Your roadmap to Disney’s most cinematic, theatrical park.
Welcome to Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is where Disney storytelling steps into the spotlight — bold, bright, emotional, and larger than life. If you love movies, live shows, Star Wars, Pixar or the glamour of Old Hollywood, this park delivers some of the most unforgettable moments of any Disney trip.
For my family, a visit to Disney World is never complete without a day here. It’s the perfect blend of movie magic, immersive lands, big‑energy entertainment, and imagineering at its best.
Although it’s the smallest of the four parks, Hollywood Studios packs an incredible amount. You can wander from the golden age of Hollywood to Andy’s backyard, from a galaxy far, far away to a sun‑drenched boulevard filled with nostalgic music and neon. Every corner feels like a set, every land feels like a story and every show feels like a moment you’ll talk about long after you fly home.
Whether you’re here for Star Wars, Pixar, classic Disney or the shows that define this park, Hollywood Studios is a place where imagination takes center stage – and you’re part of the story.
What Makes Hollywood Studios Unique
Cinematic Experiences
Hollywood Studios is where kids meet Woody and Sully, where Star Wars fans build lightsabers, where teens race through hyperspace and where families rediscover the joy of live theatre.
Immersive Lands
Hollywood Studios is home to some of the most detailed and atmospheric lands in all of Disney World. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land are immersion at its peak, from the rides and roaming characters to the themed lands, restaurants and snack stands. We can’t want for the new Monsters, Inc. land to open!
Best Live Shows at Disney World
Hollywood Studios shines brightest when it comes to live entertainment. This is the park for families who love theatre, music, stunts and big-energy interactive performances.
Thrills
Hollywood Studios is home to some of Disney World’s most exciting attractions that blend storytelling, thrills and immersive technology in a way that only Hollywood Studios can.
Nighttime Entertainment
Fantasmic! is a unique nighttime spectacular, featuring live performances, special effects and classic Disney magic.
Attractions Overview
Hollywood Studios is divided into several themed lands, each offering its own blend of cinematic storytelling, thrills, character encounters and immersive experiences.
Below is a quick look at the major attractions in each area. For a full, detailed list of every ride, show and character meet-and-greets, check out our Hollywood Studios Attractions printable that also shows which attractions have air-conditioned queues and longer wait times.
Hollywood Boulevard
Your grand entrance into the park, filled with music, shops and classic Hollywood charm.
Key Attractions:
- Mickey’s & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – a bright, whimsical ride through a cartoon world
Echo Lake
A nostalgic area with classic attractions, character meet-and-greets and beloved shows.
Key Attractions:
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – thrilling live stunt show with explosions, action and audience interaction
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – hilarious, heartwarming and air-conditioned
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – a motion simulator ride
- Meet Olaf – warm hugs
- Tatooine Traders – build a more cost-effective lightsaber
Pixar Plaza
A colourful, character-focused area that’s perfect for meet-and-greets and fun photo moments.
Meet Sulley, Joy, Edna Mode and the Incredibles.
Lines here are not typically long unless it’s peak period.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
One of the most immersive lands Disney has ever created – a must-see for Star Wars fans and non-fans alike.
Key Attractions:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – a groundbreaking, multi‑part attraction; one of Disney’s most impressive rides
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – pilot, gunner or engineer on the Falcon
- Savi’s Workshop – build a custom lightsaber (book in advance)
- Droid Depot – build your own droid (book in advance)
- Roaming Characters and Meet & Greets – Rey, Chewbacca, Stormtroopers, Kylo Ren and The Mandalorian & Grogu
- Impressively themed restaurants and snack kiosks
Toy Story Land
Bright, playful and full of Pixar charm – but also one of the hottest, most sun-exposed areas of the park.
Key Attractions:
- Slinky Dog Dash – a family-friendly coaster with great views of the land
- Toy Story Mania! – a 3D shooting game fun for all ages
- Meet Woody, Jessie & Buzz – exciting but long unshaded lines, plan for heat
Animation Courtyard
Currently undergoing major transformation into the new Monsters, Inc. land and The Walt Disney Studios area.
Key Attractions:
- The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure – a colourful, theatrical retelling of Ariel’s story with live performers and classic songs
- Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! – debuting Summer 2026
Sunset Boulevard
A dramatic, atmospheric stretch leading to some of the park’s biggest thrills and best entertainment, set to nostalgic Hollywood-inspired music that plays as you stroll toward the attractions.
