WWYD? Ticket question-

[DisFan84]

We'll be flying from PDX to LAX and spending 8 days in CA 10/3 to 10/10. Of those 7 days, we'll only have time to be in the parks for two days and depending on dates, one night for the Halloween party (fingers crossed). We'll be in the parks with our DL first timer two year old. It's just going to be my husband, child and myself. My expectations are low with a two year old in tow, and imagine we'll be taking a long break for naps.

Would you buy a two day park hopper pass or two one day tickets for each adult? We haven't been to DL in a few years and can't remember if it took an entire day or just hours/half day to spend in in the other park. Last time we went to both parks, it was just my husband and I.

Thank you in advance for your input!

 

[figment_jii]

I'm a big fan of park hoppers, but with your group, I'd be tempted to recommend just getting the two-day, one-park-per day ticket. I think DCA can be a half-day park or a full-day park depending on what you want to do. When I've gone with little ones, they seem just as happy wandering around the various lands, looking at stuff, and going on the occasional attraction. We spent a lot of time in Bug's Life Land, Carsland (mostly looking around), and trying to meet characters in DCA. It ultimately took the "full" day (including time for meals, naps, etc.).

 

[DisFan84]

That makes total sense. I'd rather not rush to bounce between both when I know that he'll want to look at every nook and cranny of both sides. It's also cheaper. I want to go mainly for myself as I'm the Disney lover in the family. Being two, he won't remember and we'll save the bouncing back and fourth for a trip when he's older.

 

[22Tink]

We've always done hoppers, even when our kids were small. It's just so easy to hop and if you happen to finish with DCA quicker than planned, you'll have the ability to go back to DL. If your budget allows, I'd spring for the hoppers for sure. Happy planning!

 

[DahliaRW]

You can always upgrade your ticket if you decide to hop. So start with one park per day, and if you can to upgrade, you can. Don't forget to use child swap for the bigger rides you may want to ride!

 

[DisFan84]

You can always upgrade your ticket if you decide to hop. So start with one park per day, and if you can to upgrade, you can. Don't forget to use child swap for the bigger rides you may want to ride!

Child swap? I'm new to this lol. Never been with kids before. I'll do some research Thank you!

 

[figment_jii]

I've also seen it called Baby Swap or Rider Swap. Essentially, on many of the attraction with a height requirement (and maybe HM, not 100% sure about this one), you can go to the CM at the entrance, present your child, and ask for a child swap pass. In your case, it means that after one adult rides the attraction and gets the pass, the other adult that stayed with the child can then go back to the attraction and ride it via the FP line. I've used it for RSR and Space Mtn and it works pretty well; just remember to ask for the pass and be prepared to have to take the little one with you to the entrance of the attraction.

 

[pinkprincess30]

Being a bargain hunter, we have never done the hoppers. You won't be able to do everything in DLR in one day, but can do most (if not all) of DCA in one day. There is a TON in DCA that he will probably enjoy at two years old (A Bugs Land, Playhouse Disney show, Turtle talk with Crush, Frozen Live, Little Mermaid, etc...) so I don't see you needing to hop from park to park. We are doing the hoppers this trip for the first time ever because we've been twice before and our kids are older now (longer legs, more walking, no naps, etc.). Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[DisFan84]

I've also seen it called Baby Swap or Rider Swap. Essentially, on many of the attraction with a height requirement (and maybe HM, not 100% sure about this one), you can go to the CM at the entrance, present your child, and ask for a child swap pass. In your case, it means that after one adult rides the attraction and gets the pass, the other adult that stayed with the child can then go back to the attraction and ride it via the FP line. I've used it for RSR and Space Mtn and it works pretty well; just remember to ask for the pass and be prepared to have to take the little one with you to the entrance of the attraction.

Ok great! Thanks for the info

 

[DisFan84]

Being a bargain hunter, we have never done the hoppers. You won't be able to do everything in DLR in one day, but can do most (if not all) of DCA in one day. There is a TON in DCA that your daughter will probably enjoy at two years old (A Bugs Land, Playhouse Disney show, Turtle talk with Crush, Frozen Live, Little Mermaid, etc...) so I don't see you needing to hop from park to park. We are doing the hoppers this trip for the first time ever because we've been twice before and our kids are older now (longer legs, more walking, no naps, etc.). Good luck with whatever you choose!

Thanks for the input! I too am a bargain hunter and given I know that we won't be able to experience as much as we did without a two year old, just to be there is really all I'm looking for and exploring what he'll want to check out. Is the Halloween Party worth taking a two year old to?

 

[pinkprincess30]

Thanks for the input! I too am a bargain hunter and given I know that we won't be able to experience as much as we did without a two year old, just to be there is really all I'm looking for and exploring what he'll want to check out. Is the Halloween Party worth taking a two year old to?

We've never done the Halloween party. Sounds FUN! PS- I don't know why I assumed your two year old was a daughter. Sorry!

 

[Indiana Scott]

There is never a time I would consider not buying a PH. It takes no time at all to go between parks and gives you the freedom to get away from crowds in one park or just get a total change of scenery.
I would also never consider telling someone to get a one day ticket to DCA. IMHO it still isn't a whole day park.

 

[DisFan84]

We've never done the Halloween party. Sounds FUN! PS- I don't know why I assumed your two year old was a daughter. Sorry!

Hehe no worries

 

[DisFan84]

There is never a time I would consider not buying a PH. It takes no time at all to go between parks and gives you the freedom to get away from crowds in one park or just get a total change of scenery.
I would also never consider telling someone to get a one day ticket to DCA. IMHO it still isn't a whole day park.

That makes total sense. Maybe I'll wait to buy my tickets until we can see the hours of operations. We'll be going in October so I imagine a Halloween party will happen on one of the nights we are there, closing Disneyland early.

 

[figment_jii]

Is the Halloween Party worth taking a two year old to?

Personally, your daughter is right at the age when it's tough to say whether the MHP is worth it or not. To me, if you can't stay for the majority of the party, it's probably not worth the extra price. Tickets ranged in price from $69 to $84 last year (they go up each year) and the parties went from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm (weeknight) or 7:00 pm to midnight (weekends). There is a parade (last year they presented PTN, but hopefully the Halloween Cavalcade will return), special fireworks, trick-or-treating, character meet-and-greets, and other activities during the party. I have a pretty detailed review (with photos) of the last several year's worth of parties in my Signature. On the other hand, it's the last year when you're daughter will be free (two and under don't need a ticket), so it might be worth going just because you won't have to pay for her this time around.