can we do epcot and hollywood studios in one day?

[alissabeth81]

on a day DHS is open until 10pm? would it be feasable to do epcot in the morning and then hollywood studios in the PM?

 

[kaligal]

You can visit two parks in one day, but you can't do everything there is to do in half of one day. This goes for all the parks in Orlando.

 

[Nadjalu]

To do Epcot, or at least see 90% of it you need 2 full days there.

No way can you do Epcot completely in a half day.

Now DHS you can see in 1 day.

 

[3floridarays]

You could GO to both parks in one day, but you cannot DO both parks in one day. DHS can be done in one day depending on the time of year and your touring plan. Epcot...nope. Not if you want to do it right.

 

[Reddog1134]

You could probably hit all the top rides at both parks in one day but you definitely would have a lot left undone. Especially at Epcot.

Like Animal Kingdom, if you just rush through Epcot and ride the rides, you're missing a lot of what the park has to offer.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you do DHS in the afternoon, it is entirely possible that they will be out of FP's for Toy Story Mania. So if that's something you want to do, you might need to reconsider your plan.

You could flip the 2, but then if you want to do Soarin you could face the same issue at Epcot.

 

[mdoll4]

I second what most of the people above had said. Epcot and Magic Kingdom, in my opinion, are the two parks that you can spend the whole day at and still have things left over to see. Hollywood Studios I only go to for Tower of Terror, Rock 'n Rollercoaster, and maybe some of the stunt shows. If you had to split two parks, I'd say do Animal Kingdom in the AM (it's only open until 5 anyway), and then head to Hollywood Studios in the PM.

Also, I think Epcot's IllumiNations is the best nighttime show of the four parks, so I wouldn't miss it by leaving the park early!

It's really up to you though, if you'd rather just rush through and ride the rides or if you actually to be able to see and explore Epcot.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

if I had to do 2 parks in one day I would do AK and DHS in one day

 

[Nermel9]

You definitely cannot do Epcot in only 1 day, there is so much to see and do there!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

OP, I'm actually doing this in October, but I want to do only a few attractions at each. At DHS (which we will be at RD), we do TSM, IJ, and LMA. My DH and DS will also do ToT and RnRc. We will then head to Epcot where we will try to get a FP for Soarin' if they aren't all out and relax at the World Showcase, eat a TS dinner, and do Soarin' is we were able to get a FP and Test Track right as they close. We don't watch IllumiNations. If this is all you're doing, it will work in a low-crowd season. If you want to do more, it will be hard, especially if you are in peak season. I have been before and know what we like, and I will be there many more times, so if we don't get to something, big deal. It really depends on your situation.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

To do Epcot completely takes at least two full days. And the Studio is at least one full day.

 

[mdinme]

You could if both parks were open round the clock and you could log 24 straight hours, otherwise no chance.

Epcot really needs to be enjoyed and enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Tons of shows and stuff to see in WS. Same thing at HS. Check out BnB, Stunt, Backlot and of course Fantasmic...

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I made a schedule for each park by the half hour. I used the time estimates found for rides and got a map (all available online). While I won't stick to the schedule like glue, it is helping me be realistic about what can be done in how much time, then I can decide how many days or half days I will plan to be at each park. Last year, I didn't do this and underestimated how much time I needed at HS, so we changed ADRs/plans and went back another morning.

I found that getting to the park first thing when it opens, or morning extra magic hours, resulted in us getting so much more done in less time. The wait times for rides were 0 to 10 minutes, plus it was easy to get a lot of fast passes to use later. When the waits are low, the time to get another fast pass is sooner than when the waits are longer. Toy Story does run out of fast passes. One advantage of staying in a park for the full day is that ability to use those fast passes later when the park does get more crowded. This is all based on an October trip when the parks were not crowded. So, if you go during a busy time of year, I think getting to the park early is even more critical.

The map helps me to group rides and meals together as much as possible by location to avoid walking back and forth all over the park. Hollywood Studios isn't that big, but it can still take up time. Epcot is big and I try not to backtrack too much between future world and world showcase.

In 2010, we are planning a full day and another 1/2 day (8am-2) at Hollywood Studios. We will spend a lot more time at Epcot than last year because of all the holiday stuff (going in Dec.)

This is my plan for our December trip... Of course the park hours may be different (this is based on last year) and the show times can change too. But the shows do take up some time, most are about 30 minutes long plus wait time. When we were there in Oct., we arrived to Lights, Motors and Action only 10 minutes before show time and got in, seated high but fine view. Again, this was a non-busy time of year. Not all shows are continuous either. Lights, Motors, Action was only being shown twice that day if I remember right.

You can see, even with a day and a half, we are not doing everything. My plan allows for meals and stopping here and there to look at things. If you are going to skip meals and race through the park, you could do more!

Extra Magic Hours Morning
8-9 Toy Story (Get FP and Ride), Toy Story Characters
9-10 Playhouse Disney 9:20, Animation Courtyard – Characters
10-11 Animation Cont., Backlot – Monsters Characters, Muppet Vision
11-12 Wait for Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones Show 11:30
12-1 Lunch – 50s Prime Time 12:15
1-2 Streets of America Characters, Shrunk the Kids Play Area
2-3 Toy Story – Use FP, Leave 2:30, relax at resort before going to MK

All Day Visit
9-10 Toy Story (Get FP and Ride), Tower of Terror
10-11 Rock n Roller Coaster, Wait for Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and the Beast 10:30
11-12 Characters at Hat / Other, Lunch – SciFi 11:30am
12-1 Lunch Cont., Wait for American Idol
1-2 American Idol, Great Movie Ride
2-3 Toy Story – Use FP, Voyage of Mermaid, Walt Disney – One Man’s Dream
3-4 Parade – Block Party Bash, Relax
4-5 Dinner – Hollywood Brown Derby 4:00+
5-6 Dinner Cont., Go to Fantasmic at 5:30
6-7 Relax, Fantasmic 6:30
7-8 Osbourne Lights

 

[Golf4food]

Epcot is the largest of the parks - no way you can see even half of it in half of one day - not doing it justice at all. DHS we can do in 3/4 of a day, but we don't ride RNR or TOT. AK and DHS are the two parks that require the least amount of time, but even so a full day is required for most people, especially families with children. We consider Epcot at least one and a half days or two days.

 

[Reddog1134]

Epcot is the largest of the parks - no way you can see even half of it in half of one day - not doing it justice at all. DHS we can do in 3/4 of a day, but we don't ride RNR or TOT. AK and DHS are the two parks that require the least amount of time, but even so a full day is required for most people, especially families with children. We consider Epcot at least one and a half days or two days.

Actually, Animal Kingdom is the largest park.

 

[WelovMickey!]

I have been there for the past 4 years in a row more then once and I haven't seen everything I've wanted to see in Epcot yet. You could see DHS in one day but not Epcot.

 

[Planogirl]

We have found a way to see Epcot in one full day but we don't linger in World Showcase on that day but simply walk through most of it. We hit the rides that we want and skip the stuff we don't care about and it's very doable if you tour in that manner. You miss a lot though so Epcot in half a day would be even worse. You might be able to ride the major rides and take a quick walk through WS but that's it.