DHS- What do you do to "smell the roses"/"take it all in"?

[crazymomof4]

We've all posted or read other's posts about how Disney Parks are more than just the rides/attractions. There are so many ways to just kick back and enjoy the atmosphere, taking time to appreciate the details, or catching something that is not-a-ride... street entertainment, for example.
In Sept we are going to make a point of slowing down, not rushing from queue to queue, rather taking time to stroll leisurely or sit and "smell the WDW roses"
DHS is usually a rushed park for us! It's a "get here so we make it for the start of this show" day! In an effort to be less rushed, we are skipping several time consuming attractions that we've seen a ton of times and don't NEED to see on this trip.
One thing I already know I want to do is grab a "specialty drink" from Tune-In Lounge and either have a seat inside and enjoy the theming or take it with me to a nearby bench and people watch while I sip and relax.
A special time from our '12 trip was catching an artist drawing in one of the giftshops. I don't remember which shop, but we were mesmorized as we stood there watching her draw and enjoyed chatting with her. Would love to catch her (or another artist) again!

So, give me some great ideas! Is there a favorite quiet spot you enjoy? a certain bench with a great view? a special photo op spot? a favorite gift shop? street performers?

 

[wilma-bride]

We love to watch Streetmosphere and Citizens of Hollywood. One of our favourite pastimes at DHS.

 

[nonzerosum]

I've been wondering the same thing myself about DHS. We're planning on a similar touring strategy this trip. We want to soak it all in, not run around commando style and exhaust ourselves like we usually do. We plan to do the animation class (did this in disneyland and it was really fun) and poke around in the shops a bit more. We've enjoyed the street performers, but this time we'll stick around to watch them a bit longer. The raining umbrella is fun too, especially when you watch people try to figure out how to get it to work after they've seen you do it. I've also heard that you can answer the ringing phones and have a chat. Don't know if that's a myth or not,though.

 

[RebeccaB]

DHS is a favorite of ours. I enjoy chillin' on a park bench on the Streets of America while Dh and Dd play in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. I just love the sounds and it's usually a quieter area back there. We really love the Citizens of Hollywood, and try to catch them as much as possible. One trip I got to be in one of their skits, and I was "recognized" the next day at AK oddly enough - a fellow vacationer chased me down and told me how good I'd been in the skit lol. Another good place to relax for a bit is over near 50's Prime Time and Hollywood & Vine, that also seems to be a quieter spot to just regroup for a bit, watch the waterfowl in the pond (and we've seen a bunny or two hopping merrily along it's way around there).

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

The Streetmosphere characters are amazing. I love love watching and interacting with them!

We also wonder the Streets of America and check out all the signs in the store windows. We also take pictures of us "going in to the subway" and "going into a house". My sister has posed many times in front of the model agency...though at her age, I think that ship has sailed... You can get a lot of fun, different pics than your usual WDW photos here if you just think a little creatively.

 

[revdon64]

We like to browse the hollywood shop just to the left inside the front gates... oh wait, nevermind.

 

[JimmyV]

Eh. I find DHS to be the most soulless of the parks. It is intentionally designed to be warehouses and false fronts. I don't find many roses to smell. The best answer I could give you is to spend more time in "One Man's Dream" than you think you should. Grabbing drinks at Tune-In always seems like a good idea. But it is far from a calming, quaint atmosphere. Oh, how I miss the Catwalk Bar for that. The new outdoor area at the Brown Derby might be something to check out.

 

[WookieeFeet]

You could always ride Star Tours 56 times in a row to try to get all the combinations... And that's just a minimum! I'm gonna do it on my next trip since I've seen everything there is to at the parks

 

[alicat8]

PB and J milkshakes!
I have a similar goal for my next trip. Even after countless visits, I had no idea they had drawing classes-totally trying this! I also want to take some time in One Man's Dream.
Of course, this will be my first trip with a kid, so I really should've done all of these things earlier, buuuuut hopefully we'll pull it off.

 

[tazadd0420]

Eh. I find DHS to be the most soulless of the parks. It is intentionally designed to be warehouses and false fronts. I don't find many roses to smell. The best answer I could give you is to spend more time in "One Man's Dream" than you think you should. Grabbing drinks at Tune-In always seems like a good idea. But it is far from a calming, quaint atmosphere. Oh, how I miss the Catwalk Bar for that. The new outdoor area at the Brown Derby might be something to check out.

