A few months ago I wrote a blog called Why Epcot is My Favorite Park in which I gave some very compelling reasons (namely Food, Special Events, The Holidays, The Rides, Illuminations, The Size and Layout and its Uniqueness) why Epcot is my favorite of the Walt Disney World parks. That article received quite a bit of feedback most of it agreeing with my selection. And yet here I sit six months later writing a follow-up column explaining why I was wrong.
First off, a confession. Even as I wrote that first column, I knew I might some day write this one. Choosing my favorite park at Walt Disney World is never easy and the very thing that makes one stand out one day may make it fall out of favor the next. Confession #2 – after my first visit to Walt Disney World in 1997 I came away – much to surprise – saying my favorite of the parks was Disney-MGM Studios (this was pre-Animal Kingdom). And even today, it's hard for me to feel differently. Why??? I'll tell you…
Warning: Some of this may seem familiar
Food: Epcot has the variety, but the Studios has four restaurants that are among my favorites and that I'd be willing to have dinner at any time. The Brown Derby has wonderful food in a theme-park upscale environment. Not as upscale as Epcot, but that's ok at a theme park. Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In both create a wonderfully fun atmosphere. They're both theme park dining at its absolute best. And even Mama Melrose – while nothing spectacular in the food or fun category – is one of my favorite places for its quiet atmosphere and Italian food.
Special Events: Epcot has the grandeur of the Flower and Garden and Food and Wine and they are long and huge with food, entertainment, guests and much more. But in the end, it's a bunch of flowers and a lot of food and wine this non-drinking vegetarian can't have. But ESPN the Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios? Now we're talking. I've been able to meet Peter Gammons, Steve Phillips, Jim Palmer, Woody Paige, Kristi Yamaguchi and many others. In a much more informal setting than on ESPN I've watched and laughed as ESPN personalities talked sports with each, with the audiences and with guest athletes. I've seen Stump the Schwab played live more times than I can count and found out which athletes really know their stuff. And best of all, I've been able to watch the Mike and Mike Show broadcast live on two separate occasions. None of that can be topped (in my book) with butterfly gardens and chocolate tastings. Star Wars Weekends are fun, Super Soap … never been, but ESPN the Weekend alone is enough to make me give due favorite-park-consideration to Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The Attractions: Disney's Hollywood Studios has two of the top three thrill rides in Walt Disney World and they're located right next door to each other. Of course I'm referring to Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, RnR is just plain fun and ToT is perhaps the best attraction ever created. And with their proximity to each other you get to go back and forth all day long riding them over and over again. But even if thrill rides aren't your thing DHS still delivers with the incredibly fun Toy Story Midway Mania, the amazing Fantasmic!, the classic Great Movie Ride and two underrated attractions – Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Muppet*Vision 3D. In fact, after my first visit in 1997, those were my two favorite attractions in all of WDW (excluding the ones that can also be found at Disneyland). Finally, I'm also a big fan of Lights! Motors! Action! All-in-all, Disney's Hollywood Studios has, perhaps, the highest percentage of attractions I enjoy. (It also has Sounds Dangerous, but I'll save that for another time…)
The Holidays: Ever since they added the word "dancing" to the Osborne Spectacle of "Dancing" Lights this Studios mainstay took on a new life. It is spectacular to stand in the midst of all that wattage and see and hear (and it is loud) those lights dance all around you. And the snow is the perfect icing on the cake making this a wonderful Disney holiday experience.
The Size and Layout: I'm a regular visitor to the parks so this positive won't apply to everyone, but Disney's Hollywood Studios is the easiest park to get into and around by far. The only other park with parking as close as DHS is Epcot but once you're inside, it's huge. At DHS you can walk from your car to the entrance in a few short minutes and less than 10 minutes later be at the farthest reaches of the park. And with rides like Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster that you just want to do over and over again, it's actually possible to drive over, go ride one of them and get out of the park in less than an hour during slower times of the year.
It's Got Energy: As I walk towards Disney's Hollywood Studios I always feel like I'm about to walk into an energetic place. DHS has a lot going on in its compact size (starting with Streetmosphere) that gives it an energetic feeling unmatched in the other parks.
So now that I've thought more about it, I'm pretty sure I've made up my mind. Disneys' Hollywood Studios is definitely my favorite Walt Disney World park. Today.