8 Points to Understanding Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If you haven’t been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the past few years, you should know that a lot has changed! We are big fans of the additions and are thrilled that Disney continues to impress us with their ability to submerge us into a world of film and theater. “Lights… camera…” before you shout “ACTION,” make the most of your Hollywood Studio visit by understanding the points we share here!

1 – It’s Nostalgic…but also Fresh!

As you step through the gates into Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the nostalgia of the Golden Age of Hollywood is ever-present. From when the park opened in 1989 until now – film, music, and theater are the keystones of Hollywood Studios. The best part is that while we absolutely love the nostalgic feeling the park has to offer, we especially enjoy the additions of newer and exciting experiences that truly allow guests to be immersed in the film world.

2 – Arrive in Style

Hollywood Studios has some of the very best Disney Transportation for guests going to and from the park. The most exciting way to arrive and end your day is with a ride on the Disney Skyliner. You can pick up the Skyliner at several Disney Resorts, including Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, and Pop Century Resorts. You’ll also find a station for ease of park hopping just outside of Epcot – ideal for Epcot Resort guests. If the Skyliner isn’t an option, Disney buses and boats are available. Driving in? The parking lot is huge! Be sure to snap a photo or text a friend your parking lot and row number.

3 – Nine Sections

Grab a park map and times guide, and/or be sure you have your My Disney Experience App open and ready to go, as you’ll likely need it to navigate through Hollywood Studios. Even better, save yourself the stress and get familiar with the park and the nine sections it has before you arrive!

• Hollywood Boulevard: This is the boulevard is the grand entrance! It’s lined with tall palm trees, shops, and has some of the best views of the iconic Chinese Theater for a perfect photo op.
• Sunset Boulevard: Stroll down Sunset Boulevard, which ends with two thrilling attractions – Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. There are shops, bites to eat, and the ever-popular live-action Beauty and the Beast Theater. Fantasmic! takes place nightly in this section. The boulevard ends with Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.
• Animation Courtyard: This section involves the Chinese Theater, which is where a lot of the magic happens as the evening unfolds with a nighttime spectacular! Disney Junior Dance Party, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Star Wars: Launch Bay, and Walt Disney Presents are here. Plus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is inside the Chinese Theater!
• Echo Lake: Gertie the Dinosaur stands watch in the lake over some of the best dining options in the park. You’ll also find live-action shows, including the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. A dose of Star Wars is in this area, including Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and Jedi Training.
• Commissary Lane: Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams is a great meet and greet in this section. Nostalgic and ever-popular, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant calls Commissary Lane home. Looking for quick-service food? Check out the ABC Commissary.
• Grand Avenue: Enjoy some laughs in Grand Avenue with Muppet Vision in 3D. Baseline Tap House, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano are eateries in this area.
• Pixar Place: There are no attractions here, as it serves as a spot to celebrate Pixar. Check out the Instagram-worthy #DisneyWalls and specialty bites and beverages.
• Toy Story Land: A favorite land for guests of all ages – Toy Story Land features three headliner attractions, including Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, and Toy Story Mania. Have a meal or snack at Woody’s Lunch Box, meet Toy Story characters, and enjoy the colorful and fun atmosphere.
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The newest land in the park, Galaxy’s Edge, is home to two immersive attractions, including Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The land directly takes guests away from the Golden Age into the Star Wars universe on Planet Batuu. Memorable shopping and galactic bites are just a small but excellent part of this land’s unbelievable existence!

