The Ultimate Hollywood Studios VS Epcot Showdown: Which is the Better Disney World Park in 2024?

‘Hollywood Studios VS Epcot: which is better?’. This is a common question asked by people planning Disney World vacations.

Maybe you’re going to Disney World for the day. Or you want to spend most of your time at the resort, and pop into the parks occasionally. Or you don’t want the added expense of a multi-day, multi-park or park hopper ticket.

This is totally understandable and totally okay. Even if you went to Disney World every day for a year with park hopper tickets, you probably wouldn’t get to do and see everything.

So, it can be better to take it slow, and enjoy, which sometimes means choosing between parks. Or choosing which park you should spend the most time in.

This post is the ultimate Hollywood Studios VS Epcot Showdown, so we can find out which is the better park.

Hollywood Studios VS Epcot Showdown

Epcot opened on October 1st, 1982, and was the second park at Walt Disney World. For the past four decades, it has been considered one of the best theme parks Disney has ever created (most of that due to the existence of the World Showcase).

Hollywood Studios was the third Disney World park to open on May 1st, 1989. In the past five years, it has seen more additions (including Toy Story Land, Galaxy’s Edge and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway).

1. Theming

Theming at Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has a much simpler theme: Hollywood (I know, shocking).

Not only is this park all about movies, but filming initially took place here. A variety of movies and TV shows were filmed here, including Ernest Saves Christmas and MTV’s Remote Control.

The Lands at Hollywood Studios include:

Sunset Boulevard 🌅
Hollywood Boulevard 🎥
Echo Lake 🦕
Grand Avenue 🍕
Animation Courtyard 🎬
Commissary Lane 🚘
Toy Story Land🎢
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ⭐️

These lands serve the purpose of transforming you into your favourite Disney movies. (This is particularly true in Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge).

Other lands at Hollywood Studios let you into the behind-the-scenes secrets of making movies.

Theming at Epcot

As I already mentioned, Epcot is probably best known for the World Showcase, where you can find 11 pavilions representing the following countries:

The American Adventure 🇺🇸
Canada 🇨🇦
France 🇫🇷
Morocco 🇲🇦
United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Italy 🇮🇹
China 🇨🇳

Mexico 🇲🇽
Japan 🇯🇵
Germany 🇩🇪
Norway 🇳🇴

In addition to this, Epcot has 3 entirely different pavilions including:

Imagination Pavillion 💭
The Land Pavillion 🌳
The Seas Pavillion 🌊

As the name suggests, these pavilions are far more focused on nature and creativity than culture.

Epcot has a unique range of themes for just one park.

Hollywood Studios VS Epcot: Which park has better theming?

Because Hollywood Studios is filmed after movie-making, it was a cheap project for Disney. In fact, it only cost $500 million to build the third Walt Disney World Park.

I know that doesn’t sound inexpensive, but for building a Disney theme park, it really was.

And this was no coincidence. Michael Eisner was the CEO of Disney at the time, and part of his legacy became creating cheap (arguably uninventive) theme parks. He was CEO for the opening of Walt Disney Studios and Disneyland’s California Adventure – which were unimpressive to many guests in the early 2000s.

Hollywood Studios has a similar theme to those parks, but it doesn’t feel cheap like the other “movie-making” theme parks did.

In comparison, the cost of the construction of Epcot was between an estimated $800 million to $1.4 billion

And you can tell that it was more expensive. Building the World Showcase Pavillion – with the intricate details (as well as the other Pavillions) clearly wasn’t a bargain for Disney.

That being said, though Epcot feels like a higher-quality park overall, it doesn’t necessarily win this round.

That’s because Epcot doesn’t have one clear central theme. The World Showcase contrasts starkly with the other three pavilions, whereas Hollywood Studios is a more cohesive park.

2. Number of attractions

Epcot currently has over 65 attractions (if you count meet-and-greets and different animals etc. as an attraction).

Hollywood Studios, on the other hand, has about half the number of attractions, at just over 35 – even after the major expansions over the last few years.

