Hollywood Studios Tips for 2026: Beat the Crowds and Construction
Hollywood Studios is the most popular of the Disney World parks, and right now it’s also the most chaotic. Formerly a park that couldn’t fill a day, it became home to several of Disney’s biggest headliners. Its major downside hasn’t changed: it lacks the filler attractions that quietly eat crowds at the other parks. And in 2025–2027 it’s mid-makeover, so there’s even less to soak up the lines than usual. Expect long waits. So what Hollywood Studios tips do you actually need to plan your day?
What Hollywood Studios Tips Do You Need to Plan Your Day?
1. Where’s Hollywood Studios?
2. Check a Hollywood Studios Crowd Calendar
3. Arrive Early
4. On Property Guests Get Extra Time
5. How Long Do You Need?
6. You Need a Theme Park Reservation
7. There Are Ways to Save
8. Download the App
9. There is Free Wi-Fi
10. Check the Weather for Hollywood Studios
11. What Do You Need to Bring?
12. Hollywood Studios Parking and Transportation
13. There is a Baby Care Center
14. Make a Touring Plan
15. Are Genie+ and Lightning Lane Worth it?
16. What Are the Hollywood Studios Best Rides?
17. Utilize Rider Switch
18. Check the Hollywood Studios Times for Shows
19. There Are Hollywood Studios Fireworks
20. Choose the Right Hollywood Studios Dining Options
21. You Can Meet Unique Characters
22. What’s Changing at Hollywood Studios (2025–2027)
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The Quick Verdict
Worth it? Yes — the headliners here are some of the best at Disney World. But go in with a plan, because this is the one park where winging it gets you two-hour lines and a sunburn. Here’s the short version before we get into the weeds:
- Address: 351 South Studio Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 (phone 407-824-4321).
- Time needed: One full day if you have a touring plan; two if you want repeat rides.
- Park reservations: No longer required for standard date-based tickets (that rule was dropped in January 2024).
- Skip-the-line: Genie+ is gone — it’s now Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and you can book in advance. Rise of the Resistance is a separate Single Pass.
- Big caveat: The park is mid-transformation through about 2027, so several spots are walled off. Fewer attractions means even longer lines — plan around it.
Orlando Hollywood Studios Tips
1. Hollywood Studios Address
Hollywood Studios is a Disney World park located at 351 South Studio Drive in Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830. If you need to reach the park directly, the main Walt Disney World line is 407-824-4321. It sits on the southwest side of Walt Disney World, an easy hop from EPCOT by walking path, boat, or Skyliner — handy if you’re pairing it with EPCOT on a park-hopper day.
2. Check a Crowd Calendar
It is important to check crowd calendars for all of the Disney parks, but it is extra important at Hollywood Studios. The masses flock to this park like teenage boys to a shoe store when a new pair of Yeezys is released.
Generally speaking, when kids are out of school, the park will be crowded. If you can choose the time of year you visit, check a crowd calendar to avoid others.
3. Arrive Early
Arriving early is one of the best tips for Hollywood Studios Disney World. The park is best enjoyed when you aren’t in danger of being arrested for choking a stranger.
What time should I arrive at Hollywood Studios? At least 30 minutes early, and preferably more.
Check the Hollywood Studios hours and arrive as early as possible for rope drop (the opening of the park). You will find shorter lines and less parents yelling at their children (that starts around 11:00 a.m.).
Pro Disney’s Hollywood Studios tip: If you are staying on property, arrive at your stop about an hour before the park opens.
Bonus pro tip: Guests of on property Disney World resorts get into the park 30 minutes before everyone else.
4. On Property Disney World Hotel Guests Get Extra Time
If you want to beat the morning crowd at Hollywood Studios, staying at a Disney World resort is a must.
Hollywood Studios Early Entry
Can I get into Hollywood Studios early? Yes, if you feed the mouse.
Guests of on property Disney World hotels and the Swan and Dolphin get into the park 30 minutes before the general public each day. This may not sound like a big deal, but it is a huge disadvantage to the off property crowd. Every ride line builds before they are allowed to enter, so there are no short morning lines for them.
