Thinking about skipping Hollywood Studios this trip?

[BeatingtheOdds]

We've got a trip coming up in a month that will be Me, my husband and our DD who's 2. We'll be there Jan 5th- 10th but arriving late afternoon on the 5th from California and leaving super early on the 10th...so we'll have 4 full days. Originally I was thinking we'd do all the parks just to experience everything but now I'm reconsidering taking out HS and leaving our last day open if we want to return to the Magic Kingdom. We decided not to do parkhoppers this trip and only have a 4 day, 1 park a day ticket.

Since we've been so close to Disneyland we've had a lot of opportunities to do California Adventure and we're not big fans. It seems HS is really similar and the rides we do enjoy at CA ( like Toy Story Mania) we'd be fine skipping this trip since we've done them a lot over the years. Also, a lot of the fast passes that we were hoping to grab for MK are already gone for the day we were planning to be there...hence thinking maybe we should do 2 days there instead. The upside of doing HS would be just to experience a new park and we'd be able to do the Hollywood and Vine buffet for lunch ( my DD loves the Disney Jr. characters and she has a blast at the character buffets).
Any advice ?

 

[mrsbicewdw]

They have a live stage show for Disney Jr at HS as well, so that could be a huge draw for a toddler. The Little Mermaid show is a lot of fun too I think. It all depends on if your two year old can sit for shows. HS doesn't have as much for little ones, I think, but what it does have (like the DisJr stuff) is a must see for some kids.


On the other hand, when I have taken trips with young kids, we always need two days at MK because practically all the rides are little kid friendly. Sorry I'm not much help - it can go either way depending on how your kid reacts to MK rides and how much you get to do at MK the first time round.

 

[cattywampus]

DLR vet here, who just returned from first trip to WDW. We were very disappointed in HS and left after half a day. We all ranked it as our least favorite by a mile.

I actually like DCA and did not like HS. It was very reminiscent of DCA before its makeover. The best attractions there are duplicates of DCA (Soarin'; TSMM; Star Tours; TOT - slightly better at HS but not enough; Jedi Training) but made worse by extremely long waits and tiered FPPs. RNR coaster fun but Cal Screamin better. DCA had Disney Jr show.

Skip it and use your time at MK or elsewhere.

 

[kmedina]

DCA and HS are my favorite parks (in that order). We only have two park days at WDW this time, and I am skipping HS in favor for Epcot and MK. I'll survive, because we were just at HS last year and visited DCA 9 times this year.

My kids love HS. Attractions unique to HS (not at DCA) that my kids love: 1. the Lights, Motor Action show (I have boys), 2. Honey I Shrunk the Playground set, 3. Beauty and the Beast live stage show, 4. The studio ride (sad when this goes if it has not already).

I have read that there are some changes, but I did not look into them as we are not going to HS this year. My only regrets at missing HS next week are my boys would have loved to see the new Frozen show (wasn't there last trip). They've seen the Osbourne lights before as well, but I think they would have enjoyed that again.

 

[North of Mouse]

With your time constrictions, I have to agree with you - much better to do MK twice. Personally, with only 4 days, I would do Epcot twice also, and leave off AK, as well as DHS. JMO

 

[North of Mouse]

With your time constrictions, I have to agree with you - much better to do MK twice. Personally, with only 4 days, I would do Epcot twice also, and leave off AK, as well as DHS. JMO

 

[SLP958]

HS is our least favorite park. We usually use it as a half day park in the middle of the trip and take a rest break the rest of the day.

We much prefer taking 2 days as AK or Epcot.

 

[MandiC]

If it were me I'd get hoppers for one day. Do 2 days at MK, a day and a half at Epcot and half day at AK. HS was by far our least favorite park...and we went with kids tall enough to ride the big rides.

 

[baseballnut]

They have a live stage show for Disney Jr at HS as well, so that could be a huge draw for a toddler. The Little Mermaid show is a lot of fun too I think. It all depends on if your two year old can sit for shows. HS doesn't have as much for little ones, I think, but what it does have (like the DisJr stuff) is a must see for some kids. On the other hand, when I have taken trips with young kids, we always need two days at MK because practically all the rides are little kid friendly. Sorry I'm not much help - it can go either way depending on how your kid reacts to MK rides and how much you get to do at MK the first time round.

This! My 2yo loved the Disney Jr and Little mermaid shows!!! And now the Frozen sing along is what my 3yo loves best! The Hollywood and Vine is awesome.

MK is by far our fave park, so we'd use the most time there, but HS is definitely our second fave! I wouldn't skip it. And now we love the Beauty and the Beast Show. And meeting Sully and Mike, Buzz and Woody. Lol.

 

[AinsleyLM]

I would see about a park hopper for one day if possible. My sister and I took her son (age 3 at the time) this past summer. We had a limited time in the world, too. Only 3 days. One of our favorite experiences was breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. Hands down, the best time I have had eating at WDW. It was perfect for little man. All we needed was to add Mickey, and we wouldn't have needed to go anywhere else. He loved it! I would go to Hollywood Studios just for this experience. It was that great!

 

[DCbride]

Sorry, but I think a 2yo would love the Disney jr stuff. I remember DD when she was a toddler would sit through a show and wanted to get back in line to do it again. And if she like character meals, having lunch with Princess Sophia would be great. The Frozen sing a long is also very good for her age. Plus, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground might be fun for her.

BUT, I do think at that age, a half day would be a perfect amount, so that would require a hopper. It is a tough call on a short trip.

 

[shm_helene]

I went with a 3 yo and Epcot was our don't do. MK was our fave and then foe her HS. She loved Hpllywood and Vine, Dis Je. Show, Little Mermaid, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, all the stores, TSM. Half day easily. We went on the AM and back to MK at night. It will be great whatever you choose!

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

We skipped it, then I rethought some of the things I did like. Now we do a late afternoon/evening at HS after an AK day.
Love that. I can hit just what I want at both.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Animal Kingdom is my least favorite park, but in your case (having a young child), I would skip Studios and do Magic Kingdom over 2 days.

 

[ahogg]

In my opinion I would skip HWS and do an extra day at Magic Kingdom we have taken DD 3 time and we just went to HWS this past trip for the first time with her and she was def not impressed she liked TSM and seeing Jake and Sophia. If you are wanting to get a full day out of your ticket I would do MK HWS we were there maybe 3 hours and she was done with it. If dining at Hollywood and Vine is a must do on your list then def go there but if you don't think you will make all the rides you want at MK in one day you wont be missing much.

 

[nat8199]

We skipped HS our last trip and will skip it again the next one. I do not plan on taking our kids there until they are old enough for RnR.

The first time we will take them to HS will be the trip we take when the kids are 8, 8, and 9 in 2019.