4 Things You FORGOT About Park Hopping in Disney World

Disney World went through some major changes after the COVID-19 closures of 2020.

Magic Kingdom

From social distancing to Park Pass Reservations, the parks looked different once they reopened, and there were plenty of new rules in place for us all to get used to. One rule that has stuck around for years is the park hopping rule — that you can’t enter your second park until you’ve scanned into your first park of the day, and that you can’t hop until 2PM. But soon, these rules will be changing! Starting January 9th, all-day park hopping is returning for most guests. To prepare, let’s talk about what you might have forgotten about this perk.

It’s Tiring

First things first — we love the flexibility of park hopping, but it can be exhausting. When you’re on a trip to Disney World, it can feel like you need to do everything, and that alone can be tiring.

Tomorrowland crowds

But, adding another park to your day? It makes it even more challenging to plan some downtime, particularly if you you had a hard time narrowing down your must-dos. Florida can be hot and the crowds can take a bigger toll on you than you realize, so it’s important to plan for some relaxation.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

With park hopping, it’s easy to overdo it, so you might want to consider using the mid-day break to have some relaxation. Whether you head back to the hotel for a quick power nap, plan a leisurely lunch, or just enjoy an easygoing boat ride to your next park, this could be a great time to regain some energy.

Travel Time

Another thing you may have forgotten is that sometimes it can take a while to get between parks! Free Disney World buses are convenient, but they aren’t always speedy. Factor in that inevitable moment when you walk up to your bus stop as it drives away, and it could take 45 minutes or so to get to your next park.

Disney Bus

If you plan on park hopping on your trip, it’s a good idea to pair parks based on convenient transportation between them. For example, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are a good match because they are connected by the Skyliner! You could also take a boat, bus, or walk between them, giving you plenty of options if something goes wrong.

Disney Skyliner

Another pairing that might make sense is EPCOT and Magic Kingdom since the Monorail connects them. While these are possibly the most intensive parks of the four, if you are okay with taking it easy in both then this could be a great option.

It’s Expensive

Another thing to note is that Park Hopper tickets aren’t cheap! For example, a regular 1-Park-Per-Day Theme Park Ticket in Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a Saturday in November 2023 can start at $159 per person, but for a Park Hopper ticket on that same day, it would cost $249.

Guests currently can’t park hop in Disney World until 2PM.

Given that the rules of park hopping right now are pretty strict, that makes upgrading to a Park Hopper Ticket quite the expense! Once all-day park hopping returns in 2024, these tickets might make more sense for your budget.

Flexibility

Lastly, park hopping is a fun, flexible way to enjoy the parks. Walk into Magic Kingdom and decide it’s just too peopley for your liking? Nothing is stopping you from turning around and hopping to Animal Kingdom (except maybe your toddler who absolutely must ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant, ASAP).

Magic Kingdom can get BUSY

Did you start the day in Magic Kingdom but decide you want lunch somewhere with more interesting food options? Hop over to EPCOT around noon and eat your way around the world.

World Showcase Lagoon

Overall, we really love the ability to hop from park to park throughout the day, but it’s best to be prepared! Knowing how to best tackle it is a great way to plan a smooth trip.

Magic Kingdom

We’ll keep bringing you all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more!

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