Disney World Veterens, can you help a virgin?

Question

I am in the early stages of trying to plan a trip to Disney World. I don't need advice with travel and lodging, but instead I need to know if it is advisable to do the park hopper thing or not? If going to parks on consecutive days is suicudal? Which parks are best suited for an 8 year old girl? If I the alloted time required going to parks on consecutive days, but I do have a day included to rest between 2, what would be the best plan of attack?

Answer 1

The hopper basically allows you to go to more than one park each day. For example, if you want to do Animal Kingdom in the morning and then EPCOT at night, you can do that. Otherwise, with a base ticket, you have to stay in the same park the whole day. If you want to leave that park and then come back later, you can do that with or without the hopper, but if you want to do more than one park, you need the hopper.

Whether or not it is worth it just depends on what you are wanting. If this will be your first visit to Disney, then you may not need it. There is so much to see in each park, that going to more than one park really takes a lot of time away, considering you need to get out the current park, then get over to the other park, etc. There is quite a bit of travel time that takes away from your time. However, most people like one of the parks more, or spend more time at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom because they are larger and Animal Kingdom and MGM don't take as much time, so in this case the hopper would be a good idea. But, don't forget there is a lot of other things to do besides te parks, you also have Disney Quest, Downtown Disney, the water parks, shopping, etc. If you want to save money, then this is one area where I think you should really consider whether or not it is worth it to you. In my opinion, I would rather do the water parks option, but that is just me.

I've been to Disney enough times now that I don't really care how much I see each time I go. So, I always get the hopper, this allows me to do whatever I want, where ever I want. I may not go to the parks at all one day, but just go to Magic Kingdom for breakfast and then EPCOT in the evening for dinner, so I like having the option.


I think it is worth it, if you plan to use it, but it isn't always worth it for everyone.

As far as the best park for an 8 year old, that kind of depends what she likes. Generally Magic Kingdom is the most popular for younger children, Animal Kingdom and MGM are also pretty popular, I would say Animal Kingdom a little more so than MGM. EPCOT is also great, but tends to be more popular for adults. All the parks are going to offer something for most every age, so I think that visiting each park at least once. If you get the park hopper you can always ride a few things in one park and then head to another park afterwards.

Each park generally takes one day, depending on when you will be going, you may be able to get a little more in than other times of the year. However, to really see everything, it will take more than one day and EPCOT and Magic Kingdom take quite a bit more time than MGM and Animal Kingdom. Even if you don't get the park hopper, you can always use the tickets however you like, so you don't have to go to a park every day. Also, with the ticket prices being so good right now, the longer the pass, the cheaper it is to add on more days, after 3 or 4 days, it is only around $1 to add on additional days per person. So, since it isn't quite as expensive, you don't have to worry about spending every single minute in the parks and can relax and enjoy yourself a little more, or even just go in to get dinner or something. What I do when planning my trips is go to the park that will have the extra magic hours for that day, that way you will have the most amount of time in the parks and going during the extra hour for onsite guests really does put you ahead of the crowd for about half the day, so you can see a lot more in that time. Other than that, my biggest tip is to always use Fastpass. Even if you are going during one of the slower seasons, there are always those handful of rides that have a long wait, Fastpass can really help cut down on line time.


I hope this helps!


Have a great time!

Answer 2

I would recommend doing the park hopper ticket. Although one park generally takes one or more days to get through, if one park is really crowded you may want to leave and go to another and without the park hopper you cannot do that.

Going to the parks on consecutive days can be stressful on parents though it is still very enjoyable. No, I do not think it is suicidal you just may want to take a break in the middle of the day. Especially with an 8 year old.

I would say all of the parks are suited for an 8 year old. The least suitable would be MGM, but that is the last park I would recommend in general. There is not as much to do there with only few main attractions such as Rockin Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror. That park also takes the least amount of time to get through. The Magic Kingdom may be the must suitable because it really gives out that "Disney Feel" and when people say DisneyWorld they really mean the magic kingdom! Animal kingdom is great and so is epcot. I would recommend taking at least a day to go each park.

The best plan of attack would be to avoid the weekends. If you planned to take a day off of the parks then I would take Saturday or Sunday off. These days are most popular along with Wednesday! Also start with the most popular rides in the morning right when the park opens and you may even want to ride your favorite ride consecutive times.

