Why go to Hollywood Studios now?

I'm visiting 3 parks this week with 2 toddlers, and you better believe Studios is 2nd only to MK. Between Launch Bay, Disney Jr, club disney, Ariel, Belle, frozen, Toy Story Mania... we have a full day planned and we're not touching any of the high thrill attractions. A 2 year old doesn't care how old the shows are, they just want to see their favorite characters & princesses. I guess it all depends on your perspective.

For us, DAK is not worth it, we only do 4-5 hours at that park and then head out.
 
I find it amazing that people won't wait in line 2-3 minutes to repeat a 20-30 minute show at Hollywood Studios (Indy, BOTB, LM, etc.), but will not hesitate to wait 20-30 minutes in line to repeat a 2-3 minute ride at Magic Kingdom (Peter Pan, Big Thunder, Space Mountain, etc.),
 
We are going for pin trading and Star Wars. Without the new Star Wars fireworks it would be 50/50 to skip it and add a second MK day. We have 4 days at Disney so one day for each park.
 

With all of the impending closures and construction slated for Hollywood Studios, why pay the exorbitant price to get in for arguably 5ish attractions, 4 shows that have not been updated for the better part of a decade or more, and some mediocre restaurants (Not Brown Derby)? If my favorite attraction wasn't Tower of Terror, I wouldn't even think twice about skipping this park. We are even staying at Beach Club and I don't want to spend the time, money, or effort to trek over there. I'm curious, what do you guys still enjoy about the park? Or have you reached the breaking point like me?

I think the same can be said for EPCOT. Future World is old and tired. With that said we keep going back. We are at the point traveling without kids, that we will do FP's and if we find an attraction with little wait we go on. We end up doing more dining, shopping and drinking. As I sit at the computer waiting for a potential snow storm on Friday....how I would love to be at a half closed HS or old and tired Future World.
 
A few weeks ago we did

Opened AK

Safari, EE, Kali, FOTLK, TTBAB, Dino, Nemo.

Headed back just after noon for lunch at the pool.

That late afternoon/evening

B&B, FP+ TSM, VOTLM, FP+ S Tours (new footage), Frozen, FP+TOT, Fantasmic, Star Wars Launch Bay, Star Wars fireworks and Osb Lights.
.
.
.
TWICE-except the 2nd time we snuck in Illuminations with Holiday ending after Fantasmic and did RNR instead of TSM.



Will re-evaluate once ROL and night safari opens, that might make AK a night visit instead.

In that case

We will do one day as above, and the second day as:

RP DHS and do TSM, RNR and TOT in the first hour (have done that before) then work in Frozen, B&B, VOTLM and S Tours.

After the pool-FP+ EE, FOTLK, Nemo, FP+ Night Safari, FP+ Dino, ROL.
 
We couldn't skip HS if I wanted to as I have a house of both Star Wars and Disney Jr. fanatics. :laughing: We have the Hollywood & Vine character breakfast, Disney Jr. Live, Star Tours, Star Wars Launch Bay, JTA, TSMM, Buzz and Woody meet and greet, TOT, the Great Movie Ride, Frozen Sing Along, and Fantasmic on our itinerary so it will still be a full and fun day for my crew. :goodvibes
 
DHS is terrible. Absolutely horrible. No reason anyone should ever go there EVER. Okay. Maybe now people will listen and not go to my favorite park so that I can enjoy it crowd-free ;) . I love that place. I love the rides, shows, and restaurants. I can spend so much time just walking around and taking in the sights. It is full of memories for me and I always make new ones each time I go. I love the romance of old Hollywood and love how they are able to recreate that on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. I'm cautiously optimistic about all of the changes they are making. I'm not a big Star Wars fan but think that the area might end up being something really great. If they put the effort into Toy Story Land that they put into Cars Land it will be absolutely fantastic. I just hope that they don't lose the identity of the park and maybe work to make that theme a little more obvious.

Jen that was a great post...it made me want to be there :). One of the things I love best about HS is the theme music along Hollywood and Vine. At night time when it's all lit up it can be absolutely magical with a little Glenn Miller (Moonlight Serenade) in the background :love:. DD did her DCP there as a photographer, so she adores the place. Any negative vibes about HS in our house is absolutely verboten :snooty:. TOT for my money is still the best thrill you can get in any of the parks :hyper: ... :scared1:
 
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We were at Disney Jan. 2 to the 9th and we spent 3 of those days at Hollywood Studios. We are huge Star Wars fans so had a lot of fun with all that. However, way before Star Wars, when it was MGM, it was our favorite park. We love everything about it and are looking forward to the Star Wars expansion.
 
We couldn't skip HS if I wanted to as I have a house of both Star Wars and Disney Jr. fanatics. :laughing: We have the Hollywood & Vine character breakfast, Disney Jr. Live, Star Tours, Star Wars Launch Bay, JTA, TSMM, Buzz and Woody meet and greet, TOT, the Great Movie Ride, Frozen Sing Along, and Fantasmic on our itinerary so it will still be a full and fun day for my crew. :goodvibes

Ditto! My kids love DHS!
 
It was my least favourite park (before the closures) but my DH rates it highly.

We'll have two days there on our upcoming trip (probably one RD till mid afternoon and one afternoon arrival to see Fantasmic, if it's still running at that point) but then again we have a 14 day trip planned, and the 14 day tickets are park hoppers, so if we get board or do everything we want to that trip, we can always pop across to somewhere else.
 
