To Parkhopper or Not to Parkhopper???

[Texas Mickey]

We always buy them. One park in the morning ride as much as we can. Break, pool or relax time. Hop to whatever park we made FPs for for the evening when crowds are higher. It may not be everyone's choice but its what we enjoy!

 

[SaintsManiac]

We always get hoppers. No, we don't use them every day, but we like having the option.

 

[MrInfinity]

We are going in July for 8 days (6 in the park). We are staying on site for the first time with our 9 yo triplets. We have never had park hoppers before but Parksavers has such a good deal I'm thinking out it. I've read that hopping can take a lot of time out of the day, so I guess I'm wondering if we would be better off just to do one park a day?

A good rule of thumb is... When you need park hoppers, you'll know it.

In other words, this is your first time onsite? With triplets? I think you'll be plenty occupied visiting one park per day. That's what we do and we never find ourselves at one park thinking we need to go to another one, there is always so much to do where we are. Plus you won't be doing open-to-close days. Our kids are in the same age range as yours... and they are fine being wherever!

Don't forget transportation time! You can be waiting 20 min for a bus or boat... and you're committing to waiting for transportation 4 times in a day in which you visit 2 parks. We find most days we'll go to one park, spend 6 or 7 hours there, and we are ready to go back to the hotel, not set out for a second time, pack everything up, and so on.

So if the cost is trivial or almost free, get them, but if it's a few hundred dollars saved, I would save it. If you find after this trip that you were wishing you could split up your days, then get park hoppers next time.

 

[SM101]

We always get park hoppers....it works better for us and allows us more freedom to go where we want to go and when. We like midday breaks back at the resort, and maybe drop into a different park at night depending on where I can pick up additional FP's or dinner reservations, or just what we're in the mood for.

 

[qman6975]

We have always gone with the Park Hoppers for the flexibility it gives you not to be tied to one park all day. Say you want to see the fireworks in one park, you are tied to that part all day. Also with the closures in HS and Epcot and the limited number of attractions at AK it's always nice to have that "hop" in your back pocket if you need it.

 

[tripletmomsrock]

Thank you everyone for your help. I feel like after reading everyone's thoughts having the Parkhoppers is the way to go. So here is my next question. How difficult is adding the Dining Plan since I will be buying tickets from someone other than Disney?

 

[aretha30]

We always buy the hopper. We go in the summer when it it HOT out. We do RD at one park, go back to the resort for a break and then hop to another park for the evening. Hoppers give you the flexibility to change your plans at a moments notice or go back and visit something again if your kids ask. For our family they are worth the extra money.

 

[ChristophersMom2]

We do park hoppers too. We start out at a park during the day, go back to the room and rest/pool/laundry, then head out to MK at night. Or sometimes we will go to MK for dinner, monorail back to Epcot and take our time walking back to the Beach Club.

 

[TexasKel]

We didn't get them one year and seriously regretted it. We went to HS and did everything we wanted and then we were stuck. I always get them now just in case. It's nice to be able to go wherever the mood strikes!

 

[DisMommyTX]

Offsite we never wanted hoppers, onsite we use them more often. With the kids we tend to spend the whole day at one park, but when it is just DH and I we hop more often. I think with the night shows at AK, we would be even less likely to hop. We stay for long trips, usually multiple days at each park. In the summer, we are likely to sleep in, spend an hour or two at the pool, then arrive early afternoon and stay to shut down the park. Then, a late night dip in the pool and start all over the next day. Only you know your touring style and whether or not you would want to park hop. If the cost difference is negligible, it's nice to have the option.

 

[Mikie]

Thank you everyone for your help. I feel like after reading everyone's thoughts having the Parkhoppers is the way to go. So here is my next question. How difficult is adding the Dining Plan since I will be buying tickets from someone other than Disney?

I have only bought the dining plan when I booked the whole pkg through Disney. However, I read a lot about it here and it seems you can request a "ticketless package", which just means room + dining with no tickets. Some phone CMs may not know how to do it, so the phrase "ticketless package" and possibly asking for a supervisor are key.

If you haven't investigated the pros and cons of the plan, be sure to check out the dining plan discussion board here - there's always at least one thread going about the pros and cons of it. With 9 year olds, they are still kids on the plan, which can be a good value, especially if you're going to do several character meals or other fixed price meals. Depending on their tastes and appetites, you may not find it a fit though, since kids must order off the kids menu at table service places that have one. My kids at 9 wanted a bit more food than that, and preferred the variety on the adult menu.

 

[nilla]

We've been to WDW ten times as a family and have never Hopped. We do have 10 days of park tickets, however, so we get a lot of time in each park as it is.

The only reason I'd consider Park Hopper would be for a shorter trip (not sure in 8 days would qualify as "shorter" - we have taken 8-day trips without PH), or in order to eat at more Epcot restaurants.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Thank you everyone for your help. I feel like after reading everyone's thoughts having the Parkhoppers is the way to go. So here is my next question. How difficult is adding the Dining Plan since I will be buying tickets from someone other than Disney?

I have only bought the dining plan when I booked the whole pkg through Disney. However, I read a lot about it here and it seems you can request a "ticketless package", which just means room + dining with no tickets. Some phone CMs may not know how to do it, so the phrase "ticketless package" and possibly asking for a supervisor are key.

If you haven't investigated the pros and cons of the plan, be sure to check out the dining plan discussion board here - there's always at least one thread going about the pros and cons of it. With 9 year olds, they are still kids on the plan, which can be a good value, especially if you're going to do several character meals or other fixed price meals. Depending on their tastes and appetites, you may not find it a fit though, since kids must order off the kids menu at table service places that have one. My kids at 9 wanted a bit more food than that, and preferred the variety on the adult menu.

We had a room + dining last year that I booked through a TA. We wound up canceling the DP before we went. I don't think it will ever be worth it for us.