Park Hopping at Disneyland- Worth It, Tips, Cost

Park hopping at Disneyland is a term used to describe when guests go from one park to the other within the same day. The Disneyland Resort has two theme parks: Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park. These two theme parks are located directly adjacent to each other so it's incredibly convenient to park hop at Disneyland vs. park hopping at Walt Disney World which requires some form of transportation.

Park hopping at Disneyland does cost extra per ticket plus it also has some restrictions in terms of what hours guests can park hop. Is park hopping at Disneyland worth the extra cost? How do you park hop at Disneyland?

Park Hopper Disneyland Tickets Price

A Disneyland park hopper ticket costs about $56 more per ticket regardless of how many park days you select. This is far cheaper than you will pay for park hopping tickets at Walt Disney World but those tickets include park hopping access to their four theme parks so that price difference makes sense.

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Is Disneyland Park Hopping Worth It?

Park hopping can be worth it at Disneyland because it is so convenient. The two parks, Disneyland and California Adventure, are located just a few minutes apart so both parks can easily be experienced in one day. This makes for seamless hopping back and forth between the two parks.

However, it does cost about an extra $50 per park ticket and that cost can add up for families. If you are doing more than one day and feel that this would be an area to save money, then a 1-park per day ticket can work just fine. If you're wondering what each individual park has to offer, see our comparison of Disneyland vs. Disney California Adventure for everything you need to know. I have done both 1-park per day tickets and park hoppers depending on the length of my trip. If I anticipate we plan on spending the entire day in one park then I may question if the park hopper price is worth it and if we can skip it. You should also consider how many days you are going to visit Disneyland for.

If you are just visiting Disneyland for one day then a park hopper is absolutely essential so you can experience both parks! And yes, it can be done because park hopping at Disneyland is so easy to do.

Disneyland Park Hopping Rules

Disneyland has specific hours for when park hopping is allowed. This is a recent change since 2021 so this may catch some guests off guard that have not visited in a few years.

Park hopping at Disneyland is available each day starting at 11 a.m. for both Disneyland and California Adventure. This is for both regular ticket holders and Magic Key holders.

Before you begin park hopping at Disneyland, you will need to make a Disneyland theme park reservation. Disneyland requires a valid park ticket or Magic Key AND a theme park reservation. Guests need to make advance theme park pass reservations for each day of their visit. This is when you will pick which theme park to start your day at Disneyland or California Adventure. You will be required to stay in that specific park until 11 a.m. and then you can park hop.

Do not park hop too quickly at Disneyland or the park gates will deny your access. This only applies for guests park hopping within the same 20-30 minutes or so. A cast member will have to call a lead to override the system. This is purely just to make sure someone else is not using your ticket to enter the park. For example, if a guest uses the Grand Californian entrance to enter California Adventure and then exits the park to enter Disneyland, you will likely get flagged. This is often the most common situation it happens as some might use this path as a shortcut to Disneyland.

Park Hopping with Genie+ Disneyland

Guests using Genie+ at Disneyland won't be able to select Genie+ reservations for the opposite park that begin before 11 a.m. When you search for Genie+ reservations in the Disneyland app for the opposite park you're scanned into, the app will only show times after 11 a.m. which is convenient.

For guests using the Disneyland Disability Access Service, the rules for making ride reservations work differently than for those with Genie+. Guests using DAS can only reserve rides for the park they are currently scanned into. This means if you are in Disneyland, you cannot reserve a ride for California Adventure until you enter that park.

Using Park Hoppers for Sold Out Park Days

One benefit to park hopper Disneyland tickets is this is a way to get around reservations that may be sold out for one of the theme parks.

For example, if Disneyland is sold out for the day but California Adventure is open, purchase a park hopper ticket and then you will be able to go to Disneyland even if reservations are sold out. This is a great way to get around any limited availability for theme park reservations.

Which Park is Better to Start With Disneyland or California Adventure?

I recommend starting your day at Disneyland since this iconic park is the centerpiece of the Disneyland Resort. Especially for first-time visitors, it is best to begin at Disneyland to get the greatest possible impact for your first day at the park. Follow our Disneyland morning strategy for the best tips on how to maximize your time.

Then hopping to California Adventure in the afternoon to experience the must-see attractions in that park before returning to Disneyland to see the nostalgic fireworks show, especially for a one-day-only trip. 

Frequently Asked Questions