Best Hollywood Studios Guide - Tips, Tricks, Must do's, Please Contribute!!!

[Danauk]

I can't remember the name, but the book shop (streets of america I think) is a great place to get a coffee and a muffin and chill out for 15 minutes or so.

Oh, yeah, I second that idea, we love doing that. Plus they have great imagineering books in there to buy, we have quite a few from there now!

 

[IMwink]

Just checking back in to see what I need to update. Looks like I've got a little to do here.

Keep the info coming

 

[BabaGanoush]

More tips for DHS:

1. If you dont really care about Fantasmic, go to the Studios on a day when it is not playing. Your life will be made much easier as the park's attendance is really driven by it. It will be the difference between 30-40 minute waits on TSM, ToT, and RnR and 60+ minutes.

2. The ATAS Hall of Fame is simply a small courtyard in front of American Idol with busts of various celebrities. Possible picture opportunity but thats it.

3. The Green Army Men often have a small interactive show out in front of Sounds Dangerous where they recruit kids into doing various 'soldier' activities. Quite funny.

4. Interact with the streetmosphere characters on Hollywood and Sunset Blvd. Often is the most fun you may have. Personal favorite sketches - the best joke contest (99 footballs walk into a bar. The bartender says we dont serve your kind in here. The footballs say, thats too bad... we were looking to get blitzed).

5. Best free souvenir - The animation studio where you get to keep your drawing! (and sometimes, if you ask nicely and no one else has, you can even get the animator to give you his/her drawing).

6. Know the difference between a top loading and side loading theater and which ones are which. For top loaders, the first guests into the attraction will enter from the top of the theater and have their choice of seats. They will be asked to squeeze to the middle when the theater is busy. Examples at DHS are Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, and Lights, Motor, Action.

Side Loaders are theaters where guests enter from one side of the theater and exit from the other. This includes Muppetvision, Little Mermaid, and the new American Idol Experience. All 3-D movies at all Disney Parks are side loaders. With these theaters, if you want to sit in the middle, you DO NOT want to be the first guests in the doors as they will be asked to choose a row and continue to the far end of the row. When an attraction is busy, cast members will be very insistent and will not have much sympathy for those that complain they have been waiting far longer and should get a middle seat. It is simply how the theater was designed. So - the tip is, dont be the first in the door and then simply choose the row that best situates you in the middle (if that is where you want to be).

7. Best coffee can be located at the Writers Stop in between the Sci Fi Dine In and the Streets of America. They also have some huge cookies, rice krispie treats, and cinnamon rolls. Three different types of gourmet hot chocolate can be found here for the kiddos as well. My favorite place to stop before the Spectacle of Dancing Lights during holiday season.

8. Not a fan of the counter service food here. I would avoid the ABC Commissary at all costs. The Studio Catering Co used to have Flatbreads which were interesting but I think they changed that up and went for more stock fare. I do think Pizza Planet serves the best pizza of any Disney CS but that is not saying much.

9. One of my favorite mid day activities is One Man's Dream. Part of me says it should be required for every guest to check out but the other part of me screams that this would make it way too busy. It is a great place to cool off and one can take it pretty casual. The film at the end may have the kids becoming somewhat restless but is great for adults to check out. This place is a Disney nerds dream.

10. Beauty & the Beast is cool once and thats it. Becoming a bit dated and they nixed the great pre-show. It was the only reason to go back for me (thus, I dont go back anymore). Those with little girls will eat it up though.

11. If you want to be an extra in Indiana Jones, arrive early and be prepared to go nuts immediately when the casting director asks for volunteers. Its a fun thing to do after you have seen the show once. Plus, if you go with friends who have never been, they get a kick out of seeing a friend on the stage. Honestly, every time I have TRIED to get into the show, I have succeeded.

Thats it for now... feel free to ask questions.

 

[IMwink]

BabaGanoush,

this is exactly the type of info I was looking for.

I changed my ADRs and day at the park so I could go to Fantasmic, but maybe I might change it back. My old ADRs are probably gone now though, oh well, I'll just have to be more patient.

How early should we arrive for B&TB? With July crowds.

 

[Tabcans]

forgive my upcomming brain fart, but the vending cart at hollywood studio, has these coated nuts that are just fantastic.........my kids are out or I'd ask them what the heck they are called..........they are made fresh right then & there and sell out right away & then there is another 15 minute wait for the guy to get another batch going, so if you spot the cart (usually on the central street near the stunt cars) run, don't walk to get your bag.

 

[amamax2]

subbing

 

[BabaGanoush]

BabaGanoush,

this is exactly the type of info I was looking for.

I changed my ADRs and day at the park so I could go to Fantasmic, but maybe I might change it back. My old ADRs are probably gone now though, oh well, I'll just have to be more patient.

How early should we arrive for B&TB? With July crowds.

Regarding Fantasmic in July & park crowds - I dont know what kind of effect it will have at that time because I dont know if they are going to an every day show schedule during the busy summer. Over Spring Break, they did switch to showing Fantasmic almost every night due to demand. The park is probably going to be busy regardless so I would just go with what you have now. That first tip was more for non-peak season (atleast in regards to stated wait times).

