Hello there, Brittany and welcome to planDisney! It's always great to see a fellow Missourian around these parts!
The
Park Hopper® Option is a great addition to any stay at Walt Disney World Resort, but it's especially valuable if you have only a few days and want to experience as many of the Parks as possible! If you ask me, there's never been a better time to hop, with so much to see and do as part of "The World's Most Magical Celebration!" From checking-off all the special
50th Anniversary sips and bites on your list, to finding all the
Disney Fab 50 Character Collection statues and more, park hopping allows you to do it all!
To your question, GREAT NEWS: you don't have to be in your first park for any set amount of time before hopping at 2 p.m.! As long as you do "enter" the park where you have your Theme Park Reservation first, once 2 p.m. hits, you're go for launch to your second park.
Oh, what's that, why the "air quotes" like Yzma's "secret lab?" That's because if you really wanted to, you can visit your first park, tap your
MagicBand, admission card, or
MagicMobile-compatible device at the turnstiles anytime - even at 1:59 p.m or later - and head off to another park right away as long as it hasn't reached capacity. I saw this happen with my own eyes last year, so take that as a real firsthand "Show Me State-approved" account! It definitely looked like that group was up late the night before - Joffrey's Coffee in hand and ready to seize the...afternoon!
Speaking of approved, my "planDrew-Approved" suggestion is no matter which park you start at, don't miss hopping to
EPCOT to watch
Harmonious. I was a HUGE fan of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, and while it's different, I was absolutely amazed when I first saw Harmonious - believe me when I say I was standing there in awe! Also, hopping to EPCOT will allow you to see
Spaceship Earth lit up as one of the
Beacons of Magic! I love Spaceship Earth, and seeing those points of light illuminate such an icon with incredible lightshow patterns is something you will NOT want to miss!
I hope that helps you as you plan for your adventure this summer, Brittany! Thanks for hopping my way with your question! You can always come back to the planDisney Panel if you find yourself like Ariel, wanting to "ask 'em my questions and get some answers" - we'll be here!
Until then, have fun wanderin' free park hopping as part of your stay at Walt Disney World Resort!
Andrew