Honest thoughts on Hollywood Studios

[mshanson3121]

Out of all the four Disney parks, this is the one I'm most unsure about. There really aren't many rides there that my kids (8 & 5 with SPD, ASD so scary, loud etc... rides are out) will do, this is it:

- Honey I Shrunk the Kids playset
- Muppet Vision
- Star Tours
- Toy Story

That leaves the shows. Now, I do think they'd enjoy the following shows:

Beauty & The Beast
Little Mermaid
Disney Jr.
Frozen Sing a Long (and of course the upcoming parade this summer)
Indiana Jones
Jedi Training Academy
Stunt Show
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Fantasmic
plus all the meet and greets.

BUT... with that said, I can see my 5 year old (ASD, short attention span, likes to be on the go) getting bored after a couple of these shows. We've done live theatre once (Max & Ruby, which was 90 minutes) and a movie theatre once (also 90 minutes) and while she did okay - she was not able to sit the whole time, and had to be up and down some (we chose aisle seats where she could get up and move a bit). I know these shows are shorter so that will help, but... I still am afraid she may get bored/restless.

Has anyone any experience with/thoughts on this? Will we be able to request aisle/front row seats with our DAS so that she can move around a bit if necessary, or is moving strictly frowned upon?

Is it worth trying to go for a few hours (we don't have park hoppers), or would you just skip it in favor of going to another park where you know you could spend more time?

 

[sweetnjmom]

Here is my question for you... do your children like meeting characters? My son has SPD and potential ADHD and we went to Hollywood Studios on our last trip (though we had hoppers and didn't spend a full day). He LOVED meeting Buzz, Woody, a Green Army Man, Sofia, Jake, Mike, Sulley, Mickey (sorcerer hat), Minnie, Wreck-It Ralph (now gone) and other characters. For that alone it was worth going.

He loved the Disney Junior show--we just sat where we sat and Toy Story Mania was a favorite ride. He didn't go on anything else. My husband and I did rider swap for Star Tours, though.

This trip, again with Hoppers, we'll be at HS three times--one evening and twice for a character breakfast. We're doing the Hollywood & Vine breakfast so he can meet Doc McStuffins. And, for us, the Star Wars breakfast in May -- limited run.

I still don't expect him to go on many rides--though we're going to try Star Tours this time--but he loves meeting characters and I think he'll like the shows. We're going to do Fantasmic on our evening there (no package, will do stand-by) and I'll consider Jedi Training... but he's not as into Star Wars as my husband and I are. If I didn't have hoppers, I'd at least devote one day to HS.

 

[DisneyDetective]

I think that Hollywood Studios is very 'show' related with few attractions that your 5 year old might enjoy. Magc Kingdom would probably be your best option because it has a lot more varied attractions to choose

 

[Mikie]

Disney Jr. Is great for not needing to sit still, Frozen is fine for letting your kids move around a bit - you choose your own spot, so finding an edge or aisle should be possible (sorry, I don't know whether DAS card helps with this). The ampitheater stunt shows are also good for having some wiggle room. Little Mermaid show scared my daughter when she was young and afraid of every movie with a villain (I.e. most movies!)

You'll need a pretty full schedule to accomplish all the items you listed. I've been a "light" planner on my visits (general ideas, rough outline, no step-by-step plan) and I've never been able to see both stunt shows and both mermaid /Beauty & Beast on the same day - one of each and then snacks, bathroom , moods, characters etc prevented us getting to all of it.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't know how many days your trip is, but I am a big fan of skipping parks. I think sometimes it's easy to feel you should go to all 4. We spent a whole week at MK once with the waterparks mixed in and only one half day at Epcot and it was great.

 

[mshanson3121]

Here is my question for you... do your children like meeting characters?

My son does yes, my daughter does sometimes. She can get a bit overwhelmed by a lot of one on one attention, so I think one or two M&G per day would really be her limit.

Disney Jr. Is great for not needing to sit still, Frozen is fine for letting your kids move around a bit - you choose your own spot, so finding an edge or aisle should be possible (sorry, I don't know whether DAS card helps with this). The ampitheater stunt shows are also good for having some wiggle room. Little Mermaid show scared my daughter when she was young and afraid of every movie with a villain (I.e. most movies!)

You'll need a pretty full schedule to accomplish all the items you listed.

I don't think we'd ever do everything, just because I doubt she'd ever last. I more meant those would be our options.

 

[Ambear]

DHS is my least favorite Park since it has so few thrill rides. And toy Story isn't worth a long wait for me. And I do not like star wars. So if I didn't have a park hopper, I would totally skip it.

 

[Flamingeaux]

use DHS at your half day and then go rest at your resort or go to DTD and shop.

 

[Aggiebutterfly]

We are only planning 1/2 day at HS even though I have a 3 yr old and 5 yr old that would like the shows. I just felt that after all of my research, I would rather spend more time at the other parks. We can always catch shows/watch tv/go to disney on ice, etc., but there won't be as many opportunities for MK, Epcot, AK!

 

[Mikie]

We can entertain ourselves anywhere, but especially when my kids were smaller, DHS wasn't anyone's favorite park. They did love the Toy Story ride and Disney Jr enough to make the whole day worthwhile to them. Jedi Training Academy was a highlight of our most recent trip and if you have a Star Wars fan or two who'll participate, I'd suggest going for that reason alone. Rockin roller coaster and tower of terror are two of my favorite rides, so I'd never personally want to skip it. That said, though, if nothing like that is a must-do for anyone in your group, I'd call the park skippable for your group and would consider an extra day in another park instead.

 

[Phicinfan]

Granted my children are older(my youngest is 13 this year) but we have been to WDW every year for the last 6 years. We love DHS. We love the characters and the players on the street and interactions with them. I got pulled into one of the street shows a few years ago and my kids had a blast with it.

But it is true rides are minimal, but then again, my kids loved the star tours, the shows and Muppet 3D, so we had plenty to do. We would spend most of one day, and then head the evening over to DTD.

But then again, if your kids are up for it, of all the night time spectaculars, we love Fantasmic most of all, so staying late or coming back for that is a must IMO.

Good luck!

Edit to add - don't miss some added things like the learn to draw course in the animation site, for older kids it is a blast.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

My son is on the spectrum and DHS can be a tough park for him, especially the first year we went. He's gotten better. He'll do Star Tours and Muppetvision, but he's not a fan of Fantasmic and he hates Light, Motor, Action. He'll ride Great Movie Ride, but sometimes has trouble with the ganster/ old west scene. He just not a big fan of explosions and doesn't like some of the 3D/4D movies. If you're on a short trip, I would spend the day somewhere else. If you're on a longer trip and have the time, spend a 1/2 day here and spend the rest at the pool.

 

[sweetnjmom]

use DHS at your half day and then go rest at your resort or go to DTD and shop.

That would be my plan as well. If there is one thing I learned my last trip, is that I'm playing this one by ear. While I have plans, I know they may not all happen or things could change.

Nothing wrong with getting there in the morning and staying as long as your kids want then hitting up the resort pool after.