A joyful family riding Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. They laugh and scream as they plunge down the thrilling drop.
  • On Oct 20, 2024
    Gabriel from MD Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hello! I am currently planning my first Disney world trip with my wife and we got the park hopper tickets! We’re hoping to do and see as much as possible! Is there any smart strategies or any specific order with what parks we should do? Thank you so much!

    Thanks for stopping by planDisney, Gabriel! What a fascinating question. As a family who rarely park-hopped for years, we recently became Annual Passholders with that option included.  And while I'm still learning strategies myself, let's "hop" right in and talk about getting the most bang from your tickets.

    My husband and I rarely plan to visit more than two parks a day since travel time takes up a chunk of our itinerary. So, my first step is to pair up the theme parks. I look at theme park hours on the calendar to help decide where to start and end my day. For example, since Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park often closes earlier than the others, it's usually where I like to begin. I'll prioritize attractions like Kilimanjaro Safaris and Avatar Flight of Passage, eat a leisurely lunch at Nomad Lounge, and then take a bus to my second park.

    I decide on my second park of the day by looking at its hours, any nighttime entertainment I want to see there, and transportation options to get there easily. Since Disney buses are the only transportation from Animal Kingdom, and bus service to Magic Kingdom Park drops you at the front of the park, I typically pair those two parks. I like to ride Space Mountain, eat a light dinner at Columbia Harbour House, and end my night dabbing my eyes during Happily Ever After.

    I recommend visiting EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios on the same day since you can take the Disney Skyliner or a FriendShip Boat between those parks. I've even traveled back and forth on the same day because I think of the skyliner as a ride on its own! Check out the calendar for nighttime events and plan to end your day at that park. I love watching Luminous The Symphony of Us at EPCOT, but Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios is a classic.

    Remember that you can use the monorail to travel between Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, so park-hopping between those two parks is also fun. 

    Gabriel, I hope I've given you some tips for planning your park-hopping strategy. You and your wife will get a feel for it in no time, and you'll be giving me suggestions! Please stop by planDisney anytime, and have a fabulous visit.

    Magic awaits,
    Elaine
thumbnail image for Elaine

Meet the Panelist: Elaine, Florida

Bright Suns! I'm Elaine, a retired teacher dividing my time between my home state of Kentucky and the Sunshine State. I married my college sweetheart, and now that our only son is grown, we are exploring the empty-nest life. My family has been visiting Walt Disney World Resort for over 25 years, so if you have questions about adult-only visits, plant-based meals, thrill attractions, and Florida-resident perks, I'm here for you in full Force. Like Yoda would say, "Trips, we will plan!" Learn More About Elaine

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