Why Park Hopper?

[carlbarry]

OK, maybe I'm missing the point . . . I've been to all 4 parks (EPCOT twice), and I go from rope drop until they drag me out. I go to 1 or 2 parks per vacation. So why would I need park hopper? When I went to AK during off season this past February, when it closes at 5 pm it would have been nice to head over to another park for Fantasmic or fireworks. But otherwise, I don't see it.

 

[justplaingoofy]

parks that have emh are typically busier...

So if you have the park hopper you can go to the am emh than hop to another park mid day that usually isn't so busy.

Also, if a park is closing for a special event say mickeys not so scary halloween and if it closes at 6 or 7 you could hop on over to another park.

 

[Elmo888]

I don't think that you are missing anything. For your touring style, a park hopper just doesn't sound useful. It doesn't sound like you need one.

I love the park hopper. With kids, it is nice to go back to the resort for a break, and then go to a different park in the evenings. I love Epcot in the evenings - even before kids, we enjoyed using the park hopper. (DH and I love Epcot so much in the evenings that DDs still haven't seen Wishes at the MK, and they have been twice!) We could spend the day at one park, and hop over to Epcot to eat dinner (seems like more restaurants to choose from and more variety, including counter service).

We go for a week and hit all of the parks. Sometimes, we tour one park and can hit most of what you want to see in a day, but just need half a day to finish. So, it is nice to do one park for half a day, and then finish the day somewhere else. Now, we don't park hop every day, but I would say most days.

It just really depends on your touring style. Even before kids, we were never "park commandos" - arriving before opening and staying until closing. That sounds like your touring style, so I can see why you wouldn't need park hoppers.

 

[carlbarry]

Thanks. That's what I was thinking . . . families going for a few days might finish a park mid-day, or maybe someone might want to go to a specific restaurant. Neither applies to me, as I go off season and go through the park in one day, and can't eat in the restaurants (nor do I want to spend my time at the park in a restaurant!). So for me, I guess, as stated above, the park hopper would make little impact.