Need 2 days for Hollywood Studios??

[gracie1]

I posted this on the DIS site as well, trying to get as much advice as I can!
Here's the deal. We are spending 2 days at MK, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day at HS and 1 day at IOA. I am wondering if we should cancel our Epcot day and do 2 at HS. Our kids are 9, 7 & 3 and when we were looking at the show schedule for HS, along with the attractions & meet & greets, Fantasmic! I just don't know how you fit it all into one day, without splitting up. We had the kids look at the list of shows and everything to see if they wanted to cut anything, and they want to do it all. Plus, we will go back to the resort mid-day so our youngest can nap. What do you think? Would you trade in Epcot?? Does it take 2 days to do everything at HS? (remember, we will take a 2-3 hour break). Thanks!!

 

[gracie1]

DO NOT miss this! The Animation Academy is one of our favorite trip events, and you get a wonderful (free) souveneir! We go several times during a trip - anytime we are at HS. The Meet & Greets have some of the shortest lines and characters you cant see anywhere else!

I had another person tell me not to miss the animation building. Once I told my kids about that, they were so excited to do the animation class. I saw the line-up for the meet and greets, and your right --there are some great characters!

 

[gracie1]

Make sure you get there early to get him signed up - we got to HS around 11 and when my 5 year old saw the show he got so excited to do it but they had already given out all of the time slot passes for the day. We went back 2 days later, got to the park at 8:15 and went to Hollywood and Vine for Breakfast (no ADR necessary - just tell the person at the turnstyle you are going for a walk-up) so we were to the left of the main crowd for rope drop. We ran straight to the Jedi stage (my mom ran to TSM for fastpasses) and got the kids signed up for the first show. MAKE SURE THE KID(S) ARE WITH YOU - THEY WILL NOT SIGN THEM UP WITHOUT SEEING A KID! We could have arrived later and still gotten the kids in, but they assign the kids in 15 kid groups for each show for the day, and if you get there late you could be assigned to a show late in the day which would interfere with your touring plans (or worse, get shut out). It was totally worth it - bring a video camera!

Thanks for the tip on the Jedi Training. We will be sure to get there early. I was thinking about doing breakfast at H&V, but worried we'd get out too late and have to wait in line for everything. But it sounds like it worked out good for you. How long did breakfast take?

 

[gracie1]

I think you are right about DHS being a 2 day park - we did miss some things this last trip even with doing Fantasmic on one night and then coming back to spend an entire day at DHS another day.

I will say that we fit in RnR, ToT (twice), Beauty & the Beast, Little Mermaid, Art of Animation, the Osborne lights (holidays only), and Toy Story Midway Mania (twice) all in one day. Plus we left for about 3 hours to have dinner at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. But I think it might have been because it was a NON- Fantasmic day. Fantasmic days tend to be more crowded which equals longer lines.

I will also say (just to confuse things a little more! :lol that at the end of our recent 10 day trip, my 8 year old niece and 4 year old niece were asked what their favorite rides were of the entire trip. Both chose an Epcot ride: Soarin for the 8 year old and Test Track for the 4 year old. Just throwing it out there!

Here's a link to my trip report about our day at DHS. It should take you right to that day: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=664099&page=4

Edit: I wanted to add: Go ahead and plan that 2nd trip! Because in my humble opinion, the BEST shows at WDW are at the Animal Kingdom. Festival of the Lion King is like a Cirque du Soleil included in your park ticket and Nemo is Broadway worthy.

Thanks for the info and I loved reading your trip report...just makes me even more excited for May to get here!!

 

[NYwdwfan]

Thanks for the tip on the Jedi Training. We will be sure to get there early. I was thinking about doing breakfast at H&V, but worried we'd get out too late and have to wait in line for everything. But it sounds like it worked out good for you. How long did breakfast take?

It's a buffet - so you can pretty much make it quick if you need to. We were seated immediately (without a reservation) at about 8:20-ish and the place was EMPTY. The waitress took our drink orders and we went right over to fill our plates. My husband went back for thirds (he gets his money's worth at those buffets!) and I think we were out of there by 8:55. The timing was perfect. If you make a reservation for 8-8:15 you will have plenty of time. They don't let you past the rope until 9 anyway so might as well kill time eating! :slurp:

 

[gracie1]

I'm going to do Ridemax and see where that put's us. If we have too much in one day, we'll make it a 2 day park.

 

[MickeyPeace]

Animal Kingdom should be on the agenda. If your kids like shows-Lion King and Nemo. Best shows in WDW. There is also Its Tough To Be A Bug 4D movie. Flights of Wonder-a show with live birds. Rafikis Planet Watch-a petting zoo. This is the place for shows. It will allow your kids imagination to run wild.