To Hop or NOT to Hop (2 days)

[ebenmax]

Our family will be in the Parks two different days. In theory, one full day per park. We are staying at the VGC so we have EMH. Is it worth trying to do EMH in one park and hopping to the other for general opening time? Then continuing to use FP system in both parks the rest of the day? Or does this cause too much confusion?
We are Mom and Dad with adult children and spouses.

Thanks for your help!

 

[mom2rtk]

We love hopping at DLR. But we never do early entry then hop to the other park in time for opening. I can't see missing part of the EMH to go enter the other park. We prefer to spend at least 90-120 minutes in the EE park so we miss the crowds that accumulate at opening time for the other park.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Since you're onsite with adult kids definitely hop! Sometimes the hours between the parks are different, so if DCA closes an hour or two before DL you can hop over & finish the night there. FP are easy at DL & you can pull a FP in one park then hop over to the other while you're waiting. We get much more use of hopping when staying onsite because it is all so close.

 

[ebenmax]

We love hopping at DLR. But we never do early entry then hop to the other park in time for opening. I can't see missing part of the EMH to go enter the other park. We prefer to spend at least 90-120 minutes in the EE park so we miss the crowds that accumulate at opening time for the other park.

Sounds like a good idea to miss the first rush into the second park. Since you stay 90-120 mins in the EE park, do you still get the advantage lower crowds
when you switch to the other park? Or are they both equally crowded by then?

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I think it also depends when you are going. Yes the two parks are so close together that it makes hopping easy, but on a busy day, it is sometimes such a time waster since you have to wait in line to get into the other park.

 

[Imdboss]

I think hopping is definitely the way to go, it just gives you more options. I would just stay at DCA until you've hit your highlights for the morning, grab a FP for an evening return time then head to DL.

 

[ebenmax]

I think it also depends when you are going. Yes the two parks are so close together that it makes hopping easy, but on a busy day, it is sometimes such a time waster since you have to wait in line to get into the other park.

Do you have to wait each time or is there a re-entry gate?

 

[ebenmax]

I think hopping is definitely the way to go, it just gives you more options. I would just stay at DCA until you've hit your highlights for the morning, grab a FP for an evening return time then head to DL.

This was what we were hoping to do, but wondered about arriving at DL around 10:00-10:30 if it would be super crowded already or can you still hit some rides with a minimal wait time?
We are trying to see as MUCH as we can and trying to maximize our 2 days w/out completely passing out! Lol

 

[rentayenta]

To see as much as possible in each park with only two days, my vote is to not hop. I am generally in the monitory with this one but it works really well for my family and they enjoy it. The parks are very close. Having said that, it still takes us about 30-45 minutes total including leaving the ride we just finished and getting in line for the other. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 teenagers.

Either way, you'll have a great time!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Do you have to wait each time or is there a re-entry gate?

You wait in the regular lines with everyone else, there is no special re entry gate.

 

[ebenmax]

You wait in the regular lines with everyone else, there is no special re entry gate.

Thanks! And are they busy all day or is it minimal once the rush is over?

 

[Imdboss]

This was what we were hoping to do, but wondered about arriving at DL around 10:00-10:30 if it would be super crowded already or can you still hit some rides with a minimal wait time?
We are trying to see as MUCH as we can and trying to maximize our 2 days w/out completely passing out! Lol

Sorry if I missed this, but when are you going?

My family is the stay up late and sleep in type so we never make it to park opening let alone any type of EE. That being said we usually arrive around 10-10:30. Usually start off by grabbing a FP then hit a ride with a wait of 20-30 min. A lot of people head straight to Fantasyland in the earlier hours before it gets too busy, since you don't have young kids that's probably not on your must do list so you should be fine. If there are rides there you want to do I would wait until the evening, that's what we do.

 

[mummabear]

I honestly cannot imagine doing DLR without a hopper, we just treat it like one big park.

 

[coaches24]

I can see it both ways. I prefer the hopper passes but if money was tight and I would have no problem with a one day a park pass. You are stuck in whatever park you choose that day but you might find it a slower more relaxing pace as well not worrying about running back and forth and such.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

I would suggest hoppers for the simple fact that I've never been able to fill a whole day in California Adventure. Even when I hit all of the rides (except for the kiddie ones in Bugsland), I finish by early afternoon at the latest and then head back over to Disneyland for the evening. I love the atmosphere of DCA, but it just doesn't have as much to do as DL.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Thanks! And are they busy all day or is it minimal once the rush is over?

The gates can be busy, off and on, throughout the day. Before and after parades can be pretty bad. Same thing at night, after DCA closes, you can find the DL gates busy if DL is open until midnight.

 

[tarheelalum]

Park hopping is the only way to go. The flexibility it gives you is key to a good trip.

 

[smokeyblue]

If your budget isn't super tight, I'd go for the hopping. We are pretty frugal travelers and we had never hopped at DLR until we had free passes from my BF's brother who is a Disney employee. We had hoppers day one and had to pay for Day 2 and got a one park ticket. We were pretty sad on day 2 when we couldn't go back to California Adventure!

 

[ebenmax]

Sorry if I missed this, but when are you going?

My family is the stay up late and sleep in type so we never make it to park opening let alone any type of EE. That being said we usually arrive around 10-10:30. Usually start off by grabbing a FP then hit a ride with a wait of 20-30 min. A lot of people head straight to Fantasyland in the earlier hours before it gets too busy, since you don't have young kids that's probably not on your must do list so you should be fine. If there are rides there you want to do I would wait until the evening, that's what we do.

We will be there June 1 and 4...trying to jog between grad nites!

 

[ebenmax]

Thank you for all your advice! Hopping appears to be the general consensus depending on the crowd levels. We are hoping early June isn't horribly busy but with the 60th I'm assuming all bets are off!