What's All the Fuss About HS Closures?

[Long Beach Mike]

My last Disney trip was December 2015, and I'm going again April 2018. I keep on reading how how many closures there have been at HS, that it is a shell of itself

Besides the GMR, I don't see anything else that closed since my 2015 trip.

What am I missing?

I have 8 full park days for my upcoming trip, and don't park hop. Currently planning MK 3 days, EP and HS 2 days, and AK 1 day (late in the trip to grab a FoP FP).

With the opening of Pandora and all the talk of HS closures, I'd love anyone's thoughts on switching to AK 2 days and HS 1 day. FYI, HS has always been my family's favorite park behind MK. ToT, RR, TS, and F+ are some of our favorite attractions.

 

[WEDWDW]

The main thing to me is that the loss of Backlot Tour,LMA and New York Street mean that Guests run into 2 "dead ends" instead of being able to make a "loop"-this makes the Park feel MUCH smaller.

 

[Klayfish]

It's everyones' subjective opinion as to how big of a deal the construction is at HS. I will say that the closure of GMR stinks. Even though the ride was badly outdated, it was a staple ride...at least for us. Beyond that, the construction closed things that weren't utilized much anyway. Backlot Tour is gone, but it was already closed when you visited in Dec '15 anyway. Lights/Motors/Action is gone. I'm a car fanatic, and I loved the show, but its' loss isn't that big of a deal to me. Streets of America is gone, which to me was boring anyhow. So is the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground...did you even know it was a thing? To us, HS is still a fun park. ToT, RnR, TSMM are still awesome as ever. Star Tours is fun, and then there are lots of cool shows. Nothing has changed with them.

 

[CAS239]

You're not missing anything. Some people think a lot more at HS is closed than what actually is

 

[MrsAlexis]

It's everyones' subjective opinion as to how big of a deal the construction is at HS. I will say that the closure of GMR stinks. Even though the ride was badly outdated, it was a staple ride...at least for us. Beyond that, the construction closed things that weren't utilized much anyway. Backlot Tour is gone, but it was already closed when you visited in Dec '15 anyway. Lights/Motors/Action is gone. I'm a car fanatic, and I loved the show, but its' loss isn't that big of a deal to me. Streets of America is gone, which to me was boring anyhow. So is the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground...did you even know it was a thing? To us, HS is still a fun park. ToT, RnR, TSMM are still awesome as ever. Star Tours is fun, and then there are lots of cool shows. Nothing has changed with them.

Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground is closed?? This is the first I've heard of that (although my Disney research only began a couple weeks ago)

 

[k8Davies]

Pete joked on a show a couple of weeks back that with GMR closing there are currently more bars in HS than rides.

As I've got a hopper included in my ticket (they seem to include it on all UK tickets) I will be going on my next visit; although from when I visited in Nov it seems to me like a half day park.

What's coming up looks so, so, so awesome and I am glad that they're are starting to open stuff with the new square in the fall (sorry can't remember the name) but really need a few more rides.

 

[WEDWDW]

I am glad that they're are starting to open stuff with the new square in the fall (sorry can't remember the name)

Grand Avenue-will be a really nice little area..

 

[BrianL]

It only seems like a lot has closed because a lot of the space is currently behind construction walls. As others have said, in reality they haven't removed that many attractions, and they have added some things too, like the Star Wars shows and the Music of Pixar (though that's temporary). I do think that the timing of the GMR closure could have been better. Toy Story Land should open in Spring of next year, and it seems like they could've waited, but in the end I think HS will be a stronger park for all these upgrades.

 

[jsmla]

I miss the Animation Academy a lot.

 

[Jennasis]

The problem for DHS is for repeat visitors. There are only so many times I can see Indiana Jones. the Little Mermaid is a waste, we don't do the Disney Jr stuff and it will be a cold day in heck before I waste time with anything Frozen. So, for us, that leaves Tower of Terror, RnR, Star Tours, Muppets and Toy Story. 5 rides. Not enough to dedicate a full day to. So we typically go in the morning and hit our rides at rope drop maybe see some characters and then head to our resort for a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Then we go back at night for the fireworks.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground is closed?? This is the first I've heard of that (although my Disney research only began a couple weeks ago)

Yes, it closed a couple years ago.

