There shouldn't be any additional charge to park hop

[BuckeyeBama]

For those saying that there are busses from park to park, are they direct? There are busses from parks to the TTC and to resorts. My understanding is that if you wish to bus from a park to another park, you need to take two bus rides, and there is a change of busses involved.

 

[Tiramisu]

If you want to see more than one movie at the movie theater, you have to buy more than one ticket. It doesn't matter that you haven't left the theater itself. Does your movie theater charge separate admission prices for each film? Do you also find that ridiculous?

 

[Magpie]

For those saying that there are busses from park to park, are they direct? There are busses from parks to the TTC and to resorts. My understanding is that if you wish to bus from a park to another park, you need to take two bus rides, and there is a change of busses involved.

Yes, they ARE direct busses. The only park hopping that is indirect is Epcot to the Magic Kingdom, where you need to change monorails.

If you want to go from Animal Kingdom to the Magic Kingdom, it's one bus that drops you right off at the gates of Magic Kingdom.

It's pretty sweet!

Edit: The official word from Disney...

While there are many ways to get around Walt Disney World Resort, here are several recommended routes that may be convenient for Guests who are not staying at a Disney Resort hotel, but wish to visit multiple parks:

Magic Kingdom park and Epcot are connected via monorail
Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios are connected via boat
Magic Kingdom park and Disneys Hollywood Studios are connected via bus
Disneys Animal Kingdom theme park is connected to the 3 other theme parks via bus

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/transportation/public-complimentary-transportation/

 

[Bullseye]

Ipse dixit logic. You have only paid for a days' admission to their parks if you say you have. In their minds, you have paid for the use of one park. If you pay to get in to one National Park and then drive to another National Park on the same day, you either pay two separate admissions, or you get a National Park Pass for much more money. Your admission fee grants you access to one park. All park admission costs more. One can say that one has paid to get into all parks, but that doesn't make it so. If you pay for a single entree at a restaurant, you do not get to eat a second one for free. To do that, you would have to pay the additional fee for the "all you can eat" option. You haven't paid for the "all the parks" option, so you don't get it.

Kind of like writing something down, reading it, and then stating it as fact because "you read it somewhere!"

 

[drinkme]

I do not remember a price drop for those not hopping. I just remember that the way that tickets were purchased changed and you had to pay extra to hop. I do not remember paying less the year after the change, and we did not hop. I could be wrong.

It wasn't that long ago when the MYW tickets came out. Before that all tickets were hoppers. Once the MYW tix came out they wre a lot cheaper if you chose not to hop. And you know how now it is only a few dollars more to add to a 6 or 7 day ticket? It wasn't like that before.

This all took place around 10 years ago.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The official word from Disney...

Thanks - so it is very limited, like I thought. Only 4 bus routes.

 

[drinkme]

It wasn't that long ago when the MYW tickets came out. Before that all tickets were hoppers. Once the MYW tix came out they wre a lot cheaper if you chose not to hop. And you know how now it is only a few dollars more to add to a 6 or 7 day ticket? It wasn't like that before. This all took place around 10 years ago.

Oh and the tickets didn't expire, either.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

It wasn't that long ago when the MYW tickets came out. Before that all tickets were hoppers. Once the MYW tix came out they wre a lot cheaper if you chose not to hop. And you know how now it is only a few dollars more to add to a 6 or 7 day ticket? It wasn't like that before.

This all took place around 10 years ago.

Thanks - I just remember that we had 10 day tickets the year before and could hop. The next year we had 10 day tickets w/o the new "hoppers" (we couldn't afford them), and our ticket prices weren't much lower, if at all. But these memories are old and non-specific, so I could be wrong.

 

[morethananyonex]

Thanks - so it is very limited, like I thought. Only 4 bus routes.

That's hardly limited. All the parks are connected, what more were you expecting?

 

[Allison]

How is it not fair? It's a component made available for purchase. You can decide to purchase or not.

It's funny that back when the tickets came with hopping, people complained because they didn't want something they wouldn't use and didn't want to pay for it.

So, no matter how they structure it, someone will say it's not fair.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

That's hardly limited. All the parks are connected, what more are you expecting?

My comment was only about the busses, so pull the twist out. As for "all of the parks are connected", try getting from DHS to any park other than MK as a newbie...

 

[morethananyonex]

My comment was only about the busses, so pull the twist out. As for "all of the parks are connected", try getting from DHS to any park other than MK as a newbie...