Key Attractions:
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – thrilling drop ride with incredible theming
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – closed Spring-Summer 2026 for Muppet retheme
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage – Broadway-style musical
- Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After – a high-energy live show where classic Disney villains take the spotlight with humour, music and dramatic effects and the audience decides the ending
- Fantasmic! Amphitheater – home to the park’s nighttime spectacular
Ride Heights for Little Ones
Hollywood Studios has fewer rides than Magic Kingdom but thriller rides do have height restrictions.
Shows have no height requirements so little ones can experience their favourite Disney movies come to life through live theatre.
Check out our Ride Heights printable to quickly check which rides your child can enjoy.
If you have a thrill‑seeker and a non‑rider, Rider Switch is your best friend. One adult (and any older kids) ride while the other adult waits with the little one – then you switch without waiting again in line. Just let the Cast Members know that you will be ride switching. Ride Switch is Disney’s way of saying, “We get it. Parenting is a team sport.”
Check out our 11 Disney World Tips for Families with Young Children.
Shows Overview
Hollywood Studios is the heart of Disney World’s live entertainment. This is where stunt performers leap across rooftops, Broadway-style singers bring Disney classics to life, comedians improvise with families, little ones dance along with their favourite characters, and the villains occasionally steal the show.
Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before showtime to get good seats and settle in.
Below is a list of all the daytime shows at the park, with quick details to help you plan your day. Download our handy Hollywood Studios Attractions printable that lists every show and highlights which ones offer air-conditioned queues or tend to have longer waits.
Pro Tip: If you can’t secure a front‑row seat, aim for an aisle. It often gives you the next‑best, unobstructed view – especially helpful for little ones.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
Length: ~25 minutes
A high‑energy show where classic Disney villains take the spotlight with humour, music and dramatic special effects. A fun pick for older kids, teens and anyone who loves a little mischief and air-conditioned break.
Note: This show can be loud for more sensitive little ones
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Length: ~25 minutes
A high‑energy stunt show filled with explosions, humour and behind‑the‑scenes movie magic. Performed in a shaded outdoor theatre with lots of seating.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing‑Along Celebration
Length: ~30 minutes
A hilarious, heartwarming retelling of Frozen led by two comedic Royal Historians who steal the show. Fully indoors and air‑conditioned, making it one of the best air conditioned‑breaks in the park.
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
Length: ~25 minutes
A Broadway‑style musical featuring live vocals, colourful costumes and classic songs. Performed in a shaded outdoor amphitheatre with plenty of seating – a lovely slower‑paced moment in your day.
The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure
Length: ~25 minutes
A colourful, theatrical retelling of Ariel’s story with live performers and beloved songs. Fully indoors and cool – a welcome escape from the Florida sun.
Vacation Fun: An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie
Length: ~10 minutes
A cute, air‑conditioned theatre showing an original Mickey & Minnie short, followed by fun photo ops outside. A quick, easy stop when you need a breather but skippable if you have a busy park day.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! (Debuting Summer 2026)
Length: ~20 minutes
A lively, interactive show designed for toddlers and preschoolers, featuring dancing, singing and gentle audience participation. Indoors and perfect for little legs that need a break.
Early Entry, Rope Drop and Lightning Lane Strategies
Hollywood Studios is a park where a little planning makes a big difference, but it’s also the park where over‑planning can take away from the magic. Lightning Lanes and rope drop are incredibly helpful tools, but they work best when you use them to support your day, not control it.
Hollywood Studios feels hotter than the other parks due to the long outdoor queues and limited shade, so pacing your day and targeting popular attractions early in the day makes a big difference.
Check out the Disney World Lightning Lanes Guide 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.
Rope Drop (Park Opening Strategy)
Arriving early makes a big difference.
Arriving 30-40 minutes before Early Entry or rope drop sets you up for a calm, smooth start to the day. You’ll clear security with fewer crowds (especially helpful with strollers), find the Early Entry entrance without rushing, and have time to get comfortable using the My Disney Experience app. It’s a great moment to grab a coffee, take a few photos, and ease into the magic.
If you’re staying at a Disney resort, Early Entry lets you begin riding attractions 30 minutes before official opening. This is the lowest‑wait time of the entire day, and arriving early means you can already be in line for those high‑demand rides when Early Entry begins.
Best Early Entry Priorities:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Slinky Dog Dash
Of the two, Slinky Dog Dash has an outdoor queue that can exceed 2 hours long during the day, while Rise of the Resistance has an indoor queue that may sometimes extend outdoors during peak periods.
If you’re staying off-property and don’t have Early Entry, avoid Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land at rope drop as those areas will already be full of resort guests. Instead, start in:
- Sunset Boulevard (Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster once it re-opens)
- Hollywood Boulevard (Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway)
This gives you a smoother, less crowded start to the day.
Should you prioritize Rise of the Resistance at Rope Drop or Early Entry?
