Just back - Studios was a royal pain

[OB1]

We had a great weekend of weather, and while it was busy, wait times were as expected. EXCEPT for transportation at the studios. On FRI, we headed to the Studios at 4:30, and were turned away for full parking and directed to EPCOT. We left around 8:00 and got to experience our first 1+ hour line. On SUN, we actually did some Christmas around the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club and ate at Beaches & Cream. We parked near there at the resort since we spent so much time there. We thought the boat might be a good method to travel. NOPE. It took 1 1/2 hrs to get to the Beach Club by boat. We should have just walked. 3 boats came fairly quickly, but then it was a 45 minute wait for the next one.

I was able to ask someone why the parking lot filled up so fast. They were holding 1/4 of the lot for private parties that night. Not sure how they pulled that off on Sunday with the Studios staying open until 10:00, then EMH afterwards.

SO - we had a great trip that was really soured by the DHS transportation experience. YES, it is busier than normal with the last year of the Osborn Lights, but this was ridiculous. Just beware and plan for any Studios trips for the remainder of the Lights.

 

[okilydokily]

I know extra parking is in the works for the HS expansion. But man, they need to do something different now. I tells ya, it has been the worst park to park in on a consistent basis. They really seem to intentionally make it difficult. The last year of the lights are a big reason it is more evident now, but even in slow times, it is just a mess. The trams are the worst, they get people in so slow, the trams take forever to fill up, then the safety message, then they walk down and look, then they go. Then almost every time the tram has to hold for a tram at the exit. It is better to walk up 90% of the time, no matter how far out in the lot you are.

I am going Friday with some people, I may just park at Epcot and walk.

 

[gap2368]

Headed down to the world Friday and will be at MK then studio not looking forward to the crowds but taking the buss from MK to the studio and plane to leave 2 hours early

 

[mom2rtk]

I was able to ask someone why the parking lot filled up so fast. They were holding 1/4 of the lot for private parties that night. Not sure how they pulled that off on Sunday with the Studios staying open until 10:00, then EMH afterwards.

If true, that would have annoyed me greatly as well.

 

[Figmentmommy]

We just returned last night and drove to all the parks - had no issue with parking during the early part of the day at DHS. We heard about the parking challenges later in the day at DHS so on Friday when we hopped from MK to DHS for dinner & lights, we parked at DHS in the morning and took the bus over to MK for the day. We took the bus back to DHS around 5:30 and while there was a line for the bus, they were running extra buses and we got on the 2nd bus with a seat. Took about 25 minutes even with waiting for the bus.

 

[OB1]

That is a great strategy to leave your car at DHS and take the buses to your early planned park.

 

[hakepb]

If true, that would have annoyed me greatly as well.

I would agree, but I wonder if it's really a traffic issue.
Buena Vista drive (between SHS and Boardwalk) cannot handle peak DHS traffic. July 4, 2014 I was standing in a bus, for nearly an hour ... In the DHS parking lot! Nobody could move on Buena Vista drive, so no one could leave DHS...

 

[alliecat523]

We had a great weekend of weather, and while it was busy, wait times were as expected. EXCEPT for transportation at the studios. On FRI, we headed to the Studios at 4:30, and were turned away for full parking and directed to EPCOT. We left around 8:00 and got to experience our first 1+ hour line. On SUN, we actually did some Christmas around the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club and ate at Beaches & Cream. We parked near there at the resort since we spent so much time there. We thought the boat might be a good method to travel. NOPE. It took 1 1/2 hrs to get to the Beach Club by boat. We should have just walked. 3 boats came fairly quickly, but then it was a 45 minute wait for the next one.

I was able to ask someone why the parking lot filled up so fast. They were holding 1/4 of the lot for private parties that night. Not sure how they pulled that off on Sunday with the Studios staying open until 10:00, then EMH afterwards.

SO - we had a great trip that was really soured by the DHS transportation experience. YES, it is busier than normal with the last year of the Osborn Lights, but this was ridiculous. Just beware and plan for any Studios trips for the remainder of the Lights.

We were there this weekend too and the boats from Boardwalk to DHS....Insane. We waited over an hour and then just left. When the boats did come, they were packed full and no one got off which did not allow anyone to get on. It was a mess.

When we visited EPCOT earlier I did notice the crazy parking situation including folks parked on grassy areas near the monorail and park entrance. I thought that was odd, but reading this makes sense.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Please tell me this is all because of the final year of Osborne Lights! We are going in April and want to do a DHS day so my daughter can see the Frozen show.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, at least it seems to be the case.
The parking problems at HS did not start till late last week.
It's either a coincidence or it's due to the lights.

 

[yulilin3]

We were there this weekend too and the boats from Boardwalk to DHS....Insane. We waited over an hour and then just left. When the boats did come, they were packed full and no one got off which did not allow anyone to get on. It was a mess.

When we visited EPCOT earlier I did notice the crazy parking situation including folks parked on grassy areas near the monorail and park entrance. I thought that was odd, but reading this makes sense.

the cars parked on the grass at Epcot are CM, they are told to park there to leave more paved parking for guest and CM from DHS.

 

[OB1]

On Sunday, we went to the Studios at 1:30 and were turned away - parking full. That was early enough that I thought it may work.

 

[carlyle688]

Parking lot is not necessarily full when they are turning people away.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...ood-studios-lights-parking-20151215-post.html

 

[Boopuff]

When we were turned away there were obviously a lot of parking spots available.

 

[SparklePixie]

Parking lot is not necessarily full when they are turning people away.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...ood-studios-lights-parking-20151215-post.html

They should be parking the lots full THEN telling people to park in other places. Doing it any other way makes no sense.

 

[think-like-tink]

We were there this weekend as well. And parking was insane. Luckily, we did not get turned away. The lights were a MAD HOUSE friday night.

 

[KateP85]

the cars parked on the grass at Epcot are CM, they are told to park there to leave more paved parking for guest and CM from DHS.

The parking for DHS cast at Epcot is all the way off to the left, I think it's called the Wonders lot? You see all the buses lined up for transportation over there. There's no DHS cast parking by the entrance or by the monorail, and none on the grass. Maybe that's the Epcot cast parking?

 

[yulilin3]

The parking for DHS cast at Epcot is all the way off to the left, I think it's called the Wonders lot? You see all the buses lined up for transportation over there. There's no DHS cast parking by the entrance or by the monorail, and none on the grass. Maybe that's the Epcot cast parking?

That's what I meant. The cars parked in the grass are Epcot cm. To leave regular parking for guest and DHS cm

 

[castle4us]

Do you think taking the boat from Epcot to DHS would be very busy at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?

 

[Travis B]

Do you think taking the boat from Epcot to DHS would be very busy at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?

If coming from Epcot I would just walk.