Hiya there, Jennifer!
How exciting that you get to have double the fun with a cheer competition and some time in the parks at Walt Disney World Resort! I have some extra pep in my step just thinking about it! A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I competed in a softball tournament at
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. I still remember how much fun I had making memories both on the field and in the parks with my teammates!
In order to park hop, you must scan into the park where you made a reservation. So, if you currently have reserved
Disney's Animal Kingdom through the
Disney Park Pass Reservation System for that day, you must scan into that park before visiting others. Since Disney's Animal Kingdom usually boasts the earliest closing time of any of the parks (yay for peaceful nights for the animals), this is likely the only park you'd have trouble entering if the competition runs long. I think you have two solid options in this scenario.
1) Cancel your park pass reservation for Disney's Animal Kingdom that day and reserve a park that has later evening hours. I personally love the
Harmonious nighttime spectacular at EPCOT! I love to end my night with this magical performance in the sky and I, of course, can't resist grabbing a late night snack on my way out!
2) Keep your current park pass reservation for Disney's Animal Kingdom and keep an eye on the
Theme Park Reservation Availability Calendar as the date approaches. Green means all parks are still available, yellow means some parks are available and gray means all parks are full. This is a riskier strategy, but if Disney's Animal Kingdom is really a top priority for you, it may be worth a try. If the day of the competition, you see that all parks are still available and the cheering is taking just a bit longer than anticipated, you could cancel your park pass reservation at that time and book a new one.
Jennifer, I personally am a "better safe than sorry" kind of person, so I recommend booking a park that will be a sure-thing that day! That way you can focus on the cheer competition in peace knowing that your park visit is already secured! Luckily, the park availability for March is still looking promising, so you have time to rework your plans to fit your cheer competition schedule.
As you continue planning for your upcoming stay, keep in mind all of the possibilities available at
Disney Springs! This was my favorite place to freely hang out with my teammates and is still a go-to spot for me when traveling with a larger group. There are so many dining and shopping options to keep everyone full of cheer! Also, if you top off your night with a tasty dessert from
Amorette's Patisserie, the competition doesn't stand a chance!
Happy planning, Jennifer!
Ashley