Hollywood Studios consists of seven named areas. It’s one of the smaller parks, so it’s not too difficult to navigate and shouldn’t tire you out too quickly.
You’ll enter the park by walking along Hollywood Boulevard. Then, you can turn right and head down Sunset Boulevard, head straight into Animation Courtyard, or turn left into Echo Lake. To the left of Animation Courtyard, you’ll find Commissary Lane, and from there you can go either direction around a circular path that will take you to, in clockwise order, Grand Avenue, Star Wars:Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and back down to Animation Courtyard.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway takes guests on a wacky adventure with Mickey and Minnie and other classic Disney characters. You’ll board a train run by Goofy and, as you might be able to guess, things get crazy quickly!
Guests are taken on a wild and unpredictable journey through a series of colorful and zany scenes that feel like they are straight out of an animated short.
On this ride, you’ll feel like you’ve ridden right into a classic cartoon, with lots of fun and exciting surprises along the way, blurring the line between reality and animation. It’s a perfect attraction for the whole family!
This ride is perfect if: You have a mix of ages and thrill preferences in your group, but everyone loves Mickey and Minnie!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a fast and thrilling indoor coaster set to Aerosmith’s hit songs. You’re trying to get to the concert on time, so you have to take the fast lane in a super stretch limo!
One hallmark of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is how fast it starts. You’ll go from 0 to 57 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds, then experience numerous inversions, loops, and corkscrews as you speed by some of Hollywood’s iconic landmarks.
This ride is perfect if: You love fast coasters and rock ‘n’ roll music and are okay with being jostled around a bit (it’s not the smoothest coaster ever)!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is themed after the classic television show “The Twilight Zone” and takes guests on a spooky journey through a haunted hotel that ends in a freefall elevator ride.
Throughout the experience, guests are treated to a series of special effects and surprises before being dropped. The drop pattern is random, which means it’s different every time you ride!
This ride is perfect if: You’re a fan of spooky thrills, suspense, and don’t mind a freefall!
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy takes place inside a state-of-the-art theater, featuring a massive, wraparound screen that serves as the backdrop for the action. Guests are first welcomed by Lightning McQueen himself, who shares some of his racing wisdom and invites the audience to become rookie racers.
This attraction is good for all ages and will be most enjoyed by kids who love the Cars movies. Older kids and adults who are more interested in thrill rides could skip this one without missing much.
This ride is perfect if: You adore Cars and racing.
Walt Disney Presents is a tribute to Walt Disney, featuring interactive exhibits and a 15-minute film. Guests can view artifacts, rare photos, and original artwork, and learn more about Walt Disney’s creative process.
The film, called “One Man’s Dream,” tells the story of Walt Disney’s life and career. The film features rare footage and interviews with Walt Disney, as well as his family members, friends, and colleagues who worked with him throughout his life.
This attraction is perfect if: You want to learn more about the man behind the mouse!
If you’ve got Disney Junior fans in your group, you won’t want to miss Disney Junior Dance Party! Little ones will love seeing their favorite characters, including Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Mickey Mouse.
During the 25-minute show, the audience is encouraged to get up and dance to fun, familiar music, alongside colorful visuals and special effects that will dazzle the youngsters, and maybe the adults too!
This attraction is perfect if: Your little ones are regular Disney Junior watchers.
At Star Wars Launch Bay, you have the opportunity to peruse exhibits featuring Star Wars costumes, artwork, and movie props. You can also view a short documentary about the franchise, meet some of the characters from the movies, and do some Star Wars-themed shopping.
This attraction is perfect if: You’re a big fan of Star Wars and would be interested in learning more about the making of the films.
Star Tours is a Star Wars-themed, 3D motion-simulator ride where anything can happen! The ride takes you through several different Star Wars planets, but the selection is different every time, making it fun to ride over and over again. You may even be selected as the Rebel Spy!
We love Star Tours and have been known to ride many times, to see how many different combinations we can get. Not for those with motion sickness!
This ride is perfect if: You love Star Wars and want to be part of the action — and you have a strong stomach!
Muppet Vision 3D combines 3D film and live-action performances to bring the beloved Muppet characters to life. The show takes place in the Muppet Theater, where Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and other Muppets perform a series of musical and comedy skits.
The show will likely entertain adults who have fond memories of the Muppets from their childhood, as well as kids who will enjoy the songs and jokes. It provides a nice break from some of the more thrilling rides and gives you a chance to sit, relax, and be entertained for a while!
