Hollywood Studios is smaller than Magic Kingdom and EPCOT and the lands are closer together, so you don’t need to worry as much about booking Lightning Lanes in the same area or structuring your day around minimizing walking.
What does matter at Hollywood Studios is the heat. This park often feels hotter than the others thanks to long outdoor queues and limited shade. The smartest strategy here is simple: focus on heat management and tackle the most popular attractions early, before those outdoor lines start to build.
Planning a visit to Hollywood Studios? Visit our Hollywood Studios Detailed Guide.
Check out the Disney World Lightning Lanes printable to get instant information on lightning lane options and tiers and typical ride wait times without lightning lanes, helping you decide when to purchase lightning lanes and what rides to prioritize.
Option 1: Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane (Evening)
What to Book
- Toy Story Mania! – Tier 2 LL for mid-morning (~10 – 11 AM)
- Tower of Terror – Tier 2 LL for late morning (~11AM – 1PM)
- Slinky Dog Dash – Tier 1 LL for the evening (~5 – 7 PM)
Morning: Early Entry & Rope Drop
- 8.15 – 8.30: Start Early Entry at Rise of the Resistance, then ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and experience any other attractions at Galaxy’s Edge.
- If Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run’s wait is long, skip it for now – you’ll return later.
- Tap into Toy Story Mania! Between 10 and 11 AM, then ride Alien Swirling Saucers and head to Sunset Boulevard.
Late Morning to Afternoon
- After tapping into Toy Storia Mania!, tiers unlock. Book Rock n’ Roller Coaster (~11 – 1 PM).
- Complete Tower of Terror, Rock n’ Roller Coaster and nearby attractions such as shows before your afternoon break.
- Once you scan into your two Lightning Lanes, book more for the afternoon – great picks include Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway or Smugglers Run if you skipped it earlier.
Evening
- After your afternoon break, enjoy any remaining shows or attractions (other than Slinky Dog Dash) and meet characters such as at Pixar Place or Galaxy’s Edge.
- If you prefer to grab quick service at your afternoon break, you can also enjoy long air-conditioned shows during the afternoon as your break (See Afternoon Breaks below).
- Head to Toy Story Land for your Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane – it’s gorgeous lit up at night.
- Wrap up your day by lining up for the first or second Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular.
Option 2: Millennium Falcon Lightning Lane & Rise of the Resistance Individual Lightning Lane
What to Book
- Toy Story Mania! – Tier 2 LL for mid-morning (~10 – 11 AM)
- Tower of Terror – Tier 2 LL for late morning (~11AM – 1PM)
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run – Tier 1 LL for the evening (~5 – 7 PM)
- Rise of the Resistance – Individual Lightning Lane (~5 – 7 PM)
Morning: Early Entry & Rope Drop
- 8.15 – 8.30: Start Early Entry at Slinky Dog Dash, then ride Alien Swirling Saucers.
- Tap into Toy Story Mania! Between 10 and 11 AM.
- After tapping in, tiers unlock. Book Rock n’ Roller Coaster (~11 – 1 PM).
- Finish any Toy Story Land meet-and-greets before heading to Sunset Boulevard.
- If there’s no time or the characters have long waits (Woody and Jesse can rack up over an hour wait), skip it for now – you’ll return later.
Late Morning to Afternoon
- Complete Tower of Terror, Rock n’ Roller Coaster and nearby attractions such as shows before your afternoon break.
- Once you scan into your two Lightning Lanes, book more for the afternoon –Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway is a great pick.
Evening
- After your afternoon break, enjoy any remaining shows or attractions (other than Slinky Dog Dash) and meet characters such as at Pixar Place or Galaxy’s Edge.
- If you prefer to grab quick service at your afternoon break, you can also enjoy long air-conditioned shows during the afternoon as your break (See Afternoon Breaks below).
- Head to Galaxy’s Edge for your Lightning Lanes at Smuggler’s Run and Rise of the Resistance, then finish any remaining experiences and characters.
- Wrap up your day by lining up for the first or second Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular.
Note: Rise of the Resistance often experiences downtime due to technical difficulties. Booking it late in the day carries a small risk that it may not reopen.
Pro-Tips:
- You shouldn’t need Lightning Lanes for shows unless you’re vising during peak periods.
- If meeting characters is important to you, keep an eye out for character times released in the morning on the My Disney Experience app.
