Half Day or Full Day at Hollywood Studios?

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Hello everyone!
I'll be in Disney World from 2/14-2/19. I've been many times before, but this will be my boyfriend's first time so we are very excited. When I was younger, my family spent a lot of time in HS being that it was my favorite park (TOT is my favorite ride and I love Voyage of The Little Mermaid). However, I'm hearing things that HS is getting worse and that makes me sad! My question is, on 2/15, should we go for RD or can we go in the afternoon and still do everything we want? We will be utilizing FastPass+. I know most people go for RD and leave the park in the afternoon so would it be smart to go later in the day, say 12 or 1? Thanks guys!

 

[hakepb]

DHS (and AK) are both full day parks...if you go to all of the shows.
A number of repeat visitors call those parks "half day" parks because many guests do not repeat shows like they repeat rides. (Some shows are every trip-worthy, some are once every 10 years worthy depending on tastes.)
Evening would have a chance of adding Fantasmic, but many shows have more AM performances.

 

[Moonwolf]

Yes, if you're interested in seeing the shows in HS there there's definitely enough to fill a full day. It's those that visit often and choose to skip the shows that are able to hit everything within half day. Since it's your boyfriends first time see if he'd be interested in the shows or not and then plan accordingly.

I just took my brother for his first trip in about 10 years so we had to hit everything (aside from Disney Jr & the Honey I shrunk the Kids play area). It took us one full day day and 4 hours from another (using EMH in the evening one day and morning another) to manage but part of that was re-riding some thing (we ended up doing Star Tours about 8 times because he was determined to get all the scenes, TSMM x3 and & RnR x2 within that time along with seeing all the shows once and the fireworks twice but I don't think those are scheduled for your time period). Without the re-rides everything should be accomplish able within a day

 

[ondori]

I ride the Tower of Terror as much as possible. I don't think many do it like I do ; DHS in the morning, another park at mid-day, then back to DHS until close.

 

[Hootch]

We are probably a 3/4 day family. We have done the Iñdiana Jones show many times. It hasn't changed much since we went in 1993. It is worth seeing. We still see The Little Mermaid show even though we have seen it many times. But maybe not every time.

I think the architecture is great. The street players are great. I can sit and watch them for an hour.

First time DHS is a full day.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Thanks, guys! You're all right - I'll plan a full day there for us. I know he's going to want to see Indiana Jones and other shows for sure.

 

[tlmadden73]

Even with the loss of a few major attractions, it is definitely a full day for bringing a first timer if you plan on seeing a lot of the shows. The limited schedule for them makes it hard to do everything in one day. Add in a long dinner at one of the fun themed restaurants there and plan on seeing Fantasmic .. BOOM! - full day.
The park is my favorite to see at night with all the neon architecture.

I'd get Fast Passes ONLY for rides .. not shows. Get there first thing if you potentially want to ride some rides multiple times.

If you find you have "time to kill" in the afternoon you can always take the boat ride to Epcot (if you have a hopper) or simply get off at one of the Boardwalk resorts to explore/shop. It's a fun boat ride either way.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

I have another question! Is it necessary to get there right at RD if we are using fastpasses and plan to stay the whole day? Or do you think we can arrive a bit later, say 10/11am and still get everything in?

 

[ELSA711]

I know there were rumors of Little Mermaid and One Man's dream closing, any more truth to that or dates being floated around?

 

[MindyDean]

1/2 day for us , but we have been many times. Lots of shows are later in the day. I think arriving around 10 you should be able to do it all in February.

 

[ELSA711]

1/2 day for us , but we have been many times. Lots of shows are later in the day. I think arriving around 10 you should be able to do it all in February.

Agreed, we arrived at 10am last October and we did a lot, but couldn't get in many meet and greets:

We did: TSMM, B&B, Indy, LMA, Star Tours, Frozen, and Fantamsic with Dinner at Mama Melrose too.
Lots of shopping We love the shops there
We hung out for about an hour at the Animation Building but never made it into the Academy, kicking myself for that