in 4 years, all previous trips have included Park hoppers. Sometimes I felt that we were park hopping just to make use of the hoppers

This trip I have planned around not having them, but of course now I'm having second thoughts.

I wanted to put it all down to talk myself through the plan and also to seek out your opinions.

Couple of things to note:
We are staying at WL for 7 nights on the regular dining plan
We are not naturally early risers and want to relax a bit on our vacation so am EMH do not really appeal to us.
We will be using Disney transportation
Family includes Me, DH, DD 9 and DS 6

Ok Here goes

Monday
Plane arrives at 8:20am
Park to tour for the Day - Epcot (rated a green park for the day by EasyWDW)
Dinner - Chef Mickeys 5:25pm
Park Hopping Option #1 - We probably won't head all the way back to Epcot since it closes at 9, but MK and DHS are open until 12am or we could head back to the resort after dinner and unpack and swim.

Tuesday
Park to tour for the Day - DHS
Park Hours 9am-10pm
Arrive at Rope drop and either stay until After dinner and then head back to the hotel or stay until 1pm head back to the hotel for a mid day break and return for dinner and stay until close.
Dinner Reservations - 50s Prime Time at 5:20pm

Wednesday
Magic Kingdom
Park Hours 9-12
Arrive at rope drop stay until 2, then take a mid day break
Dinner reservation Artist Point 6:20pm
Planning to FP+ the evening parade so that we can make it there after dinner.

Thursday
Animal Kingdom
Park Hours 9-7
Breakfast ADR at Tusker House 8:10am
Park Hopping Option #2
We have no dinner ADR so we could tour AK until we get hot and tired then head back to the hotel for a rest/swim, or we could go to DTD or spend the evening at the hotel if we don't have a park hopper.

Friday
Magic Kingdom
9-12
BOG ADR at 8:20pm
We plan to decide plans for this day the night before
I am going to get our FP+ for today late in the afternoon/evening so we have the option to sleep in, swim and head to the park after lunch if we don't want to get to the park at rope drop.
Since we are doing Evening Parade and Wishes on Wed plan will be to go on rides following dinner until kids are tired.
Park Hopping is possible if we have previously hoped to MK on prior evenings as we may take the opportunity to visit another park during the day.

Saturday
Epcot 9-9
ADR
Akershus 5:15pm
Park hopping is not likely to happen today b/c our dinner ADR is in WS and MK closes at 11pm

Sunday
ADR Whispering Canyon Cafe
5:10pm
We have now done all the parks at least once and MK and Epcot 2x
This is another park hopping day as we could do one park in the AM - ie. Animal Kingdom and possible head over for pm EMH at MK which is open until 1am

Monday
Flight leaves 6:30pm
Breakfast reservation at Ohana at 9am
This is not likely a park hoping day - we will most likely pick 1 park to visit after breakfast and we will stay there for a few hours until its time to return for Magical Express.

Thanks everyone for letting me get it all out
It looks like there are 3-4 days were we might utilize park hopping
One of the bigger challenges will be planning FP+ as it will take away some of the ability to spontaneously park hop

I am open to thoughts and opinions about park hopping as well as overall opinions about my plans.

 

[WillAustin]

You can hold off and add the hoppers at the park when and if you decide you need them. We've had trips where we didn't hop at all and others where we did it a lot.

 

[zabache]

You can hold off and add the hoppers at the park when and if you decide you need them.

I agree with PP. If you have never used them before I don't think you should buy them now but if they give you peace of mind then go ahead. I read of another person having the same doubts so you aren't alone.

 

[fallen_angel727]

I would also wait and upgrade to hoppers once you get there if you need them. I've only got them upfront on one trip, the rest we have either ended up not needing them or added them on in the last 2 or 3 days just to go back and do some rides again.

The time we got them upfront and the time we added them later we were travelling with first timers and they wanted to experience EVERYTHING and re-experience things. When it's just DH and I we go with the intention of adding them when we get there, but find we never need to.

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

I agree with PP. If you have never used them before I don't think you should buy them now but if they give you peace of mind then go ahead. I read of another person having the same doubts so you aren't alone.

Thanks we haves used them before, just haven't always found we got value from adding them.

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

I would also wait and upgrade to hoppers once you get there if you need them. I've only got them upfront on one trip, the rest we have either ended up not needing them or added them on in the last 2 or 3 days just to go back and do some rides again. The time we got them upfront and the time we added them later we were travelling with first timers and they wanted to experience EVERYTHING and re-experience things. When it's just DH and I we go with the intention of adding them when we get there, but find we never need to.

Thanks, I feel like by not having them I am missing out on something, but I also think it might force us to slow down a bit and relax, rather than just rushing off to another park.

 

[fallen_angel727]

Thanks, I feel like by not having them I am missing out on something, but I also think it might force us to slow down a bit and relax, rather than just rushing off to another park.

This is exactly what we end up finding when we go just DH and I...plus I find that if we have hoppers I plan to utilize them and have Dining plans and ADR's all over the place and we're rushing around. If we REALLY want them, like I said, we'll add them on at the end of the trip...that way we're only spending the money on something we're going to use rather then paying for 7 days worth of hoppers but only hopping once or twice