I miss the Animation Academy a lot.

I think this is the closure that I feel the most. We haven't been since it closed, but we will be there in a few weeks and I'm sad it's gone.

 

[MrsAlexis]

Yes, it closed a couple years ago.

OK I guess that is why I haven't heard about it in my recent research.

 

[Liljo22]

The problem for DHS is for repeat visitors. There are only so many times I can see Indiana Jones. the Little Mermaid is a waste, we don't do the Disney Jr stuff and it will be a cold day in heck before I waste time with anything Frozen. So, for us, that leaves Tower of Terror, RnR, Star Tours, Muppets and Toy Story. 5 rides. Not enough to dedicate a full day to. So we typically go in the morning and hit our rides at rope drop maybe see some characters and then head to our resort for a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Then we go back at night for the fireworks.

That is still 3 more rides than MGM opened with. Its was Backlot and GMR and I consider Backlot more of a show than ride. They also had the Animation Tour, Monster Sound Show, and Superstar Television. DHS was always more about the shows than it was about the rides which ended up being its downfall. They are trying to rectify now but its going to take a lot of downtime.

 

[Micca]

There is still plenty do to at DHS though a substantial portion of it isn't rides, but rather other forms of entertainment. Part of the allure of Disney is that it's a mix of experiences, not just getting on one thing after another that flings you through the air. There's no way I'd go to WDW and not spend some time at DHS.

 

[BrianL]

That is still 3 more rides than MGM opened with. Its was Backlot and GMR and I consider Backlot more of a show than ride. They also had the Animation Tour, Monster Sound Show, and Superstar Television. DHS was always more about the shows than it was about the rides which ended up being its downfall. They are trying to rectify now but its going to take a lot of downtime.

They needed to update the shows more frequently. Repeat guests get to where shows aren't a big priority because they never change. I think they should rotate in new shows more frequently, or at least update them. Like Indiana Jones could use some set pieces from movies other than Raiders. If they added something new every few years, people would be more apt to view them repeatedly.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...I have 8 full park days for my upcoming trip, and don't park hop. Currently planning MK 3 days, EP and HS 2 days, and AK 1 day (late in the trip to grab a FoP FP).

With the opening of Pandora and all the talk of HS closures, I'd love anyone's thoughts on switching to AK 2 days and HS 1 day. FYI, HS has always been my family's favorite park behind MK. ToT, RR, TS, and F+ are some of our favorite attractions.

I think you should divide your time any way your family likes! We're usually only there for a short time, so tend to do one day each, but mine would probably double-up on AK if we had an extra, as it's usually our favorite. (I'd be glad just to get a whole day at HS, though - currently, it always seems to end up being the half day when we're leaving.)

HS sort of got a bad reputation in our family on the trip when DS was 5. - He got lost in the playground mentioned above, and didn't enjoy sitting for shows at the time, so it was our least favorite day that trip and we skipped it the next couple of times. We gradually added it back in just to hit the thrill rides, but somehow it stayed "bonus" for us, rather than "must-do" - even though I've really enjoyed those half days!

Also, have you been for 8 days before? You may need a rest in the middle!

 

[sbd78]

We are heading down Memorial Day weekend of 2018. Anyone know if Toy Story Land will be open then? I'm really really really hoping it is!

And I didn't know the stunt show closed? That makes me sad, I loved the stunt show.

 

[Liljo22]

We are heading down Memorial Day weekend of 2018. Anyone know if Toy Story Land will be open then? I'm really really really hoping it is!

And I didn't know the stunt show closed? That makes me sad, I loved the stunt show.

That is the rumored opening weekend but nothing more than a rumor.

 

[ucfknight]

We are heading down Memorial Day weekend of 2018. Anyone know if Toy Story Land will be open then? I'm really really really hoping it is!

It is highly likely it will be open by then.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

That park was dead to me the moment they closed Starring Rolls!