HWS: Which Shows?

SDA

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 4, 2025
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I would love to do Indiana Jones, Villians, and Little Mermaid, but I don't think that will end up being possible because we definitely want to ride some rides and have some time to enjoy Galaxy's Edge.

We'll be in HWS on Thanksgiving and are doing a sit down lunch at HBD (Fantasmic package). Wanted something nice for the holiday. I'm thinking we will plan to go to Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular right after eating to digest and I'm also under the impression it is easier to get into so we may be able to get into a showing without staking out the line for an hour, is that correct? I think we'll also need to do this for my husband who may need a non-singing show.

What might we be looking at for wait times for shows for Villians and Little Mermaid? I read about some people standing in line for 20-30 minutes and then not even making it into the show. I really don't want to spend a chunk of our time waiting for shows. Is what I read correct? Any "best times" for shows, and if you ended up having to choose between the 2 which would you choose? My daughter is 13 yo so would love either.
 
I would love to do Indiana Jones, Villians, and Little Mermaid, but I don't think that will end up being possible because we definitely want to ride some rides and have some time to enjoy Galaxy's Edge.

We'll be in HWS on Thanksgiving and are doing a sit down lunch at HBD (Fantasmic package). Wanted something nice for the holiday. I'm thinking we will plan to go to Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular right after eating to digest and I'm also under the impression it is easier to get into so we may be able to get into a showing without staking out the line for an hour, is that correct? I think we'll also need to do this for my husband who may need a non-singing show.

What might we be looking at for wait times for shows for Villians and Little Mermaid? I read about some people standing in line for 20-30 minutes and then not even making it into the show. I really don't want to spend a chunk of our time waiting for shows. Is what I read correct? Any "best times" for shows, and if you ended up having to choose between the 2 which would you choose? My daughter is 13 yo so would love either.
Are you planning to purchase Lightning Lanes? That might be something to consider so that you can manage your time more efficiently. Then, you wouldn't have to wait in line and hope, you could know for sure which show you'd see at what time. Normally, I'd say that you wouldn't have a problem seeing all that you highlighted in one day, but given that it's Thanksgiving, you might need some help to manage the crowd. Just a thought....
 
Personally, I enjoyed Villians a lot more than LM. I really am not keen on the costumes they used for the LM show and miss the original. If we were going on Thanksgiving day, I’d purchase LL to save some time and try to see some of the shows.
 
I would love to do Indiana Jones, Villians, and Little Mermaid, but I don't think that will end up being possible because we definitely want to ride some rides and have some time to enjoy Galaxy's Edge.

We'll be in HWS on Thanksgiving and are doing a sit down lunch at HBD (Fantasmic package). Wanted something nice for the holiday. I'm thinking we will plan to go to Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular right after eating to digest and I'm also under the impression it is easier to get into so we may be able to get into a showing without staking out the line for an hour, is that correct? I think we'll also need to do this for my husband who may need a non-singing show.

What might we be looking at for wait times for shows for Villians and Little Mermaid? I read about some people standing in line for 20-30 minutes and then not even making it into the show. I really don't want to spend a chunk of our time waiting for shows. Is what I read correct? Any "best times" for shows, and if you ended up having to choose between the 2 which would you choose? My daughter is 13 yo so would love either.
Villains is certainly the #1 pick I’d do in terms of the shows. It looks like a fun one!
 

I have not seen the new little mermaid but have seen the villains show. The villains show is one and done for us - it's mostly just screens with a few bits of acting in between.

My priorities would be Indiana Jones, beauty and the beast, little mermaid, and then villains.
 
Agree with previous posters that the Villains show is mostly screens and the Little Mermaid show does not surpass the original (and her chunky tail looks like it was designed by a pre-schooler). I would frankly rate the Frozen Sing-A-Long show higher than either of these (yes, there is singing but plenty of adult worthy humor and the theater "snows"). Plus it's easier to get into without a long wait in the sun.
 
Oooh. I recall in my original planning thinking about the B&B show and Frozen Sing-A-Long. I actually think my 13yo daughter would be totally down for the Frozen sing-a-long and we could use Indiana Jones and Oga Cantina to appease the husband afterwards. Haha.

We are planning for LL. I wasn't sure if I should use LLs for shows or not, I have heard mixed things. We definitely want to hit as many rides as we can too. I just know the shows would be welcome downtime.

Good to know about Little Mermaid. I'm so nostalgic for that one, but we may go for one of the others.
 
Agree with previous posters that the Villains show is mostly screens and the Little Mermaid show does not surpass the original (and her chunky tail looks like it was designed by a pre-schooler). I would frankly rate the Frozen Sing-A-Long show higher than either of these (yes, there is singing but plenty of adult worthy humor and the theater "snows"). Plus it's easier to get into without a long wait in the sun.
Ooohhh....yeah a bad tail would definitely ruin it for me.
 
So, with our HBD Fantasmic lunch reservation - am I crazy to think we could make the Indiana Jones 1:15 show. I see everywhere says to plan for 90 minutes for sit down, but I really can't see it taking over 60 minutes. We will probably plan to get there at 12:00 - 10 min before reservation. Know what we want to eat so we can order right away - and it is just the 2 courses included in the package (entree and dessert). I think we could be out and over to Indiana Jones (as long as we are seated around the time of our reservation)
 
While the Indy show has a lot of seating, people do get in line for it. I wouldn't count on walking up at 1 and getting seats. I was in the park on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving last year. I walked by Indy about 12:50 and they were turning people away and saying to come back for the next one. I wouldn't count on getting into ANY show on Thanksgiving Day if I wasn't in line a bare minimum of 30 minutes before. But you can also get an idea by going by the theatre shortly after they start one of the previous shows and asking the CM what time they had to cut off seating.
 
While the Indy show has a lot of seating, people do get in line for it. I wouldn't count on walking up at 1 and getting seats. I was in the park on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving last year. I walked by Indy about 12:50 and they were turning people away and saying to come back for the next one. I wouldn't count on getting into ANY show on Thanksgiving Day if I wasn't in line a bare minimum of 30 minutes before. But you can also get an idea by going by the theatre shortly after they start one of the previous shows and asking the CM what time they had to cut off seating.
Thanks for this! Very helpful. Its hard to find advice specifically for the Thanksgiving week. Any clue how early you need to be at a show if you have a LL for it?
 
Everyone has a different opinion, and here's mine:

My two favorite shows at DHS are B&tB and the Villains show.

I couldn't stand the Frozen singalong--and I like the Frozen songs--and the new Little Mermaid show is not not not worth waiting in line for. The show it replaced was far better. The Indiana Jones stunt show, when I saw it in July, seemed past its use-by date.

I always get an LL for B&tB because I like to sit close to the stage. I don't know if the Villains show has LL now. It didn't when I was there in July. I stood in line for it for perhaps 30 minutes.
 
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