Wondering if DHS is worth it...

[quagmire0]

I was looking through the WDW website, going through all the attractions at each park, and I'm wondering to myself if Hollywood Studios will really be worth a whole day. Our kids will be 4 and 20mo old. We'll be there 6 full days and two half days. I'm figuring 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, which gives us 2 full days left. I'm thinking the half days (arrival and departure) will be spent outside of the parks or at most at a restaurant onsite or Downtown Disney. To my newbie eyes it seems like Animal Kingdom has a lot more going on for my kids than HS. So, my questions are:

1. Would AK be worth 2 days?
2. Is HS worth a full day?
3. Would I be better off skipping HS and doing an extra day at one of the other parks?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

1. Would AK be worth 2 days?
2. Is HS worth a full day?
3. Would I be better off skipping HS and doing an extra day at one of the other parks?

1. No, not if it means skipping DHS
2. Yes
3. No

even though you kids can't do the thrill rides DHS has lots to offer little ones including unique charecters (Pixar and Playhouse Disney) meet and greets, shows they will enjoy (Playhouse Disney, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and great atmosphere. We had to pick 2 parks to take our children to on our first visit, they were 3 and 6 then and we picked DHS and MK. I worried and obsessed over picking the wrong ones but DHS was a huge hit. Our kids loved all the charecers and DS3 talks about meeting Lightening McQueen all the time, it is one of his first memories that he still brags about (2 trips later).

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I don't think AK would be worth 2 full days, but HS would be worth it (there's probably more to do at DHS than AK for a 4yr old and 20 month old)

Things your kids would like at DHS:
Toy Story Mania
Beauty and the Beast on Stage
Muppetvision
Little Mermaid show
Fantasmic
Playhouse Disney Live On Stage (or Disney Junior, when it changes)
Character meet and greets (a lot of them at DHS)
The parade/block party bash
Dance Party (if you're staying on site and it's a EMH night)
4 yr old can do Jedi Academy training
The show that replaced High School Musical (forget what it's called)

This is already probably more you than you can do in a day.

 

[aurorae]

With your kids, will you be spending full days at the Parks? Or might you only do a half day and go back to the resort for naps and pool time, or end a day early and not stay till park closing?

MK and Epcot 2 days each, 1 day in each of the other parks, then the half days on either revisit your favorites or else go back and see something you missed the first time and wanted to see.

 

[Fabooliss]

I don't think AK would be worth 2 full days, but HS would be worth it (there's probably more to do at DHS than AK for a 4yr old and 20 month old)

Things your kids would like at DHS:
Toy Story Mania
Beauty and the Beast on Stage
Muppetvision
Little Mermaid show
Fantasmic
Playhouse Disney Live On Stage (or Disney Junior, when it changes)
Character meet and greets (a lot of them at DHS)
The parade/block party bash
Dance Party (if you're staying on site and it's a EMH night)
4 yr old can do Jedi Academy training
The show that replaced High School Musical (forget what it's called)

This is already probably more you than you can do in a day.

I'll disagree with some of that... The following MIGHT be too scary for your little ones (it was for my 5 year old): Fantasmic, Little Mermaid, Jedi Training.
She loved Muppetvision, Playhouse Disney, the parade and the Honey I shrunk the Kids Playground though (this was before TSM). We went to DS on our first day and spent about 3 hours there, it was enough.

Having planned on only a half day at AK , we finally left at about 2pm, when everyone was EXHAUSTED and it wasn't even CLOSE to enough!
At AK (with no lines for anything) we enjoyed:
- Safari (twice, it was so good)
- Jungle Trek
- Nemo
- drums and drummers
- exploring the Tree of Life
Wanted to see, but ran out of time:
-Planet watch
-characters

But it depends on what you are interested in.

 

[racechick8293]

1- No. I could not see 2 full days at AK and none at HS.
2- Yes.
3- No.

My DD (4) absolutely loved Hollywood Studios. Our first favorite park is Epcot, and HS is second. I was disappointed by MK- maybe too much hype and too large crowds for my taste.

HS has great attractions for a 4yo.
- Animation building has character meetings most of the day. My daughter also liked the Animation Academy.
- Little Mermaid show. Very nicely done.
- Playhouse show. Good for kids, but I found it annoying to sit on the floor.
- Toy Story Mania.
- Beauty and the Beast show.
- Muppet Vision 3D was hilarious.

 

[snow_white's_mom]

We took DD for the first time when she was 1, she is now 5 and will be going on her 6th trip in a few days. We do 2 full days at MK, 2 full days at epcot, 1 day at DHS, and 1 day at AK. AK is a shorter day for us and if we don't stay for fantasmick at DHS it is also a shorter day, which allows for 2 nights at downtown disney. Our first day there we usually go right to MK and don't really do much, but take it all in, get DD's haircut at the barber shop, and enjoy ourselves.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

We used to always skip HS. But it really is worth almost a full day. We actually hung out from 9am until 10pm our last trip. It was a fun but full day! We also love AK but we are normally done at about 2pm.

 

[aidtrismommy]

The character opportunities are a huge as well as the shows. They are very entertaining for young children. I wouldn't skip DHS. It is a park that has a lot to offer if you are willing to try shows, character meets, the playground, the streets of NY, etc. Disney is not all about rides (not for us anyway) If you really don't think it is for your family, then skip it. No harm done.

 

[stargazertechie]

I feel like DHS is worth it just for the Honey! Playground. My mom had to pull me out of there every trip. That, toy story mania, the little mermaid, and the beauty and the beast show are awesome.

