To 'Hopper' or not to 'Hopper'

[WanderlustNZ]

Hi all,

I need some advice please from the Disneyland Veterans amongst you.

My family and I have 2 full days at the DLR. One is a Sunday (which also happens to be the last official day of the Gay Days weekend) and the other is the following Monday.

If past Gay Day schedules are anything to go by, the participants will all be visiting DCA on Sunday. So to go in the opposite direction of the crowds, I was thinking we'd visit DL that day. We also definitely want to be in DL on Sunday night as it will be our only chance to catch the fireworks and/or Fantasmic (at this time of the year they don't seem to show on Mondays).

On the Monday we'll visit DCA, and I'll book a World of Colour Dining Package for that night.

With this in mind, am I going to be annoyed with myself if I don't book Hopper tickets? They are $35 more p/p, which, for the four of us, adds up.

I realise that DL will be quieter on Monday than Sunday, and it might be nice to pop over during the middle of the day and do a few favourite rides (Space mountain etc), but realistically, would we have time to do this? I've never been to DCA before and on paper it appears to be a full day park.

I was thinking that if we didn't buy the Hoppers, I might be able to justify the Fantasmic Dessert Package on the Sunday night.

What do you think?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wanderlust - I've only ever once done DLR withOUT park hoppers. That was in the days when DCA had only just opened and I had no intention of heading there at all.

Every other time, I've gone with park hoppers and I've just walked back and forth across the promenade at least twice a day. I find that with the ease of going back and forth that the hopper tickets give me the flexibility I like depending on how individual rides are going and also depending on when I claim FP tickets

That said, I've never gone with Gay Days on. Perhaps you could play this both ways. You could start of with the single park per day tickets. I expect that you'll be able upgrade your ticket on the spot at Guest Relations; if you choose to.

The Fantasmic Dessert Package at Disneyland has inconsistent reviews. It depends on where you end up getting a seat and I believe in order for you to get a decent seat, one of your party needs to get to the location early and stakeout the seats.

 

[ssour]

We don't usually get hoppers, I prefer to save the money. I think there's enough to do in DCA if you're planning on seeing Aladdin and the parade. I'd also suggest getting the 1 park per day tickets and then adding the hopper when or if you decide you'll need it. You'll know after the Sunday if you want more time in DL for anything.

 

[dollarmite]

I won't deny that the extra $140 is a lot of money, but personally I'd get the hoppers as I like the flexibilty and freedom to move from park to to park when the mood strikes us.

Alternatively, wait till you're there and make a decision based on your situation at the time and then upgrade if you want too, rather than making a final decision now.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks everyone.

It sounds like waiting till we get there might be the best decision. I think the main push for a hopper will be if some of our 'must do' rides are down one day, but up and running the next.

Out of interest, if the price goes up between now and October (as it's most likely to) would I have to pay more to upgrade? i.e. would I pay the difference between today's single admission price and the October hopper price, or is there a set hopper upgrade that is not dependent on when you first bought your ticket?

I'm assuming it's the latter, but I want to make sure. I want to buy our tickets sooner rather than later, and don't want any savings I make now superseded if I decide to upgrade on the day.

PIO, I've read mixed reviews also about the Fantasmic package, but most of them seem to be overwhelmingly positive. However, at about $60 per person it seems really expensive, so there is no way I could justify the package unless I make sacrifices elsewhere. I thought the hopper could be a good sacrifice. Hhmmm decisions decisions ...

Is someone able to equate the physical size of both Disney parks to something I might be able to relate to. For example, is hopping between the two parks similar in distance covered to say, hopping between the World Showcase and Future World of Epcot? Knowing what sort of walking we'll be doing to pop back and forth may help me decide.

 

[Royal Consort]

I generally get hoppers but that's mainly because I get really fed up with California Adventure if I'm there for long stretches of time. I have to pop back over to the other place. So because I do CA in 'bursts', hoppers work for us. If you can make a full day in CA, and most can, then I wouldn't be too concerned about it!

 

[ssour]

I think Disneyland work off the value you paid and not the current value of the tickets when upgrading but I could be wrong. I would compare the distance from one park to the other to the distance of Main St USA maybe. Estimations were never my strong point though.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Is someone able to equate the physical size of both Disney parks to something I might be able to relate to. For example, is hopping between the two parks similar in distance covered to say, hopping between the World Showcase and Future World of Epcot? Knowing what sort of walking we'll be doing to pop back and forth may help me decide.

This is me taking a picture of my DH looking back at the DCA gates.






This is DH's shot of me about the same time or shortly after I took the picture of him from that spot. You can see the DL gate in the background.






The distance between the two gates is probably a little bit shorter than the distance between Future World and World Showcase.

The time bonus to remember is that bag check for DLR occurs to the right and left of the promenade (the area that is in between the two gates). Once you've completed bag check (and assuming that you don't head out of this area), you won't need to do another bag check to park hop. You just need to head out one gate, walk the distance of the promenade, ticket check and walk in the other gate.

 

[LizfromOz]

Wanderlust, we were in DL the same time back in 2012, and there were 2 showings of Fantasmic on the Sunday night. After umming and aahing about the Desert Package, I found a great tip here on Disboards. The crowd from the first showing generally stay in the Fantasmic viewing area to watch the fireworks, then leave straight afterwards. CMs rope off the area and give it a bit of a tidy up, then open it up again for the second viewing.

