What Would You Do?

[katherine52478]

I am not a fan of HS and would voluntarily skip it every trip except for the fact that my husband loves Star Wars Land and wants to go on RotR again (we were there in February). We are headed down to the world next week and will be hitting HS early AM. We plan on trying for a boarding pass and then getting in line for Mickey and Minnie's Railway. After those two rides, we plan on doing some drinking and eating at Brown Derby and then taking the skyway to Riviera for a relaxing afternoon/evening. I too stress way too much over the boarding pass situation but when I did it in February, it worked perfectly and we got a decent group so I'm hoping for it to work that smoothly again!

I would vote for getting to HS in the morning and trying for the boarding pass and riding MMRR. Check out the Star Wars area and do some people-watching and then go meander at some cool resorts in the Boardwalk section or the Riviera. I love solo time where I get to wander at my speed. Have a great trip!

 

[dachsie]

I truly appreciate all of your responses. I have been going through a very difficult time (who isn't right now?) And it seems anxiety and fear are daily demons. I would love to go on this trip and just take it for what it is. I typically enjoy all the planning and lead up to WDW. I just haven't been able to let go and let things be the way they will this time. That is what I really want. I want to go and just take in what I can. I'm just having a hard time getting there. I've lost the ability to relax I guess.

I can totally relate to having a rough time right now. I have a lot of stress at work (medical) and have a hard time lately remembering things that were never a problem before. I come home every night and it seems I an tweaking my WDW plans. However, I think that is what is keeping me sane. What I would recommend if you really think you want to do it, make park reservations at MK and EP for your first 2 days and see how you feel. If you still feel anxious about it, you can cancel DHS and pick one of the others but if you are feeling better, they you can go and have a good time.

 

[RanDIZ]

I had the same thoughts regarding HS. But the reality is, if the capacity is 25% of what it normally is, then anything more in the future will be a complete disaster. I can’t even imagine trying to attempt to go to HS and actually have a good town with people on top of each other. If anyone’s ever been to MVMCP, the crowds down Main Street and around the castle are what I see in HS in the future. So as of now, I’m all in for HS in a couple months and just hoping for the best. HS is my already my least favorite park, but with Star Wars, it makes it more likable.

 

[crazylady]

I would schedule a HS day towards the end of your trip. That way you can go to HS if it's not stressing you out then, but if it is stressing you will out still or you just want more Epcot days, you can switch it to an Epcot day. I imagine it would be easier to switch from HS to Epcot than the reverse.

Admittedly Epcot is not my favorite park, but I really can't imagine spending more than a couple days there right now with the lack of entertainment in the WS.

 

[tinkattitude!]

Well if your stressed skip that day and do something you know you’ll enjoy. ROTR is amazing, but yeah not knowing if you’ll get a spot means you can’t guarantee that one. We may be in the minority but we actually weren’t impressed with MMRR one ride was enough. We loved The Great Movie Ride and always rode it multiple times, so we were disappointed in the new one.

 

[kwdw]

Solo traveler here who struggled with the decision on whether to deal with the huge stress of trying for a BG for RoTR. This is not going to change any time soon. I'd decide if you are willing to wait in line for MMRR and if yes, give the day a try. If you aren't willing to do a 90 minute wait (worse case), then skip the park until park hopping is allowed again. That whole BG system, while I understand why Disney picked it, adds GIGANTIC stress for me as a huge SW fan. I hope in a couple years it's gone. Relying on my cell phone does not make enjoyable experience for me.

 

[Naomeri]

Coming back to add that the Disney Food Blog just posted an article that summarized their experiences, as well as reader experiences, with wait times, and it seems the posted wait times are rarely accurate, and most are shorter. Some can end up longer due to break downs and cleaning cycles, but most are shorter, so that could give you a little stress relief.

 

[nherbert]

I don’t know when you last went to Epcot, but we last went in January, and there was so much construction and so much closed and I believe there is currently more closed now, that it wasn’t the same Epcot of old. So 5 years ago Epcot was almost our favorite park but this last trip it was definitely our least favorite and we cancelled a number of planned trips. I suggest booking a HS day later in your trip, in case you find a similar experience. You will probably be able to swap a HS day to Epcot day more easily than the other way around.

the other thing I would say, in the two months we were there we visited HS about 11 times, and we got a BG every time, yes every time. You read on here about a lot of people not getting them but that because people like to complain, there are a huge number of people who get them.

rule 1: get there for rope drop. this is it, the one day you are getting up super early and at the park way before it opens. Believe me it is worth it. That early morning crowd is so buzzy.

Rule 2: get as close as you can to the first ride you want to do. So if that is mmrr head towards that. You want be able to get all the way to it, there will be castmembers holding the line.

rule 3: get your phone ready, if You are too nervous find the nearest family and ask a teenager to do it for you, my 13 year old did it every time for us. At Disney people want to help each other, believe me everyone in the crowd is doing the same thing at the same time and every one is cheering everyone on. It is a real buzz at rope drop.

as soon as you have your BG, and you WILL get one, put your phone away. And wait for the crowd to start moving, don’t worry they don’t start moving until the whole BG drama is over, and you power walk your way to MMRR, you duck and weave your way to the front, you are solo, you can do this. There will not be a long wait for the first ride of the day.

