Is Hollywood Studios worth the trip at this point? & Epcot for 10 & 12 yo

[jetengines]

I have briefly looked through some of the threads but am not see a lot of recent stuff regarding HS. What I have seen are concerns that things will be closing down soon. Our trip is planned for 1/21-1/24/16 and we have a two day park pass (no hopper). Was planning to do 1 day at WDW and the other at HS. I am now concerned that too much will be closing down at HS to make this visit worth our time and cost. What are the thoughts? Anything confirmed for shutdown?

Also, I will be there with two kiddos (10 and 12). Is Epcot fun for this age or is it too much reading? They both enjoy learning but I know they want to have fun. Also, I am just not sure they would enjoy AK. What are your thoughts/experiences?

Thank you
Kimberly

 

[soniam]

DHS is not closing as entire park. Certain attractions have been closed. It's possible more will be closed. However, I predict that, except for a short period of time maybe for a refurb, Toy Story Mania, Rock n Roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror will stay open. I don't know of any currently planned refurbs for these. Star Tours is not disappearing, but could go down briefly to add additional scenes from the new movie. I don't think Fantasmic is going away either. They have specifically announced the new Star Wars Launch Bay and weekend fireworks to begin sometime early next year, but no specific dates yet. Rumors say that Indiana Jones, Lights/Motor/Action, and Little Mermaid could close, but there has not been anything reliable. So, you will have to decide if the guaranteed stuff is enough for you to go.

We love Epcot, including DS9. There is really no reading involved. Future World has cool attractions, like Test Track, Soarin', Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth. There are a few others too but not as interesting. We love World Showcase. It's mainly looking around, shopping, and eating in the various countries. Some have movies or small museums. The Agent P game is really cool, and boys that age may like it.

 

[amomma23]

With only 2 days, I'd probably do 2 days at MK. EPCOT is great and it's my kids' favorite (ages 6,8,12), but I think I would still stick with both days at MK.

 

[Robo]

I have briefly looked through some of the threads but am not see a lot of recent stuff regarding HS. What I have seen are concerns that things will be closing down soon.

Unlikely that is true.

 

[jetengines]

Thanks for the replies. I will definitely take a look at what is still open at HS. I think for our short trip with no hopping my kiddos would like HS better than EPCOT (I think).

Since no one replied on AK, I am assuming it is not as much fun as HS or EPCOT unless you really like zoos.

 

[GaryDis]

Since no one replied on AK, I am assuming it is not as much fun as HS or EPCOT unless you really like zoos.

Half an hour since posting is much too soon to reach such a conclusion. There are plenty of things for kids at AK, but I'll leave that for people who've actually taken kids there recently. I've only been with my in-laws and nieces, a long time ago, but I don't remember anyone suggesting it wasn't worth the time for them.

 

[bcrook]

Thanks for the replies. I will definitely take a look at what is still open at HS. I think for our short trip with no hopping my kiddos would like HS better than EPCOT (I think).

Since no one replied on AK, I am assuming it is not as much fun as HS or EPCOT unless you really like zoos.

I think it is hard to justify DHS or DAK with their short hours if you don't have the ability to hop.

I frequently visit DAK in the morning, hop to DHS, and then end in Epcot for food, drinks and illuminations. I can't imagine being locked into just one. For two days, I might just spend the time at MK.

 

[Goddesstree]

I have briefly looked through some of the threads but am not see a lot of recent stuff regarding HS. What I have seen are concerns that things will be closing down soon. Our trip is planned for 1/21-1/24/16 and we have a two day park pass (no hopper). Was planning to do 1 day at WDW and the other at HS. I am now concerned that too much will be closing down at HS to make this visit worth our time and cost. What are the thoughts? Anything confirmed for shutdown?

Also, I will be there with two kiddos (10 and 12). Is Epcot fun for this age or is it too much reading? They both enjoy learning but I know they want to have fun. Also, I am just not sure they would enjoy AK. What are your thoughts/experiences?

Thank you
Kimberly

By stating '1 day at WDW" you mean Magic Kingdom, I assume? Magic Kingdom is usually a two day park for us, but you can get a lot done in one day if you use FP+ wisely and get there are rope drop. You also should stay at that park from opening to closing to do as much as possible.

Why do you think Epcot is 'too much reading'? There are the countries to walk through and shops to explore in the World Showcase, no reading necessary. Future World has some great attractions, no reading needed there either. I think you may want to do a bit more research?

Animal Kingdom isn't quite an entire day's worth of attractions - we just got back to our room at 2 PM, did almost everything and then some repeats. We were there at rope drop.

