Hollywood Studios???

[bigeyedfish]

We are headed to DW in March 2018 for our one and only trip! We are staying 6 nights, 7 days and will have 5 days of park tickets (one park per day). My kids will be 11, 10, 7, and 5. My youngest is only 40" currently. We are planning on spending two days at MK, one day at Epcot, and one day at AK. I am undecided for the last day. Should we go to Hollywood Studios? We are not Star Wars fans at all. Or should we take our last park day and spend it at our favorite park instead? TY!

 

[Robo]

I don't know why you would specifically NOT go to Hollywood Studios.

 

[mickeymomof3girls]

Hollywood studios is way more than just Star Wars. It has a couple of our favorite rides toy story mania and rockin roller coaster are both amazing. Lots of great shows to watch.

 

[MamaBelle4]

My 8 year old's favorite ride is TSMM. There are tons of shows (including Fantasmic! and the Frozen Sing-along which is hilarious), character M&Gs, RockNRollercoaster and tons more. It is DH's favorite park. He hates rides so we spend more time as a family at the shows rather than splitting up to so rides.

I always save MK for my last day though.

ETA Tower of Terror which I didn't immediately think of because I hate it. I rode it when I was 12 and thought I was legitimately plummeting to my death, lol.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I had considered skipping HS on my trip last week, but I'm so glad I didn't. Crowds were low because so many seem to be skipping it now. Tower of Terror is awesome. The Music of Pixar Live is a really good new show (may not last, though, from rumors I have read). I always enjoy seeing Beauty and the Beast, a The Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones, and Frozen. If you like shows, HS is a must do.

I just enjoyed being able to walk around without being elbow to elbow with others. If you are not Star Wars fans, then next March is a good time to go. After Cars Land and Star Wars Land open, I imagine the place will be packed.

Right now, I think it is a nice respite from the crowds (kind of like Animal Kingdom was last year before Pandora).

 

[KittyKitty]

When I started to respond to this thread, questions popped in my head, where are they staying, do they like thrilling rides? Are they doing sit down meal? Do they have a car? But since you didn't ask about those, I'll keep it to your question.

I love Hollywood studios. For me it is a 9-2pm park. So if you decide to go, you can get some resort pool time.

Since this is your one and only time to WDW, I promise you will not see/do everything, with WDW being 45-47 square miles. So get fast passes for that last day, but be flexible to change your plans.

I'm curious of your daily plans. This is a great place to get helpful tips on visiting WDW.

 

[Parker Clan]

We love Hollywood Studios!
Just because there's not a ton, it's got some of the best rides. Toy Story is amazing, Tower of Terror is my all time fave ride, and Star Tours is really cool. I am not a Star Wars fan at all & I LOVED the Star Wars Spectacular Fireworks show... It is top notch. It could certainly be a half day park right now but me personally... I'd never skip it

 

[melanielll]

We used to love MGM (that dates when our love was present). We still go to the park - but we never start there anymore. We have had great success in the past few years starting at another park and then getting 4th+ Fast Passes for everything we want to do at the park formally known as MGM. You could consider doing that. Or - getting fast passes for the afternoon there and doing early day stuff at your favorite park without passes.

 

[nooneshome]

I would not skip DHS. Even as is you still have 3 major headliner rides - TSMM, ToT and RnRc. You have the second best nighttime show in Fantasmic. You also have Star Tours which you really don't have to be a Star Wars person to enjoy. The Indy show and Beauty and the Beast show are fun. And the Movie ride & Muppet show are enjoyable.

 

[Gehrig1B]

It will add $15/day per ticket to your budget but I would consider getting the hopper pass. It will give you so much more flexibility.

 

[Robo]

Fantasmic! is one of our favorite night time spectaculars.

It's the only evening show that features multiple in-person Disney characters and is presented
in a sit-down theater.

 

[bigeyedfish]

We're definitely not doing Park Hoppers. Too much expense that I would rather put elsewhere. Out of all my research really the only negative things I have heard have been about HS. Poor dining options, smaller park with less options, etc.

My oldest two love thrill rides, but my youngest is only currently 40" tall. So she and I will be sitting them out - also likely my youngest DS depending on the ride.

Our very rough plan is to stay 4 nights at the Poly and 2 nights at AKV. Deluxe resorts will be our big splurge!

 

[bigeyedfish]

Oh, and we will get the dining plan so I don't have to worry about food and can enjoy some TS meals. No car!

