Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Formerly known as MGM Studios, Walt Disney World changed the name of this major theme park to Hollywood Studios in 2009. Hollywood Studios celebrates the diverse world of show business by presenting the sense of walking through a Hollywood Studios backlot. While you stroll down the iconic Hollywood Boulevard, know that Hollywood Studios a truly a memorable park to visit.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios may be smaller in size to that of its bigger brother, Magic Kingdom, but it still offers a myriad of amazing attractions. We have compiled a suggested overview for Hollywood Studios along with a guide to the Hollywood Studios attractions that will help you navigate this park and prioritize the attractions you most want to visit. We list all the attractions with a short description and height requirements for each attraction.
Hollywood Studios Schedule
Disney’s Hollywood Studios operating hours will vary throughout the year. The park typically opens at 9:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm although it tends to close at 7 pm on other days.
After Hours
Guests with special event tickets get to attend Disney After Hours which include staying in the park for up to extra 3 hours! Ride your favorite rides with shorter lines and experience the magical Hollywood at night. Please note that this event may not be available at this time.
One of the former highlights of Hollywood Studios was The Great Movie Ride where some of the great classics were represented. It took you on a journey into the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Great Movie Ride enchanted audiences in its nostalgia for 18 years and was then closed down. The new ride that now takes its place is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway which is a great visually attractive experience. Some of the other highlights are the lovable Muppets, Toy Story Land, and the out-of-this-world Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Hollywood Studios is smaller in terms of rides and shows as compared to the other Disney theme parks. For this reason, you may want to consider adding the park hopper option which typically adds $50. However, there are amazing rides that you simply just can’t miss. Plus the addition of the amazing new rides and the high demand for them might keep you occupied.
Things To See in Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Boulevard
The Trolly Car Cafe: Take a step into the past in this classic trolley car station to get your fill of all kinds of coffee including selections from STARBUCKS® Coffee, specialty beverages, and Disney baked goods.
Hollywood & Vine: Have breakfast with Disney Junior Stars or enjoy a filling lunch and/or dinner with Minnie and friends. The parties last throughout the year and the Disney characters are suitably dressed for every season.
The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge: Have a meal inside the iconic Hollywood Brown Derby and take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Golden Era. Indulge in a few of the finer things, including appetizers, wine, and drinks like signature Derby cocktails and martinis.
Sunset Boulevard
Fairfax Fare: Family favorites in a variety of entrées that also feature Latino specialties, a signature salad, kid-friendly sandwiches, and delectable desserts.
Rosie’s All-American Café: Enjoy American classics like an Angus cheeseburger, crispy chicken nuggets, and fires.
Catalina Eddie’s: Fresh hot pizza, zesty Caesar salads, and amazing desserts like the cheesecake verrine. Top it off with one of their hot or cold drinks.
KRNR The Rock Station: Serving drinks, snacks, our super-cool lineup of soft-serve and floats, or that “solid-cold” fan favorite, frozen lemonade!
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy: Join Lightning as he demonstrates his brand-new, state-of-the-art racing simulator and with its wraparound screen. Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez, and the gang from Radiator Springs root him on in this fun-filled race around the track.
Animation Courtyard
Star Wars Launch Bay: Meet characters such as Chewbacca, Kylo-Ren, and BB-8. Browse the Launch Bay Cargo for movie prop replicas and memorabilia from the Star Wars movie series.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Entertainment: Watch as Mickey and his friends travel down Hollywood Boulevard in style. Dance with some of your Disney Junior friends to their favorite songs. Keep an eye out for Pixar Pals that also cruise along down Hollywood Boulevard.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: Listen to the Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the story of their enchanted kingdom. Watch as Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff sing along with the audience! With projected lyrics and special surprises, this show a real treat!
Dockside Diner: Aboard the open-air “tramp steamer” eatery that pays homage to 1950s California-Crazy architecture. Serving specialty foot-long hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches.
Toy Story Land
Woody’s Lunch Box: Andy’s lunch box is turned sideways into a walk-up window serving eats & treats. Featuring classic American fare, old-fashioned soda floats, and other Toy Story-themed specialties.
Pixar Place
Market: Quench your thirst with frozen cocktails, cold beer, or soft drinks.
Neighborhood Bakery: Serving tasty treats inspired by The Incredibles including the Num Num Cookie and Frozone Slush. Enjoy classic snacks like popcorn or a Mickey pretzel.