Okay. On the AK bus or Epcot boat I go. I think you are misinterpreting what you're reading. There's no connecting required unless you're taking the Epcot monorail.

All the parks ARE connected.

 

[FoxyGranny]

If I choose to park hop, it will require transportation either by private car, bus or monorail. The process of exiting one park and physically moving myself to another park.
As I am a Florida resident, I have made many trips at different stages of my life.
With young children, the additional hassle of packing up stroller etc may dictate my choice.
I go with the flow, and attempt to decide based on circumstances.

If I am visiting the World with DH...whatever feels right depending on crowd that day.
Trust me, if I am with a large group or small grandkids there will be no park hopping.

 

[Magpie]

Thanks - so it is very limited, like I thought. Only 4 bus routes.

That's not "limited"! There's only four parks, and there's ample transportation between all of them! Not to mention, there are other routes besides the recommended ones in the bit I clipped. Disney was just giving recommendations.

Where do you want to go?

Epcot to the Magic Kingdom: Bus/Monorail + Monorail/Boat/Bus

Epcot to Animal Kingdom: Bus

Epcot to Hollywood Studios: Boat OR Bus

Magic Kingdom to Epcot: Monorail/Boat/Bus + Bus/Monorail

Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom: Bus

Magic Kingdom to Hollywood Studios: Bus

Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom: Bus

Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios: Bus

Animal Kingdom to Epcot: Bus

Hollywood Studios to Magic Kingdom: Bus

Hollywood Studios to Epcot: Boat OR Bus

Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom: Bus

Proof (from EasyWDW):

How many more bus routes do you want??? The only hopping that's even remotely complicated is the Epcot/Magic Kingdom route, because it requires a transfer. Otherwise, you can take a bus anywhere you like. Even between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, if you happen to be a hobbit (and fearful of boats).

 

[mesaboy2]

My comment was only about the busses, so pull the twist out. As for "all of the parks are connected", try getting from DHS to any park other than MK as a newbie...

Leave DHS, approach bus terminals. Find sign that says which terminals go to AK, MK, and Epcot. Go to said terminal, hop on bus. Very much within a newbie's skill set.

In other words, all parks are connected. This is not difficult stuff.

 

[maxiesmom]

Leave DHS, approach bus terminals. Find sign that says which terminals go to AK, MK, and Epcot. Go to said terminal, hop on bus. Very much within a newbie's skill set.

In other words, all parks are connected. This is not difficult stuff.

As would be figuring out where the boat to Epcot is.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Thanks to everyone for the clarification about the busses. Has this always been true? I have not ridden a WDW bus other than to go to MK in about 5 years, and I swear that I was told by the folks at my resort on several trips that these busses did not exist. I was told to either come back to my resort or change busses at the TTC. Heck, I think that I remember reading the same thing on this web site a few years ago.

 

[flicx]

OP I don't like the hopper and no expiration date upcharges either. I liked the days when they came included in the ticket. Disney just saw a chance for a money grab and took it.

 

[morethananyonex]

Thanks to everyone for the clarification about the busses. Has this always been true? I have not ridden a WDW bus other than to go to MK in about 5 years, and I swear that I was told by the folks at my resort on several trips that these busses did not exist. I was told to either come back to my resort or change busses at the TTC. Heck, I think that I remember reading the same thing on this web site a few years ago.

The buses direct to the MK gate are new, those used to go to the TTC and require a transfer to MK. Otherwise, to my knowledge the direct routes between parks are not new.

 

[Magpie]

Thanks to everyone for the clarification about the busses. Has this always been true? I have not ridden a WDW bus other than to go to MK in about 5 years, and I swear that I was told by the folks at my resort on several trips that these busses did not exist. I was told to either come back to my resort or change busses at the TTC. Heck, I think that I remember reading the same thing on this web site a few years ago.

I don't think it's always been true, but I know it's been true for the last couple years. My husband and I have been going a few times a year lately, and we always stay at the Pop and use the busses. The Disney bus system is terrific! I sold my husband on it during one of his conferences back in 2011 and we've been using it ever since.

However, I'm quite sure it was different at one point and you're remembering correctly. Might have been a gradual thing, too. This link from wdwmagic.com: http://www.wdwmagic.com/transportation/bus-transportation.htm appears to be sadly out of date where busses are concerned. I have no idea how long ago it was written/updated however. A few years, maybe?