We took our chances and arrived just as the fireworks were finishing up, and we were able to get a great spot right at the railings. It got a bit wet sitting there, but the view was amazing. There are no seats here, just concrete, but we were fine with it. From what I can recall, there was another fireworks show about 5 mins after the last Fantasmic.

Whatever you chose I'm sure you will love it, Liz

 

[WAMUMOF4]

On our last visit we didn't get hoppers for DL and surprisingly it worked well we were onsite and we just made sure the park we went to was the one that had MM hours on a longer visit there is no way I would do it but for 2 days I would be and I would be getting the fantasmic package it's worth every cent that is our one regret last year we didn't do it and DH has said if we don't have the package he's not waiting to see Fantasmic without it again.

 

[Mushu mama]

We're just back from a quick trip to DLR and for the first time decided to NOT get hopper tickets.
Honestly, it was great. I am used to hopping from park to park chasing fast passes, but knowing in advance that that option didn't exist, didn't take anything from our enjoyment on any day. We would consider it again in the future for sure.

We did the Fanstasmic dessert package on our previous trip and I wasn't too keen initially... but I totally loved it, we had great seats and a wonderful view. And the dessert platter was yummy. We will likely do this again as its the best experience I've had watching this show - I hate the crush of elsewhere. Best tip I can say is get to the waiting area EARLY, its first in, best seated.

 

[Aussiefamof5]

Hi all,

I need some advice please from the Disneyland Veterans amongst you.

My family and I have 2 full days at the DLR. One is a Sunday (which also happens to be the last official day of the Gay Days weekend) and the other is the following Monday.

If past Gay Day schedules are anything to go by, the participants will all be visiting DCA on Sunday. So to go in the opposite direction of the crowds, I was thinking we'd visit DL that day. We also definitely want to be in DL on Sunday night as it will be our only chance to catch the fireworks and/or Fantasmic (at this time of the year they don't seem to show on Mondays).

On the Monday we'll visit DCA, and I'll book a World of Colour Dining Package for
that night.

With this in mind, am I going to be annoyed with myself if I don't book Hopper tickets? They are $35 more p/p, which, for the four of us, adds up.

I realise that DL will be quieter on Monday than Sunday, and it might be nice to pop over during the middle of the day and do a few favourite rides (Space mountain etc), but realistically, would we have time to do this? I've never been
to DCA before and on paper it appears to be a full day park.

I was thinking that if we didn't buy the Hoppers, I might be able to justify the Fantasmic Dessert Package on the Sunday night.

What do you think?

Wanderlust I agree with everyone else. Being that you are only there for two days having a park hopper will allow you too maximise your time there having that flexibility to move from one park to the other. You can obtain fast passes for popular rides if one park is busier then the other allowing you to return later with minimal waits. Whichever you choose I'm sure you will have a great time

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks again everyone for your help.

I can't say I'm any closer to a decision, but at least the decision I do end up making will be more informed.

Thanks for the pics. Those parks do look awfully close, and at least without the humidity of Florida, we'll have more energy to go back and forth.

I think I'll sleep on in a few more days.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I'm feeling the pressure now.

With WDW tickets going up in price overnight, I'm worried Disneyland may follow suit.

I think you have all swayed me towards the Hopper.

But I can't really afford all 4 tickets right now, so I might buy 2 of them tonight and the rest within the next few weeks. Fingers crossed there is no price hike today.

 

[BecBennett]

There's usually a couple of days warning before any price rises.

 

[annz53]

I'm feeling the pressure now.

With WDW tickets going up in price overnight, I'm worried Disneyland may follow suit.

I think you have all swayed me towards the Hopper.

But I can't really afford all 4 tickets right now, so I might buy 2 of them tonight and the rest within the next few weeks. Fingers crossed there is no price hike today.

Hi Wanderlust,
Just wondering where you suggest I buy 5 day park hopper tickets for Disneyland from. I will be getting the 10 day Australian Park Hoppers from mytravelplanner. Thank you in advance

 

[Pumpkin meme]

I like options....

 

[cola]

Hi Wanderlust,
Just wondering where you suggest I buy 5 day park hopper tickets for Disneyland from. I will be getting the 10 day Australian Park Hoppers from mytravelplanner. Thank you in advance

You should be able to get all of your tickets from mytravelplanner
BUT are you after 15 days worth of ticket for each person or some want 10 and some want 5 days? If 15 it might be worth considering the Deluxe annual pass after checking the blockout dates

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Hi Wanderlust, Just wondering where you suggest I buy 5 day park hopper tickets for Disneyland from. I will be getting the 10 day Australian Park Hoppers from mytravelplanner. Thank you in advance

Hi ANnz53.

I've learnt that there are rarely mega specials on all Disneyland tickets. If you're lucky you'll find a 'buy at ticket, get one day free' special or occasionally Disney themselves have a special on a certain type of ticket (they had a special just recently on their 3 day tickets).

But for me, there are rarely any big specials on the 2 day passes.
I follow a popular Disney travel blog (which gets blocked here on the Dis) and the writer recommends Vacationeer Travels. I've had no personal experience with them, but are considering them for my tickets. On average they have about $10 off per ticket. Not heaps, but every dollar counts.

If you're happy to pay full price, there is nothing like the security of buying from Disney themselves.

All I know is that I won't be ordering my tickets from a NZ agent like Flight Centre. I was tempted to use my Visa reward dollars to buy them here in NZ until I found out the prices. The 10 day pass is good value, but that was about it.