Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey So I know this has been discussed before; but refresh my memory. I am going to WDW for the first time about 10 years and I have a nine night package. There are four of us going (two adults two kids) and I am wondering if it is worth it to add on the expense of the park hop option? I know WDW is a lot more spread out than DLR and so park hopping is a bit more difficult and more time consuming; so is it worth it? And have any of you used the extra magic hours and how was that?
Originally Posted By sherrytodd We are very pro-park hoppers. We almost always end every day at Epcot because we enjoy spending the evenings piggin' out in World Showcase and enjoying the entertainment. Plus we will often spend a morning at an early entry park and then park-hop over to a non-early entry park once the crowds start to get too unbearable. Or we will start the day in one park, head to the hotel for a swim and a rest and then end the day at another park.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP We had park hopping for a 6 day trip and used it once. However, at the time I was pregnant and had a hard time opening AND closing down a park, just too exausting a day at the time. I think if you are going to be in the parks for open and close (maybe back in the room in the middle, maybe not) it's more worth it. For us tired types who are done done done by 7pm, not as much .
Originally Posted By seafairy1622 I've done park hopping and non park hopping. I like not hopping better. I thought it was too much bus riding. then you have to go through security again. I found it more relaxing to stay in one park take your time and when you get tired or too hot(we went in the summer) go back to your resort and go swimming. I take my kids with me and they like this way better too. the only thing was for dinning plan I had to pick resturants in the park we went to that day. but still worked out.
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey I was looking at the extended magic hours and I had actually picked PS reservations that coordinated pretty well with the extended hours. I don't anticipate us getting up early to go the early morning hour but we will probably try the extended evening hours once or twice. That is my concern Seafairy...that the travel will not justify the park hopping. I am more worried about wanting to go back to HS or AK for part of a day but not devoting an entire extra day to those parks so that is why I have been considering the park hopping option. I am still undecided.
Originally Posted By mickeyboy43 Non Park Hopping is the way to go. You save time, money, and obtain a more relaxed feel while in the parks. Its also well worth it to be in the parks early in the morning for the fantasyland rides, high volume rides, etc. I dunno up to you.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It depends on your view. I have tried both. But I like the freedom of choice having a park hopper, choosing which bus to get on with the smallest line, being able to leave a park if it is too crowded. Also we like to take in nice meals, so a morning at one park, a sit down lunch in a deluxe resort and an evening in Epcot is bliss. I have been in situations where the MK is a crowded sardine can while Epcot has been relatively quiet on the same day. FOr me, you are spending time and a lot of money and for a negligable increase. But each to their own.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I've only done park hopper tickets in the past, but I don't think I could go without - I rely on the freedom and flexibility too much. On my last trip, my sister and I would occasionally spend an evening at a different park to where we'd spent the day, or have to go to a different park for a meal when our dining reservations didn't work out. On our last day, we decided on a whim to do all 4 parks in the one day and had a ball! I just prefer to keep my options open, although I do agree that park hopping can be tiring.
Originally Posted By crazyformickey I have done non-hopping v's Hopping and I would say I like Hopping much better. I have had days where we have been at 3 different parks in one day. Once you walk in a park can only go there the rest of the day.
Originally Posted By Mr X It's really too bad this has become a money thing. IIRC, the hopper option (like a four day hopper for example) used to be CHEAPER than four single park tickets. I can understand wanting to save the money if you're going for so many days. I think it's fine to just "go to a park" and enjoy your day. It's not like you'll be missing anything with so many days available to you! However, with a limited schedule I would say that park hopping is a MUST. For example, if you only have 3 days total to enjoy the parks, no way you would want to single ticket it and skip one. For that matter, if you only had four or five days, there are many cases where you might want to hit MGM, for example, just for a few hours in the morning to "finish up", and then head someplace else. I think there is actually some advantages to being "stuck" in one park. Instead of saying "well, we're done here, let's go over to Epcot", you end up sticking around and perhaps seeing some stuff you might not have. Good luck with your decision making!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Mr X is right though, either way you will have a great time, and there will always be something cool to take your time. I suppose I just love Epcot too much and try to spend a part of virtually every day there. Also with hoppers, if you are too tired for an evening show (Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic), you know you can always go back another night (also these shows can sometimes be cancelled). If I am spending the time and money, I like to have my options open. But then again Liberty Belle and the Baloos travel half way around the world to go to these parks.
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey You are all bringing up the concerns I have. I have already made priority seating reservations for all of our table service meals (we are on the dining plan). I planned out each day until the last few days we are there and that is when I think we might want the park hopper. If we want to return to more than one park, etc. I will probably wind up sticking the park hoppers on before we have to pay off the package with AAA. We will see. Anymore advice welcome!!
Originally Posted By Mr X Is there any way you could just wait til those last few days to decide? It might turn out, at that point, to be wiser NOT to hop since you will have seen so much of all the parks.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun If it is your first time or the first time in a while, I'd not park hop to save some money. We always park hop now, but we go once or twice a year so we go in do what we want and go soemwhere else. When I'm looking tot cut down on expense and still be able to go and have a great time, the sit down dinners get cut first, then the park hopping.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 My family does the hopping, it is just a safe way to go. we do than one park in a day but if we hadn't the choice is still there. With the non hopping your kinda stuck.
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey I have to add it on to my package before we make the final payment...which is due 45 days before we leave (we leave August 3rd). So I have lots of time to mull it over.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 My daughter decided to not get the park hopper for her family of 4, and spend the money to go to Typoon lagoon one day. I very rarely end up at the same park I started at.
Originally Posted By mattawn Im with Dave, if you dont have a park hopper and get into a park to find out 25,000 cheerleaders or 30,000 bandmembers have just arrived, you are stuck
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl We always park hop too. We usually try to catch either Illuminations, Wishes or Fantasmic each night..
