What is Park Hopping at Disney World?

What is Park Hopping at Disney World?

What is Park Hopping at Disney World?

This article is your complete guide to learning everything you need to know about the Disney World Park Hopper pass and the Disney Park Hopper Plus! Walt Disney World has seen many ticket price changes over the past couple of years. This includes the price and rules around the park hopper ticket system. As a general rule of thumb, the Disney World park hopper ticket allows families to visit more than one Walt Disney World park within the same day. For multi-day tickets, it’s a one-time flat fee ranging between $85-$110 and not based on how many days you plan to park hop. And as you will see below, due to the positioning of the four Disney World parks, we do find it to be better suited for families with older kids who will have an easier time travelling between parks.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

What is a Disney World Park Hopper Ticket?

The Disney World park hopper ticket is a ticket option that allows guests to visit multiple Walt Disney World theme parks in one day. Guests can choose from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. However, it’s important that you have the park hopper plus if you’re trying to visit one of the Disney World water parks. It’s important to note that we don’t find the park hopper tickets to be the best fit for every family due to the layout of Walt Disney World. In our opinion, it can be a lot for families with young children to park hop due to the transportation and travel aspect. However, on the flip side, it’s the ideal ticket option for those wanting to spend a morning at EPCOT, an afternoon at Animal Kingdom, and end with fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. It’s a perfect choice for anyone aiming to maximize their experience at Walt Disney World.

What Does the Disney Park Hopper Pass Include?

Regular Park Hopper Ticket:

• Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom

Park Hopper Plus Ticket:

• Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

How much does the Disney World Park Hopper Cost in 2026?

3-Day Disney World Park Hopper – $587.00 average price

4-Day Disney World Park Hopper – $736.00 average price

5-Day Disney World Park Hopper – $837.00 average price

6-Day Disney World Park Hopper – $865.00 average price

Related Post: Disney World Park Hopper Deals and Promotions

What is the Disney World Park Hopper Plus?

The Disney World Park Hopper Plus ticket is an admission ticket that includes all four of the Disney World theme parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, Disney’s water parks. This ticket allows you to do one of the following per day, one visit to Typhoon Lagoon, one visit to Blizzard Beach, cover your Green Fees at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, one visit to ESPN World Wide of Sports, one round of mini golf at Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (before 4 pm), or one round of mini golf at Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (before 4 pm).

 What is Included with the Disney World Park Hopper Plus?

Unlimited Admission:

• Magic Kingdom
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom
• EPCOT

One Admission Per Day:

• Typhoon Lagoon
• Blizzard Beach
• ESPN Worldwide Sports
• Green Fee at Oak Trail Golf Course
• A Round of Mini Golf at Disney’s Fantasia Gardens
• A Round of Mini Golf at Disney’s Winter Summerland

The Park Hopper Plus One Admission Per Day means that you can only choose one activity per day. For instance, if you start your morning in Magic Kingdom, have lunch in EPCOT, and then spend your evening playing a round of Mini Golf at Fantasia Gardens. You can not spend your morning in Magic Kingdom, head to Blizzard Beach for the afternoon, then end your day playing Mini Golf at Fantasia Gardens. Guests only get to select one activity per day from the list above.

Related Post: Complete Guide to Disney World Payment Plans

How to Park Hop Between Disney World Parks

As you’ll see, one of the most important things to understand about park hopping in Walt Disney World is that the parks are actually not within walking distance to each other. So for that reason, you will have to plan on travel time to get between each of the four Walt Disney World parks, which could range anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. The good news is that Disney offers several free transportation options to get you between parks. The not-so-good news is that some routes are significantly faster than others, and knowing the difference can save you a ton of time on your park-hopping day.

It’s important to note that, on top of the Disney World transportation options below, you can also always drive your own car to the theme parks. If you pay for parking at one park, you can actually use that same ticket to park hop over to another park without paying for parking again.

Disney World park hopping routes:

EPCOT to Hollywood Studios (and Back)

All three of these options require you to exit EPCOT through the International Gateway in the back of the park near World Showcase. This is not the main entrance near Spaceship Earth, so plan your time in the park accordingly. If you’re near the front of EPCOT when you decide to hop, you’ll need to walk through World Showcase to reach the International Gateway first.

