If Walt Walked Into Hollywood Studios Today… Would It Pass The Walt Test?
Is Disney’s Hollywood Studios delivering the guest experience Walt Disney believed every Disney guest should receive? Disney’s Hollywood Studios contains some of Walt Disney World’s most immersive lands, memorable attractions and strongest entertainment. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Fantasmic and more can make this one of Disney’s greatest storytelling parks. But there is another side to the Hollywood Studios experience: Florida heat, limited shade and seating, long attraction waits, smartphone dependence, accessibility concerns and the growing cost of managing a Disney park day. In Episode 5 of The Walt Test, we apply all 12 of Walt’s Guest Experience Standards to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first time. We examine: • Whether every guest truly feels welcome • How well Hollywood Studios is designed around the guest • Accessibility, DAS and the experience of guests with mobility limitations • Seating, shade and the challenges of Toy Story Land • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Disney’s immersive storytelling • Lightning Lane, value and the trust guests place in Disney • Disney’s continuing investment in Hollywood Studios • Shows, restaurants and experiences for guests who don't ride everything • Whether Hollywood Studios still works for adults visiting without children • And whether guests ultimately leave the park feeling better than when they arrived We also include comments from members of our Disney for Seniors Facebook group, now more than 110,000 members strong. These surveys are not scientific polls and do not determine our scores. They provide another way to compare our experiences with what other longtime Disney guests are seeing. After all 12 standards are scored, Hollywood Studios averages a little over 4 out of 5 stars. But the number isn't really the story. Disney’s Hollywood Studios may be Disney’s strongest storytelling park. The stories Disney asks us to enter are often extraordinary. The path guests must take to enjoy those stories isn't always nearly as well designed. What score would you give Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Which of Walt’s Guest Experience Standards does the park meet best—and which most needs improvement? Please share your thoughts for others in the comments. Chapters 00:00 If Walt Walked Into Hollywood Studios Today... 01:31 The Walt Test: 12 Standards 02:56 1. Every Guest Must Feel Welcome 07:58 2. Design for the Guest 12:07 3. Serve Every Guest 15:42 4. Create a World Guests Can Believe In 18:50 5. Earn and Protect the Guest's Trust 22:14 6. Never Stop Making It Better 24:08 7. Guests Should Leave Feeling Better 27:35 8. The Whole Park Should Be the Experience 31:04 9. Each Land Should Create a Distinct World 33:22 10. Every Attraction Should Tell a Story 36:32 11. Adults Can Enjoy the Park Their Way 40:03 12. Every Park Moment Should Delight Guests 43:45 Did Hollywood Studios Pass The Walt Test? Nancy & Dan Travel Disney parks • Disney resorts • Disney Cruise Line • Ports & destinations #DisneysHollywoodStudios #WaltDisneyWorld #TheWaltTest #DisneyWorld #DisneyParks We share thoughtful, real-world Disney experiences — parks, resorts, and cruises — enjoyed at your own pace. New videos weekly. @NanDanTravel