Then spend the rest of the day exploring HS until time for your BG, you will love it. There are lots of fun rides and some really cool shops - especially if you like Star Wars or Pixar.

go and enjoy, HS is FUN!

 

[SoloDisFan]

Everybody who has responded, thank you so much. I felt silly posting about this and the thoughtful replies have truly helped.

Where I'm at right now; I'm arriving on a Sunday. HS is reserved for Thursday. I'm going to go with the plan as is for now, with a goal of getting there for rope drop. I'm coming from CR so it will be on bus. I will hope for the best. I don't mind getting up early. I'm also keeping in the back of my mind that if leading up to Thursday I want another Epcot day I can switch.

Thank you all for weighing in. I'm hoping I can adjust to relaxation mode soon so I can enjoy the anticipation of the trip.

 

[Eastern]

I would do HS on the arrival or departure day, depending on timing. That way you do not 'waste' a whole day on a park that you don't want to do much in anyway. That is what my adults kids are doing (arrival day). They will only have one chance for a BG at 2pm but if they don't get it, it's ok. They do not want to spend all day there.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Another Disney Parks Solo Fan here. Don't stress about the ride lines - sure they can be long but they moved well (I was there in September 2020).
And if all you want to do at DHS is MMRR and Rotr - I'd skip DHS and concentrated on the other parks. There is no guarantee you'll get in to RoTR and to spend so much money to get into DHS for one attraction just isn't worth it in my book.

As for AK - I found I really enjoyed meandering through the trails and not having to worry about catching shows. I do like AK and really, really enjoyed it in September. I did everything in the park that was available and had a great time.
Then I went back to the resort, cleaned up and spent the evening at disney springs. It was a weeknight so it worked well for me. Although I was disappointed that the Savannah Bee Company closed before I got there. I hadn't realized they were closing at 7pm so no bottle of Honey Wine for me.

Wearing masks wasn't a problem for me. I think because I would stop for snacking often it really helped me out taking off the mask more often (while I was stationary and socially distant of course!).

 

[mindeola]

What if you had a plan for Those days where you broke up the day? HS leave midday for a ride on the skyliner. Visit the resorts on that line. AK day, take a break ang go check out Kidani- eat at Sanaa.

We did not get a BG on our HS day, so be prepared for that possibility.

They are both parks I love though. Epcot is last on my list these days. I just don't love all the walls and construction. Not everything is open in World Showcase. I couldn't bring myself to do even two days there on a trip. Though, it was empty the day I went and the cavalcades were amazing!

 

[SoloDisFan]

Well, made the decision to change my park reservation for HS to EPCOT. I just can't add anxiety over getting a boarding group and waiting in a potentially huge line for MMRR to everything else going on.
I know Epcot is not the same right now but there is enough going on that I am happy to add a day there. I know this trip will be different in many ways and if I'm going to do it I want to go and be content with just being there. I have a list of treats I want to try and I plan to ride the skyliner for fun. Maybe go look around the Riviera. Right now, the change of scenery and routine are what I crave most. Honestly, watching resort tv and drinking coffee from my refillable mug would probably be just as good as anything else right now.
I've been lucky enough to visit WDW many times and I anticipate going again when park hopping resumes. I'm happy with my decision.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

[js]

I agree with others. Maybe not cancel your trip but cancel MGM. I am going in three weeks and the planner for three couples that have never been. We are there for five days and two
Park days. I didnt even give them MGM as a choice. Way too much stress for me so I decided to skip it.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I would love to hear others thoughts on this.

I have an upcoming solo trip for 7 days. Most days are scheduled for MK and Epcot. I have one day reserved for Hollywood Studios. Usually, I park hop on Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios days as there isn't enough I'm interested in doing at these parks for a whole day.

Since park hopper is not an option, I am having trouble deciding what to do. I am truly only interested in trying two rides at HS: MMRR and ROTR. The long wait times for MMRR are stressing me out. And, there is obviously no guarantee that I will get a boarding group for ROTR. The idea of having to strategize to get to the park early and get on that line and grab that boarding group is actually making me feel anxious. As a matter of fact, the whole lead up to this trip has been worry about lines and crowds with very little focus on enjoying the anticipation of going to WDW.
I am fortunate in that I have been to WDW frequently, though with the pandemic I have no idea when a future trip will happen. These are two rides I have not been on and have wanted to enjoy.

So, my question is would you think it better to cancel my day at HS as it only involves wanting to go on two rides I've never been on and add another Epcot day? I love meandering at Epcot. Or would you make the effort to try and accomplish what is becoming a stressful proposition? It's as if the idea of enjoyment isn't even entering the equation at this point, if this makes sense.

I should also mention that I have an ADR at Sci Fi which would not break my heart to miss.

I admittedly didnt read any comments but I would plan on rope dropping and staying till lunch, leaving and coming back later in the day/evening. If you're willing to cancel the day that RotR isn't an absolute MUST do you can still get alot done in the morning and evening alone.

Having the mid day free you can decide to go to Disney Springs, do a monorail tour, walk the Epcot resort area, etc