 

[Tara922c]

DHS is our least favorite park. I love RnR, and ToT, BUT dd3 is way too short to ride them, and most likely wont be tall enough until she is 5 or 6. She is 3 1/2 and barely 36 inches tall. Last May we got there in the morning, got a fastpass to Toy Story Mania (the park was dead), and did a few attractions. I rode ToT by myself, we saw Voyage of the Little Mermaid, watched Indiana Jones, Lights Motor Action, and Beauty and the Beast. Around 5 PM, we rode TSM, and we were all ready to leave. I think it is a park worth doing all day if the kids are tall enough to ride the big attractions, and will sit through the shows. I would get up, go in the morning, and if it is not for you, you can always leave, and go do something else, even if it is hanging out at the pool.

 

[twoplustwins]

I was looking through the WDW website, going through all the attractions at each park, and I'm wondering to myself if Hollywood Studios will really be worth a whole day. Our kids will be 4 and 20mo old. We'll be there 6 full days and two half days. I'm figuring 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, which gives us 2 full days left. I'm thinking the half days (arrival and departure) will be spent outside of the parks or at most at a restaurant onsite or Downtown Disney. To my newbie eyes it seems like Animal Kingdom has a lot more going on for my kids than HS. So, my questions are:

1. Would AK be worth 2 days?
2. Is HS worth a full day?
3. Would I be better off skipping HS and doing an extra day at one of the other parks?

1. In my opinion, two days is too much for AK. We spent one full day at AK and saw everything we wanted.

2. Yes, I think DHS is worth a full day. We spent 1.5 days and plan to spend a full two days on our next trip. DHS was my kids second favorite park, next to MK. There is a lot for little kids at DHS.

We also traveled with young children, here is how our week went:
Day 1: Magic Kingdom - half day (arrived at 3pm)
Day 2: AK - full day
Day 3: DHS - full day
Day 4: Epcot - half day (we did not tour all the countries), MK - half day
Day 5: MK - half day - DHS half day
Day 6: MK - half day (we departed for home around noon)

 

[jcemom]

DHS was DD's least favorite park prior to her being tall enough for ToT, and before TSM was put in. This year she's tall enough for RnRC and so now DHS is much more important to her, lol.

When she was younger she did not want to sit through shows. We could do Playhouse Disney OR Little Mermaid, not both. She didn't (and still doesn't) care for Muppetvision, even though she likes Philharmagic and HISTA. The only things she really liked at DHS were the HISTK playground and the 'coloring screens' in the Animation building.

We could easily have skipped DHS, and usually only planned one morning there. A few hours was plenty.

Can you 'save' your extra day to see what you feel like doing? If you don't 'need' to go back to MK or Epcot then you can head to DHS? I think one day is sufficient for AK unless you want to see all the shows. We never do because DD still doesn't like shows. One is her limit, lol.

 

[danceteachermom]

I would use at least a full day at HS. The Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area will entertain both of your kids for hours...seriously. I have to drag my kids away. Also there are great "experiences" for dining (not necessarily great food).

I think MK and HS are the best parks for kids. MANT character meet and greets and great shows.

Check out the new Disney Channel Rocks show at HS plus Beauty and the Beast.

 

[momof2n2]

echo of others -
if you have the days use them. I wouldn't do two at AK and none at HS. I would do AK if I had to choose between the two, at your kids' ages. But if you have enough days, go ahead and enjoy HS. [The stunt show is excellent!]

I also wouldn't do a third day at EPCOT or MK in lieu of one day at HS.

 

[msminnieears]

DHS is a must. Just as the op have stated there is so much to do. One reason it usually takes a whole day is to see the shows. They only have certain times they run (playhouse disney, little mermaid, muppets, beauty and beast). Plan your show times then meet a ton of characters. Relax and have fun!

 

[shan136]

It depends on your kids nap time. If they still take an early afternoon nap, I would recommend making a 1/2 day plan for each park. With small children there isn't enough to stay at either park past 3:00, esp if you arrive at rope drop.

If you are planning to get the kids back to the hotel earlier, I would make a plan of your must sees for the kids so that you can get get the most out of the parks on a shorter day.

 

[Sorsha]

Even with older kids who like the thrill rides, my family can never find enough to do to spend more than half a day at DHS EVER.

And we ALWAYS spend 2 full days at Animal Kingdom, every single trip.

So maybe we are just weird that way.

But I think my plan would be to spend a full day at AK, then spend the next day at DHS, leave whenever you get bored, and hop back over to AK if there is still stuff over there you would like to do again or haven't done yet.

At AK, don't forget about The Nemo show and the Lion King show - my kids always LOVED those.

 

[OhThePain]

Even with older kids who like the thrill rides, my family can never find enough to do to spend more than half a day at DHS EVER.

And we ALWAYS spend 2 full days at Animal Kingdom, every single trip.

So maybe we are just weird that way.

So I guess we are weird with you . We go to DHS in the morning, and are usually ready to leave after lunch at 50's. We can also easily spend 2 full days at AK. There is so much there to really appreciate.

With that being said, if this is a first trip for you, I would plan to spend a full day at AK and a full day at DHS. There is a lot, in my opinion, "been there, done that" attractions at DHS, particularly the shows. We don't feel that at this point DHS deserves a full day, but if you haven't been there and done that yet, it can easily take a full day.

 

[POP!ns]

Skip HS? They have playhouse disney which is perfect for 20m old baby! Mine will be 18m & we are looking forward to that. It is def. something u should spend 1 full day @ or more. =)