To Hop or not to Hop...

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

we took dd 7 and 3 at the time and decided not to hop. we knew our dd's can only handle so long traveling from one place to the next so hopping wasn't going to be an option when we were using the busses for transport. The girls still had full days at the park we were at each day and were non the wiser to being able to go to more than one a day. Possibly we'll add the hopper when they are a bit older, but for now we save that extra money and throw it towards doing an extra character meal.

 

[erinericmom]

When my husband suggested we don't do hopper passes I thought we would be limited but hearing all the good advice I think we will be okay without them. This was a very helpful thread.

 

[Mickey and PSU]

We always get the park hopper option. Our last day is always a whirlwind day for our family. We spend the night before mapping what we really want to see again or missed so far on the trip. Then, we hit every park that day and always end at MK for the fireworks. We usually start out at Ak, then go to DHS, followed by Epcot and then NK. The boys always like this day becuase they get their favorites in and then spend the trip ome discussing what they want to do the next time we are there.

 

[Rose&Crown]

Get the hoppers even at $50, it is less than $10 a day and compare that to the toatal per peson and it seems ridiculously cheap.

We always hop, almost always end up in the countries at night.

It is really up to how you do Disney. We attack it like a military assault and then relax afternoons in EPCOT usually. We will also do MK at night for extra magic hours for the atomosphere.

Of course, we have had AP's the last few years as we exceed 10 visits per year.

 

[gray52]

We always hop for a few reasons. 1. We don't want to be tied to a park on a particular day just because we have ADR there that night. 2. We usually hit EMH's for two parks in a day, if available. For example... MK for the early morning hours, then take an afternoon nap. Then it's off to Epcot in the late afternoon for the extended night hours. You can get a lot more for your money AND you're a little more refreshed, if that's possible at WDW. 3. Every time we've been to WDW there's always that one day where we like to just leave the park we're at for what ever reason and head back to MK.
You already know you're going to be over budget, what's an extra $100 or so?


1992 – Off Site
1995 – Dixie Landings (Honeymoon)
1997 – Off site
2000 – Villas at Disney Institute
2001 - Swan
2002 – CSR
2003 – Off site
2006 – POFQ
2007 – CBR
2008 – Disneyland (Hotel Del Coronado)
2009 – OKW

 

[bopper]

Are you a park hopper or a park plopper? Do you hop from park to park or plop yourself in a park for the day? Do you go to one park and eat dinner in another? Do you go back to your hotel during the day?

If you tend to eat where you go for the day, and you tend not to go back to the hotel during the day, then I don't think you need a park hopper.

Do you go back to the hotel or like to make ADRs but don't want to necessarily have to go to that park for the day or generally you don't like to plan things and like things "open", then a park hopper is for you.

Think about your personality type. Do you like things planned out? or do you like things open? Do you like things to remain stable? Do you like lots of change?

 

[dburg30]

So.... what's the question again?

 

[laceemouse]

We don't hop. By the time you make your way to the front of the park, wait for transportation, ride to the other park, get through the gate, and start touring you have wasted at least an hour of your day.

We just plan which park/which day, schedule meals accordingly, and see and do all we want at that park. You can also leave and re-enter the same park without hoppers, which we have done at EPCOT a couple of times.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you have plenty of time, you don't really need to hop. It's more relaxing for us to do 1 park per day. For the parks that don't require a whole day to tour, we go swimming or shopping after we leave. Dh gets a bit commando at times so it's good for us to end early sometimes.

otoh, for our last trip we only had 4 days and also wanted to do a water park. We could do our favorites at AK then hop to DHS for favorites there. If we couldn't hop we would have had to choose one or the other which can be hard w/2 kids.

Since it's your first time (not a list of favorites yet) and on a budget, I would not buy the hopper option. You can always add it on at guest services at any park.
I would definitely allow 2 full days of MK. Dont' miss Wishes!!

Have a magical trip!!