Park Hopper tickets are a popular option at Disney World, but is it worth the extra cost?
Let’s take a look at what Disney Park Hopper passes include and whether this should be part of your vacation.
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Disney tickets are not cheap, and there are many options to choose from, so it can get confusing when deciding on the best ticket for your visit.
One of Disney’s popular ticket options is the Park Hopper Pass, but many people don’t know what this pass offers, or what its restrictions are.
Before you commit to buying the Park Hopper Pass, read this article so you know everything there is to know about the pass so you can decide if it’s worth the extra money.
The Hopper Pass is not right for everyone, and there are many factors to consider before buying your park tickets.
All About the Park Hopper Pass
Before we discuss if the Park Hopper Pass is worth it, let’s go over the features, cost, and restrictions so you know what you’re getting when you buy the pass.
The features of the Disney Hopper Pass may not even appeal to you, so let’s dive into what the Hopper Pass offers visitors.
Even if you’ve bought the Hopper Pass before, it’s a good idea to read this section because they have changed their policies to focus on the health and safety of all park visitors.
Features
The appeal of the Hopper Pass is that you can visit more than one park in a single day!
Standard park admission tickets only get you inside one park for the day. If you wanted to visit another, you’d have to buy another admission ticket for that park, costing you double.
The idea behind the pass is you can “hop” from park to park using a single pass.
Disneyland has two parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
Disney World has four parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.
Both Walt Disney World theme parks and Disneyland theme parks offer Hopper Passes for visitors.
They have the same features, benefits, and restrictions, but they do differ slightly in cost with Disneyland being a bit cheaper.
Related: Disney World vs. Disneyland–Where Should You Visit First?
Park HOpper Ticket Cost
At Walt Disney World resort, a Hopper Pass typically costs between $174 to $224.
At Disneyland, the Hopper Pass costs between $169 and $209 (but you should always double-check for the most current prices for your intended travel dates).
The cost varies based on the days you choose to go. Weekends will be more expensive, while weekdays, especially at the beginning of the week, will fall on the lower end of the cost spectrum.
Related: How the Disney Payment Plan Works
Restrictions
With the fun also come some rules. Below are the restrictions Disney places on the Hopper Passes, so the pass may not give you as much freedom as you were hoping for.
- You must make a reservation at the first park you intend to visit and go to that park first.
- You must use the Park Hopper Pass during designated hours, which are from 2 pm to park closing times (so you’ll need to “hop” during the afternoon or evening hours).
- Dining reservations (or reservations for other activities inside parks) do not guarantee entry without a park reservation.
- Hopper Pass holders can be denied entry due to capacity restrictions.
- You do not have access to the Disney water parks at either destination–those require separate tickets.
Is the Park Hopper Pass Worth It?
So is the Disney Hopper Pass worth the price? Well, that depends.
There are several factors to consider before deciding if you want to spend the extra money to be a Disney park hopper.
Weigh the aspects of the Disney Park Hopper Pass before purchasing your tickets, so you can be confident in your decision and budget your money wisely.
Consider the Price
The most important consideration when discussing if the Hopper Pass is worth it is the price, of course.
Single admission park tickets typically cost between $99 and $115, meaning the Walt Disney World base ticket where you only get access to one park per day.
On average, buying the Park Hopper option instead of two single admission Walk Disney World tickets in one day will save you $25.
In the grand scheme of a Disney experience, this amount isn’t super impressive. But every penny counts, so it’s still savings.
If you’re trying to decrease the cost of a Disney vacation, it may be worth sticking with lower ticket prices.
Consider the Restrictions
The restrictions with the Hopper Pass can be a deal-breaker for some people. The biggest one is that you are not guaranteed entry into the second park of your choice unless you make a theme park reservation.
During special events or crowded seasons, it may be difficult to secure a second reservation at a different park.
It can be super disappointing if you end your day at one park, only to be denied entry into the other one.
But at least if you’re in Disney World, luckily, you have two other parks to choose from (aside from the one you were denied entry to) after your first park of the day; at Disneyland, there are only two parks to hop between.
The other restriction that can be limiting is that people with the Disney Hopper Pass cannot hop to a second park until 2 pm.
For some people, this puts a damper on the pass because if you finish with the first park by noon, you have to wait two hours before they’ll let you into the second park.
Add Disney attraction wait times into the equation, and it may not be worth your while.
However, if you’re up for the challenge of visiting 4 Disney parks in one day, you definitely need this ticket!
Consider Your Vacation Length
The Disney park Hopper Pass is usually ideal for folks who are only staying at Disney for a day or two and want to experience all the parks during their trip.
If your Disney trip is just for a weekend but you’re itching to try all the parks, the Hopper Pass can be an excellent way to pack more into every day.
People that visit Disney World for just a few days are the most likely to use the Park Hopper Pass and get the most value because then they can visit all four parks in just two or three days.
But if your Disney vacation is going to be five or more days, you will probably enjoy going to one park a day and taking your time in each, so you don’t feel pressured to leave or run around to the other parks.
