Thinking About Skipping Hollywood Studios

[TeamSy]

We used to skip this park every so often, but a few years ago we decided to give it another shot and LOVED it (thanks to the new Toy Story ride).

So last year we ended up doing what we wanted in half a day and were searching of things to do until Fantasmic. We do Rock & Roll, Toy Story, Star Tours, Great Movie Ride, we loved Backlot Tour, but I hear now that's closed. We'll do muppets if we're left with nothing to do, we usually skip TOT, we don't watch any of the shows and are more ride people… However, we did the Lights, Motor, Action show last time which we enjoyed, but wouldn't make a point to see again. We also have liked the Indiana Jones show and would see that again (they weren't doing it last time we were there). Anyway, we usually find ourselves making dining reservations just to pass time. We have yet to try Brown Derby and its been years since we've done 50's Prime Time, so those are both options, as we've done all the others.

This time around, we're back to thinking about skipping the park completely. The only thing that makes me hesitant is the Toy Story Ride because we really love it, but it seems sort of silly to go just for one ride. If we skip the park, we'd most likely spend the day at Stormalong Bay.

 

[nkereina]

Will you have park hoppers? It would be very easy to visit DHS in the morning and just do your favorite rides, and then head back to your resort for an afternoon at Stormalong Bay. With park hoppers, you can visit a different park in the evening. Even if you don't have park hoppers, you can leave and return to the same park in the same day on regular tickets. No one staying onsite should feel compelled to "kill time" in a park for a whole afternoon when its so easy to head back to your resort for a bit.

 

[TeamSy]

Will you have park hoppers? It would be very easy to visit DHS in the morning and just do your favorite rides, and then head back to your resort for an afternoon at Stormalong Bay. With park hoppers, you can visit a different park in the evening. Even if you don't have park hoppers, you can leave and return to the same park in the same day on regular tickets. No one staying onsite should feel compelled to "kill time" in a park for a whole afternoon when its so easy to head back to your resort for a bit.

Probably not. Typically, we like to do one park in an entire day. This is the ONLY park we would THINK about doing a park hopper for, which wouldn't really make sense since we don't plan on hopping the rest of the time. The other option is just to go (with the one park, one day), and then once we're finished just head to SAB, then maybe return for Fantasmic if we want?

 

[nkereina]

The other option is just to go (with the one park, one day), and then once we're finished just head to SAB, then maybe return for Fantasmic if we want?

This is what we do. DHS only takes us a half a day, so we'll often have a TS lunch there then leave for a bit to go in the pool, shower, etc. We'll return at night for Fantasmic or during the holidays, Osborne Light.

 

[Elevationist]

I always get park hoppers, and HS is easily a half-day park for me. I know exactly what six things I want to hit, and how to utilize my FPs, EMH, and Single Rider lines to have it all done by lunch time or slightly after: Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, Muppets 3-D, and Great Movie Ride. Done. At that point, I leave for the day and head over to another park, or maybe even Downtown Disney.

However, I too love Fantasmic and don't want to miss it. (And during the holidays, the Osbourne Lights as well). My solution? This how I end my Animal Kingdom day, since I'm typically ready to leave there around 4pm or so. I'll go and have dinner somewhere when I leave AK, then head over to HS for the evening events I want to catch. It's always works like a charm!

Without Hoppers, though, then you've got the right idea... Head back to your resort, enjoy some pool time, maybe some dinner, then pop back over to HS for Fantasmic! As the PP said, when you're staying in a Disney resort, you should never feel like you have to sit in a park killing time when "home" is so close by!

 

[fluffykalie]

1.i suggest going in the morning fast passing toy story and mabey a few others then heading back to the resort for a swim. Then if you want to see fantastic you could always go back to hs later in the day. Since you are staying at YC or BC you can get to and from the park fairly quickly.
2.Or you could just fast pass the rides you really want to ride in the evening then go to fantastic.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

The Frozen Sing Along is a lot of fun FYI in case you haven't tried it. I agree with park hopping or pool time if you don't want to spend the whole day there.

 

[Goddesstree]

Have you seen "One Man's Dream" or tried the drawing class? We used to do HS in a half day, but then we found the drawing classes. Also, we ride Star Tours multiple times to see how many different options we can get

Staying at BC/YC is ideal for your plan. I think it sounds like a great idea!

 

[johde]

How many days are you going for? If it's over 4, I'd do both DHS and Stormalong Bay. An extra day on the ticket is $10+tax. If it's too cold to swim first thing in the morning, I'd RD DHS ride RNR and GMR Standby + any ride you want to ride twice maybe catch the first show of Indy if it's early enough since you missed it last time. Head back to the YC/BC and spend the afternoon at Stormalong bay. In the evening, make FP+ for TSMM, Star Tours, and a Tier 2 of your choosing since you don't do ToT. Ride your 3 rides, watch Fantasmic, Sounds like a great day for $10.

 

[TeamSy]

Have you seen "One Man's Dream" or tried the drawing class? We used to do HS in a half day, but then we found the drawing classes. Also, we ride Star Tours multiple times to see how many different options we can get

Staying at BC/YC is ideal for your plan. I think it sounds like a great idea!

I haven't tried the drawing class, but I just looked it up and thanks - it seems like something we would definitely like do!!

Thank you to everyone for your tips and suggestions, looks like we will NOT be skipping Hollywood Studios after all!

 

[larryz]

If we skip the park, we'd most likely spend the day at Stormalong Bay.

Sounds like a plan... enjoy your trip!