Disney Hollywood studios worth $94 a day?

[vcstr]

Sticking up for DHS a little. There's no doubt that it has a lot less to offer than the other parks, and indeed a lot less than it should or once did. That said, I worked in DHS for a summer and never ran out of things to see and do. It's a different style of touring than I'd do in the other parks but I would regularly play in the parks before or after my shifts. Some of the best days I had on my CP involved playing in DHS.

After riding Rock'n'Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Great Movie Ride, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Star Tours you can watch Beauty and the Beast (probably saw it 15 times that summer), Indiana Jones, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and Muppets. There are lots of characters to meet, most of which I found had much shorter lines than characters in the other parks. I loved taking drawing classes. It's really enjoyable to spend some time wandering around Streets of America. Watch the Citizens of Hollywood. Cap off the night with Fantasmic.

It's not everyone's cup of tea but that doesn't make it worthless. Personally I'd much rather spend a day there than at AK. That doesn't mean Animal Kingdom is awful or not worth the money.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

No way would I be willing to pay that price for a one day pass at any of the parks. In DL last year, we were in the parks for six days, but they only sell (at least at the time) five day passes, so we ended up buying a one day pass and going to DCA only one day. That MIGHT be worth it for the two DL parks, but even that felt steep.

I agree with what others have said. Who really goes to the FL parks and stays for only one day? It's Disney's way of encouraging you to spend more than one day at their parks. Instead of doing a day trip and buying a one day pass, it makes more sense, if you are going to do that, to buy a multi day pass that doesn't expire. That way, you can get several day trips out of it and you've paid less for the one day. That's just my thought.

 

[rt06]

I don't get the hate for DHS. That's our second favorite park after MK. It's not my choice if limited to a one day pass. Then again, it wouldn't be my choice to visit Disney for one day in the first place.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The problem with using the live shows in addition to the 5 rides to try and justify the price of admission being the same as the other parks is that those shows are mostly all decades old and have never been updated. MGM's problems are exactly the opposite of lowercase Epcot's and Magic Kingdom's. In those parks, classic attractions and elements are either literally destroyed or damaged by alterations. At MGM, the same stuff has been around forever and it's just gotten tiresome. Horizons and Fantasyland dark rides would still be packing them in. In a lot of cases, I think people are still showing up to MGM's shows to escape the heat.

 

[Yert3]

DHS is my least favorite Disney park in the world. Even the one in Paris is SO much better IMO.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Tower of Terror and RNRC are two of my favorite rides in Disney, but I still don't think this park should have a price tag in line with Epcot or AK. At least at AK they have quite a few things children can do (Safari, Chester and Hester’s, the 3 stage shows, the animal trails) And Epcot has quite a few family friendly rides, even if all children don’t like all of them. DHS need a overhaul, BADLY! If they are heading in the direction of making it more like California Adventure, that is something I can stand behind as DCA was awesome! I might have even liked it more than Disneyland. Carsland is SO well done and Radiator Springs Racers is by far my favorite Disney ride anywhere. Do I want them to bring Carsland here? No, I don’t. They need some things that are new and fresh that the other parks don’t have.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I agree with the point you are trying to make, but I have to ask, where are you going to the movies that you are paying $35.00 for a ticket?

We have a "high end" movie experience that run $32.50 for the movie, usually in 3D, personal waiter, and motorized personal recliners. Each theater only holds about 30 people, so I chose that because I wanted to compare another "event" type activity. Even a regular movie is up to $19/person in my area for a 3D, new release at a prime time.

 

[Susan Savia]

It's always been pretty much a half day park for our family. Toy Story at rope drop, Great Movie ride, Animation movie and drawing class, gift shops and out.

 

[Chef Mickey]

It's always been pretty much a half day park for our family. Toy Story at rope drop, Great Movie ride, Animation movie and drawing class, gift shops and out.

Classic example. Not knocking you or your style, but you omit perhaps a top 5 attraction of all time (of course, in my opinion) in Tower of Terror. Many would agree it's one of the best attractions ever built. It's just that you pick what you like and leave. That's fine, but that doesn't mean it's a bad park without enough to do or a "half day" park. It means that there are things that interest you and things that don't. They could and should build more and update, but there are other things to do today.

I do think DHS needs more. It needs updating. But I will say it again...almost everything at WDW needs updating or TLC. DHS is in that boat but even though Beauty and the Beast is old, it really is still a good show. Fantasmic is good. Needs updating, but good. RnR is a great thrill and fun coaster with a nice theme. Muppet Vision is classic Disney for me. I still love it. Would I hate it if they updated it and do I think it needs it? Perhaps. Great Movie ride is still an outstanding concept with admittedly old movies, but they are classics.

