15 Expert Tips for the NEW Park Hopping Rules in Disney World

We love park hopping. Yes, we do! We love park hopping. How about you?

Getting ready to park hop in Disney World

Thanks to the Park Pass Reservation system, park hopping has looked different than it used to. The one rule that has stuck around for years about park hopping is that you can’t enter your second park until you’ve scanned into your first park of the day, and that you can’t hop until 2PM. But soon, these rules will be changing! Starting January 9th, all-day park hopping is returning for most guests. To get ready for its return, let’s go over 15 of the best tips for park hopping in Disney World.

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There are a lot of tips, 15 of them, so let’s dive right in!

  • Book breakfast reservations at your favorite restaurant (even if it’s not your favorite park) and then immediately hop to whichever park you want to!
  • Rope drop your favorite rides, then immediately hop to a less crowded park, and then go back to your first park at night, when lines are shorter again. 
  • Here’s a challenge for you. Go to all four parks in one day. (Ride one ride at each park)

Genie+

  • Use the multi-Genie+ option to your advantage! While you’re hitting up rides in the morning while crowds are lower in one park, book your Lightning Lanes for your NEXT park.
  • You can try to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind twice in one day. (Grab a Lightning Lane in the morning and then you’ll have a pretty good chance of snagging a virtual queue at 1PM since you’re already in the park by then.)

Cosmic Rewind

  • Use the long days to your advantage by starting at Animal Kingdom (because if you rope drop, you could finish the entire park and leave by 11 potentially, especially if you use Genie+).
  • Don’t forget that you can go into a park, get your favorite snack, and then leave immediately. 
  • Rope drop at Hollywood Studios, then run to EPCOT for lunch, and then return to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic and more rides!

Fantasmic!

  • Skip the lines and save time by getting those Lightning Lanes! 
  • Stack Hollywood Studios for the end of the day while intermittently fitting in rides from the other parks, and remember you can modify the time on the same ride to make it later and work with your evening stack.
  • Remember most shows don’t run all day (so if you’re parking hopping a lot, make sure you’re in the right park at the right time for live entertainment)

Festival of the Lion King

  • It could be easier to have a car if you plan on hopping a lot. Disney transportation can take a while and is unpredictable. With driving, you are in control.
  • If you drove to your first park, check the hours before you leave your car there and take Disney transportation to your second park. (If the first park closes earlier, that could mean a big hassle for getting back to your car.)
  • Remember that it takes time to get from one park to another (usually more time than you think). If you’re park hopping for a dining reservation or individual Lightning Lane, allow an HOUR.
  • If you are a rope drop to close person, start with the park that opens earlier and finish with the latest park.

Magic Kingdom

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

What is your favorite part about park hopping? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 15 Expert Tips for the NEW Park Hopping Rules in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.