 

[loves to dive]

I think you should visit every park at least once then decide if you don't like it especially if this is a one and done trip. You might just play it by ear. If after doing MK you decide you really need to go back, go back there. If you feel like you got enough done there (you will never get everything done, I've been going since 1982 and there are still things I haven't done) go ahead and book FP for HS. Or go ahead and book FPs for HS now and if you decide you need another day at MK cancel them.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We're definitely not doing Park Hoppers. Too much expense that I would rather put elsewhere. Out of all my research really the only negative things I have heard have been about HS. Poor dining options, smaller park with less options, etc.

My oldest two love thrill rides, but my youngest is only currently 40" tall. So she and I will be sitting them out - also likely my youngest DS depending on the ride.

Our very rough plan is to stay 4 nights at the Poly and 2 nights at AKV. Deluxe resorts will be our big splurge!

I think HS is great for young kids and toddlers. My girls really loved the shows.

The only thrill ride at HS your younger one can't do will be Rockin' Roller Coaster. ToT and Star Tours both have a 40" requirement. My daughter loved both of those when she was not even four yet.

 

[Shanti]

We are headed to DW in March 2018 for our one and only trip! We are staying 6 nights, 7 days and will have 5 days of park tickets (one park per day). My kids will be 11, 10, 7, and 5. My youngest is only 40" currently. We are planning on spending two days at MK, one day at Epcot, and one day at AK. I am undecided for the last day. Should we go to Hollywood Studios? We are not Star Wars fans at all. Or should we take our last park day and spend it at our favorite park instead? TY!

Yes. Tower of Terror is awesome. Toy Story Midway Mania is nice, as is the Great Movie Ride (will be scrapped next year, so do it while you can), and Rockin' Roller Coaster.

Sci Fi Dine-In Theater is virtual drive-in theater ADR restaurant- highly recommend it!

 

[HopperFan]

We are headed to DW in March 2018 for our one and only trip! We are staying 6 nights, 7 days and will have 5 days of park tickets (one park per day). My kids will be 11, 10, 7, and 5. My youngest is only 40" currently. We are planning on spending two days at MK, one day at Epcot, and one day at AK. I am undecided for the last day. Should we go to Hollywood Studios? We are not Star Wars fans at all. Or should we take our last park day and spend it at our favorite park instead? TY!

Star Wars is actually a small part of the park in terms of attractions. And even if you had not seen the movies (I only saw first one in the 70's until recently) you can still enjoy Star Tours. All the rest is just "street" entertainment and characters.

We're definitely not doing Park Hoppers. Too much expense that I would rather put elsewhere. Out of all my research really the only negative things I have heard have been about HS. Poor dining options, smaller park with less options, etc.

My oldest two love thrill rides, but my youngest is only currently 40" tall. So she and I will be sitting them out - also likely my youngest DS depending on the ride.

Our very rough plan is to stay 4 nights at the Poly and 2 nights at AKV. Deluxe resorts will be our big splurge!

I think HS has some of the best table service dining options, better than MK or AK. Sci Fi and 50's Prime are probably two of the best themed ones. There are multiple QS locations and I honestly can't say any of them are bad.

Thrill rides? RnR and ToT are two of the best at all of WDW. Now if you dislike shows; Little Mermaid, Beauty & Beast, Indiana Jones - all great - may not be perks. Toy Story Mania, one of the most popular on property. Add Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Muppets 3D and end the evening at Fantasmic or whatever the night projection show is then. And it has some good small things and character meets. We love the park, can stay all day and even with the construction out back find there is plenty to do.

BUT if it doesn't sound like something you are interested in ........... repeat another park - you do what is best for you!

 

[ucfknight]

My oldest two love thrill rides, but my youngest is only currently 40" tall. So she and I will be sitting them out - also likely my youngest DS depending on the ride.

If the older two love thrill rides, Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster are two of the most thrilling WDW has to offer.

Also, if you want to ride anything the youngest is too short for you can take advantage of the rider switch service. That's if you are there with a spouse or other adult (I didn't see you specify if you are the only adult or not). The service gives you a ticket and let's you sit out with the youngest while the rest of your party rides. When they are done the other adult switches with you and you and 2 others can then go ride the ride again through the FP line.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Have you looked on the Disney website at the attractions/shows at Hollywood Studios?
I am not a huge Star Wars fan and that's not why I go to HS.
I go for RNRC, TOT, BATB, GMR, VOTLM, TSMM, Muppets Vision 3D, Frozen Sing Along, Sci-fi Dine In Theater....

 

[JerseyJanice]

If you do go to HS and have not seen it before, make sure you see Fantasmic. It's a really great show.