Number of Roller Coasters at Hollywood Studios & Epcot:

Hollywood Studios exceeds this with 5 thrill rides:

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (I wouldn’t say this is a thrilling ride, but some – including Disney – would consider it to be thrilling)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

According to the Disney site, Epcot has 3 thrill rides:

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Mission: SPACE
Test Track

Number of Slow Rides at Hollywood Studios and Epcot

Hollywood Studios has 4 main slow rides:

Alien Swirling Saucers
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Star Wars – The Adventures Continue
Toy Story Mania!

On the other hand, Epcot has double the number of slow rides:

Frozen Ever After
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
Living With The Land
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Soarin’ Around The World
Spaceship Earth

Number of shows at Hollywood Studios & Epcot

Both Hollywood Studios and Epcot have a selection of some of the best Disney World shows.

Hollywood Studios has plenty of shows, including:

Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage
Disney Junior Play and Dance!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Green Army Drum Corps
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Muppet*Vision 3D
Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey &.Minnie

Walt Disney Presents
Wonderful World of Animation
Fantasmic!

@caffeinebythecastle
Disney World’s Fantasmic is 25 years old today! 🎉💖 #fantasmic #hollywoodstudios 💖
♬ Disney Fantasmic World(1394272) – Tiara’s Producer T

Epcot also has a large selection of shows:

Matsuriza
The American Adventure
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
Command Performance
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
International Festival of the Holidays – Candlelight Processional
Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare
International Flower & Garden Festival – Garden Rocks Concert Series
Turtle Talk with Crush
Voices of Liberty
Epcot Forever

Hollywood Studios VS Epcot: Which park has better attractions?

There is no definitive, “one size fits all” answer for this.

If you have younger kids, you’ll find more suitable slow rides at Epcot.

However, if you’re a thrill-seeker, you’ll find more “exciting” and fast rides at Hollywood Studios.

If shows are your favourite Disney attractions, you really can’t go wrong with either park, but I would make the argument that the selection is better at Hollywood Studios. As you’d expect, considering the “movie-making” theming of this park.

3. Dining

Epcot may be better known for its dining, but both these parks have a plethora of dining options.

That being said, Epcot has 65 places to dine, whereas Hollywood Studios only has 30.

Table Service Dining at Hollywood Studios & Epcot

Hollywood Studios only has 6 table-service dining locations, including:

50’s Prime Time Café (American table service)
Hollywood & Vine (American Buffet)
The Hollywood Brown Derby (American, fine/signature dining)
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano (casual American table service)
Roundup Rodeo BBQ (American table service)
Sci-Fi Dine IN Theater Restaurant (American table service)

There aren’t a lot of options, but there’s something to be said about quality over quantity – especially when it comes to theme park food.

Epcot, on the other hand, has 21 table service dining locations:

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (American, character dining)
Biergarten Restaurant (German buffet)
Chefs de France (French table service)
Coral Reef Restaurant (American seafood)
Garden Grill Restaurant (character dining, American)
Le Crêperie de Paris (casual table service)
La Hacienda de San Angel (Mexican table service
Le Cellier Steakhouse (American fine/signature dining)
Monsieur Paul (French fine/signature dining)
Nine Dragons Restaurant (Asian/Chinese table service)
Restaurant Marrakesh – Temporarily Unavailable – (Mediterranean/Moroccan Table Service)
Rose & Crown Dining Room (British dining)
Rose & Crown Pub (British table service pub)
San Angel Inn Restaurant (Mexican table service)
Space 220 Lounge (unique, casual table service)
Space 220 Restaurant (unique table service)
Spice Road Table (Mediterranean table service)
Takumi-Tei (fine/signature Asian, Japanese dining)
Teppan Eco (Asian, Japanese dining)
Tutto Italia Ristorante (Italian dining)
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (Italian table service)

If you like table service and fine/signature dining, Epcot is probably going to be best for you – especially for the large variety of cuisines.