4 – Lightning Lane at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

You might want to consider purchasing access to the new Lightning Lane on busy days. There are two Lightning Lane paid options that include different attractions. First, you can purchase Disney Genie+ for the day of your visit. This costs anywhere from $15-$39 per day, per person. With Genie+, you can access the Lightning Lane at twelve attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Much like the original FastPass system, you can only book one Lightning Lane attraction at a time. At 7 am on the day of your visit within the My Disney Experience App, you’ll book your first return window at one of the attractions below. After that, you can make one selection at a time, based on availability. Also, note that you can only use the Lightning Lane for each attraction on the list one time. You cannot book another return window for an attraction you’ve already used for Lightning Lane that day. See the list below for the Genie+ attractions at the park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• • • 1. Alien Swirling Saucers
      2. Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
      3. Disney Jr. Play and Dance
      4. Frozen Sing-Along
      5. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
      6. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
      7. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
      8. Muppet*Vision 3D
      9. Rock ‘n’ roller Coaster
      10. Slinky Dog Dash
      11. Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
      12. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
      13. Toy Story Mania

A second option for purchasing Lightning Lane is the a la carte method. The two attractions below are NOT included with your Genie+ purchase and must be purchased separately. Lightning Lane selections for the top-tier individual attractions will also be made on the same day of your visit and can be made across multiple theme parks (great for those who have the Park Hopper Option). Access to purchase Lightning Lane for the individual top-tier attractions are available to all guests when the park that attraction opens. Guests staying on Disney World property will receive the benefit of early access to top-tier reservations and can make their purchases at 7:00 am on the day of their visit. Prices will vary by date, attraction, and park.

Individual A la Carte Lightning Lane Attraction:

• • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Keep in mind that you do not have to purchase either of these options to enjoy these attractions. A regular stand-by queue is always an option.

5 – Bites & Beverages Galore

Pull up a chair, grab a fork, and trust that you won’t go hungry when visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Several of the very best table-service and quick-service restaurants are located within the park.

• Table-Service: Walt Disney World’s best-themed restaurants are in Hollywood Studios! Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater, Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, and 50’s Prime Time delight guests with great nostalgia to match the restaurants’ theming. Want to dine with characters? Check out Hollywood and Vine Restaurant! Dining reservations are highly recommended for these restaurants 60 days in advance of the dining date.
• Quick-Service: Quick service is something special at Hollywood Studios! You can have a galactic bite in Galaxy’s Edge, childhood reminiscing eats in Toy Story Land, pretzels and beer in Grand Avenue, and a simple burger and fries on Commissary Lane. Ice cream sandwiches are a favorite of ours on Sunset Boulevard. Plus, the mix of specialty alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages is abundant throughout the park. Seriously great grab-and-go food awaits!

6 – Plenty for the Kids

Sure, Hollywood Studios has some of the most thrilling attractions in all of Walt Disney World. This doesn’t mean that kiddos won’t find plenty to do! This park is our little guy’s favorite. Let your tot take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, shoot at the targets on Toy Story Mania, dance with favorite characters at Disney Junior Dance Party, sing their hearts out with Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, and watch Lightning McQueen race. They will also love Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway! There are several characters your kids will be excited to see, including Olaf, Buzz, Woody, Jesse, popular Disney Junior characters, and Star Wars favorites like Chewbacca and BB-8.

7 – Worth a Visit Day & Night

Hollywood Studios is no longer a half-day park as many believed it was in years past. There are so many entertainment options, attractions, and experiences that one day isn’t enough anymore! We especially enjoy that Hollywood Studios feels like a totally different experience from day to night. During the day, you’ll see the palms sway and live-stage performances. At night, the place glows with impressive lighting to match the theme of each section of the park. The Tower of Terror looks super creepy at night. Toy Story Land is illuminated with strings of colorful lights. You don’t want to miss the glowing marquee of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. And Galaxy’s Edge…well, Galaxy’s Edge is AMAZING at night with blue and purple hues that make it feel like a different land depending on what time of day you visit. Be sure to see it all in the daylight and as it glows when the sunsets.

8 – Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is a classic Disney nighttime show! It takes place in a massive amphitheater and features loads of Disney characters, water screens, pyrotechnics, and more. It’s a battle of good vs. evil as Mickey is up against the Villains. Arrive early for a good viewing spot or seat to get the most out of the show.

Alright, enough talk – get out there and revel in Hollywood ACTION!