DHS, I don't see it, what am I missing?

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

We love DHS. I think we are probably in the minority. We don't do shows, but we love TSMM, RnRC, TOT. I have seen Fantasmic enough times, but I do enjoy going with people who haven't seen it. It doesn't take us all day for sure because the lines get too long and FP run out, but we enjoy a few mornings there. I am looking forward to the new stuff...I just hope I'm not too old to ride when it's done! I don't enjoy Epcot very much...Soarin, Test Track, and we are out of there. We are going to F&W this time, which I am excited about. Otherwise, I find the World Showcase boring (I know, most people love it). I may need some more culture! Ha!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

If we skip a park, it's usually DHS. I like ToT, RnR, Muppet Vision and TSM. I think they're great attractions.

But I hate the layout of the park. I always have. I don't like meandering there like I do at MK, Epcot and DAK. IMO, it's the worst layout of all the parks. I don't like browsing the shops, I don't like any of the food except 50s Prime Time if we are in the mood, but that's experience over the food quality. Counter service leaves a lot to be desired.

I do love Fantasmic, so lots of times we'll go later in the day, 4pm or so and stick around for that.

 

[aleksandr]

My son and I are huge fans of DHS. The wife, not so much.

If we need to skip a park it is typically Animal Kingdom. When we went earlier this year we had 6 days of tickets. We spent two each at MK, Epcot, and DHS. Next year we'll probably hit Animal Kingdom as it's been a couple years since we've been there.

We can (and have) spent nearly all day just riding Star Tours over and over again.

TSMM is a lot of fun as well. We also enjoy seeing Muppetvision 3D each time, even though the film is showing its age.

Some of the meet and greets at DHS are very different from any of the other parks. My son is a huge Phineas and Ferb fan, and AFAIK DHS is the only place where you can meet them.

The attraction about Walt Disney himself (One Man's Dream?) is pretty awesome and lends a bit of 'seriousness' to the trip as this is more a museum than an attraction. Plus, you can become an honorary citizen of Disney World by doing the test here...

And then at night, Fantasmic is a must-see at least once per trip.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm not sure any of the closings have taken anything away in a meaningful way but as others have said, some did take advantage of those and with them gone the other lines have increased. I think you are going to find people saying that every park other than MK aren't worth going to, it's just a matter of what you go for. Personally, I spend 1/2 day at most at MK and spend most of my time at Epcot and HS. I love AK and can and do make a whole out of it but that's because I love to just walk around and look at everything, there is really a lot to see there. My last trip a few weeks ago, I was up early so I went to HS at rope drop, I was up at YC so why not. I got a latte at the book store and just walked around the back lot for a good hour just actually looking at the store fronts, sitting on the benches and relaxing, there weren't a lot of people back there but it was dapper dan day so the ones that were had on all their great costumes. I actually went over just to ride ToT and GMR again before I left and planned on being out of the park by 9 and ended up staying there until around noon, just stopping and watching the street players, riding the two rides I wanted to and looking. I love the new opening movie on GMR and if they let me I'd just squat on the floor and watch it, I haven't seen it from beginning to end yet. Since I knew I had a 7 hour drive ahead of me in the dark and rain, I couldn't stay longer because I needed to hop back over to Epcot and get my AP wine glass and grab something at the two booths I still had to get something from and get an ice cream cone from France because I must. I was actually disappointed I had to leave when I did, I felt like I hadn't done everything I wanted to and I had already been over there once on the trip. And, by the way, I'm another one that doesn't like TSMM, the only time I do it is if DS is there cause he likes it, otherwise I skip it but I'm not the gaming generation.

 

[boufa]

Thanks for your feedback. I have been to DHS before, and I do like most of the rides, and don't go often enough for the shows to be stale. I realize that it might get very empty once the construction starts, but that's understandable, gotta crack a lot of eggs to make a bowl full of cracked eggs..lol.

We also tend to skip AK (this trip without the kids for sure) but will go back the trip after this one. The limited park hours nearly force you to get a hopper, and the hotel pool is to much of a maybe in the winter months to plan for.

 

[slbgnb]

Don't forget it also lost the Hat!!

Please tell me - you ARE kidding here, right?

 

[slbgnb]

OH MY!! I just looked at the map on Disney's site....and I don't see the hat!! Is the hat for real...gone??? How could they?!!!

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

OH MY!! I just looked at the map on Disney's site....and I don't see the hat!! Is the hat for real...gone??? How could they?!!!

The majority of people seemed to think it was an eyesore and wanted to be able to see the theater when they walked into the park. There was a lot of hate for the hat and much internet rejoicing when it came down. It didn't make much difference to me.

 

[BrianL]

The hat was better than the ugly stage that's always there. I know they take it down sometimes, but it seems like it is there more than it's not. It still blocks the view of the theater too.

