Hi Whitney,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! How exciting to plan a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. I am happy to greet a fellow North Carolinian!
Although we have done the Park Hopper option in the past, we typically no longer purchase it. Since we fly, we do not have a car and have to use
Disney resort transportation. Getting from park to park can take some time and we do not want to waste valuable ride time trying to get to a different park in the same day. My family also likes to stay at deluxe resorts so we save some money by not purchasing the Park Hopper option. Saving money by not buying the Park Hopper option means we have money to purchase
Memory Maker. We absolutely have to have Memory Maker because it gives us access to all of our photos taken with Disney PhotoPass photographers.
Having said that, since your trip is short, you may want to maximize your time in the parks, so the Park Hopper option would provide more flexibility. I do love not having to worry about where our dining reservations might be. Without the Park Hopper option, I have to be careful when making dining reservations to be sure that those reservations are in the same park we will visit for the day.
Whitney, I sense the Force is strong with your family. The rebel forces are in search of new Jedi recruits who can bring peace to the galaxy. If you get to the park early enough, you may have a chance to sign-up your son for
Jedi Training - Trials of the Temple. Training spots are limited so I suggest you do a pre-park opening breakfast reservation at Hollywood & Vine.
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell