Evening Park Experience: EPCOT or Hollywood Studios?

[flowergleam1211]

Hi, everyone!

I'd love your advice on this question: My husband and I plan on doing an evening visit to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios with my father who is 70 years but in decent shape and he loves Disney. He doesn't seem to have a preference at the moment, so which evening experience should I choose? Some factors:

Prior experience: He already knows both parks very well but it's probably been over five years since he last visited.

Scenic walk: This is probably most important to him. He loves to walk around, admire the grounds and decor, and enjoy the general ambience. He does really like Star Wars and would probably enjoy Galaxy's Edge. I'm hearing that EPCOT is not very attractive at the moment...?

Rides: We are already visiting both parks on two separate days from early morning to early afternoon with my kids. We currently plan for us to do Mission Space, Living on the Land, Nemo and Friends, Journey into Imagination with Figment, Gran Fiesta, Lightning McQueen's Academy, and possibly Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. He would definitely enjoy going on a ride or two in the evening, but it's not the biggest priority.

Meal: We will likely get a QS meal, maybe table service if a last minute reservation opens up.

Would love your opinions or input!

 

[CarolynFH]

If he really likes Star Wars, then I think I'd lean toward DHS and Galaxy's Edge - if you aren't already going to visit it during your DHS day. It's beautifully lit at night, and as a first impression it would be amazing. The amount of detail is incredible! And if you don't get a BG for RotR, the queue for Smuggler's Run is very interesting for a Star Wars fan (and usually not as long as first thing in the morning). That said, for walking around, admiring grounds and décor, and enjoying general ambience, GE alone won't really take a lot of time. We could spend hours in WS at Epcot, though, visiting all the countries, especially things like the garden and special exhibit in Japan and looking through the various shops.

 

[flowergleam1211]

Thanks for your input, it's really helpful!

 

[Miffy]

Just back and unless your dad wants to see a lot of ugly walls, stay away from Epcot.

I'd definitely choose DHS for your evening park. SWGE is beautifully designed and rendered. As it gets closer to closing time, the line for MMRR--a terrific ride, superbly done--gets very manageable, as does the line for MFSR.

Really, unless your dad likes to drink--which Epcot definitely is better for--I think DHS is a much better choice.

 

[Castlequeen5]

I agree with others about Hollywood Studios. Your dad would probably like Star Wars, but also the Toy Story area. I love being there at night. It’s so fun! We went to Disney for spring break. And we’re back this week, but we are completely skipping Epcot this round. It’s too much of a mess right now.

 

[flowergleam1211]

My father does not drink, we will likely spend very little time at Galaxy's Edge when I'm with my kids, and since he is all about nostalgia, he will probably be pretty unhappy with the way Epcot looks. It also helps that my husband (a Disney World Scrooge, but he went to the parks once decades ago with his not-at-all-Disney-loving family) really likes Star Wars and I LOVE Star Wars, and haven't been in HS for over a decade.

I'm leaning towards Hollywood Studios. I love this community, this is so helpful!

 

[Miffy]

@flowergleam1211: We were horrified by Epcot. Unprepared for it as well. The front looks so good with the tombstones removed, and then you walk inside and are confronted with walls, walls, walls. You cannot see over or around them. I've been to Epcot maybe a zillion times and I felt lost.

The Studios, on the other hand, are beautiful. Just for a walking-around experience, I'd choose DHS. I'm not even a Star Wars fan, and I was bowled over by SWGE.

 

[CarolynFH]

My father does not drink, we will likely spend very little time at Galaxy's Edge when I'm with my kids, and since he is all about nostalgia, he will probably be pretty unhappy with the way Epcot looks. It also helps that my husband (a Disney World Scrooge, but he went to the parks once decades ago with his not-at-all-Disney-loving family) really likes Star Wars and I LOVE Star Wars, and haven't been in HS for over a decade.

I'm leaning towards Hollywood Studios. I love this community, this is so helpful!

Well, this additional information about you and your husband liking Star Wars and not planning to visit GE with the kids definitely strengthens my recommendation for DHS and GE. Entering after dark, once the lights are on, you’re in for an impressive sight. I’d suggest entering from Grand Avenue (just down from Star Tours) but that’s just my personal preference.

 

[Tawney]

Epcot is always my first choice for the evening! Future World is definitely not attractive right now, but World Showcase is still as beautiful as ever!

 

[flowergleam1211]

Hmmm, that's also good to know...