 

[leebee]

Disney Studios was very different back in the 1990s. There was SO much more happening there. There were street entertainers, an afternoon parade, more attractions, pre-show entertainment, a terrific backlot tour with actual sets/houses on Residential St., lots of character M&G, etc. It seems like they've been chipping away at DHS for the past 15 years, so now comparatively, there's minimal stuff remaining. It seems like the park has lost its focus. Maybe the new attractions will help. Not sure; I think it'll depend on how they are designed.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Funny. We are also in a minority here. My wife and I spend more time at the Studios probably than any other park, with EPCOT being a close second. I am a huge Star Wars guy so I can ride Star Tours over & over all day if need be

Studios has a lot to offer us with several of my favourite rides (Star Tours, Tower, Coaster, Midway Mania) & shows (Indiana Jones, Beauty & the Beast, Lights, Motor, Action). Two of my favourite themed restaurants in Sci Fi and 50's Prime Time. I also like to hang around and view a shows from the Citizens of Hollywood, they are very funny.

So if a park has several of my top favourites, of course I enjoy it!

 

[Praying Colonel]

No more Mulch Sweat & Shears (pouring one out for my fallen homies )
Lopping off pieces of One Man's Dream here and there--latest is no film, subbing a Disney movie commercial, instead

Small things here & there, but as mom2rtk pointed out, it increases demand for already-scarce attraction resources.

 

[lugnut33]

OH MY!! I just looked at the map on Disney's site....and I don't see the hat!! Is the hat for real...gone??? How could they?!!!

Totally gone, they torch cut it apart. I totally support the removal of the hat.

 

[JennyDrake]

Whether you did those things or not, someone did. And now that's more bodies spread out among the lesser quantity of remaining attractions.

DITTO.

I still enjoy Star Tours and VoLM. The Lights Motors Action show and Indy both are WAY too loud for me (even with ear plugs) and it seems the timing on them drags..... I haven't seen the newest version on GMR, but I will in December. Muppet and (mostly lip synced) BatB are an "every so often" for me as I find them so dated...now if they would bring back the FABULOUS production they had of Hunchback.....

 

[disneyseniors]

I guess I'm in the minority here, because I love DHS and always find enough to do. We love the TOT RNRC, TSSM, star wars, GMR, muppets, Beauty and the Beast, Lights, motors and action, SciFi dinner theatre (Love the cheesy films), and just the ambience. We have stopped and watched the residents of Hollywood several times. What fun. I kind of like the quirky winding paths. Love the Osborne Lights, and hope you get to see them, as this is their last year. I hope wdw puts the lights somewhere else. Also have done fantasmic. I really don't have a problem finding enough to do in HS. Hope you don't dismiss it because of some of the reviews on the dis. Everyone likes different things, and your family might love it.

 

[ELSA711]

We are heading to DHS late this year, around 3pm for TSMM, Star Tours and Fantasmic (our only true must do at the park).
My DS may convince me to see Indiana Jones for the 100th time, but the shows have all been seen so many times by my family they just get old. I would rather extra time at Epcot for F&W this year.

 

[EricInPA]

Hollywood Studios is always a full day for us (though "full day" means get there whenever we wake up. not 'rope drop'). Great Movie ride is one of my favorites (pre-show and post-show movies!), and we always schedule an ADR at Sci-Fi, 50s, or Brown Derby. I would say it's my favorite non-MK park.

Because we enjoy the less popular attractions there, it's kind of an advantage for us. However I can totally see how those that don't enjoy the shows anymore may want to skip it or just spend half a day.

 

[Accident]

am I missing something....

I think it depends on your family and what you like and how often you go. A lot of that park is not attractions we want to see everytime we visit. There's really only 2 maybe 3 things we want to do and it does start to get harder and harder to justify the cost to be in the park. We had a great time in september donig everything we haven't done in a long time, spending more time shopping in stores we never bothered to go into in past trips. We had a really great, happy we did it day doing everything 1 more time just in case.

 

[msmama]

I love HS, as doesn't my 7 year old (so I disagree with whoever said it's not good for small children).

HS has Disney Jr characters - it's the only place to see Jake and Sophia (and other Disney Jr characters that I don't know because my son has outgrown it). And Frozen stuff.

We don't do RnR or TotT when it's just the two of us (because he's a chicken). I can manage Star Tours once - he could do it many many more times, but I just can't handle it. TSMM is obviously awesome. Ideally we get a RD ride and a FP ride per day.

We could watch Indiana Jones over and over again. I thought it was awesome when I was a kid (probably about my son's age) and now he loves it. One of the things that astounds me the most is that it hasn't changed AT ALL. That consistency must be HARD. Not a huge fan of BatB or VotLM so we skip those usually. Muppets is a must do! LMA if it's convenient.

I also think HS is a great place for character meets. The lines often seem shorter than other parks.

I also think the streetmosphere performers are way underrated. And my guess is that the reason they're getting rid of a lot of this stuff is because MOST people don't stop and watch (I know there are a lot that do, but there are a lot more running from ride to ride). I was waiting for my son outside of a bathroom last trip and two "workers" were putting on a show, essentially for me as I was the only one there!!

This got long, but we can spend a full day (or our version of a full day, we rarely do evening entertainment) there and we skip a lot of stuff!

 

[Carrie in AZ]

My heart is on the floor....no animation academy????? Thank God I clicked on this thread so I found out beforehand. We will be there next week and it is one of my most favorite things to do at DW. My disappointment cannot be measured.