Hello Shannan,
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question. Your vacation may seem far away right now, but before you know it you'll be strolling down Main Street U.S.A.,
posing for photos in front of Cinderella Castle, and
saying hello (hugs included) to your favorite characters!
I know it's a bit of a splurge, but I love the flexibility you get by adding the
Park Hopper Option to your tickets, especially when it comes to dining. Reserving a spot at popular restaurants can be challenging, but having several days to choose from during your trip makes it so much easier. You don't need to have a
theme park reservation in order to make a dining reservation, so I'm not sure exactly why that's giving people trouble. You do, however, need the park reservation to actually be able to dine in a restaurant located within a park. Unless I'm visiting at a super busy time, I like to try to make my dining plans first and then make my park reservations around those plans.
Spending the morning in
Magic Kingdom and then hopping to
EPCOT after 2:00 PM (or whenever park hopping starts for the day) sounds like a fantastic plan. There are so many great restaurants in the countries around World Showcase, not to mention character dining at
Garden Grill Restaurant, and out of this world dining at
Space 220 Restaurant. Plus, EPCOT at night is gorgeous!
Beacons of Magic in this park is stunning, and watching
Harmonious is the perfect way to end a Disney day.
Although it's not likely, there is always the possibility that park hopping could be unavailable on any given day based on capacity. If this were to happen, you would receive a push alert notice from your
My Disney Experience app on your mobile device. In this rare instance, I recommend speaking to a Cast Member at Guest Services and let them know you have reservations. You may be allowed entry anyway, or they may be able to help you come up with an alternative solution.
Hope this helps. Have a magical vacation!
Diane