Help me make Hollywood Studios a full day park

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I will be going with a 37 inch 3yo DS and my DW. So Star Tours, RaRC, TOT are all for size reasons (And I'm not insane enough to take him on the latter two, although I did sneak a FP+ in there for Star Tours.)

I've been playing on TP for 2 days now trying to maximize our day. The problem is I just can't seem to fill almost 3 hours of free time including planning "breaks" (Character meet and greets I've scheduled manually since you can't build them in to TP) and a planned 2 hour break to rest in the afternoon at the hotel. Easiest solution would be to make this a day to hop, but I really want to hit all 3 ADRs. He's a huge Handy Manny fan so the character breakfast with interaction is huge. SciFi lunch is my only chance to hit my favorite restaurant and Brown Derby dinner I've heard is great and gets us VIP for Fantasmic. Based on my plan, can anyone make suggestions how we can fill our day?

Here's a glimpse of our day (Sorry it's a bit blurry. No other way to share TP that I've found)

 

[juliebug1997]

Do "Walt: A Man and His Dream", the video in the Animation Building with Mushu and the drawing academy (also in the Animation Building).

 

[minnie mum]

I quit using touring plans because I found trying to optimize them was so annoying. Have you had a look at Josh's cheat sheets at easywdw.com? He has good ideas for optimizing FP+s, too.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Do "Walt: A Man and His Dream", the video in the Animation Building with Mushu and the drawing academy (also in the Animation Building).

Do you think Walt: AMAHD will hold the interest of a 3yo?

Will do on the other two, thanks!

 

[Malibustyle23]

Add Beauty and the Beast show, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Light, Motor, Stunt show. Add your wait time to see Woody/Buzz when we went last September it was over an hour. Add bathroom breaks. He could easily play at Honey I Shrunk the kids alot longer than 15 minutes. Character meet Incredibles, Sorcerer Mickey, Jake. Play around in the animation area where the Incredible m&g is.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I quit using touring plans because I found trying to optimize them was so annoying. Have you had a look at Josh's cheat sheets at easywdw.com? He has good ideas for optimizing FP+s, too.

Starting to get that feeling too. How can you not allow users to schedule character interactions, which to people like us are 1/3 of the Disney experience?

I'll check Josh's stuff out, thanks.

 

[juliebug1997]

Do you think Walt: AMAHD will hold the interest of a 3yo?

Will do on the other two, thanks!

It's self paced so, if you see that it's not working, you can leave. I didn't see "Muppets 4D" on your list either. It's a fun little video.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I know you didn't ask and many people do it but I can not see eating 3 TS meals in one day. I am big and can eat but not that much at WDW. It is a lot of food and when you add in walking so much it is just too much. We normally do one TS and one CS in a day. I am usually full with just those two especially since one is usually a buffet.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Sorry last advice from me, I promise I don't think H&V will be done in 30 minutes. Every character meal we go to seems to take atleast an hour but perhaps that is just my luck?!

 

[Ava]

I would plan more time for the character breakfast. It can sometimes take an hour for all of the characters to make their way around to your table, depending on how busy it is. And I think there is dancing w/ the characters or a parade or something at the H&V breakfast, which also adds time.

Will you be using Disney transportation to go to your resort for your afternoon break? If so, even if you are at one of the resorts closest to HS, it will take much more than 10 minutes to get there. Don't know if you want your DS to actually nap during that time, or you just want some downtime in the room, but you could easily up your break to 3 hours to factor in travel time, and getting to your room and settled down.

Honestly, with a child that age, I'd leave time to be flexible. Obviously you know your own child but you have a long day planned. A longer break or slower pace might be necessary to keep him from melting down before the end.

 

[staceyeileen]

I have a 4yo DS who I've taken to DHS several times over the past 2 years.

We spend at least 30 minutes at Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and we have to drag him out. He'd be happy to play for a lot longer than that.

I don't see Characterpalooza on your list.

Lights Motor Action stunt show is a hit with us. Lightning McQueen makes an appearance.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

My daughter is 4 and her favorite park has been Hollywood Studios since her first visit at 2 years of age. We took her again at 3 and she still loved it (though, at that age she was able to do Tower of Terror and Star Tours, both of which she loved). She had a special care on TSMM that made it easier for her to shoot. It had a button rather than a pull string. Hollywood and Vine was her favorite meal that trip, even more than the princess dining. She also really loves Sci Fi Dine In and Pizza Planet. She was a fan of Animation Academy and all of the shows. She also really enjoys Great Movie Ride, which kind of surprised me. I mean, it's my favorite ride, but I can see why it might not appeal to a child that age. And, as a previous poster said, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playset is a lot of fun for the kids. As other posters have recommended, I'd check out Josh's cheat sheets over at easywdw. He really knows his stuff.

 

[boBQuincy]

I know a 3 year old who loved the models in the Walt Disney exhibit. She looked at all of them in detail, especially the Tree of Life diorama.

 

[Jfsag123]

I would add in the Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid shows. DS was not-quite-3 when we went and he loved both. I would also schedule some time at the Animation Courtyard. Some great character meets and little things to do there. Additionally, as some others have said, I don't think you have enough time budgeted in for some things already on your list. We signed up for Jedi Training and then headed straight to Buzz and Woody and still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to meet them. This was a recommended DHS day during moderate crowd time. Also, I think your meals will likely take longer. Have a great trip!

 

[#1DopeyFan]

I don't think you have near enough time planned for any of your meals, I don't think I've ever had a TS take less than an hour.
You should definitely see Lights, Motor, Action...and then possibly work in Beauty & the Beast and/or Voyage of the Little Mermaid if possible. Also, your DS could want to do TSMM more than once.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I know a 3 year old who loved the models in the Walt Disney exhibit. She looked at all of them in detail, especially the Tree of Life diorama.

