10 Things to Skip at Disney Hollywood Studios
I won't lie. Disney Hollywood Studios is not my favorite Disney Park by a long shot. There are some areas where I think the park is sorely lacking that you'll see come up quite a bit on my list of things to skip. This includes a general lack of decent quick-service food, and sub-par (for Disney) nighttime shows. However, because of how few attractions there currently are at Disney Hollywood Studios, I struggled to find 10 things I would skip.
But here they are:
10. Star Wars Galactic Spectacular
This is a decent fireworks show. There are some fireworks and there are some projected images on the Chinese theater, and honestly, it isn't bad. It's especially thrilling to hear that first chord of the Star Wars theme song when you are a fan.
But here's the thing: It isn't the best nighttime show in Walt Disney World. You can do so much better by going to Illuminations or Happily Ever After, and to be honest, going to a nighttime show at Walt Disney World shouldn't be taken lightly as you know you will set yourself up for a crowded exit and a long wait for a bus followed by a long standing-room-only ride home. Not fun.
Add to that the awkward timing. This show tends to be timed so it starts about 10 minutes after Disney Movie Magic. Fantasmic will let out somewhere during that 10 minutes, and many of the Fantasmic crowd will come to join the already gathered crowd from Disney Movie Magic to watch the Star Wars Galactic Spectacular. So basically, you will be exiting with about 2 nighttime shows-worth of guests.
Instead: I like to stick with nighttime shows at parks served by the monorail. The shows are better and the exit is a little less painful.
9. Muppet Vision 3D
This is a 3D theater show involving your favorite Muppets. It is super cute so it has that going for it. I do love how Miss Piggy always tries to steal the show. But 3D technology has advanced beyond this ride's showcase and with the technology of today, it's no longer as impressive as it once was. It's cute. You'll get a few chuckles. But I wouldn't say it's worth spending your time waiting for or sitting in.
Instead: Muppet fans should see "Great Moments in History" which is a "pop up" style Muppet show at Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom. The good thing about this is that you don't have to wait - just check the schedule and plan to be in Liberty Square around that time. The Muppets showcase a different event in US history each show. And the song is super catchy: "Great moments in history, great moments in history, great moments in history - but mostly American parts."
8. PizzeRizzo
Near the Muppets courtyard is this pizza place that also serves meatball subs and antipasto salad. The truth is the pizza is just OK. I know sometimes the kids demand pizza, but this is quick service pizza with two choices: pepperoni or cheese, so you know it's for kids and you know it's not going to satisfy an adult.
Instead: In general, I don't recommend quick service dining at Disney Hollywood Studios unless you plan to try Woody's Lunch Box. The best pizza in the World can be found at Via Napoli, which is a table service place in Italy at EPCOT.
7. ABC Commissary
This is one of Disney Hollywood Studios larger quick service dining locations, serving American (and they claim Asian) food. The only reason I could see dining here is an urgent need of air conditioning, because the dining room is indoors. But it is not very well themed (they say it's art deco but it just looks like an old cafeteria) and the food is not interesting or even that good.
Instead: In general, I would not plan to have a quick service meal at Disney Hollywood Studios unless it is Woody's Lunch Box.
6. Any temporary special exhibit about an upcoming movie
Disney Hollywood Studios tends to have an "attraction" about an upcoming or recently released Disney movie. It's basically a promotional gimmick. Sometimes this is just a room where you can sit and see the trailer. Literally. One time, I walked into the Narnia Special Exhibit which was one of the more interesting promotional previews. It attracted me because "snow" was coming out of the building. You stood in a room with artificial snow and a lightpost, then you were let into another room and saw the trailer, then you were let into a third room where the white queen made an appearance, and then you were released.
While that sounds interesting, it's on about the level of much of Disney's pre-show entertainment on other rides. I kept wondering when the attraction would begin, and then before I knew it, I was heading out the exit.
Instead: YouTube the trailer.
5. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
This is a live stunt show themed after Indiana Jones where audience members are chosen to participate. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it is possibly the only remaining attraction at Disney Hollywood Studios that attempts to show behind the scenes secrets of movie-making, in the form of stunts and special effects. That said, it's sort of corny and ho-hum. The theater is huge and chances of having a good seat up close are slim.
Instead: Watch the movie when you get home.
4. Beauty and the Beast
This is a live stage show with a shortened version of Beauty and the Beast. I remember this being really, really good in the late 90's. They had a pre-show with a fun acapella group. They had a live dove release during the finale. It was just awesome. But the show has not aged well, there is no pre-show, and the doves are gone. Now, it's just ok. Add to that that the theater is outside, so if it's a hot, humid, Florida day, it's probably not where you most want to be. I say skip it.
Instead: See the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show. It's in a cooler theater and is a better stage production.
3. Disney Movie Magic
This is a nighttime show where iconic Disney movie images are projected onto the Chinese Theater. This probably was really cool before Happily Ever After came along with its sharp focused videos on the iconic Cinderella Castle. Now, it's just ho hum. It's a thing you can see while you are actually waiting for the Star Wars Galactic Spectacular Fireworks, but it does have an awkward time slot in which it ends about 10 minutes before Star Wars Galactic Spectacular begins. Nobody leaves. Everybody just sort of stands around for that 10 minutes for the next show. It's very weird. I wish Disney Hollywood Studios would work the two in together into one big show.
Instead: See Happily Ever After and no other laser projection show will beat it again.
2. Fantasmic
Fantasmic is Disney Hollywood Studios most popular nighttime show with fireworks and lights on water. Fantasmic is actually a decent show, but it's not as good at Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom or Illuminations at EPCOT. What I most dislike about Fantasmic is exactly what I dislike about Rivers of Light... the amphitheater seating that requires you to show up early and sit for at least an hour before the show even starts. Then the huge crowd bottlenecks after the show upon exit. To me, Fantasmic is not worth wasting my time before the show to hold my spot and after the show bottle-necking out of the park and then waiting for transportation.
I know there are a lot of fans of Fantasmic. Just know that to exit the park after the nighttime show is not a pleasant experience at any Disney park for any nighttime show. It's usually a long, slow walk to transportation and then a very long wait for a bus upon which you will likely stand all the way back to your resort. So, for me, it has to be worth it. Illuminations is worth it. Happily Ever After is worth it. The nighttime shows at Disney Hollywood Studios, eh, not so much.
Instead: Leave before Fantasmic lets out.
1. Dockside Diner
Disney Hollywood Studios is not known for quality quick-service, though that has begun to change with Woody's Lunch Box. Dockside Diner is an example of why: This place sells variations on foot-long hot dogs. And that's all. And while they are decent for hot dogs, they are ridiculously large and not as good as hot dogs at Casey's Corner in Magic Kingdom. It's not inventive, it's not healthy, and it's not even worth the unhealthy factor.
Instead: The best hot dogs in the World are at Casey's Corner. If you are stuck at Disney Hollywood Studios, try to make a meal out of stuff at Anaheim Produce or try to get into Woody's Lunch Box.
For more 10 Things to Skip, check out 10 Things to Skip at Disney's Animal Kingdom, 10 Things to Skip at Magic Kingdom, and 10 Things to Skip at EPCOT.
Did I get it wrong? Tell me your things to skip in the comments.