Consider the Size of Your Group
If you’re visiting Disney World with toddlers or young children, or have a large group with five or more people, hopping from park to park may be too much of a hassle.
Wrangling toddlers or regrouping after everyone splits up is a tough feat, so sometimes, it’s simpler to stay at one park each day (check out our favorite Disney parks for toddlers).
In addition to gathering everyone to leave the park and head to the second one, you have to transport everyone.
These Disney World transportation tips can be useful, but if you’re driving a car, this may mean you have to contend with a second parking lot (though you won’t have to pay for parking twice–check out our Disney World parking guide for details).
The Park Hopper Pass is best for smaller groups where everyone is over the age of ten because it’s easier to stay organized and make it from park A to park B.
Consider Your Energy Level
It may sound silly, but people that are not full of energy shouldn’t use the Hopper Pass. A day at any of the Disney parks can be exhausting.
Super fun, but exhausting nonetheless.
If you think just a few hours of the park will wipe you and your family out and you’ll be ready for nap time, the Hopper Pass may not be the wisest way to spend your money.
These considerations also apply to young children. Children under ten may not have the energy to travel to another park, which could lead to tears and tantrums, which is not a recipe for a fun vacation.
Make sure you and your whole group are up for a busy day if you decide to purchase Park Hopper Passes.
Other Kinds of Disney Theme Park Tickets
If you’re still unsure about the Park Hopper Pass, look into the other theme park ticket options Disney parks offer.
Some tickets, like annual passes, are usually only valuable to people that live locally or can visit Disney multiple times a year.
General Admission Tickets
Standard theme park tickets for Disneyland and Disney World cost around $109.
The price varies, depending on what deals are going on and if you purchase Disney vacation packages, but this is the standard price.
Multi-Day Tickets
Purchasing multi-day tickets can be a great way to save money on your tickets, as the cost per day typically decreases with these passes.
This also eliminates the stress of park hopping, if you know you have a certain number of days to visit all of the parks.
Having these additional days is better than purchasing single day tickets, in my opinion.
Park Plus Option
The Park Hopper Plus Option offers the same benefits as the Hopper Pass, but you also get access to Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Blizzard Beach in one day!
These tickets are usually $15-30 more expensive than the standard Park Hopper Passes.
Annual Pass
The annual passes for Disneyland and Disney World usually start at $1,300 before any add-ons or benefits.
So to make it worth the price, you would have to visit the park roughly fourteen times in a given year. Usually, only locals purchase these passes, or people who travel to Florida often.
When I lived in Florida, and even years later when my dad became a cast member, we were annual passholders, and it was glorious.
If you’re a Florida resident, this could be a great option for you!
Our Recommendation: Should You Get Disney Park Hopper Tickets?
In my opinion, whether or not to buy the Park Hopper Pass comes down to your energy level and mobility.
If you have the energy to go from one park to another in one day, the pass can save you money, and you can see more of what Disney has to offer!
But if getting you and your family or group to the park is going to be a struggle, it may only cause you a headache to leave that park and head to another.
Plus, you may feel rushed at the parks since you aren’t spending an entire day there.
If you’re the type to meander through the park, ride every ride, and take your time taking in everything, the Hopper Pass may not be for you.
But if you know you just want to ride a particular ride at Magic Kingdom and then enjoy the food at Epcot for the rest of the day, the Hopper Pass will save you between $20 to $40.
Which, in the grand scheme of a Disney vacation, is not that much money anyway. But if you have a large group, it could save you hundreds.
In the end, I don’t think the Disney Hopper Pass is worth it because I like to take my time and dedicate a whole day to each park I plan to visit, and to really immerse myself in the experience.
But hopefully, this has given you all the information you need to decide if the Hopper Pass is right for you and your family!
If you do decide to purchase Park Hopper passes as a Disney World splurge, I highly recommend you check out our tips for park hopping!
FAQs About Park HOpper PAsses
For more information on the Hopper Pass and how to use it, refer to the commonly asked questions below!
Can you visit more than two parks?
Disneyland only has two parks, so you can’t hope to visit more than Disneyland and California Adventure if you’re visiting the location in southern California.
But at Disney World theme park in Florida, where there are four parks, including EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
You can park hop to all four in one day if you want to (if you can get Disney park pass reservations)! But you likely won’t have much time at each park, since you can’t begin hopping until 2 pm on any given day.
If you’re into water parks, there is also a Park Hopper Plus option that includes Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Bizzard Beach Water Park.
Are Park Hopper Passes refundable?
Park Hopper Passes are non-refundable.
If you buy a Hopper Pass and are denied entry into other parks because they’re at capacity, you cannot transfer the theme park ticket to another day or get a refund.
Once you buy a Hopper Pass, you cannot get a refund, even if you decide not to go to any of the parks.
More Disney Planning Resources:
- Disney Packing List: What You Need to Bring
- How to Enjoy Disney World in the Rain
- Best Shoes to Wear to Disney World
- Best Disney World Tips
Be sure to save this article for later by adding it to your Disney travel board on Pinterest!
