To Park Hop or Not to Park Hop

A runDisney race weekend can be fast and furious. Between traveling, the Expo, the race and celebrating, there may not be a whole lot of time to hit the parks! So when determining your park plans, one question remains – to park hop or not to park hop?

Ultimately, this decision depends on many factors. Take a look!

 

Your Party

Each race weekend may be a little different depending on who is coming along with you. Going solo or as a couple? The ability to park hop will be easier as you have less to bring along. Going with the family? It may be best to stick to one park each day to avoid between park meltdowns. Going with a group? Talk with everyone to determine what their plans are.

 

Your Travel Dates

There are two ways to experience a runDisney race weekend – as just the weekend or an extended vacation. If your plan is to be at Disney for the days of the events, then park hopping may not be the best idea. With everything involved with a race weekend along with limited time, you will want to focus your time on hitting your favorite attractions or shows in one park per day.

If you are planning on adding some days to the race weekend (perhaps making it a week-long vacation), park hopping is definitely an option. It allows for flexibility when it comes to making dining reservation as well as enjoying the Extra Magic Hours (for those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel).

 

Your Budget

It’s no secret that runDisney races are pricey. Add in travel, hotel, food and additional expenses, and the weekend can become quite expensive. If you are trying to save money, park hopping will only add to the expense. If your budget is a little more flexible, adding on a park hopper won’t break the bank. However, you will need to determine if that money is better spent elsewhere for your trip.

 

Your Race Plans

There is a lot to experience during a runDisney race weekend! The Health & Fitness Expo occurs multiple days and includes vendors and speakers. It is very easy to spend hours there. There are also various additional events such as pasta parties, post-race breakfasts, character meet and greets and much more. (Note: Some of these events are an additional cost.) Add in the races themselves, and your race weekend could be full without even going into the parks!

Take a look at your race weekend plans and everything you would like to see or do. And don’t forget to add in travel time between destinations! This will help determine if a park hopper is a must, or something you can do without.

A park hopper ticket is absolutely not necessary to enjoy a magical time in the parks. By taking a look at the above criteria, you can decide if that park hopper is needed during your runDisney race weekend or if it is better saved for another Disney vacation!