This ride is perfect if: You’re a Muppets fan or in the mood for a laugh.
Any fan of Star Wars won’t want to miss riding Rise of the Resistance! This attraction goes far beyond being just a ride and truly is a fully immersive experience.
As a member of the resistance, you’ll enter the secret base and board a resistance transport ship. Unfortunately, that ship gets captured by the First Order and you end up on a Star Destroyer. From there, you’ll board a trackless vehicle and attempt your escape.
The ride successfully combines special effects, realistic animatronics, a variety of ride mechanics and elements, and cast member interaction to create a one-of-a-kind experience. And maybe best of all, the whole family can enjoy it!
This ride is perfect if: You are a Star Wars fan and want to feel like the star of the next Star Wars movie while enjoying an exciting ride!
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run allows Star Wars fans to realize their dream of flying on the iconic Millennium Falcon!
Anyone familiar with the franchise will be astounded upon walking into the ship’s hold and then the cockpit.
In groups of six, riders will take on the roles of pilot, gunner, or engineer (two of each) as you attempt to complete a smuggling mission. The ride is interactive, with each guest’s actions affecting the outcome of the mission.
This ride is perfect if: You’ve always wanted to fly the Millennium Falcon and you enjoy interactive rides where your actions determine the ending.
Slinky Dog Dash is one of our favorite rides at Hollywood Studios. The coaster is good for a wide range of ages, while still providing a small thrill and being unique, unlike most “kiddie coasters” that all have the same track pattern.
The ride’s design and queue include bright colors and oversized toys that make you feel like you’ve stepped into the world of Toy Story. Once on the ride, you’ll enjoy several twists, turns, and drops, as well as a fun launch section.
This ride is perfect if: You love Toy Story and enjoy a medium-level thrill, or if you’re traveling with a group of mixed ages and thrill tolerances.
Toy Story Mania takes guests on an interactive ride through a series of carnival games inspired by the Toy Story movies. Each game station utilizes a spring-action shooter that guests use to hit virtual targets — popping balloons, tossing rings, breaking plates, and more.
Toy Story Mania is a fan-favorite thanks to its fun gameplay and nostalgic theming. Anyone can ride, making it a popular choice for families. Little ones may struggle with the shooter, but they can also ust sit back and enjoy the ride.
This ride is perfect if: You enjoy interactive game rides where you can compete against your friends.
The third ride in Toy Story Land is Alien Swirling Saucers, a spinning/whip ride where you’ll hop into a toy saucer and try to avoid the “Claw!”
Alien Swirling Saucers is similar to a tea cup style ride, but the ride vehicles themselves don’t spin in circles. Rather, they follow a circular track and “whip” the riders from side to side at times. If you don’t do well with spinning rides, you may still be able to tolerate this ride. It’s the same design as Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure.
This ride is perfect if: You want a small thrill or have children in your travel party.
Yes, you can ride every ride at Hollywood Studios in one day, if all goes according to plan. If you also want to meet characters, watch shows, and enjoy sit-down meals, you may have to pick and choose rides.
You’ll give yourself the best chance of maximizing your ride time if you visit during a less busy time of year (we prefer January, September, and the first half of November), going on a weekday is best, go on a day when the park is open early and closes late, and go early!
Arrive an hour before the posted opening time, at least. You’ll wait a little bit at the park entrance, but once you’re inside you’ll be able to get right on your first few rides, and you’ll be ahead of everyone else piling into the park a little later in the morning. If you are staying onsite and can get into the park an hour early, that’s a huge advantage so take it!
Go to the most popular rides first. Those lines will get long quickly and usually stay long throughout the rest of the day.
Sometimes it’s a good strategy to go to a big ride right at the end of the day, because Disney will let you get into line right up until closing time, which means you could be in the park (in line and on the ride) well after the official close time. But I like to save this tactic for reriding a favorite ride. That way, if it doesn’t work out, we still got to ride it.
Disney has changed up their ride reservation system a lot over the past few years, and it’s hard to keep up! I’ll explain what I know and do my best to keep this updated.
FastPass and FastPass+ are gone. Kiss ‘em goodbye. Unlearn those words.
Disney Genie is a virtual planner in the My Disney Experience app that helps you schedule your day and ideally do everything you want to do with minimum wait times. It’s free, but it doesn’t allow you to schedule any ride reservations. That’s where Disney Genie+ comes in.