Well since we have 14 days and nights of Disney Magic, and our tickets are hoppers, we just like to take in all the parks and don't get too upset if something is closing or closed, life's too short to moan..We don't do ToT, or Rock n roll coaster...Its not our favourite park, probably our third, but we love to stroll around after we do our FP for TSMM..
 
Jen that was a great post...it made me want to be there :). One of the things I love best about HS is the theme music along Hollywood and Vine. At night time when it's all lit up it can be absolutely magical with a little Glenn Miller (Moonlight Serenade) in the background :love:. DD did her DCP there as a photographer, so she adores the place. Any negative vibes about HS in our house is absolutely verboten :snooty:. TOT for my money is still the best thrill you can get in any of the parks :hyper: ... :scared1:
I absolutely love walking down Hollywood and Sunset boulevards at night! I love seeing all of those lights and you're right, that music really adds to the atmosphere. I just love it. That was my park for the college program, as well, so I have some fantastic memories from that time, but it was my favorite park long before then dating all the way back to my first trip when I was 8.

And I agree with you about Tower of Terror. It is a fantastic thrill ride! And I think it is so much more. I think it is probably the best themed attraction at WDW. From the moment you turn off of Hollywood onto Sunset and see that tower, you start to get sucked into the theme. You enter the gates of the "hotel", the bellhop welcomes you (often in such a creepy way), the grounds are overgrown, and the haunting instrumental music of the 1930's plays. Everything about that attraction really puts you right in the show and I love it. In fact, I think that ride absolutely embodies the original idea of DHS/MGM - How you were supposed to feel like you were actually in an idealistic version of old Hollywood when you walked around the park and then when you entered an attraction, BAM, you were actually in the show or movie. Ah, I love that ride... and that park.
 
And I agree with you about Tower of Terror. It is a fantastic thrill ride! And I think it is so much more. I think it is probably the best themed attraction at WDW. From the moment you turn off of Hollywood onto Sunset and see that tower, you start to get sucked into the theme. You enter the gates of the "hotel", the bellhop welcomes you (often in such a creepy way), the grounds are overgrown, and the haunting instrumental music of the 1930's plays. Everything about that attraction really puts you right in the show and I love it. In fact, I think that ride absolutely embodies the original idea of DHS/MGM - How you were supposed to feel like you were actually in an idealistic version of old Hollywood when you walked around the park and then when you entered an attraction, BAM, you were actually in the show or movie. Ah, I love that ride... and that park.

Back in 2005 the very first time we ever rode TOT the well known "TJ" was our bellhop as we entered the ride. I remember he had that crazy look on face and he rolled his eyes as if he was reveling in our fear. I just thought :scared: "OMG where did they find this guy?!" It so added to the creepy-ness of the ride. I wasn't a proponent of removing the Hat, but I think there's no doubt the Tower is the best icon to represent HS. Like all the other park icons it looms large as you enter the park.


 
DHS is terrible. Absolutely horrible. No reason anyone should ever go there EVER. Tower of Terror is just stupid. Rock n Roller Coaster is lame. Great Movie Ride is just some boring ride that will scare the pants off of kids and older adults with heart conditions. Toy Story Midway Mania will induce seizures. Star Tours will absolutely make you sick and taking non-drowsy Dramamine a couple of days before you go on the ride absolutely WILL NOT prevent you from getting sick on it no matter what you might have heard or read. And what about those shows? Fantasmic is clearly the worst show ever and a complete waste of time. Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast? So reason to watch those if you have seen the movies. Indiana Jones is so hum drum. Character meetings here are a complete waste of time and I'm certain Character Palooza is a big waste. Oh and the restaurants! Sci Fi is just so weird and the food is terrible. An d 50's Prime Time? Why would I pay good money to get told to eat my vegetables and watch them put my husband in the corner for putting his elbows on the table. No thank you. I will advise anyone to stay far far away.










Okay. Maybe now people will listen and not go to my favorite park so that I can enjoy it crowd-free ;) . I love that place. I love the rides, shows, and restaurants. I can spend so much time just walking around and taking in the sights. It is full of memories for me and I always make new ones each time I go. I love the romance of old Hollywood and love how they are able to recreate that on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. I'm cautiously optimistic about all of the changes they are making. I'm not a big Star Wars fan but think that the area might end up being something really great. If they put the effort into Toy Story Land that they put into Cars Land it will be absolutely fantastic. I just hope that they don't lose the identity of the park and maybe work to make that theme a little more obvious.


Got me! The first half of this made me wonder if you were drunk or just not too bright. :) We had the best time at DHS and all the stuff we are most excited about seeing on a return trip is there.
 
Just so you know, all you people with different opinions than mine are wrong..... I think I will just let you all be wrong and keep my opinions to myself.
 
I wouldn't pay more than $10 for a ticket to go to DHS, but since I've an annual pass I'm find wandering around the park looking for something to do.
 
DHS is my kids' favorite park. We could easily skip Epcot. It's all about what you and your family enjoy. I'm personally very happy that we have so many different choices when visiting Disney.
 
I wouldn't pay more than $10 for a ticket to go to DHS, but since I've an annual pass I'm find wandering around the park looking for something to do.

I can help you! Go on Star Tours until you've seen all the possible scenarios. Ride ToT, RnR, TGMR, and TSMM. See the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Indiana Jones shows. Don't forget the Muppets!!! Have a counter service meal at lunch, a table service dinner. Stay for Fantasmic, watch the fireworks. While you're snacking on a Mickey Bar, watch the talented street performers or the Jedi Academy.
 


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