To Hop or not to Hop...

[nursears]

I need some candid advice. We're going to WDW Nov 9th - 15th. I've used TGM and planned our days out pretty well. I've made ADR's for the parks we plan to be in on those specific days. I've got 4 full days -- one for each park and a half day for relaxation/DD, and another half to wrap stuff up with what we missed. Keep in mind, this is our first trip as a family (me, DH and 5 y/o DD). We plan to keep it simple, i.e. no water parks or offsite adventures. SO, what I'm getting at is do I get basic 6 day MYW tickets or do I splurge for the hoppers? Like I've said, I've got each park planned for one day and feel pretty confident in our choices. I just have this hidden fear that something unexpected will arise and we'll want to go to a different park or change our plans because of some unexpected event. On the other hand, our trip is on a budget and I'd really like to stay within the dollar amount I originally allotted (Ha, good luck with that in Disney!)

Any advice from anyone who's been there/done that? Can I do MYW tix and still have a great time?

Thanks!

 

[imthatgirl]

first off you dont have to make this decision now. you can get there and buy the hopper option. infact you can add the option any time up until you leave.

to answer your question, we never go without hoppers. but, if this is the first official trip and you know you will want to stay in each park then you may not need them.

the only thing i would question is, is 1 day at magic kingdom going to be enough? i know youve planned a free 1/2 day. what if you have 2 parks you want to visit to "finish up". will you be able to let soemthing that you may have wanted to do go?

 

[drew64]

We never stay in one park all day. Also, you never know what cna happen - crowds, etc. We always get the hopper. You don't need a full day at some parks and others you can do some extra time at with a hopper.

 

[ToddyLu]

We also get hoppers each year--if you decide not to do this you can always do it your next trip. My DH is very much a wonderer(sp??)--we have no children, he does not like to stay in one place too long. I would think that your 5 year old would like MK best of all and DHS least of all. Take advantage of EMH. Leave your options open and wait til you are there to decide on Park Hoppers. Have a terrific time--it will be magical

 

[nursears]

Thank you! I didn't realize you could add the hopper option on once in the park. I assume that the hotel staff can direct me more with that. That will most definitely be our way to go. Thanks for the input!

 

[srwarden1928]

Personally I wouldnt waste the time and $$$$$ for the hoppers. However, if you decide, even at the very last minute on the very last day, that it is worth $50+tax each for your family to go to a second park in the same day, you can add the hoppers then. It will cost you exactly the same money now or later.

 

[mikamah]

We went in april and did not have hoppers, but went with the thought that we could change our mind and add them on at any time. We did not do that. We stuck with the parks we had planned for the days, and our last day was open to do what we wanted, and we went to epcot.
There is so much to see and do in each park, I found it easy to stay at a park all day, or take a midday break and go back to the same park.
It was about 42$ each to add the hopper on, and it can be done at the resort, or at any parks guest services.
Have a great time.

 

[karliebug]

we always hop, and here is why. I plan on going to EMH in the morning at whatever park they are at and then when it gets too crowded, we hop. Usually we go back to the resort for a break and go to a different park in the pm. It works for us.

 

[SGMCO]

This upcoming trip will be our 4th onsite and we've never
saw the need for Hoppers. There is so much to do at one
park that I don't like to waste time hopping to another park.
I plan my ADRs at the park we are at for the day and if we
can't take the heat we leave at Noon and return later for
Fireworks or shows we want to see, when it has cooled off
a bit. Since this is your first trip there is no reason to fork
out the extra money for hoppers.
Don't worry about missing anything--If you catch the Disney
bug you will be going back once a year for Vacations.
Have a Great TRip!!!

 

[reelmom]

TGM doesn't recommend park hopping. Fast passes are better utilized using his system of taking a mid-day break then returning to the same park that evening. We used him for the first time last Christmas, the first time without park hoppers. I was wondering the same thing as OP, always thinking that we might miss something. But I found that I enjoyed the parks more by staying in the same one all day. And TGM really works.

 

[dancin'girl]

Each time we visited Disney, we ALWAYS bought the hopper option. We didn't even think about it, just added it on. Our last trip was with our 2 year old DD, so we toured at a much less demanding pace. Well, after we got back I realized that we never even utilized the hopping option once. Not ONCE!!! Whatever park we started in, we returned to at night. Some nights (like after visiting AK), we just stayed at the resort and enjoyed the pool. There went $100 out the window! So...this time around we'll be saving $150 by not adding the hopper option. We won't even miss it. Since your child is young, you may not need it either. And if you do decide you want it when your there, you can always add it on. It just doesn't make sense to pay for something you MIGHT use. Now that I think back, we never really used the hopper like we should have. Money down the drain.

 

[ToddyLu]

I really enjoy reading these threads and learning how others "do " the parks. I can't imagine not have the freedom of a Park Hopper but certainly can appreciate the advice of those who honestly don't/wouldn't use them. I can see how difficult it could be trying to use Hoppers with young children. My 44 year old child (of course he is also DH) likes the challenge of getting from one place to another and seeing how many he can do in a day, plus he can take his photos in one park while the rest of us go to a different park. We meet up later and share a meal.

 

[shmedly123]

I have 2 dd's (4&2) and didn't end up hopping when we went in March and don't plan on it this time either. We'll probably use the money for the MVMCP if my little one has a decent nap the day of the party. Plus you are going at a time when the parks close early most of the time so hopping kinda wastes time on short park days.

 

[sleepingbeautyalways]

interesting advice

 

[sleepingbeautyalways]

bump

 

[sleepingbeautyalways]

just trying to get my posts up

 

[sleepingbeautyalways]

getting my posts up

 

[sleepingbeautyalways]

postings

 

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[Evil__Queen]

For us, family of four..last trip, ages 10, 24,23 and 41 (at that time) , never used them, but did have them. All ADR's were for the parks we would be in or places we didn't need to use them.

Some people swear by them, and we had used them on previous trips for fireworks, etc. But last trip was a waste of money for us. Maybe because we are too lazy, but we found no need to go to other parks then what we had planned for our daily agenda, but then again ADR's were set for daily parks or elsewhere, and due to numerous trips before, never felt the need to hit other parks later in the day/night.

If you feel you need the freedom, and your party will use them, then I would say yes, get them. But if you feel your ADR's don't call for them and you will be done for the day with your planned park, it was a waste for us.