For Beauty & the Beast, arrival time is really dictated by where you want to be in the theater. Since you have a couple young girls, do you want to be close to the action (ie. middle section in front of the tech booth)? If so, you may want to be there 30 - 45 minutes early. If not, you should be ok with 15-20 minutes. If it is a must do and you have to see it at a specific time, give yourself some extra time.

I have found that if you ask a cast member working an attraction how far in advance you should be there for a show, they will inflate that number by about 15 minutes because they want to protect themselves from giving out bad info (otherwise someone will come back and complain that so and so said I could come back 15 minutes before the show and get in when they werent able to). So... if cast members are saying 30 minutes... the theater may get close to filling about 10-15 minutes prior to the show. If cast members say 15 minutes, it probably means the shows are not filling to capacity and you could get in as long as you show up before start time. May not be the best seat in the house but you will see the show.

 

[IMwink]

Just Checking In on the post

 

[Chuck-PA]

We make sure we stop to enjoy the street performers every trip.
Our favorites are Public Works. They are the 3 of the funniest men around.
They perform by Hollywood and Vine restaurant. They remind us of a bit of Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin etc...old time play on words and slapstick.

We have also enjoyed Bucky Greenhorn and Otto Van Bahn Bahn.
Their routine is performed as a producer with his actor/stage hand. Funny performances here. Bucky has gotten Otto to laugh sort of like Tim Conway did with Harvey Korman on the old Carol Burnett shows.

Everyone of the street performers we have seen we have enjoyed.
So I would put these down as a not to miss.
They are not advertised on the schedule so you have to look near the front of the park or on the street leading to Tower of Terror.

 

[IMwink]

Updated some info

 

[cinderella'smommy]

If your kids are into the Disney Play House characters, you can find them (naturally) outside of the Disney Play House theatre. We saw all four Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, and JoJo and Goliath.

What characters are at the Animation attraction?

 

[IMwink]

So, I don't have to do the Hollywood and Dine meal so kids can pictures with some of them, or are the lines outside too long and I should keep the ADRs

 

[cinderella'smommy]

We went in January; and the weather was a little on the cool side, so, take with a grain of salt. We had virtually no lines for any of the playhouse disney characters. Five to 10 minutes max for waiting. But, it was not very crowded at all, so as I said, take with a grain of salt!

 

[IMwink]

We have Pre-opening ADR's so Ithink I might stick with those just to knock a few of them out. Hopefully we can get both of the girl Einsteins because my girls like them both, though I think June is their favorite and she is supposed to be at the Breakfast at H&V.

Thanks

 

[WaltD4Me]

We make sure we stop to enjoy the street performers every trip.
Our favorites are Public Works. They are the 3 of the funniest men around.
They perform by Hollywood and Vine restaurant. They remind us of a bit of Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin etc...old time play on words and slapstick.

We have also enjoyed Bucky Greenhorn and Otto Van Bahn Bahn.
Their routine is performed as a producer with his actor/stage hand. Funny performances here. Bucky has gotten Otto to laugh sort of like Tim Conway did with Harvey Korman on the old Carol Burnett shows.

Everyone of the street performers we have seen we have enjoyed.
So I would put these down as a not to miss.
They are not advertised on the schedule so you have to look near the front of the park or on the street leading to Tower of Terror.

I just wanted to say, the Streetsmophere performers are awesome. The skits they do are maybe not so much for little kids, but they are one of my most favorite things not just at DHS, but in all of Disney World. Try to make time to watch one of their skits or even just stop to say hello to a couple on the streets, they really are just wonderful and so funny.

 

[mhalpern]

I think someone already said this but HS is a GREAT park for autographs - many that you can't find in any of the other parks. In addition to the playhouse Disney gang there is the whole gang from Toy Store, Mike & Sulley from Monster's Inc., Prince Caspian, the characters from Bolt, Sorcerer Mickey, the Power Rangers, Kim Possible, the Incredibles, Frozone, and probably some more I am forgetting. Check with a CM when you arrive to see who will be where when. They may not all still be there but there are plenty. If your kids are into getting autographs definitely allow time in your planning.

 

[lfwhipp]

I really enjoy the Animation Studio and definitely think its a not miss- however i've read that if you don't want to sit through the little preshow, and just want to meet characters, I've read that you can go back through the gift shop and do the meet and greets without having to do the entire attraction. I've never done this so please correct me if I'm wrong!

Yes, this is true. We just head right in the back entrance through the shop with the artwork and head into the building at signing time. we have seen the preshow before and are there for the characters

Also, if you had a choice would you choose 50's cafe or Sci fi?

 

[lfwhipp]

Also, If youare interested in the Power Rangers, this was huge for my two boys, they divide up and spread around and are only out for 15 minutes. they each go on separate corners and a few on the side. If the Red Ranger is your goal, stay on the left corner when facing the PR sign, blue ranger is on the opposite corner. On the ride side of the sign is an area in front of where the back lot tour goies, pink, green and white ranger are here with different lines and yellow is across from them on the left.

 

[mousescrapper]

Ill be back to contribute soon...need to read thru the thread but can't right now and didn't want to lose you....

PS love the AK one! great job OP

 

[Bagheera23608]

Also, if you had a choice would you choose 50's cafe or Sci fi?

Def 50's Cafe! Sci-Fi was fun, but 50's was fun-er,