To park hop or not?

[disneyfreak202]

I love having hoppers, but that is because our trips are usually 8 days. We usually plan it out to spend a day in each park, a break, and then the last two or three days depending on flights hopping around to do things multiple times. Sometimes we hop to 3 parks in one day because of extended hours, we snagged a FP, we want to do dinner there. It just adds comfort to our group to know we have the leisure to move around and do what we want even if it isn't in the plans. For Example, one of our trips we had dinner on the Boardwalk and because we had about an hour to kill we cut through Epcot and walked around a bit after spending the day in MK. It was nice to have that option.

 

[amcnj]

We have used hopping some visits, and not others. For me neither type of visit was definitely better than the other, just different. One way I noticed they can come in handy is for parks with multiple tier 1 "must do" fastpass attractions. There are other ways to accomplish it too of course (such as rope drop for example), but having fastpasses all set up ahead ensured you would get to do them all, and the hopper prevented having to spend all of 2 or 3 three days at one park, while keeping the sleepyheads happy!

 

[Disneymom1126]

We've only park-hopped once and it was on a three day trip where we wanted to hit all the parks. I could see myself maybe park hopping once or twice on a longer trip, but it's more trouble than it's worth for us. I like not having to worry about additional transportation, etc. The extra cost is better spent elsewhere for us.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Park hoppers are mandatory for us, even if we don't use them every single day. Lots of times, especially late in a trip, we want to go to a park just to ride or reride certain attractions, not to spend all day there. Or there are some nighttime events we want to experience. I would find it very hard to plan without that flexibility. And hoppers are especially useful during party season.

 

[tex1989]

We got AP's last year so it's no longer an issue. That said though before the AP's we always got Hoppers. It really is about you touring style. While we hardly ever go back to our resort during the day we almost always wind up back at Epcot every evening. Whether for an ADR or to just stroll around WS and enjoy an adult beverage as we listen to any of the musical acts that are playing we enjoy the flexibility to move from park to park. HS and AK are still not full day parks in my estimation and we always seem to go to MK at least two days during a trip that means a lot of time Hopping. Even when our kids were younger we got them. We also like to take breaks by visiting other resorts to shop and have a break while getting drinks and snacks.

It is the touring style we have developed over the years but you have to ask yourself what is your personal style and how much resort vs park time will you spend.

 

[Bostonbeans99]

Park hoppers are completely worth it!

The first 3 days we always stay at the same park...but then it becomes where we just want to do 2 or 3 things at a park (example: Tower of Terror and RNRC at HS and then we're off to MK!)

Sometimes one park closes at 9 while another may be open til midnight, which is another great reason to park hop. (although if we did that we wouldn't wait til the first park closed to park hop)

 

[3gr8boys]

We hop. Even though there is plenty to do in each park, DS11 or DS15 will get a notion of a ride they want to ride and it's off to the bus stop to head to the next park. We were there five and a half days in April and hopped every day except the half day (a very rainy MK afternoon/evening). I especially appreciate not having the park I start the day in dictate what evening show is available to me.

 

[Imamom2]

We always hop because we are really early risers and always hit rope drop. I really like the midday break so that I can change shoes, redo sunblock, etc. DH usually naps in the room or by the pool. I think it's great to have the option unless it's winter and parks are cooler with earlier closing times - that's the only time I could see one park per day. As others have said, you don't have to decide until you're there. Have fun!

 

[vicb]

Just returned from 5 day trip with hoppers, so glad we had them even though we only hopped twice. We were dealing with heat and rain which made some late changes to our plans. Love the flexibility.
Arrival day: Epcot 4-close (with fp)
Fri: pool, HS 2:30- close (with fp)
Sat: Epcot WS 11-1, AK (with fp) 2:00-close
Sun: MK (with fp ) park open to 3, Trader Sam's, Disney Springs
Mon: Epcot (with fp) 9-2:30, pool,HDDR 6:15, MK 8:45 - midnight (4th fp then emh)

 

[White Rose]

We always get hoppers, except this trip, we are only going for 2 days, and no dining plan. We usually go in the morning to one park, dinner someplace else and a third park later at night. If you are on the dining plan, and like to do sit down, it was a no brainer.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

Great info I learned at DIS boards, you can always add the hopper later like FCDub said.
Just go to guest services in the park.
We were on the fence and ended up saving money by waiting to see if we needed it and then didn’t have any day where we needed to hop.

 

[AnnMichele]

Do it. Park hopping is totally worth it (as long as you use it).

 

[StacyStrong]

Even when I don't plan to hop and think I'll spend a full day at a park, I end up hopping somewhere else for any given number of reasons. Maybe I have commitment issues lol

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We always have them. We always do midday breaks by the pool and then hop to another park in the PM and usually have our FP+ for our PM park. If we hit AM EMH leaving the park by 12 is our best bet because crowds get a bit crazy. Then we do our break at the pool and go to our PM park. We also like hitting PM EMH but don't want to be at the park all day. It works for us.

Our past two trips were at the Poly and BC and this next trip is at BWV. Its so easy to just stop into the MK or Epcot when you are literally a 5 minute walk or monorail ride away. I have us stopping into Epcot just to do F&W for lunch. It's very much worth it.