WWYD - 1 day hopper or 2-day one park for EP/HS

[MomOTwins]

Trying to figure out best strategy for our very very short post-cruise WDW trip. We should be arriving at our hotel, Yacht club, from our cruise a little after 9am on a Saturday in mid-November. Our flight out the next day was going to be in the morning, but just got moved to 3:45pm. Originally, I planned on 1 day hopper tickets for our family to spend Saturday morning in Epcot (making our fastpasses there) and then afternoon in HS, where we have rezzies for Savi's and Oga's. Frozen Ever After is must-do for one of my kids, though, so I am tempted to instead switch to a two day ticket and go Saturday to HS and Sunday to EP so we can get two days of FPs, and rope drop FEA if I can't get a FP for it. It is $300 more though to do it that way, though, and I am not sure how much value add it is to have fastpasses at HS given the new tiering system means we really could only get one fastpass at HS that we actually want. Thoughts?

 

[Rach3975]

Hmmm--that's tough! Normally I'd vote for more park time, but whether it's worth $300 for approximately 3 hours at Epcot depends. We only get to the parks once every few years and the bulk of our cost is things you've already paid for (hotel, flight, etc), so if this would be our only visit in more than a year I think it would be worth it to me. On the other hand, if you'll be back in a few months I think I'd save the money and do the one day hopper. The advantage to me wouldn't necessarily be gaining FPs for HS, since it's hard to say if that will end up worth it, but having a full day at HS with enough time to do both GE and other parts of the park.

 

[MomOTwins]

Hmmm--that's tough! Normally I'd vote for more park time, but whether it's worth $300 for approximately 3 hours at Epcot depends. We only get to the parks once every few years and the bulk of our cost is things you've already paid for (hotel, flight, etc), so if this would be our only visit in more than a year I think it would be worth it to me. On the other hand, if you'll be back in a few months I think I'd save the money and do the one day hopper. The advantage to me wouldn't necessarily be gaining FPs for HS, since it's hard to say if that will end up worth it, but having a full day at HS with enough time to do both GE and other parts of the park.

That’s a good point. A single day means we really would only do SWGE at HS. My kids do love ToT. I just wonder if HS is going to be packed wall to wall such that we don’t want to spend more than a few hours there!

 

[Shellyred8]

Instead of getting a park ticket for your second day, you could plan to go mini-golfing and swimming. I know the weather will be questionable for swimming, but the kiddos might like Stormalong bay more than an extra park day. It would be less expensive anyway!

 

[MomOTwins]

Instead of getting a park ticket for your second day, you could plan to go mini-golfing and swimming. I know the weather will be questionable for swimming, but the kiddos might like Stormalong bay more than an extra park day. It would be less expensive anyway!

Hmm swimming was my backup plan for Sunday morning but now that you mention the colder weather it make me nervous! That kind of makes me lean toward epcot sunday morning

 

[SamFaniam]

Are you driving yourself from Port Canaveral? If you’re taking Disney transfers, I think arriving at 9 AM at the Yacht Club is unrealistic.

 

[MomOTwins]

Are you driving yourself from Port Canaveral? If you’re taking Disney transfers, I think arriving at 9 AM at the Yacht Club is unrealistic.

We have a minnie van picking us up at 7:45 am.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I think I'd do the 1 day parkhopper - that way the last morning you can sleep in a bit, grab a bite to eat, maybe hitting DS instead of a park.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Are you taking DME to the airport? If so, they pick you up a minimum of 3 hours before your flight, which means you’d have a maximum of 3 hours at Epcot. $300 is a lot for 3 hours.

 

[MomOTwins]

Are you taking DME to the airport? If so, they pick you up a minimum of 3 hours before your flight, which means you’d have a maximum of 3 hours at Epcot. $300 is a lot for 3 hours.

That's definitely true... good point. DME always picks up wayyyyy too early

 

[sethschroeder]

Is the EEMH extend through November yet? (I think there was rumors of it right?) I would do Day 1 at Epcot all day and then hit HS with EEMH.

If EEMH are not confirmed I would make additional reservations for Oga and Savi's anyways and you can always cancel as it gets closer.

I would do 2 day ticket regardless.

 

[Rach3975]

Is the EEMH extend through November yet? (I think there was rumors of it right?) I would do Day 1 at Epcot all day and then hit HS with EEMH.

I've been watching for an announcement since we arrive the afternoon of the last currently scheduled EEMH day. So far we know nothing about EEMH after 11/2.

 

[MomOTwins]

Yep, no EEMH for our dates and I'm not expecting it--Disney is not going to keep paying to staff the park for extra extra morning hours indefinitely, particularly since RoTR won't be out until December. Unsurprisingly, Savi's and Oga's are not available Sunday morning, and Savi's is an absolute must do for us, so definitely going to keep Saturday as my HS day.

P.S. it also occurs to me that the new Epcot fireworks will be out by then. Maybe I should keep the 1 day hopper to go back after star wars and watch it

 

[goofyintoronto]

I think I'd do the 1 day parkhopper - that way the last morning you can sleep in a bit, grab a bite to eat, maybe hitting DS instead of a park.

I would do this too. I wouldnt bother with the 2nd day/2 day. I would do the park one day only, with hoppers. For your second day Disney Springs is a great idea...or swimming (if the weather cooperates).