Do I Need a Park Hopper Ticket?

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Do I Need a Park Hopper Ticket

Park hopping sounds like a really fun way to spend your days at Walt Disney World, and they offer a ticket that allows you to do just that. The Park Hopper ticket add-on allows you to visit as many Disney World theme parks per day as you would like. The real question is, do you NEED to pay for this ticket upgrade? Read on to find out if this option is a good choice for your family or if you can put those funds to better use elsewhere.

First, let’s talk about the Park Hopper ticket option itself. Whether you are including park tickets as part of your Disney World vacation package or buying them separately, you will have the option to add the Park Hopper to your ticket order. This option costs an additional $60 per ticket for 1-day tickets, $70 per ticket for 2- to 4-day tickets, or $80 per ticket for 5- or more day tickets. Prices listed are before tax. When traveling with a family, this adds up quickly! Let’s run through some questions to help you decide if the Park Hopper makes sense for you.

Is this your first trip to Disney World?

If you are visiting Disney World for the first time, each park offers a totally unique vibe and has so much to explore. You will want to check out every attraction and activity as part of finding your family’s favorites. It also takes a little longer to work out the layout of each park on your first visit. In this case, a Park Hopper is likely not necessary for your trip.

Do I Need a Park Hopper Ticket

Are you visiting the parks for three days or less?

If you are taking a shorter Disney World vacation, one that has fewer days than there are parks, a Park Hopper is a great way to make sure you get a little taste of each park. Depending on what your travel party is interested in, it may make sense to spend more time in some parks than others. Adding the Park Hopper to your tickets will allow you a chance to check everything out within a more concentrated time period.

Does your travel party have varied interests and ages?

In my family, we travel with three older teens and a young primary school aged child. Having the Park Hopper is a must for us to make sure that we get enough time for our youngest to enjoy all her favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom, and then one of us can go with the older boys to one of the other parks in the evening so they can get their fix of thrill rides. Having the flexibility of the Park Hopper comes in very handy if your group is willing to split up and check out different attractions and parks on the same day.

Do I Need a Park Hopper Ticket

Are you visiting during a low-crowd time of year?

One might argue that it is getting harder and harder to find a low-crowd time of year at Disney World (and I would tend to agree), but there are times when the waits are lower than others. If you are visiting Disney World when kids are in school and the holidays aren’t in full swing, you may find that you can get through all your desired activities in a park before the day is over. Having the Park Hopper in this situation can allow you to head to a different park later in the day.

Do I Need a Park Hopper Ticket

Do you value flexibility in your touring plan?

One really nice benefit of the Park Hopper is simply the additional flexibility. If you decided to head to Magic Kingdom one day, but then at about noon, decide that a stroll through World Showcase sounds like how you would like to spend your afternoon, a Park Hopper ticket allows you to do that. There are many things at Disney World that work better when planned in advance, but part of the fun is to be able to make adjustments and change things up.

If you are still on the fence about whether or not you need a Park Hopper ticket, my recommendation is to go without it. If you decide once you have arrived on your vacation that you want to do some park hopping, it’s straightforward to add the Park Hopper to your existing tickets. Simply head to any Guest Services location and they will be happy to assist. Please note, however, that the Park Hopper is a flat fee for the length of your ticket, so if you add it just for the last day, it will cost the same as adding it for the entire duration of your ticket.

Ready to experience your next Walt Disney World vacation? As an agent with Chip & Co’s official travel partner, Key to the World Travel, I would love to help with your first, or next, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line or Disneyland vacation! Email me at missy.graner@keytotheworldtravel.com or simply fill out the quote request below. And be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram.


Do I Need a Park Hopper Ticket? 1

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Missy Graner

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