Good luck and I hope this helps. I have been to Disney over 25 times and this has worked for me.

Answer 3

The parks are all great and very different. For an 8 year old, The Magic Kingdom is first on the list. Then depending upon what your 8 year old is looking for can make a big difference. Epcot is interesting but unless your 8 year old is real interested in the world and the various countries, it may be better in a couple of years. Disney MGM is going to have more rides and attractions of interest. For the Theme Park experience, that would be the one. Wild Kingdom also gets high marks, but I have not been there. Keep in mind that there is lots of walking and standing at all parks. I have done consecutive days, but would prefer to have a little down time between two big parks. Of course if money is no object, you can hit the highlights without worrying about missing all the small details.

Answer 4

I have always done the park hopper ticket and we always stay in the park. We stay in the park and get the park hopper because it is very easy to go to one park in the morning, go back to the hotel for lunch and a nap, and then return to a park in the evening (maybe a different park).

A few years ago I went with an 8 year old girl. She was frightened of everything in the dark, even the shows. She really liked the live action shows at MGM and the Magic Kingdom. However even the Pooh ride scared her because it started in dim light. If I may offer some advice please get your daughter prepared for being in the dark a lot so she won't be scared during the attractions.

Answer 5

We do it a bit differently. Instead of hopping parks, we hop resorts. For example, last year we did 2 nights at the Yacht and Beach Club. We enjoyed Epcot and being able to walk into the park from the resort. Then we moved to the Polynesian for 2 nights and took advantage of being a monorail or ferryboat away from the Magic Kingdom. This year we are considering splitting our stay between Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge.
Being in the park is so convenient. When you and your daughter have had enough, you take a break, go back to the resort and rest or splash in the pool. When you're ready, it's so easy to head back. If she's too tired to stay in the park for fireworks, you can see them from your resort.
The main thing is to just not try to kill yourself trying to see everything. It's impossible unless you're going to be there for weeks. This summer will be our 5th trip to Disney and there are still things in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot that we haven't gotten to. It's hard, but we'll just have to keep going back.

Answer 6

The park hopper is the best option. We always get up really early and go to one park and around lunch time go back to the resort and go to another park at night. My advice is to Animal Kingdom in the morning and the parks that have a night time show do in the later part of the day. If you take time to rest at lunch into the early afternoon you are good to go till the park closes. I have two boys 7&9.

Answer 7

I do not like the park hopper option, we never use it. We always stay at one park for the day or else it is too overwhelming. We always choose the water park and fun option. Thats great cause you get the 2 water parks then, so we went to Blizzard Beach for a few hours then Animal Kingdom which doesnt take up a full day. You can use a water park and regular park in the same day, you also get the Disney Quest included, which is super great for kids, we go at night after a day at the parks. Have fun

Answer 8

Like others have mentioned, yes it is advisable to do the park hopper thing. The main reason why is YOU ARE ON VACATION...with a parkhopper you have the freedom to go where you want and at your leisure. You aren't tied to one park only per day. You could ride dumbo all day at the Magic Kingdom and than you can eat in Mexico for dinner (if you chose to anyway!) An 8yr old girl is going to love just about all the parks-each one is so different. Plan to go to one of the special character dining meals too. They are located at each of the parks and many of the deluxe resorts and definate induce "kodak moments". For your "days of rest" play those days by ear. If you guys decide to hang by the pool the whole day, go for it but just have back up plans in case the day isn't sunny (rare in Central FL)... Have a great time!

Answer 9

definately see the magic kingdom and she would probably like the animal kingdom epcot is more adult like so she might be bored and mgm she might like to , in the magic kingdom do the main street last this is when you can get souvieners and not be carrying them around go to tommorwland then work toward frontierland like in a big circle starting to the left when you come from mainstreet looking at the castle. , i havent been to animal kingdom but i heard its fun and be sure to see the parade, mgm there are height requirements on rides so check it out first what she can ride, spring breaks are finishing up for students here in florida so the crowds may not be so bad go during the week not so much on the weekend its more crowded, eating wise mgm is pricey ,magic kingdom is ok , just pace yourselves and dont think you have to see it all if you miss something you can always come back to florida i dont thinkdisney is going any where. oh yea magic kingdom if the day looks rainy is better to be at than the others