Is Hollywood Studios worth it without park hoppers?

[Cassiejmom]

Hello,
I'm just starting to plan my family's end of August trip (early I know, but I'm excited.) My kids have been once before and they will be going as their birthday present as they turn 12, 8, and 8 in August. We just booked a great deal through a travel agency and with it we got a 5 day ticket that comes with an extra day at a water park. For our 5 park days I had assumed we would do 2 days at MK, and 1 day at the each of the other 3 parks like we did last time. However, my little ones are now past the Disney Junior age and only my husband is a big Star Wars Fan. I know the Toy Story area will open this summer, but I don't really know what that will contain and I'm guessing it will be really crowded since its new.
I'm sure we would do Rockin Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania, and whatever the new Toy Story ride is and I'd bet the kids would watch a couple of shows. They might like the Jedi training, but that is only if we can manage to get 3 kids signed up. Other than that , the only draw is that my husband loves the fried chicken at 50's prime time.
My question is, does it make sense to spend a full day's ticket to do that much or would we be better off doing 2 days at MK and then add a day to either Epcot or AK? I can't ask the kids because the trip is a surprise and I have to plan fast passes and ADR's. They will be so surprised and thrilled that I think they will be happy with anything - I just want to make the plan that makes the most sense. Oh and our trip is 7 nights so we have arrival and departure day as well as an extra full day to do a water park, hotel, down town disney, etc Any advice from more experienced disney travelers is appreciated.

 

[jaceraden]

You're probably going to get lots of opinions here.

My personal opinion is that it is certainly "worth it". There are shows to consider. Plus, never underestimate the value of unscheduled time. Kids that age often find fun things to do/check out that fit outside of a schedule but that will be fondly remembered. I already find it to be a full day park (with my older kids being the ages of yours and my youngest not being into Disney Junior). I can imagine we will need more time once the new area(s) open up.

 

[hllb]

We think so. We like the big rides that are there and fantasmic is excellent. There are a lot of shows and new Star Wars stuff. But it’s all personal preference.

 

[nighttowll]

We are kind of in the same boat as you. We have 5 days. We are doing 2 days MK, half day HS, and a full day AK. The last day, for purposes of booking a FP, I'm planning half a day at Epcot in the morning. But really we are leaving the last day open in case we want to revisit one of the other parks to catch stuff we missed.

Maybe you could do something similar, plan FP for HS, but keep it open. Don't plan any park specific ADR or anything else that would tie you down. That way, if you guys see everything at the other parks, then you can go to HS, but if you find yourselves really wishing you had more time at a specific park, you can change and go there instead.


It sounds like you have come up with enough stuff on your own to keep you guys busy all day at HS, so the question is more would you enjoy a second day at a different park more than a first day at HS?

When you went before, did your kids have a favorite park? What are they interested in? It's hard to tell which park they might enjoy a second day at, without knowing your family's interests.

If they like animals or hands on activities, AK might be a good second day park. All the kids I've gone with have loved the activity booths set up in AK, we could spend most of the day just doing those and seeing the animals which a lot of people skip even looking at.

If they enjoy science, culture, or crafts, they may enjoy all the hands on stuff to do at Epcot, and that could take up two days. There's also the Agent P interactive scavenger hunt game there.

MK could easily be a third day.

Also, do you have any long ADR or other activities planned that you think will eat up your time in one of the other parks which might lead to needing a second day there?

 

[skyblue17]

Do your kids like the bigger rides at DHS? It might be fun to plan to go there as your middle day and take it a little easier doing the shows (they'll probably like the stunt show?), having a fun TS meal and then doing the rides they like and ending the day with Fantasmic. If they do like RnR and ToT, I personally think those are worth going to the parks far, especially if you can swing multiple rides on them.

 

[nighttowll]

skyblue17

I think that's a good suggestion as well. This was our thinking for half day here mid way through our trip. Sleep in. Have a nice sit down lunch, watch a few shows, and then finish up with the Star Wars night time show. Give ourselves a little bit of a break.

 

[Capang]

Keep in mind that by August Toy Story land will most likely be open and there will be two new rides and a land to check out. Our family enjoys a whole day there now even with the closures but we also really love ToT, RnRC, TSMM, and some of the shows. It really depends on what your family likes to do.

 

[cgattis]

skyblue17

I think that's a good suggestion as well. This was our thinking for half day here mid way through our trip. Sleep in. Have a nice sit down lunch, watch a few shows, and then finish up with the Star Wars night time show. Give ourselves a little bit of a break.

