Hollywood Studios - Is it worth it at this point?

[BrotherCraig]

Even if you're not Star Wars fans, Galaxy's Edge is worth seeing, and the rides worth riding. I don't fall into the SW fan grouping, though I like the movies. I don't really care for Avatar, but I enjoy Pandora and the rides.

Exactly. I can't stand the film Avatar and the whole story behind it but that area is amazing.

 

[malialaine]

Go to Hollywood in morning, then park hop to another park if your done.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I think its worth going still. We often skip the shows, except fantasmic we do that every trip so that's not the end of the world for us. There's still so much to do. Toy story land is fantastic. Toy story mania is way fun, probably a favorite for my family. I'm not a huge star wars fan but my family is. I think the movies are good but I couldn't tell you most of the characters names and such lol. Its amazing to go through star wars land and the rides are pretty cool honestly.

We actually are planning 2 days at HS for the first time this next trip. We normally do 1 day or even half a day there. But two days gives us a day for star wars land and a day for toy story land so we can still throw in the new mickey ride and tower of tower/rockin roller coaster at some point.

 

[Lugan]

This is probably taboo and I will be destroyed for this comment, but I actually think Toy Story Land was better themed and laid out far better than Galaxy's Edge.

Let the negative hate flow my way, but have no fear because I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.

I feel this way about just about all of the expansion "lands" since Pandora was added. Compared to the other areas around the parks, they feel like they are a tremendous waste of space. Minimal rides/attractions, with a lot of winding pathways. Galaxy's Edge is the worst offender, as it only has 1 repeatable attraction in it, the rest of the area is just designed to soak money. We went in October, and while it was very cool to see the Millenium Falcon replica, I found that when I went last week we barely even entered Galaxy's Edge. It's difficult to navigate, it's blisteringly hot (there and Toy Story Land), and it all felt a little "meh" to me. It feels like they filled it in with things like the Droid Depot and the Lightsaber workshop, which cost extra money to have an experience, but aren't really repeatable.

When you compare these areas to any of the areas of Epcot's Futureworld from the 90s (6 attractions on each side), the legacy Magic Kingdom areas (worst offender is AdventureLand with 5 attractions), it seems that Disney has doubled-down on building fewer, larger attractions and filling in space with shopping and decorations. Even the original MGM Studios started this trend, but at least it was a compact park. I just can't enjoy looking at Star Wars, Avatar or Toy Story themed decorations when I'm in a balmy 90° / 90% humidity day with minimal air-flow circulating due to winding passages, and a blazing sun beating down on me.

I'd like to see them add more filler attractions to these areas, but we've not seen any of that in Pandora, yet, and I'm dubious to think that they will in Galaxy's Edge, because it might ruin the "aesthetic" they tried to achieve. Toy Story Land might get another attraction or two without impacting this too much, but I think that they've moved on.

All in all, it feels like these areas were more style over substance in design. Something that Disney used to strike a much better balance between.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Hi. We have a trip to DisneyWorld for August 15 and I just noticed that at Hollywood Studios they still have closed the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indian Jones Stunt, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic - all things we have loved seeing in the past. Since we are not big Star Wars fans, is it worth it to skip Hollywood Studios this year? Is there any chance any of that stuff will reopen by mid August?

I know this is totally subjective but we aren't big SW fans and really do enjoy SWGE. I like the rides and the area just to explore. We also love Toy Story land, Tower of Terror and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. We also just enjoy walking around and sightseeing. But when we visit, we never skip MK but sometimes we do rotate the others based on what's open, under construction, new rides, etc and for some people, DHS isn't a full days park even when everything is open. We're not show people so even pre-covid, we never spent an entire day at DHS. All that to say, you don't have to be a SW fan to enjoy DHS right now.

I doubt that the shows will be back up by 8/15, I suppose it could happen but I think we'd see news of the casts being called back for work and I haven't seen any of that yet.

 

[Sarahslay]

My family still really enjoys the rides and atmosphere of the park, and always have a great time. We do make it a half day park, usually going at least one morning and then again one evening (because SDD at night is so much fun, and the park is usually a lot less crowded). On our morning days we usually book a lunch ADR between 12-1 and leave after, always get in all the rides we want before then, and we aren't huge Star Wars people either so that makes it easier. We usually split it with an Epcot day, or if we do HS at night we do it on an AK day since it usually closes early and we make that a half day park as well. HS is actually my favorite park, and while I did enjoy the shows I still really love it with just the rides.

 

[GatorChris]

After reading all these responses, I"m rethinking using my 5th day at DHS. I love all the rides there. But I really expected the live shows to be back by now. At least B&tB and F! What is Disney waiting on? Or is this a cost savings move to try to make back some shareholder cash? We hit it one day in October during a Universal trip. We liked it, but the lack of shows and parades really hurts this park. I'm starting to think about maybe the 5th day at AK since we don't have anything like that in Cali.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I would love for the shows to come back and I was also hoping they'd be back in August. However, there is still the Frozen show, which I skipped last trip, but I hear is quite enjoyable. I actually skipped BATB and VOTLM during our last trip because they've been at DHS forever -- I am most sad that Indy and Fantasmic are not back yet. Anyway, I still think it's worthwhile We aren't huge Star Wars people either, but the new rides/land are worth checking out at least once.

 

[Erzengel]

Hi. We have a trip to DisneyWorld for August 15 and I just noticed that at Hollywood Studios they still have closed the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indian Jones Stunt, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic - all things we have loved seeing in the past. Since we are not big Star Wars fans, is it worth it to skip Hollywood Studios this year? Is there any chance any of that stuff will reopen by mid August?