Disney Genie+ is a paid service that allows you to schedule reservations for certain rides and attractions throughout the parks. When you arrive at your reservation time, you’ll use the Lightning Lane to get on the ride quickly.
Not every ride has a Lightning Lane, but many do. You can book additional reservations after you’ve redeemed your most recent reservation, or 120 minutes after you’ve scheduled your most recent reservation.
Some of the most popular rides open up a Virtual Queue on the My Disney Experience app at certain times of day. This allows you to secure a spot in a boarding group that will get called to ride the ride at some point that day. These are free, but you have to have fast fingers to snag one!
At Walt Disney World in April 2023, the only rides using Virtual Queue are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park.
Lastly, some attractions have Individual Lightning Lanes. These are popular rides that are not included in the Genie+ reservation System. Instead, you have to purchase an a la carte Lightning Lane reservation, and you’re limited to two per day.
The good news here is that if you aren’t able to get a Virtual Queue boarding pass for the ride you were just dying to experience, you might be able to buy your way on.
Exhausted yet? Well now you just have to remember that there are even more rules for when and where you can purchase/reserve these various ride reservations. For some you have to be in the park, some require the park to be officially open first, others you can book in the early morning before the park opens…
It takes some research, but if you want to do all the things, it’s worth spending the time. You just read this overview, so you’re well on your way!
There are plenty of things to do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that cater to a wide range of interests and ages. Beyond the rides and attractions, guests can explore the themed lands, catch live shows, meet iconic characters, and enjoy delicious food and beverages.
Hollywood Studios is home to some of the best stage shows at Disney World. The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is a can’t-miss, with its live-action stunts, special effects, and pyrotechnics.
One of the most popular shows is Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, which is an impressive musical production.
Fans of Frozen will definitely want to catch For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, where they can sing along to their favorite songs from the movie while watching a retelling of the story.
The park also features the stunning Fantasmic! nighttime show, where fireworks, lasers, and water effects combine to create a magical spectacle.
And don’t forget to catch the Wonderful World of Animation projection and fireworks show to finish your day at Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars fans will love the immersive quality of Galaxy’s Edge, plus there are two special activities you can participate in there. Make your own droid at the Droid Depot, or assemble a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop.
Visit a workshop stocked with parts, chips, manuals and other tech items useful for constructing your very own droid, one of the galaxy’s most indispensable sidekicks.
Build your own custom lightsaber at this secret workshop and continue the way of the Force.
The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant is one of my favorites themed restaurants to eat at! It's lots of fun to eat while sitting in a “car” and watching classic movies. The menu at Sci-Fi Dine-In is not extremely extensive, but it does have a variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts, shakes, and drinks that will likely fit the needs of every member of your party. This restaurant classic American-style diner type foods. The drink menu offers up beer, wine, non-alcoholic milkshakes and a few mixed drinks under the Cosmic Concoctions section!
This dining option serves mostly American comfort food with a better menu than other restaurants at DHS. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with solid choices for each. .
Here they treat you like family. The cast members are your cousins, and they can be sassy. Before they get into their schtick, they ask if you are okay with it. It’s funny and a different experience than you’d get anywhere else at Hollywood Studios, which is why their menu items are pricey. It can get loud, and you might be emotionally drained from the banter by the end of your meal.
The Milk Stand in Galaxy’s Edge serves a “Blue Milk” or “Green Milk” frozen slushy which not everyone will find appetizing, but it’s worth a try!
Grab a quick service bite surrounded by posters featuring favorite shows presented by the ABC network at the ABC Commissary!
ABC Commissary is themed as a simple commissary for a production studio, ABC Commissary has a quick service menu featuring a few twists with an international flair. The dining room has a generous air-conditioned seating area indoors to accommodate the large crowds that dine during peak meal times.
I hope this post has helped you plan the perfect day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I wish you great weather, short lines, and a ton of Hollywood Studios fun and great memories!
Copyright © 2023 Heart's Desire Adventures - All Rights Reserved.
As to Disney artwork, logos and properties: © Disney
© & ™ Lucasfilm LTD. All rights Reserved
Disney Cruise Line - Ships Registry: The Bahamas Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2023 Universal Studios. All rights reserved
© Nintendo. Nintendo trademarks are properties of Nintendo.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.