 

[DL1WDW2]

When are you planning to visit? And staying on property?
It is hard to decide because I love visit for daylight activity And the night lighting.
Maybe hours will be extended enough to visit HS Galaxy Edge at Dusk and then jump on SkyLiner . I think most of the new Remy attraction with fountains and Creperie is already illuminated to see as you glide above and enter International Gate avoiding the front of the Park Construction.
A big disappointment for me is the Award Winning Impressions de France film is only shown within the
last few hours of evening because the new Beauty& Beast Tale as Old as Time is shown during day for families. I enjoy the new Sing a Long that isn’t really a sing along but Love the award winning presentation of Impressionsd de France. Plus I can eat that ham cheese served in a baguette at French Bakery any time of day!
Think you can do both?

 

[flowergleam1211]

I'm going this week (whee!) and staying at the Dolphin so we would enter through the International Gateway. I love the idea of hopping around but for simplicity (and protecting my father from tiring out), I'm going to choose one park.

That's good to know about the Impressions film. Everyone seems to really like it and I've never seen it.

Hmmm, I think that I'm back to not knowing which one to choose. But it's a good and fun dilemma! On the day of our evening visit, we will have spent the morning and afternoon at EPCOT, so maybe he will have an opinion once we finish that daytime experience...?

Another idea is that I have my husband watch the kids on the following night so that my father and I can return for a second evening visit and he can then enjoy an evening experience at both parks this week!

 

[CarolynFH]

Another idea is that I have my husband watch the kids on the following night so that my father and I can return for a second evening visit and he can then enjoy an evening experience at both parks this week!

This is the best idea, if you can make it happen! BTW, we’re around your father’s age and are looking forward to hopping between DHS and Epcot next week.

 

[loves to dive]

F&G will still be happening at Epcot and it can get a bit crowded at night, having said that, I love WS night or day. I also love the main drag at HS at night, not a big fan of the GE area night or day but do love the way they light up the main street. Why not let Dad decide? Are you going to have hoppers? You said you would have already visited the parks during the day, does that mean Dad too? If you have hoppers and Dad will have visited the parks, he may well already know which one he wants to go back to. By the way, I'm 64 and hop all over the place every single day I'm there. I don't know what shape Dad is in but it might not be a big deal for him to hop between Epcot and HS on either the Skyliner or the boats. He might actually enjoy either or both at night.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I’ll be the dissenter here. I’d choose world showcase at Epcot for an evening stroll over DHS any day. Much better food too.

 

[flowergleam1211]

I've asked my father to make the choice and he is also unable to make the decision!

I will add that my father is a pretty worldly person and he might indeed prefer the food at World Showcase.

He will be with me and the kids during our daytime EPCOT and HS, but as many of you know, visiting the parks with preschoolers is a unique experience. =]

We have not yet decided on hoppers, but I'm now leaning towards Epcot for the evening outing and then on the next day, it looks like my husband can watch the kids so that my father and I can go to HS in the evening.

I love hearing everyone's opinion!

 

[Skippyboo]

You would need Park hoppers if you aren’t going back to the same park you visited during the day. HS is closing about 2 hours before Epcot so theoretically with park hoppers you could go to HS and then boat over to Epcot. HS would have cool views and better rides but Epcot would have more food choices.

 

[CarolynFH]

Something else not mentioned is that it won’t take long to walk through Galaxy’s Edge, unless you get in the queue for MFSR. Epcot takes longer, especially if you eat there.

 

[notatallmagic]

I'm going this week (whee!) and staying at the Dolphin so we would enter through the International Gateway. I love the idea of hopping around but for simplicity (and protecting my father from tiring out), I'm going to choose one park.

That's good to know about the Impressions film. Everyone seems to really like it and I've never seen it.

Hmmm, I think that I'm back to not knowing which one to choose. But it's a good and fun dilemma! On the day of our evening visit, we will have spent the morning and afternoon at EPCOT, so maybe he will have an opinion once we finish that daytime experience...?

Another idea is that I have my husband watch the kids on the following night so that my father and I can return for a second evening visit and he can then enjoy an evening experience at both parks this week!

If you have access to the back entrance, you could enjoy the World Showcase section of Epcot without seeing any of the mess up front. I love the lighting and ambiance of that area in the evening - and the France film is only after 8pm (I would double check that) and it is my absolute favorite! The Les Halles bakery is wonderful, as well as the little ice cream place in France.

Flower and Garden (if you're going in June) adds so many scenic and lovely things to see - we love to take a picture in each country and just take our time browsing through! Don't forget the Caramel Shop in Germany! And the Mexico pavilion at night is so beautiful!

If your dad loves Star Wars, Hollywood would also be fun, and I LOVE the Toy Story area at night. My feet feel like HS would be less walking - but you can't go wrong! Enjoy every minute!