Quick Service Dining at Hollywood Studios and Epcot

Quick service dining is arguably where Hollywood Studios shines. Here are the 18 quick service dining locations at Hollywood Studios:

ABC Commissary (American)
Anaheim Produce (American)
Backlot Express (American)
Catalina Eddie’s (American)
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (American)
Dockside Diner (American)
Epic Eats (American)
Fairfax Fare (American)
Hollywood Scoops (American)
Kat Sara’s Kettle (American)
KRNR The Rock Station (American)
Market (American)
Neighborhood Bakery (American)
PizzeRizzo (Italian – the only Hollywood Studios quick service that isn’t American!)
Ronto Roasters (American)
Rosie’s All-American Café (American – as the name suggests!)
The Trolley Car Café (American)
Woody’s Lunch Box (American)

Epcot also has an impressive list of quick service dining locations, including:

Block & Hans (American)
Choza de Margarita (Mexican)
Connections Café (American/British)
Connections Eatery (American)
Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris (French)
Funnel Cake (American)
Gelateria Toscana (Italian)
Joy of Tea (Chinese)
Kabuki Cafe (Asian, Japanese)
Katsura Grill (Asian, Japanese)
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe (Norwegian)
La Cantina de San Angel (Mexican)
The Land Court (American)
L’Artisan des Glaces (French)
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (French)
Les Vins de Chefs de France (French)
Lotus Blossom Café (Asian, Chinese)
Popcorn in Canada (Canadian & American)
Refreshment Outpost (American)
Refreshment Port (American)
Refreshment Station (American)
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (American)
Sommerfest (German)
Sunshine Seasons (American)
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Mediterranean, Moroccan)
UK Beer Cart (British)
Yorkshire County Fish Shop (British & American)

It is worth noting that Epcot also has food booths during their four festivals over the year (more on this later).

Hollywood Studios VS Epcot: Which park has better dining options?

Overall, due to the lack of variety, Hollywood Studios is not quite as good as Epcot when it comes to dining.

However, anecdotally, I prefer eating at Hollywood Studios – mainly because Epcot doesn’t have Woody’s Lunch Box (I swear, the Totchos will change your life!).

4. Transportation to the parks

Epcot and Hollywood Studios are quite close together.

They are both near Boardwalk (hence why you can walk, catch the Skyliner or a water taxi) to them if you’re staying in this area.

You can also catch the Skyliner to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot if you’re staying in any of the following 4 resorts:

Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort

If you’re staying in one of these 3 resorts, you’ll be able to get to Epcot on the Monorail:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort (including Disney Vacation Club Bay Lake Tower)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (including the DVC Villas & Bungalows)
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (including the DVC Villas)

If you’re driving to either of the parks, the prices will be the same:

Standard Parking is $25
Oversized Vehicle Parking is $30
Preferred Parking is $45-$50

The Hollywood Studios’ parking lot is located conveniently outside the entrance.

Similarly, Epcot’s parking lot is also right outside the theme park.

5. Exclusive Events

Hollywood Studios and Epcot both host exclusive events that you might not want to miss!

Exclusive Events at Hollywood Studios

There are a couple of exciting events at Hollywood Studios:

Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – an event where guests with eligible tickets get to stay at the park for 3 hours after closing for everyone else. You can enjoy shorter wait times for attractions, meet characters and enjoy snacks included with the price of the ticket (which is usually about $155 – but as tickets have sold out for 2023, we are unsure of what the prices will be in 2024).
Disney Jollywood Nights – a new glamorous Christmas event at Hollywood Studios. At this event, you can celebrate the season, meet characters, enjoy attractions without the long lines, watch shows, and more! The standard prices of these tickets are $159-$179 per ticket.

Exclusive Events at Epcot

Epcot is best known for its festivals, which include:

Epcot International Festival of The Arts – where you can enjoy art and food!
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – the perfect Springtime festival – especially for gardeners (who love food)!
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – the most popular festival for those who want to eat and drink around the world!

Epcot International Festival of The Holidays – the festive, Christmas festival, where you can watch the beloved Candlelight Processional (with celebrity narrators) – and enjoy festive offerings.

Ta Ta For Now

Now that we’re at the end of the Hollywood Studios VS Epcot showdown, which do you think is the better park?

Objectively speaking, I think Epcot wins. But, Hollywood Studios has improved drastically in the past few years, that you really can’t go wrong with visiting either of the parks.

This post is the ultimate Hollywood Studios VS Epcot Showdown.