Which trip would you prefer?

[Rory607]

Trying to plan a trip this summer using one of the available discounts. Would you rather have a 6 day non-park hopper ticket or a 3-4 day hopper? I lean towards the 6 day, but I’m also factoring in the cost of food and LL for more days. We will definitely want some pool time, but I think I could build in a resort day with the shorter park ticket option.

We have a teen and a tween. We have done Disney several times, but this might be the last trip for a while as the kids have lots going on and there are so many places we want to take them before they go out into the world.

 

[intamin]

Personally the way I'd do it is water park on day of check in and then do 2 days in the park and then a resort day on day 4 and then another 2 days in the park and then last minute shopping at Disney Springs and etc on day 7 and leave. Idk we like park hopping because it gives us more flexibility with the day, for example if we're staying at Beach Club or something we could go to AK in the morning, take a much needed midday break in the room/pool especially in the summer and then go to Epcot at night. But that's my personal take.

 

[Disneylover99]

6 days for sure. And with 6 days I wouldn’t buy lightening lane everyday.
So I wouldn’t factor that in as an additional cost.

 

[o&smom]

I would go with 6 days. We used to always do park hopper, but have found since they reopened and everything settled after Covid that single park just works better. Also...6 days of memories with your kids!

 

[Rory607]

I would go with 6 days. We used to always do park hopper, but have found since they reopened and everything settled after Covid that single park just works better. Also...6 days of memories with your kids!

I used to love park hopping, but on our most recent trip I started feeling the same way. It stressed me out for some reason.

 

[jtopp]

6 days non park hopper. Planning on one park one day, with a mid day break, works for us. We get to experience each park from early to late, with a small rest period in between. 6 days means you can experience each park at a leisurely pace, and return to your favorites on the extra days. Also, no one takes into account the time needed to park hop.

 

[Miffy]

I'm an inveterate park hopper, but even I think the 6-day non-hopper version would be best for your trip. And with using early entry and staying late (after a midday break) you may not really need LLs at all.

 

[sponica]

For us it might depend on where we're staying, if we're staying somewhere where hopping to Epcot in the evening is easy, I can't imagine us not hopping there.

 

[intamin]

For us it might depend on where we're staying, if we're staying somewhere where hopping to Epcot in the evening is easy, I can't imagine us not hopping there.

This was my thought as well, if staying in Crescent Lake/Riviera or a monorail resort, I'd consider the hopper, if not, probably one day per park is best.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

Same thought as everyone else. If I'm staying a Beach club/Boardwalk/BLT, I am going with hopper. Otherwise 1 park per day is fine.

 

[North of Mouse]

We love park hopping so would be a tough call for us. We were there a week, did mostly rope drop and never bought, or felt the need, of any LL.

 

[bsmcneil]

I would lean 6 days/not PH personally.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Trying to plan a trip this summer using one of the available discounts. Would you rather have a 6 day non-park hopper ticket or a 3-4 day hopper? I lean towards the 6 day, but I’m also factoring in the cost of food and LL for more days. We will definitely want some pool time, but I think I could build in a resort day with the shorter park ticket option.

We have a teen and a tween. We have done Disney several times, but this might be the last trip for a while as the kids have lots going on and there are so many places we want to take them before they go out into the world.

If I was factoring in pool time, I would choose 6 day one park only tickets.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Trying to plan a trip this summer using one of the available discounts. Would you rather have a 6 day non-park hopper ticket or a 3-4 day hopper? I lean towards the 6 day, but I’m also factoring in the cost of food and LL for more days. We will definitely want some pool time, but I think I could build in a resort day with the shorter park ticket option.

We have a teen and a tween. We have done Disney several times, but this might be the last trip for a while as the kids have lots going on and there are so many places we want to take them before they go out into the world.

6 day non park hopper is the best pick in my opinion. Gives you and everyone in your party more time to experience whatever attraction they want, without worrying about LL and standby.

 

[bluezy]

Of the 2 options listed and based on the age of your kids, I would definitely do the 6 day non park hoppers. Trying to get everything done in 4 days (I wouldn't even consider 3 unless there was absolutely no other option) is going to be exhausting. Having 6 days will make the trip more relaxed. Ideally, I'd do 6-day park hoppers. If you don't mind doing rope drop several days, you could probably get by without needing to buy LLs every day -- especially since you could get things accomplished at rope drop, take a little break at the resort in the afternoon, and then potentially hop to a different park late in the day and stay there until closing to hit some more headliners at the end of the night. We always plan 2 nights at MK. One to watch the parade/fireworks and one to hit attractions while everyone else is doing those things.

 

[Rory607]

Of the 2 options listed and based on the age of your kids, I would definitely do the 6 day non park hoppers. Trying to get everything done in 4 days (I wouldn't even consider 3 unless there was absolutely no other option) is going to be exhausting. Having 6 days will make the trip more relaxed. Ideally, I'd do 6-day park hoppers. If you don't mind doing rope drop several days, you could probably get by without needing to buy LLs every day -- especially since you could get things accomplished at rope drop, take a little break at the resort in the afternoon, and then potentially hop to a different park late in the day and stay there until closing to hit some more headliners at the end of the night. We always plan 2 nights at MK. One to watch the parade/fireworks and one to hit attractions while everyone else is doing those things.

After thinking about it, I think you are right that the 3/4 day hopper would be too exhausting. Definitely going with the 6 day and probably non-hopper. It’s almost $400 to add it, which would about pay for two sit down meals. I almost think hopping was easier when the kids were little because we weren’t trying to hit every big ride. But now they both have their own agendas at every park, which of course don’t always line up.

 

[bluezy]

After thinking about it, I think you are right that the 3/4 day hopper would be too exhausting. Definitely going with the 6 day and probably non-hopper. It’s almost $400 to add it, which would about pay for two sit down meals. I almost think hopping was easier when the kids were little because we weren’t trying to hit every big ride. But now they both have their own agendas at every park, which of course don’t always line up.

The cost of adding park hopping has definitely gotten expensive (it seems like just a few years ago it was about $50/ticket). We actually did less park-hopping when our kids were little. We'd rope drop and just stay at the park until we were finished. Once or twice a trip we'd hop to a different park to go to the night time show (usually after a rest/swim at the resort in the afternoon). As they got older, we found ourselves doing more hopping because we were trying to get on more of the big rides and fewer of the "filler" rides. So we'd do our "must do's" and a few others at rope drop, take a break, and then hop to a different park for the evening for a few "must-do's" there. We've never done a trip without park-hoppers. We just like the flexibility they offer. Our kids are all adults now, but by the time they were teens and were able to go off on their own, they'd do a lot of park hopping. We also usually spend our last day at the parks hopping to 2 or 3 different parks for one more ride on our favorite attraction or to hit something we missed earlier in the week. For us, park-hoppers are non-negotiable; but I totally understand how other families tour the parks differently than us and have different priorities (we'd happily give up TS meals but keep hoppers and LLs if our budget required that decision. ).