Disney World is the most popular vacation destination in the world, and for good reason! It’s home to four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 hotels, and countless restaurants, shops, and attractions. With so much to see, do, and eat, I know how overwhelming it can be to try to cram everything you can in your vacation!
My husband and I only get to take a week of family vacation-time 2 times a year, so we want the most value we can get from each of our days when we’re planning Disney World. Splurging for a Park Hopper upgrade on our tickets gives us the flexibility and value we need to make each trip worthwhile. I can’t even imagine going to Disney World without it now!
If you’re planning a trip to Disney World and want the most value out of your park days, read on to learn more about what a Park Hopper pass is and how much it costs, why you should add Park Hopper, and how you can get the most value out of Park Hopping like a Disney World Pro!
What is a Park Hopper Pass and How Much Does it Cost?
A Park Hopper pass is a special ticket add-on that allows guests to visit more than one park per day. With a Park Hopper pass, you can enter one park in the morning and then any time after 2 pm you can hop over to another park!
Currently, with a Park Hopper pass, you still need a park pass reservation for the first park you plan to visit each day. Though you must enter that first park you have a reservation for before hopping, you will not need a reservation for any other park you plan to hop to after 2.
Prices for the Park Hopper pass start at an extra $65 for a 1-day ticket, $75 for a 2 or 3-day ticket, and $85 for 4-day tickets or more.
Let me stop here and tell you a story about one of the best Disney World days my family has had! On our last family trip, we had a park reservation for Hollywood Studios on Saturday. We also had a reservation to build a lightsaber for my son and a droid for my daughter in the morning so we got an early start to the day since we stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Our main plan was to enjoy some rides with Genie+ like Slinky Dog Dash and Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run and we knocked out everything we wanted to ride and our reservations by about 4pm when we realized we were all so hungry! So we took a quick break to put our stuff down at the room, and hopped right back on a bus to EPCOT to snack around the World Showcase (which is my FAVORITE thing to do!) We had plenty of time to see a few things we haven’t seen in a while and end the night with fireworks.
Why Should You Add Park Hopper Passes?
- The ability to see and do more in a single day. Short on vacation time? You can easily explore MORE of the 4 Disney World theme parks in a shorter trip when you park-hop! Start your day zipping down Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom and end it eating around the world at EPCOT. Explore another planet in Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios and check out the majestic animals living in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. All on the same day!
- Flexibility and spontaneity. With a Park Hopper pass, there’s no need to plan your day around a single park. If you want to change plans on the fly or spontaneously decide to visit another park, you can do so without any hassle. You can decide as Animal Kingdom is closing, “Hey, let’s go catch the fireworks at EPCOT!” That’s such a great way to end your night!
- Adds value to each day on your trip. There’s always more to explore at Disney World and I’ll bet even if you’re a seasoned Disney-goer like me, there’s still something you haven’t seen, done, or eaten. Hopping around the 4 parks allows you to check out something you missed or something your kids want to do again. You won’t leave Disney World thinking “I wish we could have done…”
How to make the most of your Disney Park Hopper pass
Alright, friends! Now it’s time to talk about strategy! Here are my tips to make the most of your Park Hopper passes:
- Plan a little in advance! What are the parts of each park that you and your family must see? You don’t have to have a full detailed itinerary but mapping out the attractions, restaurants, and shops that would be a shame for your family to miss will allow you to strategize in advance but also make decisions on the fly!
- Stay at a Disney World Resort! Make the most of your time at the parks by staying onsite, which gives you the benefit of using Disney transportation, easily taking breaks back in your room (I find this to be so important with young kids), and early theme park entry! Maximize the value of staying at a Disney resort by staying at Pop Century (Read more about why I love this resort here!)
- Start early! The earlier you start your day, the more time you’ll have to explore each park. Get there just before opening (“rope drop”) and you’ll also be able to avoid long lines and huge crowds at the most popular attractions!
- Take the buses! While you can hop from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT by monorail or EPCOT to Hollywood Studios by skyliner, both require a transfer. You can take a bus to your destination park for a much quicker trip.
- Get Genie+ for your park days! If you really want to be sure you hit all of the attractions you’re wanting to visit, use Genie+ to save time waiting in line. With Park Hoppers, you can even reserve rides at your next park.
- Plan where you’ll eat! Make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance for table-service restaurants. (Quick-service restaurants are available all around each of the 4 parks and don’t require reservations). With Park Hoppers, you can hop over to eat even if you’re planning to visit a different park that day.
- Take breaks! Be sure to schedule some time to take a break either back in your room or in the park. Not only will you and your kids need the rest, but it will allow you to re-evaluate what your plans are for the rest of the day.
Get the most value out of your Disney World vacation and add Park Hoppers to your tickets or package. If you’re already working with an agent from our sister company, Smart Moms Travel, you’re in good hands! If not, let’s work together to make the most of your next Disney vacation!
Just click this link here to send me some details about you and your family, and I’ll be in touch!