I know you said you weren't big Star Wars fans, but when I last did HS, it was the first time Galaxy's Edge was open and I thought we did a lot (TOT, RnR, Slinky, TSM, MMRR, Alien Saucers not to mention Star Tours, ROTR and SR) and we were there from open to close and I still feel like we could have stayed longer. It's funny that you mentioned those 4 shows and I don't even think to try and do them last year. There wasn't just enough time. I know they extended hours but it almost feels like doing everything in HS is now a day and a half at least park.

 

[DisneyFive]

This is probably taboo and I will be destroyed for this comment, but I actually think Toy Story Land was better themed and laid out far better than Galaxy's Edge.

Let the negative hate flow my way, but have no fear because I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.

We will have to see what we think about galaxies edge, but I was not impressed with Toy story land. It seemed overgrown right from the beginning, small, and poorly laid out. This was right after it opened though, and it will be interesting to see if my opinion changes now that galaxies edge is also complete. Maybe it blends better with the rest of the park


Hollywood studios needed rides that were better suited towards the younger ages, and for that Toy Story Land works well

Dan

 

[PPFlight75]

This is probably taboo and I will be destroyed for this comment, but I actually think Toy Story Land was better themed and laid out far better than Galaxy's Edge.

Let the negative hate flow my way, but have no fear because I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.

I might agree with you but TSL is hot as hades!

 

[JustinS30]

I guess it kind of comes down to what you’re looking for. I recently came back and broke it up into two separate days of rope drop until 1:00ish. I broke up which attractions I hit one day (starting in toy story one day, and Star Wars the other). I was able to rope drop slinky dog and then head to Mickey and Minnie’s runaway railway with minor waits before the lines grew. We were also doing rider swap due to an infant so you may be more efficient. I would continually monitor lines for ToT and RnR.
I honestly would have rope dropped RnR and ToT on my second day but we got boarding group 4 for ROTR so instead we rope dropped the Millennium Falcon and then rode our boarding group.

I’m not a Star Wars fan either but can certainly appreciate the imagineering and technology in that are and attractions. I’d still recommend

Hi. We have a trip to DisneyWorld for August 15 and I just noticed that at Hollywood Studios they still have closed the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indian Jones Stunt, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic - all things we have loved seeing in the past. Since we are not big Star Wars fans, is it worth it to skip Hollywood Studios this year? Is there any chance any of that stuff will reopen by mid August?

 

[rstamm]

Without the shows it’s not even a half day park for me.
I’ll wait till the shows come back.

 

[Obi1]

It’s a two day park for me and I don't like shows. The Indiana Jones was good once but not repeatable. Granted I’m a huge Star Wars fan.

 

[Blondie58]

Hi. We have a trip to DisneyWorld for August 15 and I just noticed that at Hollywood Studios they still have closed the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indian Jones Stunt, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic - all things we have loved seeing in the past. Since we are not big Star Wars fans, is it worth it to skip Hollywood Studios this year? Is there any chance any of that stuff will reopen by mid August?

Just returned home. No Rise of the Resistance with two tries. Seats all gone in two seconds or less. No Fantasmic. No Beauty and the Beast. No Indiana Jones. No Star Wars marches on the main street. Did not see Hollywood reinactors. No Star Wars on center stage. Railroad was cute and we love Frozen though. Also enjoyed the Muppets. Went to Prime Time. Mom's plate is now one meatloaf and one piece of chicken. Used to be two and three resectively. We were done by three with ease at HS this trip.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

This is probably taboo and I will be destroyed for this comment, but I actually think Toy Story Land was better themed and laid out far better than Galaxy's Edge.

Let the negative hate flow my way, but have no fear because I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.

Interesting take. I will say this, Toy Story Land far surpassed my expectations and Galaxy's Edge simply whelmed me. I like the two rides in GE, but I'm not puttering about, making expensive droids and lightsabers. The dining at GE is meh at best. It takes a bit of fun out of GE when you can't land a boarding group for ROTR. TSL has two rides with very high repeatability for me.

 

[bbsearchlight]

They started casting for the Beauty and the Beast stage play 3 weeks ago, which probably means it will not be ready by next month, and I don't recall news on anything else.

Good News, Beauty and the Beast has a confirmed reopening date of August 15.

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...and-the-beast-stage-show-gets-reopening-date/

 

[jennib5426]

I think they missed some opportunities in Toy Story Land, I would have loved to see a Pixar store and better food options. Maybe a playground or water feature for the little ones.
we never enjoy Toy Story land cause it is sooo crowded and hot.

 

[jimmymc]

Even if you're not a Star Wars fan, Rise of the Resistance is something you should try to experience. It's the best attraction in Orlando.

Other than Star Wars, you have Mickey and Minnie, 3 Toy Story rides, Tower of Terror, and Rockin Roller Coaster that are all top tier attractions. Combined with some of the other smaller rides and food locations, it's at least worth a half day.

The other thing which might happen is you end up learning about Star Wars from the land. I've always been a Star Wars fan since watching the prequels as a 5 year old, but this happened to me the first time I saw the Harry Potter areas in Universal. I went from the most casual fan to proudly representing Slytherin each visit.

 

[jimmymc]

I think they missed some opportunities in Toy Story Land, I would have loved to see a Pixar store and better food options. Maybe a playground or water feature for the little ones.
we never enjoy Toy Story land cause it is sooo crowded and hot.

I agree, they really should've made it an all out land. Hopefully once Woodys BBQ opens they can add some shopping and indoor space to cool off in.