• Disney Skyliner
• Friendship Boats
• Walking Path

EPCOT to Magic Kingdom (and Back) 

The Disney Monorail connects these two parks, but it does require a transfer. You’ll take the EPCOT monorail line to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), then transfer to the Magic Kingdom monorail line or take the ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon. Plan for about 30-45 minutes for this trip, depending on wait times for the transfer.

• Monorail 
• Bus Transportation Between Parks

EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom (and Back) 

Animal Kingdom is the most isolated of the four Disney World theme parks, and unfortunately, there’s no monorail, Skyliner, or walking path that connects it to any other park. That means your options for hopping to or from Animal Kingdom come down to one choice: the Disney bus system.

• Bus Transportation Between Parks

Estimated Park Hopping Travel Times

To help you plan your park-hopping day, here’s a quick reference for approximate travel times between each pair of parks:

• EPCOT ↔ Hollywood Studios: 15-30 minutes (Skyliner, walking, or boat)
• EPCOT ↔ Magic Kingdom: 30-45 minutes (monorail with transfer)
• EPCOT ↔ Animal Kingdom: 30-45 minutes (bus or car)
• Magic Kingdom ↔ Hollywood Studios: 30-50 minutes (bus or car)
• Magic Kingdom ↔ Animal Kingdom: 30-50 minutes (bus or car)
• Hollywood Studios ↔ Animal Kingdom: 25-40 minutes (bus or car)

Related Post: The Complete Guide to the Disney World Monorail

Is the Disney Park Hopper Worth it?

We find the Park Hopper Ticket to be the best fit for guests who are trying to get a lot done at Disney World in a short amount of time. This would be for families thinking about vacationing in Disney World for 2-3 days while visiting all four parks. Additionally, we also think it’s a great option for repeat visitors who already know which rides and experiences they want to hit and don’t need a full day at every park. We also believe the Disney World Park hopper ticket can be a great fit for families with kids in their teens. The main reason is that it’s just easier to hop from park to park when everyone is a bit older. It also allows parents to enjoy their vacation more without having to carry strollers throughout all four Disney parks.

That said, the Park Hopper isn’t the right choice for everyone. If this is your first trip to Disney World or you’re traveling with toddlers, you’ll likely get more value out of slowing down and dedicating a full day to each park. Here’s a quick breakdown of who we think benefits most:

Park Hopper is a great fit if you:

• Are visiting for fewer than 4 days and want to see all four parks
• Have been to Disney World before and know exactly what you want to do
• You are traveling with teens or an adults-only group that can move quickly
• Want to take a midday break at your resort and then hop to a different park for the evening
• Are staying at an EPCOT-area resort, where hopping to Hollywood Studios or EPCOT for dinner is quick and easy
• Want more flexibility with dining reservations across multiple parks
• Plan to visit on a day when Magic Kingdom closes early for a special event like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

You can probably skip the Park Hopper if you:

• You are visiting Disney World for the first time and want to fully experience each park
• Are traveling with young children who need naps and a slower pace
• Have 4 or more park days and can comfortably dedicate one day per park
• Prefer a relaxed touring style over a packed schedule
• Are you visiting during peak holidays when capacity closures could block your hop

Related Post: Guide to Individual Lightning Lane Rides at Disney World

Disney Park Hopper FAQ

Q: What is 4-day Park Hopper Plus?

A: Disney theme park tickets are valid for admission beginning on the selected start date of the ticket and must be used within the “valid use period provided at the time of purchase,” according to Disney. For example, a 4-day ticket expires seven days after the selected start date. Selection of the Disney tickets Park Hopper Plus option adds another day to your valid use period.

Q: What transportation should I use with Park Hopper/Park Hopper Plus Disney?

A: Park-to-park transportation is now available. Operations are beginning each day before the start of Park Hopper hours, and monorail service.

Q: Does Disney Park Hopper include water parks?

A: No. If you want to visit a Disney water park, you must upgrade to the Water Park and Sports Option or Park Hopper Plus option.

Q: Is mini golf included in Disney tickets?

A: A certain selected number of visits to mini golf comes with the Water Park and Sports Park Hopper and the Park Hopper Plus. This includes our favorite Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. 

Q: When visiting multiple Disney theme parks on the same day, do I have to pay for parking at each theme park?

A: No. If you pay for parking at one Disney theme park, you may park at other Disney theme parks on the same day for no additional charge. And if you have the Park Hopper option, you can use the

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.