5 Reasons To Add Park Hopper & 5 To Not (Pros Vs. Cons)

Should I add Park Hopper to my Disney World vacation? This is a question that comes up often. The idea of being able to enter more than 1 park in a day is enticing, however do the pros of Park Hopper outweigh the cons? Here are 5 reasons to add Park Hopper & 5 to skip the Park Hopper option.

Pro: Flexibility

Being able to enter more than one park in a day allows flexibility in your plans. For instance, I love heading to one park in the morning and then heading back to my Resort for a mid-day break. Then, after being refreshed and rested heading to another park in the evening.

Con: Feeling Like You Have To Hop

Perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages is feeling like you have to hop everyday. The pressure to use Park Hopper can leave you entering 2 parks in a day just to get your monies worth, when you may just be too tired. Consider the ages and ability to you are traveling with. For instance, those with younger children may find 1 park in a day is plenty.

Pro: 4 Parks In 1 Day Challenge

If you are attempting the 4 Parks in 1 Day Challenge, you will need the Park Hopper option to accomplish this. Read a touring plan and tips of the 4 Parks in 1 Day Challenge. While it may be an exhausting day, it will not be one you forget!

Con: Added Cost

Perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages for myself is the cost! If you are looking to do a frugal Disney vacation, then skipping Park Hopper can save hundreds. Something to consider is the amount of other things to do at Disney World besides hitting the parks, such as these 50 no park ticket needed activities at Disney World.

Pro: Visiting during High Crowd Times

If you are heading to Disney World during a high crowd time, such as a major holiday or school vacation, park hopper is a must. It is a great option to be able to hop over to another park if you find your original planned park is just too busy.

Con: Time to Hop

One con to adding park hopper that many guests do not consider is the time it takes to hop from one park to the next. If your timing is off this can mean long lines waiting for bus transportation, another bag check and park re-entry process. We typically recommend 1 hour travel time to and from places to Disney when you have a reservation to allow plenty of time for all things considered.

Pro: Freedom

Say you are on your last day of your Disney vacation and you wish you could head back to Epcot to try that snack and also wish you could ride Space Mountain one more time in Magic Kingdom. This will not be possible without park hopper. Therefore, having park hopper does allow freedom to accomplish plans. Otherwise, you would have to choose only one park per day. The pressure to get everything done in one park per day is not there.

Con: Fastpass+

Fastpass+ is a great feature, allowing guests to pre-book up to 3 Fastpass+ per day skipping the regular queue. However, do know you can only book your 3 Fastpass+ per day in the same park. Therefore, if you plan to park hop later in the day you will have to wait to try for any Fastpass+ after your 3 for the day have been used.

Pro: Extra Magic Hours

Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are offered to guests staying at a Disney Resort and each day a park offers early entry or late entry. Meaning you can come before park opens for regular guests, or stay later. Having park hopper means you can take advantage of EMH at one park each day and then spend the majority of your day at another park.