hollywood studios or epcot??

[Tarap]

We are only doing 3 park days, we are doing MK and AK but can't decide between Epcot or HS. We are a family of 5, are kids are 14, 10, and 4 and we will be there mid September. Which park to do???

 

[21stamps]

Epcot and HS take out AK. My opinion anyway.

 

[CAS239]

Would you guys enjoy walking around the world showcase? Frozen ride and meet and greet will be open by then and there's the new Soarin film. But if you won't spend quite a bit of time in the world showcase, then you'll finish everything early

HS has a bunch of Star Wars stuff. But will you be doing ToT and RnR? If not you're day will be short as a lot has closed at HS over the last year to make room for the new lands.

Each has there pros and cons. I'd go with Epcot if you'd enjoy the world showcase

 

[mindeola]

I can't believe I am saying this, but I would do HS over Epcot. Your kids will love it!

Epcot ( once my fave park) has been hit or miss for us the last couple of visits. HS ( my least fave park) was great last week!

 

[CAS239]

Epcot and HS take out AK. My opinion anyway.

I think once people partake in the nighttime activities and can experience being in AK until around 11pm..it'll boost the park into a must visit and move up in popularity to right behind MK

 

[gmboy95]

because of the nighttime activities now at AK...i would definitely keep that, I would lop off HS due to the renovations

 

[loves to dive]

Is it possible to upgrade to a PH for one day? I'm not sure how tickets work since I have an AP and we always buy PHs for my son. If it's possible, I'd probably do that and combine HS and Epcot. My first instinct is to say Epcot, it will be during F&W so all the food booths will be there, which might be fun for the older kids. My son always loved Epcot, even at 3 years old so we would never skip that but it really depends on your family's interests.

 

[21stamps]

I think once people partake in the nighttime activities and can experience being in AK until around 11pm..it'll boost the park into a must visit and move up in popularity to right behind MK

I think the nighttime stuff will make it a lot better. I don't dislike AK, but we are skipping it on our next trip. HS is mandatory (for us) bc of the new Star Wars stuff- plus ToT and Star Tours. 5 total nights- 2 MK days (1 of which is MVMCP), Epcot for CP and Storytellers, HS for the reasons mentioned. Even with hoppers I don't want to dedicate the time to AK for that trip. Personal opinion anyway, a lot depends on the family. I don't really care about anything that has closed at HS- I think what has been added (SW) is even better!

 

[kevgraub]

I would probably drop Epcot unless you think the kids would enjoy walking around the World Showcase. There are more rides and shows at HS that our kids will enjoy than at Epcot. Plus, although I like Illuminations, our family definitely enjoys Fantasmic more.

My kids are not big into Star Wars at all, but if you have some that are, then HS becomes an even easier choice.

 

[matthewhavens]

We are only doing 3 park days, we are doing MK and AK but can't decide between Epcot or HS. We are a family of 5, are kids are 14, 10, and 4 and we will be there mid September. Which park to do???

Without specificially knowing your family (and going just by ages of children) I think HS is a much better option. FP+ tiering at Epcot makes it a challenging full day park unless your kids enjoy walking around a lake for 2 hours looking at scenery and eating snacks.

At HS you can FP+ TSMM, ToT and RnRC. You've also got Star Tours and Great Movie Ride for the older ones.

If you are willing to split up part of the day, one adult can take the youngest to Disney Junior and Little Mermaid.

The shows are good to if your group would sit for Beauty and the Beast and/or Frozen Sing-Along.

If you've got a Jedi in the group there is also Jedi Training Academy and the Star Wars Stage Show.

With the age range of your kids, HS could end up being the best park for you even ahead of MK and AK.

 

[ktlm]

Epcot and HS take out AK. My opinion anyway.

That would be us too. If we could only do 3 parks, AK would be the first to go. DD (10) has never liked that park that much. I like it more than she does. DD's favorite park other than MK has always been EPCOT. That would be our choice. I would think the 14 and 10 year old would like the Agent P missions in WS -- the 4 year old might like tagging along for that even though that is a little young to do the missions on their own. EPCOT is a 2 day park for us. Now- if you are going during Food & Wine- what days of the week you are going might make a difference to me. If you tell me your EPCOT day would be a Saturday during Food & Wine- I would tell you to skip EPCOT even though it by far would be our first choice of a park after MK. EPCOT is just too busy on food and wine Saturdays. I don't know what HS will be like with construction then, but for DD- that park is usually a must because of the Star Tours ride.

 

[matthewhavens]

DD's favorite park other than MK has always been EPCOT.

