top of page
Callie

The Perks of Park Hopping at The Disneyland Resort

Updated: Oct 1, 2023




At the Disneyland Resort there are two types of theme park tickets available to purchase. You can either buy a One Park Per Day ticket or a Park Hopper ticket. The Park Hopper ticket gives you the ability to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure in the same day. Even if you are only planning to go to the Disneyland Resort for a couple of days you will want to make sure to get a Park Hopper. The times I have taken a quick trip to California and had the ability to go to Disneyland for only one or two days, I have been so grateful I had a Park Hopper. Being able to bounce back and forth between the Disneyland and California Adventure meant I didn’t have to choose between the two parks and I was able to ride my favorite rides from both. Visit Get Away Today to get the best deals on Park Hopper Tickets and hotel packages. Having this type of ticket has multiple perks.


How Park Hopping Works

First let's discuss how Park Hopping works at The Disneyland Resort. Currently you are able to begin park hopping at 1:00 P.M. everyday. When you are purchasing your Disneyland Theme Park tickets make sure you select the Park Hopper option as your ticket type. Disneyland is currently requiring Theme Park Reservations along with a valid ticket. When you make your Theme Park Reservations with a Park Hopper ticket you only need to make a reservation for the first park you are going to enter that day. For example, if you have a Theme Park Reservation for Disneyland you will start your day there, then after 1:00 P.M. you are able to go over to California Adventure. From here on out, you can bounce back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure until the parks close.


No More Missing Out On Rides and Shows

There is nothing worse than being in California Adventure and have a hankering to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and not being able to because you only have a California Adventure ticket for the day. Having a Park Hopper Ticket eliminates this disappointing situation. It is so nice being able to pop back and forth between the parks and not feel rushed. I do suggest that you don’t go back and forth too much as you will tire yourself and your family out. You want to make sure you ride multiple rides in one of the parks before you go over to the other one. Don’t Park Hop to California Adventure just to ride Web Slingers then go back to Disneyland. You’ll want to spend more time in California Adventure than that to really get your moneys worth and to not wear yourself out from walking back and forth. You will no longer be disappointed about not being able to ride an attraction again because it is at the other park. If you have kiddos, they might want to ride an attraction that is at the other park. Without a Park Hopper ticket you will have to break their little hearts to tell them they can’t ride that ride today. This can be extremely hard and sad for everyone especially if you are only going to the parks for a couple of days.


Having a Park Hopper also makes seeing shows at Disneyland and California Adventure easier. You won’t have to be disappointed about missing the shows at either park. Does it matter what park you start at with your Theme Park Reservations? Since most of the shows happen in the afternoon or evening, typically you will be able to head over to the other park in time to experience the evening entertainment. A Park Hopper ticket will maximize your experience by allowing you to ride the majority of rides and see at least some of the shows you have on your Disneyland Resort to-do list.


More Eating Options

The Disneyland Resort has many different eating options throughout both parks and you won’t want to miss out on any of them. A Park Hopper ticket allows you to try many of the good eats. There are certain foods you are able to purchase in both Disneyland and California Adventure but there are other novelty foods that are only available at one of the parks. With a One Park Per Day ticket you might have a hankering for food that is offered at a restaurant in the park you aren’t at. This means you won’t be able to enjoy this delicious food that day. It’s very nice to be able to eat at what ever restaurant sounds good to you no matter which park you are in. There are multiple times I am in Disneyland and have a craving for a twist ice cream cone from The Cozy Cone in Cars Land. With Park Hopping it’s super easy for me to just walk over and have my favorite ice cream treat. Now keep in mind if you are wanting eat at a restaurant that requires a reservation, you either need to start in the park with that restaurant or you make the reservation for after 1:00 P.M. The last thing you want to happen is to miss your reservation because you are not able to get into that park because Park Hopping hasn’t started for the day. The same goes for mobile ordering. If you are in Disneyland, don’t mobile order at California Adventure before 1:00 P.M, or you won’t be able to Park Hop to get your food in time.


California Adventure Closes Early

One of the best reasons to have a Park Hopper ticket is California Adventure closes before Disneyland. Currently, California Adventure closes at 10:00 P.M. while Disneyland stays open until 12:00 A.M. Park Hopping makes it so you can close out California Adventure and still be able to enjoy Disneyland for a few hours before it closes. During these last two hours, Disneyland can have lower wait times because some people have already called it a night. This can be a good time to ride some of your favorite rides at Disneyland. There are also certain times of year that California Adventure will close extra early for special ticketed events such as the Oogie Boogie Bash. If you only have a ticket to California Adventure, once this park closes for the special event, your day at the parks is done. With a Park Hopper you are able to enjoy the rest of your evening at Disneyland.


Meeting Characters

Throughout The Disneyland Resort there are many characters to interact with. Each park has its own characters you are able to meet. Even the characters that frequent both parks are dressed in different attire. However, there are some characters that you will only see at one of the parks. For example, The Avengers are only in Avengers Campus at California Adventure, where as the princesses are only at Disneyland. If you are going to one park a day you might miss out on seeing a variety of characters. Having a Park Hopper ticket gives you more chances to see your favorite characters and you might even encounter some characters that make rare appearances.


Although Park Hopping at the Disneyland Resort is a bit more expensive, in the long run it is worth it. You will be able to enjoy more of the parks and you won’t feel like you are missing out on time in either park. When your trip ends, you will feel more satisfied about what you were able to experience and you will have an overall more relaxed and enjoyable time.


14 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page