Hollywood Studios - depends on what you want to ride. We ride Star Tours 4-5 times to see as many of the options in the storyline as possible. We can make it an all day park, but it really depends on what you like to do.

I think you need to spend some time on the WDW website, looking at the attractions for each park. There are shows, rides, shops, and dining to think of at each park.

 

[cgattis]

We love AK, and would probably choose that as our second day, except, as PP noted, it will likely close at 5 in January. HS can still be a full day park, if you do all the rides AND some shows. If you just do 4 rides, though, you won't stretch it to a full day. Unless that is such a low crowd time that you can do re-rides without FP+. Epcot is actually my least favorite park, but there is way more than enough there to fill up a day. Either way, I'd do MK the second day, unless there is some compelling crowd reason to do it first.

 

[Planogirl]

Is there a possibility that you might want to do a little more at WDW? We like to visit Downtown Disney or resort hop or play mini-golf. You could tie something like that to the end of a day and maybe check out either AK or DHS (if there is enough there for you). AK is way more than just a zoo and I say that as someone who loves zoos.

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

I would lean towards Epcot for the 2nd day... You get Test Track, Soarin, an easy way to meet characters if you have Disney Visa, a huge variety of food & countries to explore in World Showcase & illuminations. My kids both really like Epcot!

 

[cvjpirate]

If I am only there for two days without park hopper as an option I would do MK and Epcot, one day each. Now when my kids were that age I would have done MK and AK once again one per day.

 

[MischaOz]

Ultimately, it really comes down to personal taste. I would choose EP over HS because my family isn't into watching shows. But, with only 2 days, I would spend both at MK. We did a short trip I'm Feb and spent both days at MK, and I still felt like we didn't have enough time!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Wow only two days? I tell first time visitors to allow at least six full days to experience the best at each of the four major theme parks.

Honestly, you could easily spend two days just at the Magic Kingdom. Or at Epcot. I have heard of people who tour each of these parks in only one day, but I can't begin to imagine everything they missed.

I visit for ten days so I can enjoy everything I want to at a leisurely pace. If you're only going for two days...well...I guess I would recommend you start at the Magic Kingdom on day one. Then decide if you want to go back there for a second day. If not, I would go to Epcot on the second day.

 

[itchin2go]

I would lean towards Epcot for the 2nd day... You get Test Track, Soarin, an easy way to meet characters if you have Disney Visa, a huge variety of food & countries to explore in World Showcase & illuminations. My kids both really like Epcot!

I totally agree.

We didn't find enough to do in DHS to justify using a day of admission on it, and they've closed more stuff since then. And I think they're planning to close more.

MK and Epcot, on the other hand, are multi-day parks for us.

BTW - the only "reading" I do at Epcot is menus!

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

BTW - the only "reading" I do at Epcot is menus!

That is some good "world class reading"... Empanadas in Mexico. Fish & Chips in England, Pretzel in Germany, and the countless desserts to name a few of our favorites

 

[RustManFan]

If we had 2 days and my kids were again 10-12 we would do one day at MK and the other at AK. Add a third and it would be Epcot. Although they themselves might say MK and Epcot. Regardless, they loved Epcot at that age but have spent more time there than AK which is why I indicated it as day 2

 

[raddisneyfan]

I assume you and the kids have never been to WDW? If so and it were me, I think I would go with MK and EP--they are both very different experiences and to me that's a good thing. Like a PP stated, there is not any reading involved at EP. You have a couple of great rides--Soarin' being my favorite and TestTrack in FutureWorld and then you can tour a number of countries and "Disney-ish" culture in the World Showcase. Only you know your kids, so you'll have to think about what they would like most and just go with that. Personally, I would have no hesitation in skipping HS if it weren't for Fantasmic! and since you only have the 2 days, I would definitely give it a miss. Just my 2 cents--take them for what they're worth. Have a great 2 days at the World!

 

[amylevan]

With only 2 days and no hopping, we would do MK & Epcot.

We love AK, as do the kids, but it closes early in January, and with only 2 days and no hopping, that would be a big negative.

 

[GaryDis]

That is some good "world class reading"... Empanadas in Mexico. Fish & Chips in England, Pretzel in Germany, and the countless desserts to name a few of our favorites

I bet there's even some useful, basic reading. Like "FP+ Kiosk".

Seriously, I get that "reading" was used as a euphemism for a type of attraction that wouldn't be exciting to many kids. But I guess I've been bummed out by going to several zoos this year and overhearing stuff like "Mommy, what's that?", with Mommy responding "I think it's a dog.", when there's a sign right there with 3 inch letters saying hyena.