What exactly about Epcot does your DD 10 enjoy? On our last trip 3 years ago my DD was 5. Now that she'll be 8 and has already declared she is too old for princesses, I'm trying to decide how much time/what to do in Epcot.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

If your kids are like mine I would skip Epcot. There are only two things there that they look forward to and those are Test Track and shopping in Japan. Just skipping the shopping would save me plenty of $$. And we love DHS. We love Tower of Terror (my favorite of all), we all love Star Tours and the Launch Bay, we love Toy Story and DS14 and I love Rockin Roller Coaster. Then there is Fantasmic and the new fireworks which were awesome. Toss in the Star Wars stage show and Beauty and the Beast live, eat an early dinner at 50's prime and it's a full day of fun for everyone. I almost forgot...we can't go without riding the Great Movie Ride...one of DS14's favorites.

 

[mommycrawford]

Turtle Talk with Crush, and the Manatee tank and other aquarium stuff in EPCOT, I feel are worth doing: Living with the Land and Soarin. The big kids could single rider Test Track, and the whole family could do Spaceship Earth and Ellen's Energy Adventure (I know it is corny, but I'd take it over Indiana Jones ANY day of the week!) And then the countries...

DHS seems a bit more limited to me at present, unless you mainly like shows: Sing a long, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Muppets. I Love Tot, and TSMM, and even Muppets, but I don't know that that is a whole day.

 

[mickeymom22]

My vote is MK, AK, and Epcot. My kids have always loved Epcot. Things they enjoy: Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Soarin', Sum of All Thrills, Livin' with the Land, Turtle Talk, Nemo ride, Club Cool, Illuminations, dancing on the twinkly sidewalks, and picking somewhere to eat in World Showcase.

We have had trips where we only went to a park for one day, and they have never chosen HS. Now that they are older, they still rank HS as their least favorite park.

 

[Tarap]

Thanks everyone for all of the advice. I know we will keep AK because my husband will not give that up. The main thing in Epcot we are looking forward to is Soaring, maybe Frozen (if we can even get a fastpass for that) and nemo ride for my youngest. I don't think we would be big on trying all of the food from world showcase so I don't know if it's worth it. I also don't feel like there is a lot to do in HS but I love the rides they do have and my youngest loves disney Jr. None of us like Star wars so it's a hard decision. Thanks again

 

[Big Kid at the World]

I would also say HS especially if your children are into coasters. Rock & Roll is one of our favorites!!! The upside downs are a big thrill. Also, Tower of Terror is a great ride that still gets me nervous the first time I ride it each trip!!!

 

[Tarap]

That would be us too. If we could only do 3 parks, AK would be the first to go. DD (10) has never liked that park that much. I like it more than she does. DD's favorite park other than MK has always been EPCOT. That would be our choice. I would think the 14 and 10 year old would like the Agent P missions in WS -- the 4 year old might like tagging along for that even though that is a little young to do the missions on their own. EPCOT is a 2 day park for us. Now- if you are going during Food & Wine- what days of the week you are going might make a difference to me. If you tell me your EPCOT day would be a Saturday during Food & Wine- I would tell you to skip EPCOT even though it by far would be our first choice of a park after MK. EPCOT is just too busy on food and wine Saturdays. I don't know what HS will be like with construction then, but for DD- that park is usually a must because of the Star Tours ride.

We will be doing Epcot on a Monday. We won't be doing any parks on the weekend, I was hoping that would help with crowds.

 

[Dreamport]

Is it possible to upgrade to a PH for one day? I'm not sure how tickets work since I have an AP and we always buy PHs for my son.

Park Hoppers are a flat-rate amount per person no matter how many days you are going to the parks. There's no discount for only wanting to add them to one day.

Sadly, I have no advice on one over the other since my heart pulls me toward Fantasmic! but also wanting to see Epcot favorites. Look into what your family enjoys best and crowd prediction levels (with a grain of salt) and you'll find yourself figuring out the best answer.

 

[Ryan2016]

If you don't have a park hopper I would do HS. It sounds like there is a lot of construction there but there are more rides for the kids. Also there is the fantasmic show at night and maybe starwars fireworks depending on the day you go.

There is okay food options at HS but a lot of places to get food and snacks.

If you need a break you can also head to beaches and cream for afternoon ice creams and snacks too. The kitchen sink there is great for large groups.

If you have a park hopper then I would do HS in the morning and maybe Epcot in the afternoon for snacks and then back to HS for fantasmic show. Epcot is a lot of walking thou so be careful to take breaks