Commissary Lane
ABC Commissary: An Art Deco-themed setting of a studio-inspired commissary. Offering a variety of entrees including chicken, pork, or plant-based dishes while you see posters of your favorite ABC Shows like Grey’s Anatomy. They also serve soft drinks, coffee, beer and wine.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant: Enjoy a meal in a car-shaped booth or table at recreated “drive-in” playing thrilling sci-fi scenes.
You’ll find tasty menu items in this Hollywood-style soundstage. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Echo Lake
50’s Prime Time Café: Walk into this all-American cafe that is themed like Mom’s kitchen. Feast on some of Mom’s old-fashioned pot roast, Aunt Liz’s golden fried chicken and so much more.
Backlot Express: Savor flavorful dishes like the Backlot Burger or Cuban Sandwich! Desserts, beer, and soft drinks are also available.
Epic Eats: Enjoy signature sweet treats—including funnel cakes with various toppings and beverages in this ramshackle and rusty-looking stand.
Grand Avenue
BaseLine Tap House: Enter a charming little brick building bubbling with character. Enjoy a broad selection of California craft ales, lagers, and cider.
PizzeRizzo: A joint run by Rizzo, the wise-cracking Muppet that serves pizza, meatball subs, or antipasto salads.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano: Find yourself in a casual but colorful Italian restaurant featuring a host of entrees that include authentic pastas, savory chicken and seafood preparations, or even the charred strip steak.
Advance reservations are highly recommended.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Kat Saka’s Kettle: Check this out-of-this-world popcorn stand.
Ronto Roasters: Enjoy a treat with a beverage as you watch a hanging podracer engine heat up a few sides of meat roasted by a droid. The best snacks this side of Tatooine.
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo: A restaurant housed in a working hangar bay, serving a variety of dishes. Grab a table in the rustic outdoor seating area surrounded by the decaying walls of the old marketplace.
Oga’s Cantina: The favorite meeting place of bounty hunters, smugglers, traders, and travelers where they conduct their shady business while listening to great music. Droid DJ R-3X heads up the space jams while you make your selection of unique dishes you can’t find anywhere else in the galaxy.
Milk Stand: Treat yourself to the legendary Bantha’s milk served frozen, blue or green, alcoholic or non.
Get The Best Prices on Disney Hollywood Studios Tickets
Hollywood Studios Rides
Hollywood Boulevard
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Mickey and Minnie invite you to come along as they drive to a picnic in their little red roadster while you follow along in Engineer Goofy’s train. You then enter a realistic cartoon world with unexpected twists, slapstick gags, and mind-boggling transformations at every turn. Mickey and Minnie try to save the day, but here’s no telling where Goofy’s train is heading! This is a great family adventure for Mickey and Minnie fans of all ages.
- Height: Any height
- Ages: Preschoolers to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Dark Ride with Sudden Movements
Sunset Boulevard
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: You find yourself in a hotel frozen in time. You find and climb into the elevator of this abandoned hotel. Suddenly you’re taken into another world, a world where it’s Halloween night, 1939, and a violent storm is happening outside. A time when some patrons of the hotel on a night like this disappeared leaving the hotel empty ever since. You have just stepped into… The Twilight Zone, Tower of Terror!
- Height: 40 inches or taller
- Ages: Kids to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Moderate & Dark Thrill Ride with Big Drops
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith: Jump into a stretch limo with legendary rock band Aerosmith as they rush through Hollywood landmarks and zip through traffic jams to get to a concert across town that they’re running late for. On the way rock out to their classic tunes on their state-of-the-art sound system riding with the wind at your face.
- Height: 48 inches or taller
- Ages: Kids to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Medium & Dark Thrill Ride with Big Drops, Loud
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy: Learn from the best here at Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy where McQueen will teach you everything he knows about racing. He tests out his new state-of-the-art racing simulator and will even challenge an old rival. Does he still have what it takes?
- Height: Any height
- Ages: All ages
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & a Dark Show Performance
Animation Courtyard
Walt Disney Presents: Step back in time in a celebration of Walt’s legacy in a presentation of one-of-a-kind sketches, photos, models, costumes, artwork, and more. A gallery that showcases his life story from small-town America to Hollywood plus a 15-minute documentary will leave you appreciating the man behind the mouse even more.