I enjoy the Little Mermaid show. Again, it's old...but it is still a well executed, fun show that packs people in and not just because it's cooler inside. Kids still love Ariel. Indy is long in the tooth, but it's entertaining.

All that said, it's not purely missable because it's old....you just may not like it anymore but there are so many people that have never been.

 

[xstech25]

A Magic game at the Amway Center in the lower deck is about the same price, only 2 hours, and the team is probably going to lose.

Sure it's expensive to go to Disney World but people still show up by the tens of thousands 365 days a year and pay it, so why would it not be expensive?

 

[NX2I85]

The more general question would be whether DHS is worth a day (or partial day) of your vacation. Paying $94 at the gate is obviously a crazy idea for 99% of people.
It matters not that DHS is lacking in attractions. My wife and kids always want to eat at Prime Time, therefore we always have a DHS day in our schedule. By the time we eat, do all the rides, maybe catch a show, chill out watching the Citizens of Hollywood, and poke our head in One Man's Dream I would say that DHS is worth a day of my vacation.

 

[momof1princess]

We just returned from a week at WDW and spent a day at HS from open to close. We had a great time, our six year old loved it! She saw loads of characters, road TSMWM, RRC, StarTours twice, saw the Frozen sing along, Fantasmic, ate at Play & Dine and Melrose.
I guess I'm saying I still enjoyed it, but if I only had to pick one park, or had to pay full price rather than adding on to our week...not really worth the money. We probably would have just added another day at the Magic Kingdom if not for Frozen and Fantasmic.

 

[FigmentForver96]

DHS is my least favorite Disney park in the world. Even the one in Paris is SO much better IMO.

What??!! You really think Walt Disney Studios Paris......you know what...to each his own.

 

[laynalee07]

As long as I start seeing several of these in the very near future, I'll be a very happy camper!

 

[CamiCan]

It was definitely worth spending one day when we had the 10 day park hopper (first trip to WDW after a lifetime of visiting Disneyland). We enthusiastically did all the attractions and shows except for the Disney Play House. I saw all the shows but had to drag my bf to the Frozen Sing Along (he said he felt silly going there). We only spent one day there though and only came back once after that full day just to see Frozen Fireworks after a full day at Typhoon Lagoon (we returned to our room to shower, change, and grab a quick dinner at the cafeteria before heading to see the fireworks). It's not up there with Magic Kingdom but I'd say it's worth one day if you have a park hopper. If I had to put a value on each park for a one day pass, I'd go like this:

Magic Kingdom and Epcot: $90
Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom: $75
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach: $45
Disney Quest: $20

 

[The Empress Lilly]

What??!! You really think Walt Disney Studios Paris......you know what...to each his own.

Yes! DHS is to WDSP what DL is to DCA 1.0. It's not even a comparison.

But...DHS has been going from bad to worse. From perfect little park to slight identity crisis to currently closures and a Frozen fair. Meanwhile, WDSP underneath the ugliness has steadily build a pretty decent ride line-up, has Crush, has the lovely new Rat area...

I also have full confidence the new DHS additions (by 2030?) will be a mix between 'utter rubbish' and 'for six year olds only - physically or mentally'. There may come a point where WDSP takes over DHS. :O

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

Read their annual reports. Disney isn't making a killing at their theme parks. They do make a good amount in total dollars on the sheer volume, but margins are actually pretty terrible.

Parks and Resorts represented nearly a quarter of their total income in 2013 - over $2 billion. It doesn't look great when you compare it to their media segment as a whole, but I would guess that media outlets are much larger and have more potential anyway.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Parks and Resorts represented nearly a quarter of their total income in 2013 - over $2 billion. It doesn't look great when you compare it to their media segment as a whole, but I would guess that media outlets are much larger and have more potential anyway.

I'm familiar with the numbers. Like I said, they make a decent total profit on the volume, but look at the margins. The margins are still in the 10-15% range, a fair profit for the work, and Iger has increased them.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

I'm familiar with the numbers. Like I said, they make a decent total profit on the volume, but look at the margins. The margins are still in the 10-15% range, a fair profit for the work, and Iger has increased them.

I'm not an accounting person, but it seems like a substantial amount to me. Hm.

It is super interesting to read through the annual report though, I never though to do that before!

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'm not an accounting person, but it seems like a substantial amount to me. Hm.

It is super interesting to read through the annual report though, I never though to do that before!

Think of Parks and Resorts almost as retail business. Retail is a tough business. Anytime you're dealing directly with consumers, margins are generally low...unless you're Apple.

HP, for example, has about 3-5% margins on the PCs they sell to consumers. Absolutely dreadful.