This is an entry for “park hopper” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. After the entry, keep reading for answers to frequently asked questions about Park Hopper tickets.
Park Hopper is a ticket option for Disneyland Resort that allows the holder to visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day. At the time of this writing, visitors using a Park Hopper start their visit at the park where they made their reservation for the day and are able to switch to the other park (and continue switching as they wish) after 11:00 a.m. If purchased, Park Hopper is an add-on that is applied to all days on a multi-day ticket, but the cost-per-day decreases dramatically as the number of days increases.
Thanks for reading this entry in our Disneyland 101 Glossary. For more on understanding ticket types and add-ons, check-out our guide: How to Choose Your Best Disneyland Ticket. For a visual depiction of how Park Hoppers work with base tickets, we recommend this: Disneyland Ticket Guide Flowchart.
Park Hoppers at Disneyland Resort, FAQs
How does a Park Hopper work at Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland Resort in California has two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. A base ticket at Disneyland Resort allows you to visit one theme park per day. When you add the Park Hopper option to that base ticket, you can visit both theme parks of Disneyland Resort on the same day.
The following procedures are current at the time of writing, but Disneyland Resort does occasionally change policies, so we encourage you to verify these when making park reservations:
With a Park Hopper added to your ticket, you choose which Disneyland Resort park you want to visit first. You make a reservation for that park on the day you wish to visit. On that chosen day, you enter your reserved park with your ticket. After 11am on that same day, you can “hop” to the second park. However, if you wait until after 11am, you may enter either park first regardless of which park you reserved. In other words, the park hopping starts after 11am no matter when you first enter a park.
You can continue to exit and re-enter both parks as many times as you wish on that day. The only things that would keep you from hopping is if a park reaches capacity and can no longer admit guests or if it has closed for the day.
If I plan to use a Park Hopper, do I need to make park reservations for both parks for the same day?
No. Simply make a park reservation for the first theme park you plan to visit at Disneyland Resort. You do not need to make a reservation for the second park. If you try, your reservation will likely just be changed from one park to the other. Disney does reserve the right to change this policy.
If you, visit your first park of the day before 11am, be sure to start with the park you reserved and then begin hopping after 11am. If you do not enter any park by 11am, you may choose to start your day at either park. After 11am, you no longer need to start at your reserved park.
Can I skip the Park Hopper and just use two days of my multi-day ticket on the same day?
No. If you get a great deal on a multi-day ticket, you may be tempted to simply use one day of your ticket at Disneyland Park and the other day at Disney California Adventure Park on the same calendar day. This is not possible. You will not be admitted through the turnstiles to the second park without a Park Hopper. Only one day of each day on a multi-day ticket may be used per day. Similarly, multiple people cannot use different days on the same ticket.
I have a two-day ticket, and I plan on visiting Disneyland Park on one day and Disney California Adventure Park on another day. Do I need a Park Hopper to do that?
No. A base-ticket for Disneyland Resort allows you to visit one park per day. A multi-day ticket allows you to visit one park per day for as many days as you have on your ticket. You do not need to visit the same park over multiple days as long as you only visit one park each day.
Here is an example: if you have a three-day ticket to Disneyland Resort, you might decide to visit Disneyland Park on day one, Disney California Adventure Park on day two and Disneyland Park again on day three. In this way, you visited both parks over several days using just one multi-day ticket. As long as you do not visit Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day, you do not need a Park Hopper.
Keep in mind that a one-day ticket is not the same as a one-park-per-day ticket. For example, you can have a one-day ticket which allows you to visit both parks when you add a Park Hopper. If you are a visual person or just someone who enjoys arrows, this might help you understand how the ticket options fit together: Disneyland Ticket Guide Flowchart.
I want to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, do I need to buy it separately for each park at Disneyland Resort?
Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes a bundle of rides at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Anytime you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day, it includes all of the rides at both parks. In order to access those rides, you will need to have valid admission for the park that holds them. You do not need to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass separately for each park, and it is not specific to each park.
We go into all things Lightning Lane Multi Pass in detail here: Big Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort. But on the topic of this particualr FAQ, let’s look at an example…
For example, if I purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day, I can use it at any park I am visiting that day. If I have a one-park-per-day ticket and decide to visit Disneyland Park, I can use my Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the eligible rides at Disneyland Park. While the Disney California Adventure Park rides are also included with my one Lightning Lane Multi Pass purchase, I cannot access those rides because I do not have a Park Hopper ticket.
Conversely, I could purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and a Park Hopper add-on to my ticket on the same day. If I did this, I would be able to use my Lightning Lane Multi Pass on eligible rides at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
You can see how having a Park Hopper increases the value of my Lightning Lane Multi Pass purchase. The good news is that I do not need to pay more for my Lightning Lane Multi Pass just because I am using it at two parks on one day! The Park Hopper allows me to do this.
How many times can I switch between Disneyland Resort parks?
You can switch between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park as many times as you want in one day as long as (1) you have added a Park Hopper to your ticket (2) it is after 11am and (3) the park is not closed or at capacity.
Note that number one does not apply to Magic Key holders, as Park Hopping is included with their pass.
Should I get a Park Hopper at Disneyland Resort?
The answer to this really depends on your situation!
We think Park Hoppers offer good value at Disneyland Resort, because the main entrances to the two parks are so close together. You can switch from one park to the other in a manner of minutes, and you do not need to go through another security checkpoint when switching.
Additionally, if you decide to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, your one purchase is active for both parks. Thus, having a Park Hopper effectively expands your pool of eligible Lightning Lane attractions.
For help exploring these different factors, we suggest reading our article How to Choose Your Best Disneyland Ticket.