Hi Ashley! Welcome to planDisney! It's great to have you stop by!
Park hopping is one of my favorite things to do at the Walt Disney World Resort! Being able to start my day on Main Street, U.S.A. and finish it exploring the World Showcase is a great luxury to have. At this time, you do need to enter the first park you have a
reservation for before hopping to a second park later in the day. These rules will be in place for the foreseeable future. Park hopping begins at 2 PM each day.
There is one caveat to this rule pertaining to
Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Beginning soon, Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks starting at 2 PM each day without a park reservation. You will no longer be required to visit a park earlier in the day or make a park reservation if you do not plan to visit until 2 PM. There is an exception to this new rule. Park reservations are still required on Saturdays and Sundays at the Magic Kingdom for all Guests regardless of the time you enter.
One strategy that has worked great for my family is starting our day at one park, taking a mid-day break back at our
Disney Resorts Hotel, then finishing the night at a different park. This has allowed us to maximize our day and make it feel longer than it actually is. When we return for an evening visit, it almost feels like a brand new day!
Ashley, I hope this information helps you plan for your upcoming visit!
Stop back and see us anytime at planDisney!
See ya real soon!
Greg