I second this. Or if you don't care about the nighttime shows, leave when you're done and hit the pool. Can't get too much water time in August LOL

 

[North of Mouse]

In our opinion - no! It such a personal decision though, as everyone has their own rides/shows that are important to them, so only you can make that call!!!

 

[anomamatt]

I would not skip DHS with kids of any age. Unless you had 3 days of tickets and you have 5. At worst, you could go 3/4 a day and use your water park ticket for the other quarter of that day. Toy story land will be open and I think there is enough a DHS for a nearly full day as it is.

 

[hllb]

Keep in mind that by August Toy Story land will most likely be open and there will be two new rides and a land to check out. Our family enjoys a whole day there now even with the closures but we also really love ToT, RnRC, TSMM, and some of the shows. It really depends on what your family likes to do.

Oh wow, missed their timeframe. With Toy Story land, it absolutely will be a good park to hit. Have you seen the pictures of the new roller coaster? I’m a bit sad we’re going before it opens!!

 

[sharonabe]

They might like the Jedi training, but that is only if we can manage to get 3 kids signed up

The ages for Jedi training does state up to 12, but based on what I saw this past trip, a 12 yr old might feel out of place. Most of the young padawans are definitely more on the young side (as in 4-7). That doesn't mean they shouldn't do it if they want to, and it could be that was just the ones who signed up for the day we were there, but wanted you to be aware in case this stays on your list.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

We took our boys at 8 and 10, and DHS was their favorite park. Of course, LMA is closed, but the now 16yo is hyped to see the Indy show and ride Star Tours when we go back next summer. His older brother is so into Star Wars and and Indiana Jones, that he is looking forward to it, too.

And in our family, a half day in a park can actually be a good thing, allowing for an early evening and some downtime at the condo, floating down the lazy river.

YMMV, but I know we won't be skipping this one.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I probably shouldn't respond to this because I just love Hollywood Studios. I would never skip it.

 

[CinderDuffy]

I was also going to mention that Jedi training will be great for your two 8yo but the 12yo will stick out like a sore thumb. We have consistently seen shows that skew extremely young and our 9yo chose not to do it a third time because she felt awkward with a stage full of small children.

I think the park is still worth a visit.

 

[Kingdome8]

It's our fav park. Have 3 girls. 14,10,5.

They love the characters there and definitely the best rides and shows. Rockin roller coaster, ToT and TSM are some of best rides in dis. Can never understand how people think half day park.
When we went in June were there open to close and didn't do everything we wanted.

But then again I think animal kingdom is a half day park. Some trips skipped altogether but now with pandora it's a must do for us. But everyone has their Favs.

 

[srwarden1928]

I can EASILY spend a full day in HS. That is the way it is now. With Toy Story Land, it will become an even busier day. I am TOTALLY with OPs DH on 50s Prime Time. If I had to pick I would take the meat loaf over the chicken, but last time I got the combo--meat loaf, roast beef, and fried chicken--and they even brought my favorite piece of chicken and I forgot to ask. There are FIVE different shows that I really like--that I want to see for me, even though I have seen them before (six if they are showing the wonderful movie about Walt's life and not a tacky ad for something coming out). Yes I do ride all four of the rides. Doing Jedi Training takes significant time, and OPs eight year olds are the perfect age for it.

 

[nighttowll]

It's our fav park. Have 3 girls. 14,10,5.

They love the characters there and definitely the best rides and shows. Rockin roller coaster, ToT and TSM are some of best rides in dis. Can never understand how people think half day park.
When we went in June were there open to close and didn't do everything we wanted.

But then again I think animal kingdom is a half day park. Some trips skipped altogether but now with pandora it's a must do for us. But everyone has their Favs.

I know what you mean. We had a very hard time narrowing down what we were going to do to make HS only a half day for us. But because of extenuating circumstances, going all day every day isn't a realistic option for us, so something had to give, and this trip, it was HS and Epcot. Both parks we usually spend 1 to 2 days at each.

We are very excited to do what we will be able to, though. I'm a huge SW fan, so skipping HS was not up for debate. I was like we are going even if all we have time to do is ride ST and see the nighttime show! But we actually ended up with a pretty good schedule. We fit all our must dos in at least. We don't do RRC or TT, my body can't handle either, so that helps with the half day plan as well.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

You need to decide that for yourself.
Personally I'd never skip it.

 

[magical-me]

Yup. It’s a slower pace. My feet didn’t hurt after a full day at that park lol