- Height: Any height
- Ages: All ages
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Showcase and Documentary
Toy Story Land
Toy Story Mania: Take a walk into the shoes of the toys of Toy Story land as you walk into Andy’s room. Hop aboard a tram as you use a spring shooter to hit an array of moving animated objects. There are 5 games to complete as you get twirled from one game to another as you aim for a higher score. You won’t forget this amazing animated adventure.
- Height: Any height
- Ages: All ages
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Spinning Shooting Ride
Slinky Dog Dash: Take a ride on Slinky Dog’s springy coils as you zoom up, down, and sideways through Andy’s giant oversized toys in his backyard.
- Height: 38 inches or taller
- Ages: Kids to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Thrill Ride with Small Drops
Alien Swirling Saucers: Hop onto a spaceship led by the Little Green Men as you zip through a neon-colored interstellar romp through space.
- Height: 32 inches or taller
- Ages: All ages
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Spinning Ride
Echo Lake
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: Listen to the Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the story of their enchanted kingdom. Watch as Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff sing along with the audience! With projected lyrics and special surprises, this 30-minute show a real treat!
- Height: Any height
- Ages: All ages
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Live Performance
Star Tours- The Adventures Continue: Climb onto this Starspeeder 1000 and prepare yourself for a simple tour that may end up saving the galaxy! With C-3PO forced to take the controls from a premature launch, you’ll dodge debris, narrowly miss lasers, and elude capture from the First Order. Always a new adventure on each ride, this tour is no ordinary tour!
- Height: 40 inches or taller
- Ages: Kids to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Motion Simulated Ride with Small Drops
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular: An amazing stunt spectacular with fight scenes, stunts, and real explosions, this live show performance brings the movies to life. (Temporarily Unavailable)
Grand Avenue
Muppet*Vision 3D: Sit inside the Theater of The Muppet Show in a perfect replica and watch as Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the whole gang appears in 3D. They take you on a tour of their lab and show off their new movie-making invention: Muppet*Vision 3D.
- Height: Any height
- Ages: All ages
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & 3D Film Mixed with A Live Performance
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run: Step inside the legendary cockpit of the Millennium Falcon as you take on a discreet mission to deliver some hard-to-find items for the infamous Weequay pirate, Hondo Ohnaka. Whether you succeed or fail is up to you!
- Height: 38 inches or taller
- Ages: Kids to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Dark Motion Simulated Ride with Small Drops, Loud
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: Located in the hidden forest outside the Black Spire Outpost, the Resistance is recruiting those who will stand up against the First Order. Hop aboard a transport and get ready for an adventure of a massive scale!
- Height: 40 inches or taller
- Ages: Kids to Adults
- Thrill Level & Type: Mild & Dark Thrill Ride with Small Drops, Loud
Hollywood Studios with toddlers
In Hollywood studios, there are not many trips for toddlers. However, with Toy Story Land, there are several new driving options for children. Toy Story Mania is classic, but infants and toddlers may not fully understand the 3D look. You can also find speeds and sounds quite unstable. The Slinky Dog Dash is a very nice roller coaster, but it has a height limit of 38. It’s not intense, but it’s fast, even if your child is tall enough, it can be a bit of an exaggeration. Perfect for you, dizzy and fast enough for adults to have fun, you need a minimum size of 32 inches, so it’s not a trip back, if your children are a little older (at least four years old) and you want to finish Jedi training, you should: there (with children) when the park is open to secure its place.
Tips for Hollywood Studios
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- Plan your breaks: make sure you have enough rest, food, snacks, and drinks in the park. Hollywood studios is a smaller parks compared to the rest, however, you will stand and walk a lot.
- Don’t forget about the shows: The rides at Hollywood Studios are amazing, but so are the shows. The shows also come in handy especially when you’ve been standing around all day. Spacing shows between rides with give your feet and back that extra rest so that you can enjoy the rest of the day.
- Access WiFi at the parks: While waiting in line, you can access Disney’s wireless internet to utilize your MyDisneyExperience app or play games on your phone. Just remember that public WiFi is not secure and your best bet is using a VPN (virtual private network) if you plan to use WiFi.
- Boarding Groups: If you hope to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, for the 7 am boarding group you do not need to be at the park, however for the 1 am boarding group must be inside Hollywood Studios.
- Rope Drop: If you are there at rope drop (when the park opens) you can usually get on rides with shorter waits because the most of the guests want to visit the popular rides. You can always come back to the popular rides later when it doesn’t get so crowded.
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