9 Rookie Mistakes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Rookies have no fear! We here at DisneyLists have your back! While planning a vacation to Walt Disney World may seem like a daunting task, trust that your planning and preparation will make for one spectacular trip. Whether you’ve never been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or you haven’t been since all the newer attractions and experiences, this is the article for you! Here are nine rookie mistakes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and how to avoid them.

1 – Not Downloading the My Disney Experience App

Ok, rookies, first things first! As you begin to plan your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll NEED to download the My Disney Experience App. It’s a FREE Disney app that will be your guide in all Disney parks, including Hollywood Studios. This app is crucial to making dining reservations, Lightning Lane selections, mobile ordering food, and checking on attraction wait times or your Disney Genie itinerary. It also serves as your virtual map! Download this now if you haven’t already. Then, let’s keep going!

2 – Missing the 60-Day Window for Dining Reservations

Disney allows guests to book dining reservations for table-service restaurants 60 days in advance. You may be thinking, 60 days? That seems like a lifetime before the trip! BUT – it’s not. Many Disney restaurants fill up at the 60-day mark, so it’s definitely a day you want to make a note of. Hollywood Studios has some of the best themed table-service restaurants, many of which fill to capacity quickly. Book these restaurants via your My Disney Experience App 60 days in advance right when the 6:00 am booking window opens.

3 – Sleeping In & Not Selecting Your Lighting Lane Attractions Right at 7:00 am 

There is a system in place that allows guests to “skip the line” by paying for access. You can access the Lightning Lane in two different ways. First, you can purchase Disney Genie+ for the day of your visit. This costs $15-$39 per day, depending on the day you visit. With Genie+, you can access the Lightning Lane at select attractions at each park. 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. Popular attractions, especially Slinky Dog Dash, often fill to capacity quickly in the morning. Use your first Lightning Lane pass for one of these most popular attractions. If you don’t book your first Genie+ pass first thing in the morning, you may miss the opportunity to take advantage of the Lightning Lane at the attraction. Another reason is that right at 7 am, you’ll be given the earliest return window, allowing you to book more Genie+ attractions during the course of the day. 

A second option for purchasing Lightning Lane is the a la carte method. Select attractions at each park are NOT included with your Genie+ purchase and must be purchased separately. Prices range from $7-$25 per attraction per person. Access to purchase Lightning Lane for the individual top-tier attractions is available to all guests at park opening. However, guests staying on Disney World property receive the benefit of early access to top-tier reservations and can make their purchases at 7 am on the day of their visit. Access to the Individual Lightning Lanes can hit capacity and will sell out (such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance), so we highly recommend you purchase access right at 7 am if you are a Disney resort guest!

4 – Not Exploring the Park Layout in Advance

By now, you likely understand the importance of having the My Disney Experience App! As mentioned above, this app can serve as your virtual map through Hollywood Studios. However, we see many rookies wait until they are IN the park to find things. Unfortunately, this is a time-waster. Study the park layout before your trip. Using the app, you’ll be able to learn boulevard and land names to help with finding your way around the park. Study different landmark attractions that will set you on the right path. No need to waste time in the park trying to figure out where you’re going!

5 – Skipping the Shows

It’s Hollywood, after all! You won’t want to miss the incredible entertainment and shows available in the park. A couple of our favorites include Fantasmic! (a nighttime spectacular), Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, and For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. You can expect impressive entertainers, costumes, stagework, and more. You won’t want to skip these popular shows.

6 – Avoiding the Classics

While much of the excitement at Disney’s Hollywood Studios revolves around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and other thrilling attractions, you won’t want to pass on some of the Hollywood Studios’ “classics.” We especially recommend taking a stroll through Walt Disney Presents. Visit the Muppets at Muppet Vision 3D. And take in all the action with Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

7 – Not Stopping for Snacks

Slow your roll! We get that there is a LOT to squeeze in at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. BUT – we also recommend you slow your stroll whenever possible. There are many outstanding snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including blue or green milk, ice cream sandwiches, specialty cupcakes, funnel cakes, lunch box tarts, and so much more. Slow down and enjoy a little Hollywood Studios’ goodness!

8 – Missing the Nighttime Excitement

It’s likely been a long day. You arrived well before the park opening. You’ve scurried through crowds. And you’ve braved the Florida heat. Before you call it a night, be sure to hang around and experience the nighttime excitement Hollywood Studios has to offer! You don’t want to miss the nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!. On top of that experience, you’ll want to check out Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge at night! While they are stunning during the day and at night, these spaces transform and absolutely glow. Arrive early and stay late! Trust us; it’s worth it.

9 – Skipping out on the Disney Skyliner

The Disney Skyliner is the newest form of Disney transportation and is like an attraction all in itself! Hollywood Studios guests have a chance to experience the Skyliner as it is located just outside of the park. If staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Art of Animation, Pop Century, or Caribbean Beach Resort, you can take the Skyliner to and from your resort to Hollywood Studios. You can also park hop to EPCOT from Hollywood Studios on the Skyliner. If you don’t need to get to any of these destinations, you are still welcome to ride on the Skyliner for free to simply check out the aerial views it has to offer. The Skyliner is a great way to begin or end your Hollywood Studios day.

Alright, rookies! You’re ready to be a Disney pro. Have a fantastic time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.