The answer requires some scenarios.
- If you have a Lightning Lane booked for Slinky Dog and have Early Entry, then rope dropping Rise of the Resistance make sense.
- If you don’t have Lightning Lane: Multi-Pass with a slot booked for Slinky Dog, prioritize Slinky Dog at rope drop and purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance.
- If you don’t have Early Entry and want to guarantee riding both rides, it’s best to book a Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog and an Individual Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance as both these rides will have lengthy queues by the time you rope drop.
Pro-Tip: Arrive 30-40 minutes before Early Entry or rope drop to make your morning smoother and less crowded and allow you to line up for attractions before Early Entry begins.
Lightning Lane Strategy
Hollywood Studios is a park where Lightning Lanes can save you a lot of time – but the approach here is different from Magic Kingdom. Because the park is smaller and the lands are closer together, you don’t need to worry as much about booking Lightning Lanes in the same area or structuring your day around minimizing walking.
What matters most at Hollywood Studios is heat management and tackling the most popular attractions before the outdoor queues build.
Each Lightning Lane comes with a one‑hour return window, and you’ll need to tap into the attraction anytime within that hour to use it.
Here’s the strategy that works best for this park:
1. Prioritize the rides with the longest wats.
At Hollywood Studios, these attractions consistently see the highest waits:
- Slinky Dog Dash (Tier 1)
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (Tier 1)
- Tower of Terror (Tier 2)
- Rise of the Resistance (Individual Lightning Lane)
If you’re purchasing Lightning Lane: Multi-Pass, try to secure at least two of these for the first half of the day and one for later in the day depending on which attraction you are rope dropping.
Toy Storia Mania! is another solid choice for a Tier 2 lightning lane selection as wait times can climb up during the day.
2. Build your morning around your first Lightning Lane and pace yourself.
Unlike Magic Kingdom, you won’t lose much time walking between the areas as Hollywood Studios is much smaller and most lands are only a few minutes apart.
Avoid booking your first Lightning Lane during Early Entry or rope drop — you’re already in the lowest‑wait part of the day, and using a Lightning Lane here doesn’t save time.
Check out the Hollywood Studios: 1-day Sample Itineraries as a starting point and guide to help shape your Disney trip.
3. Selecting your next lightning lanes.
To maximize the use of the Multi-Pass, book at least two lightning lanes for some time in the morning as this helps you unlock more bookings throughout the day.
Once you scan into your first lightning lane, the Tiers system doesn’t apply anymore even if you’re scanning into a Tier 2 ride. You can use that slot to book another lightning lane for any ride that has slots available to book. Prioritize popular rides for these slots first as new slots for these rides are less available as the day progresses.
Try to avoid booking lightning lanes during your midday break, as the attractions are not that long – couple that with a short line and you’ll be out in the heat again.
The My Disney Experience app is your main tool inside the parks. You can check live wait times, Lightning Lane return windows, character meet‑and‑greet schedules, mobile food orders, and showtimes throughout the day. Make sure to bring a portable charger – the app is incredibly helpful, but it does use battery quickly in the Florida heat.
Each time you book your next lightning lane slots, you can use your My Disney Experience app to see whether the wait times for an attraction are short and not booking a lightning lane for unless you plan to visit that attraction during a peak period of the day.
Check out the Disney World Lightning Lanes Guide 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.
Afternoon Breaks
Plan for a midday break at an air-conditioned spot to rest and reset.
Breaks aren’t “lost time.” They’re what keep the magic going.
Check out the Where to get an Air-Conditioned Break in the Parks printable that lists good indoor air-conditioned spots at each park.
If you’re planning on a table service or character dining experience, booking a lunch reservation can be a good way to enjoy the charming experience while taking a break from the heat. At Hollywood Studios, longer indoor shows can be excellent afternoon break activities if you prefer to grab a quick service bite and keep the magic uninterrupted.
Dining at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios features over 20 table service, quick service and snack options with delicious food and a great place for a cool break and water refill.
Unlike Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, many quick service restaurants are not air-conditioned, with exceptions such as ABC Commissary which has lots of air-conditioned seating.
Most table service and quick service restaurants accommodate common dietary needs and offer allergy-friendly options.
Picky eaters have a great chance of finding something they like at most table service and quick service restaurants as foods such as pizza, mac n’ cheese, fries and croissants are widely available. For non-vegetarians, you will find also easily find chicken strips (chicken tenders), hot dogs and burgers in many locations.
If you have your heart set at a table service or character dining meal at Hollywood Studios, booking opens 60 days in advance for resort guests and these reservations are very popular. For more information on dining logistics, visit Dining at the Parks.
