DHS- Missing Out?

[hedge333]

Some friends and I were discussing our upcoming trip. One couple and their children had been to WDW, we have been, and the other couple this will be their first trip as a family. I mentioned that we aren't planning on going to DHS. We plan on doing two days in Epcot and MK and one day in AK. My girls love Epcot, AK, and MK. Epcot being first and AK and MK tied, according to my oldest. Both of the other couples were shocked that we don't do DHS. In fact, both couples would skip Epcot if given the choice between Epcot and DHS. I told them my kids aren't really into Disney Jr. and after watching the shows and other ride videos on youtube, they think that they will be scary or boring. I'm really comfortable with skipping DHS-I don't remember it being anything special but am I shorting my girls by not doing it?

 

[msupulski]

How old are your daughters? Personally I like DHS much more than epcot, but I know I am often alone in that. I get bored at epcot after a walk around world showcase (which as a little kid I had NO interest in, but now that in older, I enjoy it), test track, sprain', mission space and spaceship earth. The other stuff there I could easily skip (and did on this past trip) just because it's nothing I care much about. I do, however, love tower of terror, rockn roller coaster, star tours, beauty and the beast, and Fantasmic and would be upset to miss those. It does come down to a lot of what you're children would want to do though.

 

[Delirium]

Watching youtube videos is not the same thing as experiencing it live.

That said, you certainly know better than any of us what your family enjoys. I would not let a conversation with friends dictate how you plan your trip. Personally, while HS is not my favorite park, it does have some of my favorite attractions.

 

[claryche]

We always do two days at DHS over 2 days at Epcot. And in fact this time I was thinking about skipping Epcot all together, but I'm a sucker for having a picture in front of SE on every one of our trips. So we will do just one day.

I guess it depends alot on the age of your kids. But ever since my son was 40 inches, DHS has been a favorite park. We love Star Wars so Star Tours and Jedi Training are a must. We also love TSM and TOT. My son and I rode TOT five times on our last trip when he was 7. We like the shows too, favorite being Indy and the Stunt show. But he also likes Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. We also love doing the animation studio drawing class. Yes there are some lulls because of the timing of the shows sometimes at DHS, but we love so many things there that we could never skip it.

As far as Epcot, we like the main rides of TT, Soarin' and even like SE and Living with the Land (it's a staple for us). But the rest of them it's a case of if you have done them recently then there is no need to do them again, except maybe Mission Space. And we aren't that big into shopping and that is what a lot of World Showcase seems like to me. Yes there is a lot of things to look at too, but my son gets bored with that really quickly. We even did the Perry Adventure and it was fun, but it wasn't something that he just loved and couldn't live without doing it every time. And it seems like we can never time it correctly for all the little shows that are done in the showcase.

Just my opinions. Good Luck on your decision.

 

[handicap18]

We are skipping EPCOT on our upcoming trip and doing MK twice, AK and DHS.
DHS is so much more than Disney Jr. That is only one small section and one show. What about Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. We enjoy the Indian Jones show and Lights, Camera Action Stunt show. Also Star Tours and Beauty and the Beast show.

I'm also a character hunter and there is more of a variety of characters at DHS than EPCOT IMO, especially if you include Character-Poluza.

Then to finish off the night with Fantasmic! One of the best shows.

I love EPCOT, but really only at night. I love wandering around World Showcase at night with my camera & tripod.

 

[karly05]

I think this is one of those "you know your own family best" situations. I don't see many people here who say they would skip MK, but in the debate between skipping DHS, AK or Epcot, you'll get a lot of different opinions - it just depends on what your tastes and priorities are.

I love DHS because I love doing Star Tours over and over and over and TSM at least once, love drawing at the Animation Academy, and meeting some of the characters who are only at DHS (including Phineas & Ferb and yes, even the Dis Jr crew at H&V).

If you had Park Hoppers, I'd say it would be worth hitting DHS one day, knowing you could hop to another park if it's not your cup of tea. But in the end, if you don't have enough time to do everything, stick to what you know are your priorities/favorites.

 

[MickeyMagic]

My daughter and I have been going to WDW for several years and Epcot has always been our favorite park. I would have no problem skipping DHS. We usually only go to DHS to ride TSM during EMH and then head over to AK. It is your vacation; do what you feel you will enjoy most.

 

[dachsie]

If you havent been to it for a while, maybe you should give it another try?

 

[LilyWDW]

While I am 100% an EPCOT girl, I wouldn't skip DHS totally because I love ToT, Muppets, Toy Story, and other attractions. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Personally, I would buy hoppers (which I do anyway) and do DHS at rope drop until just after lunch and then hop to Epcot for the rest of the day. Especially if I had a RD planned at Epcot already!