Op said smell the roses not CRUSH the roses.

 

[JimmyV]

Op said smell the roses not CRUSH the roses.

They asked for some favorite places. I gave one, along with an explanation as to why I don't have a list of a dozen.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Another firm nod for the Streetmosphere folks, they are amazing and such a hoot to watch.

http://www.studioscentral.com/citizens-of-hollywood

The Writers Stop is a relaxing place to have a coffee (or whatever), a sweet roll or similar and relax with a book or just relax.

http://www.studioscentral.com/restaurants/writers-stop

In general.....

http://www.studioscentral.com/

 

[frozengurl]

Good thread! I have always rushed through HS as well... The last time my dh asked if next trip we can do a full day in HS and slow down a bit! We rushed through "one Mans Dream" bc we had to get to a show... He and I both were disappointed by that... I'm totally going to spend time there this next trip. I also wanted to do the animation/drawing thing but we never had time! Never had time for the street performers either.... Last time the HISTK playground was closed... I def. wanna grab a drink someplace sit and relax with dh while the girls play there. I'm going to continue to follow this thread to see what others say!

 

[tazadd0420]

They asked for some favorite places. I gave one, along with an explanation as to why I don't have a list of a dozen.

Then why not just give that? Other threads have more than explained why to go or not go to each park. I do not have a roll eyes emoticon. So right back at you.

For the OP just going through art of animation and taking time at different stations. Also looking at the artwork is wonderful.

 

[Itinkso]

Hollywood Brown Derby lounge has a great small plate menu and you can also order off the full menu. It's a nice place to take a break and have a light meal while people-watching.

I also like sitting outside of Backlot Express to watch JTA sessions.

 

[crazymomof4]

I am LOVING reading all of your suggestions! It's getting me excited about the one park that, frankly, had lost some of it's "shine" for me on previous visits. I am going to copy all of these to a document!

nonzerosum- DD and I love the animation class! There is one at DisneyQuest too but you draw on a screen instead of paper. I found it easier. My Goofy really looked like Goofy!

RebeccaB- good to know about the 50's Prime Time area! I'll have my Tune In drink outside there!

DexLabDeeDee Good idea about the unique pix! Going to do that for sure! My DD is a ham for pix, so that will work out well.

JimmyV I sooo agree about extra time for One Man's Dream. On the '12 trip, my DS15 actually wanted to spend more time in the "museum" part but I had to rush us thru to the make the show bc the attraction following was a timed one and we'd miss it and it would mess up our schedule (blah blah blah) For this trip DS and DD specifically requested more time there and I'm GLAD to give it to them!

 

[vital]

This may sound bad, but we like to sit at the end of the street (can't recall the name) where ToT and RNR are on and watch the faces of the people as they exit the rides. They either have sheer joy or sheer terror on their faces; very few "meh" expressions.

We also like the street performers, the band that spontaneously performs surprised us once. I cannot remember their name either, I'm slipping today. This is my son's favorite park so we spend a lot of time here.

Now I need to find this Tune-In place and a drink!!

 

[Itinkso]

Now I need to find this Tune-In place and a drink!!

Tune-In is the bar/lounge in 50's Prime Time Cafe. It's best on planning to get a to go drink as the bar is usually crowded with guests waiting for their ADR times.

 

[crazymomof4]

Good thread! I have always rushed through HS as well... The last time my dh asked if next trip we can do a full day in HS and slow down a bit! We rushed through "one Mans Dream" bc we had to get to a show... He and I both were disappointed by that... I'm totally going to spend time there this next trip. I also wanted to do the animation/drawing thing but we never had time! Never had time for the street performers either.... Last time the HISTK playground was closed... I def. wanna grab a drink someplace sit and relax with dh while the girls play there. I'm going to continue to follow this thread to see what others say!

Sounds like we are of the same mind! I did a customized touring plan and the system didn't allow a lot of time there so I added a "break" and labeled it "Extra time in One Man's Dream"! Just to be sure we would get this. I am particularly looking forward to enjoying this at a slow pace!

 

[vital]

Tune-In is the bar/lounge in 50's Prime Time Cafe. It's best on planning to get a to go drink as the bar is usually crowded with guests waiting for their ADR times.

Thank you!