I'd make the decision based on whether or not my kids would prefer waterpark or will they really get up early for EE. Have you considered split stay to get both?
10:01am on 3/27/26 by
Jennyhirsch
They're teens but will get up. I have a swimmer who is used to 5am practice, lol. I am debating between the extended evening hours or the water park. We've had water park admission (convention tix) but have never used it due to time of year we usually go
10:09am on 3/27/26 by
sunshinedaydream
I've thought about a split stay but decided I don't want to move hotels.
10:10am on 3/27/26 by
sunshinedaydream
EP evening hours are hard bc the park is so big, you can't zip from ride to ride easily. MK evening hours are fun (still a good wait for Tron) bc the 2nd hour is generally empty (except for Tron and 7D).
10:35am on 3/27/26 by
Jennyhirsch
Last summer when the MNSSHP parties started, the MK hours disappeared and the extra hours were for AK instead on maybe 4 Wednesdays? Keep an eye on that.
10:35am on 3/27/26 by
Jennyhirsch
Are those tix parkhoppers? If so, that makes Dolphin fun bc kids can just pop into any park whenever.
10:36am on 3/27/26 by
Jennyhirsch
However, I have all swimmers, too. They swam because they hated walking in heat. They never would have gone back to WDW in summer but we discovered waterparks when now DS23 was 4. Everyone was magically happy at the waterparks.
10:38am on 3/27/26 by
Jennyhirsch
If you rented a cabana at the waterpark, I guarantee you would have the best day ever with swimmers. Also having swimmers, we had exactly 2 weeks free in August. WDW used to discount the August cabanas. It was perfect. I'd check those prices, too.
10:40am on 3/27/26 by
Jennyhirsch
@Jenny, they aren't park hoppers. I'd probably do Pop but those are both good options. Also I'd prob only do Epcot EE if not needing to rope drop the next day.
10:45am on 3/27/26 by
TumbleMonkeys
Thanks @Jenny. This whole trip is so different. No PH and summer heat! My kiddos don't care if we go to the water park or not but my DH wants to go I think. Last year summer EH on Wed were AK so will wait and see if that will happen again this year.
10:47am on 3/27/26 by
sunshinedaydream
Never been to the Waterpark, but my teen boys love the Swan/Dolphin pool(s) if that helps with a compromise. Plus the short travel proximity to EP and HS is amazing.
10:53am on 3/27/26 by
missWishes
I'd also consider that Skyliner access may be limited due to weather, so limiting the other benefit of Pop.
10:58am on 3/27/26 by
njhyndman
I've never been to a WP or deluxe hours (!) but I'd choose deluxe hours esp if I could get them at EP and then walk back to Swalfin.
12:26pm on 3/27/26 by
evamarie320
Thank you all for your input. Analysis paralysis is real! We ended up booking Pop and bought the 4 day/1 park per day tix. Our flight gets in early at MCO and we plan to go to a WP (Prob Blizzard Beach.) I think Pop may have a direct bus in the summer.
2:29pm on 3/30/26 by
sunshinedaydream
If you are using the buses stay on property unless you are walking over to the WDW buses.
6:52pm on 3/30/26 by
JackOfAll
Should be cheaper at Pop and the bake boxes too.
7:51pm on 3/30/26 by
JackOfAll
We haven't done a summer trip before so we've yet to be truly 'slow-roasted' by the sky ovens.
8:02pm on 3/30/26 by
sunshinedaydream