HS in 1/2 day...really???

[SFMommy]

I've read a few posts that say that HS is a "half-day" park. I've been playing around with our touring plan for our HS day, and for the life of me, I can't figure out how to do everything that we want to do in 1 day! I guess the catch is that for us "1 day" is from about 9-3. By then we are tired, ready to head back for a rest/swim and we probably won't go back at night. The hardest thing seems to be the timing of the shows and of course the lovely FP+ tiering for RNRC and TSMM.

If anyone has a great touring plan tip for HS, let me know! I don't know how people are done with this park in just a few hours!

Here is our list of what we would like to do:
Tower of Terror
Rock n Roller Coaster
Star Tours
Great Movie Ride
Toy Story Midway Mania
Frozen Sing-Along
Beauty and the Beast Live
One of the stunt shows (either Lights Motor Action or Indiana Jones)

If we have time:
Muppets 3D
Animation Studio
Character M&Gs
TS lunch at 50's Prime Time or Sci-Fi

 

[verleniahall]

We went last fall and for us, it was NOT a 1/2 day park - neither was AK - you will have to figure out what works for you and what you want to do/experience in each park

 

[kymom99]

I found it hard to make it to more than 2 shows in a day. They seem to time them too close together, especially if you don't want to stay late into the afternoon. It took me 4 trips to finally see the Beauty and the beast show!

The animation academy is awesome. I would move it to your must-do list.

I'm not sure how the FP+ works at HS, but if possible I would FP Toy Story for sure.

 

[toni nicole]

Depending on what is more important, but I would fast pass Toy Story and arrive for rope drop and do RNRR. I usually fast pass RNRR but that is because it is a much higher priority to me. Realistically, everyone usually runs for Toy Story at rope drop so if you head to RNRR there should be no wait and you can ride Toy Story with your FP+. If you are there for rope drop you should be able to get everything done by 3, assuming you have a plan and 3 FP+ which I would suggest as TS, TOT, and, ST. Great Movie ride is hardly ever a wait, neither is Muppets or most of the shows. So is it possible to do HS from 9-3? yes, it's just gonna take a lot of timing and planning and moving quickly. I would suggest trying to come back at night to do anything you might miss and Fantasmic, but that's just me

 

[DisneyFive]

HS is NOT a 1/2 day park IMO. Not even close.

I guess it depends on what you like.

With all the shows, drawing class, TSMM, RnRC, and TOT... Fantasmic!....

Dan

 

[BebopBaloo]

I second that the animation academy drawing class should be a must do, but be prepared to wait approx. 30 minutes. HS is definitely not a 1/2 day park and neither is AK, as a prev.poster mentioned. You may have to pick the two shows that are most important to you and then hope there's time for others. I agree that it's hard to do four shows in one day. Definitely FP+ Toy Story as it is by far the hardest to get into. Try to make all your FP earlier in the day. Once they're gone you can start scheduling more. Dining will take up at least an hour if you do a TS meal. Not saying you shouldn't do it, just giving warning. For quick service, I'd recommend Backlot Express, or ABC Commissary (which gets a bad rap on these boards, but we've never had a bad experience there).

 

[Dawnlight]

It was not a half day for us; we were there all day and still didn't manage to fit everything in that we wanted.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Also, I just want to put in a plug for One Man's Dream. So enjoyable if you are interested at all in park history and Walt's life.

 

[sweetnjmom]

I think HS warrants a full day considering all you want to do.

We'll be there for 3 partial days (we have park hoppers) due to how our ADRs worked out -- 5/5 dinner ADR at 50s Primetime Cafe, 5/6 ADR for the Star Wars breakfast, 5/8 ADR breakfast ADR for Hollywood & Vine.

On the 5th we'll do our FP+ for the park, since we'll be there in the afternoon. Plan is to arrive around 3 PM and FP+ TSMM, Star Tours and something else (can't decide). We'll try to do Characterpalooza and Fantasmic (standby). The other two days will be for meeting characters and seeing whatever shows my 5-year-old wants to see. Both of those days we have FP+ plans at MK in the evenings -- we want to be at MK by 3 PM latest on the 8th... the
6th is more flexible.

 

[toni nicole]

Even though, it's possible to do HS if you really try, it's not nearly as fun! Taking your time can make it that much better, it's my favorite park. On my trip, I'll be there one day from about 4 until park close and then another day from rope drop until I'm all done HS is really worth it to plan a lot of time in the park!

 

[mshanson3121]

It depends on many factors - but largely interests, and your children. My kids will only do a couple of the rides there. And probably only 3-4 shows. So for us, easily a half day (4-5 hour) park.

 

[SFMommy]

Also, I just want to put in a plug for One Man's Dream. So enjoyable if you are interested at all in park history and Walt's life.

Considering that we are members of the Walt Disney Family Museum, live in San Francisco and visit the museum about once a month...I think we might skip One Man's Dream.

 

[bumbershoot]

for the life of me, I can't figure out how to do everything that we want to do in 1 day!

I would bet that the half-day people have a shorter list of must-dos.

I mean, if you include just the Indy show and the car show, you're running into scheduling problems right off the bat, in my experience.

for us "1 day" is from about 9-3.

Which some could consider just beyond a half-day, right? It's not a FULL day, at the very least. So first you would need a definition of what someone's "half day" really means in terms of time.

 

[nervous1sttimer]

And don't forget Jedi Training Academy.

Honestly, from our very first trip, DHS has been our favourite WDW park. I never understood anyone who said it was a half-day affair. We usually need two days to do everything we want to do there.

 

[vrajewski10513]

The people that say HS is a half day park are the people who have seen all the shows, and dont really feel the need to see them all again. You can however go on pretty much all the rides, and see a show or two in a half day. Which for some people your full day is considered a half day. My full day is from RD to close.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Considering that we are members of the Walt Disney Family Museum, live in San Francisco and visit the museum about once a month...I think we might skip One Man's Dream.

Hahaha! Probably safe to skip it

 

[librarymom2007]

The people that say HS is a half day park are the people who have seen all the shows, and dont really feel the need to see them all again. You can however go on pretty much all the rides, and see a show or two in a half day. Which for some people your full day is considered a half day. My full day is from RD to close.

This. We don't do shows. We have seen a few and don't need to see them again. We do Star Tours, ToT, TsMM... And those are our must dos. We eat usually at 50s Prine Time and we are done. It's just not a park where we need to spend all day. To each his own.

 

[chelseabun76]

We spent from rope drop until Fantasmic! (that night it was at 7pm), and still didn't get to do everything we wanted to, mainly because of how a few things were timed (we missed the Frozen singalong and Animation Academy).... We did get MOST things done, but we also don't do ToT or RnRC.

 

[tsme]

We're never there pass 2pm. Our must do's are Toy Story, TOT (just DD & DH, it makes me ), Little Mermaid, Great Movie Ride, Art of Animation (for me, DD doesn't like it cause she thinks everyone draws better than her ), and not much else unless we're feeling spry. I use to love the backstage tour (ride), but it's no more....

 

[nilla]

I don't think you'll fit all of that in, but if you try, I'd suggest doing RnR using the Single Rider line.