My daughter spent a ton of time staring at the New Fantasyland model in there! I'm not sure if that's still there, though.

We also spend a decent amount of time in the Animation Building, doing all the little activities back there and looking through the movie artwork gallery.

On our last trip, we spent 13 hours at DHS (without a break! or a meltdown!). It's no "half day park" for us. Of course, my kids require as many rides on Star Tours as we allow, so we could probably just ride that for 13 hours and they'd be happy. Me on the other hand....

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I know you didn't ask and many people do it but I can not see eating 3 TS meals in one day. I am big and can eat but not that much at WDW. It is a lot of food and when you add in walking so much it is just too much. We normally do one TS and one CS in a day. I am usually full with just those two especially since one is usually a buffet.

Yeah I understand that. During character breakfasts I feast while lil' guy plays. Lunch at Sci Fi is more to show the place to my old man who will get a kick out of it as he grew up on the entertainment and for my DS to get a full meal in. I will most likely just be all about the milkshake. Dinner I am ready to feast again.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Sorry last advice from me, I promise I don't think H&V will be done in 30 minutes. Every character meal we go to seems to take atleast an hour but perhaps that is just my luck?!

Good to know, I actually only scheduled it as 30 minutes to manipulate touring plans to allow me to squeeze in TSM before out Buzz Woody "rest" meet up. And don't apologize! I love the advice from everyone!

I would plan more time for the character breakfast. It can sometimes take an hour for all of the characters to make their way around to your table, depending on how busy it is. And I think there is dancing w/ the characters or a parade or something at the H&V breakfast, which also adds time.

Will you be using Disney transportation to go to your resort for your afternoon break? If so, even if you are at one of the resorts closest to HS, it will take much more than 10 minutes to get there. Don't know if you want your DS to actually nap during that time, or you just want some downtime in the room, but you could easily up your break to 3 hours to factor in travel time, and getting to your room and settled down.

Honestly, with a child that age, I'd leave time to be flexible. Obviously you know your own child but you have a long day planned. A longer break or slower pace might be necessary to keep him from melting down before the end.

We are staying at BLT and using a rental car, but I am definetly gonna be flexible with the rest/nap time. Means more pool time for me.

I have a 4yo DS who I've taken to DHS several times over the past 2 years.

We spend at least 30 minutes at Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and we have to drag him out. He'd be happy to play for a lot longer than that.

I don't see Characterpalooza on your list.

Lights Motor Action stunt show is a hit with us. Lightning McQueen makes an appearance.

Had no idea about Lightning showing up at LMA! One of his favorites, will add that now!

My daughter is 4 and her favorite park has been Hollywood Studios since her first visit at 2 years of age. We took her again at 3 and she still loved it (though, at that age she was able to do Tower of Terror and Star Tours, both of which she loved). She had a special care on TSMM that made it easier for her to shoot. It had a button rather than a pull string. Hollywood and Vine was her favorite meal that trip, even more than the princess dining. She also really loves Sci Fi Dine In and Pizza Planet. She was a fan of Animation Academy and all of the shows. She also really enjoys Great Movie Ride, which kind of surprised me. I mean, it's my favorite ride, but I can see why it might not appeal to a child that age. And, as a previous poster said, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playset is a lot of fun for the kids. As other posters have recommended, I'd check out Josh's cheat sheets over at easywdw. He really knows his stuff.

I'm a little leery of GMR because of the appearance of the alien from Aliens, but we can distract him at that point, lol. Glad to hear so many little ones love Shrunk the Kids. I think he'll get a kick out of it.

I know a 3 year old who loved the models in the Walt Disney exhibit. She looked at all of them in detail, especially the Tree of Life diorama.

Good to know, my little guy is very detail oriented, so he may take to this attraction as well.

I don't think you have near enough time planned for any of your meals, I don't think I've ever had a TS take less than an hour.
You should definitely see Lights, Motor, Action...and then possibly work in Beauty & the Beast and/or Voyage of the Little Mermaid if possible. Also, your DS could want to do TSMM more than once.

Haha, TS is his favorite, I have it planned 3 times, lol. Once at RD, once on Standby and once with FP. And even then I can see him making us do it on standby again.

 

[Delirium]

You will spend more time than you have slotted in line for Buzz/Woddy and Mike/Sully. Character meet n greets are the biggest time hogs in HS. Don't forget about Mickey, Wreck-it-Ralph, Minnie, & the Incredibles in the Animation room. And, there are the characters that meet beside the hat (Stitch, Daisy, and a couple others), and Phinneas & Ferb, Lightning & Mater, Jake, Handy Manny, Sophia, etc. Plus, there is Characterpalooza.

You could spend all day at HS just in Character lines.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

You will spend more time than you have slotted in line for Buzz/Woddy and Mike/Sully. Character meet n greets are the biggest time hogs in HS. Don't forget about Mickey, Wreck-it-Ralph, Minnie, & the Incredibles in the Animation room. And, there are the characters that meet beside the hat (Stitch, Daisy, and a couple others), and Phinneas & Ferb, Lightning & Mater, Jake, Handy Manny, Sophia, etc. Plus, there is Characterpalooza.

You could spend all day at HS just in Character lines.

But how much time will Buzz/Woody cost me if I get there at 8:45 after my breakfast at H&V? I heard Mike & Sully are never more than 20 minutes especially on a crowd predictor of 3 day. Lightning and Mater are just statues, correct? Meeting Jake, Sophia, Handy Manny and Doc at breakfast. Don't care about Stitch, Wreck, Incredibles as those are beyond my 3yo, or the traditional characters as we have meets set up with them through the week. Only one I really want to meet is Sorcerer Mick.