Below is a quick look at the most popular dining locations. For a full, detailed list of all restaurants and snack options, check out our Hollywood Studios Dining Guide printable that also shows which dining places are table service, character dining, quick service and air-conditioned, along with which restaurants offer ice water refills and have long food order wait times.
Most Popular Quick Service
- ABC Commissary – cool, air-conditioned escape with loads of seating and a neutral menu that easily satisfies picky eaters
- Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo – creative Galaxy’s Edge dishes served in a fully themed hangar
- Woody’s Lunch Box –Toy Story-themed quick service with grilled sandwiches, tots and lunchbox treats (note: outdoors with limited seating, so plan for heat or visit earlier in the day)
- Ronto Roasters – immersive Star Wars-themed quick service known for bold, flavourful Ronto Wraps
Most Popular Table Service
- Hollywood & Vine – lively character dining with Disney Jr. friends or Mickey & friends
- Sci-Fi Dine In – immersive retro drive-in cars and sci-fi clips under a starry “sky”
- Roundup Rodeo BBQ – Toy-Story themed family style barbecue inside Andy’s playroom
- Oga’s Cantina – energetic Star Wars hangout with themed drinks and DJ R-3X
Best Snacks
- Carrot Cake Whoopie Pie at Trolley Car Café
- Hades Ice Cream Float and Maleficent Cone at Hollywood Scoops
- Outpost Popcorn Mix at Kat Saka’s Kettle
- Blue or Green Milk at Milk Stand
- Mickey shaped cinnamon rolls, pretzels and ice cream at multiple locations
Drinks: Staying Hydrated and Caffeinated
Ice cream floats, soda and alcohol are widely available.
Joffrey’s Coffee is widely available throughout Magic Kingdom, but you may find it a little lighter and sweeter than what we’re used to at Tim Hortons. If you prefer something more familiar, Trolley Car Café on Hollywood Boulevard offers the full Starbucks menu.
Although there are water refill stations throughout the parks, guests often complain that this water can have an unpleasant odour. For better-tasting water with ice, and trust me ice in your refillable water bottle can make all the difference in Florida heat, you can request cups of ice water at the counter of any quick service location without waiting in line. If you have a table service reservation, you can request the same there to refill your bottles before you head out for the rest of your day.
Water is not available at snack locations and carts -check out our Hollywood Studios Dining Guide printable to see where water refills are available.
Nighttime Entertainment
Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios is a breathtaking nighttime spectacular unlike anything in the other parks – a sweeping blend of live performances, water projections, pyrotechnics and classic Disney storytelling that feels larger than life.
Wait until you see Maleficent’s dragon breathe real fire or Aladdin swing from the rooftops!
There are typically two performances each night, with the second being less crowded.
The amphitheater offers great views from almost every seat and while lines begin forming about 75 minutes before showtime, guests are usually let in 45-60 minutes early. The pre-show atmosphere is lively and fun, with upbeat music, dancing Cast Members and plenty of snacks available – a joyful way to wind down the day.
My family loves grabbing a Villains-themed cone from Hollywood Scoops or a carrot cake whoopie pie before we join the line.
You don’t need a dining package for a fantastic view, and front‑row seats often remain open for those willing to risk a little mist – they offer some of the most unobstructed sightlines in the theater.
Check out the Top Viewing Spots for Fantasmic!, which also includes links to the fireworks dessert party if you’re interested.
If you’re still in Hollywood Studios after Fantasmic!, you may also catch Disney Movie Magic, a short projection show on the Chinese Theatre that pays tribute to classic Disney films.
Walking back to the entrance through Sunset Boulevard with jazzy Hollywood-inspired tunes playing is a nostalgic end to the night.
Seasonal Event: Jollywood Nights (optional, magical extra)
On select evenings in November and December, Hollywood Studios hosts Jollywood Nights, a separately ticketed holiday event (CAD$220-275/person) featuring exclusive entertainment, festive treats and limited‑time character appearances.
On these dates, the park closes early for day guests but Fantasmic! still runs with an earlier showtime before the party begins – helpful to know if you’re planning your evening around the show.
If you’re visiting during the holiday season and love Christmas theming, it can be a fun add‑on – but it’s not essential for enjoying the park.
Final Thoughts
Hollywood Studios is where Disney storytelling comes to life – not just on screens, but all around you. From stepping into a galaxy far, far away to shrinking down to toy‑size in Andy’s backyard, this park turns you into the hero of the story.
Whether you’re racing through the galaxy on the Millennium Falcon or watching Fantasmic! light up the night, Hollywood Studios has a way of staying with you long after you’ve flown home.
Take your time, soak in the details, and let the adventure unfold.