Extended Evening Hours
Guests of the Swan and Dolphin and Disney World’s Deluxe properties also get extra time after the park closes on certain nights. As of the time of this writing, extra time at Hollywood Studios is not offered. That could always change, so check the schedule at the time of your visit.
Pro tip: If you are staying in one of the Deluxe hotels, visit each theme park on the day it gets extended evening hours. If you are not in a Deluxe property, avoid the park with extended evening hours like the plague.
5. How Long Do You Need?
Can you do everything at Hollywood Studios in a day? With a good touring plan, you can probably hit all the rides, but it will be tight.
Hollywood Studios Florida has some popular attractions that shouldn’t be missed. Said popularity is evidenced by the wait times that can be two plus hours per ride. One day should be enough time to ride everything in theory, but if you are visiting during a busy time, you may need a second day.
You may want to ride things more than once, in which case you should definitely plan for two days at this park. If you’re trying to decide whether the lineup actually suits your crew, our breakdown of Hollywood Studios rides by age spells out which group gets the most out of it (spoiler: it leans older).
6. Do You Need a Park Reservation?
Good news, and a rare one: for most people, no. Disney dropped the pandemic-era park reservation requirement for standard date-based tickets back in January 2024. If you bought a regular ticket, you can stroll in on any valid day without locking in a date first — the days of begging a calendar for permission to spend your own money are mostly over.
Reservations still apply to a few specific cases — certain Annual Passholders and some specialty or promotional tickets. If that’s you, check the reservation system before your visit so you’re not the one person turned away at the tapstile. For everyone else, this is one less thing to manage.
7. Ways to Save
Hollywood Studios is expensive, but there there are ways to save.
Discounted Disney Gift Cards
You can purchase Hollywood Studios tickets and food with Disney gift cards. Purchase said gift cards at a discount at several places.
Discounted Disney Tickets
If you aren’t using gift cards, purchase tickets through a discount broker like Undercover Tourist.
Consider an Annual Pass
If you are planning to visit Disney World multiple times, do the math. Does an annual pass make sense?
Pro tip: You can upgrade previously purchased Disney World tickets to an annual pass.
Visit at an Off Time
Hollywood Studios ticket prices vary by the day. You will get a better deal at off peak times.
Use Miles and Points
The Disney Visa from Chase earns Disney dollars. It isn‚Äôt the best credit card for everyday purchases, but it comes with a decent signup bonus. You can purchase tickets, dine, and buy merchandise with the Disney dollars earned. You also get discounts at the Hollywood Brown Derby if you pay with this card. If you’re new to this game, our beginner’s guide to travel points walks through how to fund a trip like this without paying full freight.
Note: Chase has a 5/24 rule that it may or may not be enforcing at this time. If you have taken out or been listed as an authorized user on five or more credit cards from any company (not just Chase) in the last 24 months, you may be declined.
Free Ice Water
The counter service restaurants pass out free cups of water. Don’t waste your money buying water bottles.
You Can Bring Food
Outside food is allowed. Don’t go crazy. You won’t want to carry it.
Pro tip: The cups are small. Bring a refillable water bottle and ask for multiple cups.
8. Download the App
The My Disney Experience app is mandatory. It gives you a Hollywood Studios Disney World map, ride wait times, and allows you to mobile order quick service meals.
The app also includes a free Disney Genie tip board that recommends an itinerary for Hollywood Studios and suggests things to do throughout the day. It’s free, and it’s still not great. Don’t lean on it.
Touringplans.com has been doing this for free for years. Touringplans.com does not care whether Disney’s crowds are directed in specific ways. Disney, on the other hand, has an interest in sending people where it wants them to go, even if it doesn’t maximize their experience. Odds are decent that you will get better results without the Genie.
Pro tip: The app drains cell phone batteries faster than middle-aged women slam White Claw on Friday night. Don’t forget a portable cell phone charger.
9. There is Free Wi-Fi
It is slow and unreliable, but there is free Wi-Fi at Hollywood Studios.
10. Check the Hollywood Studios Weather
Orlando weather ranges from comfortable to core of the sun. Violent afternoon storms that do nothing to make you feel cooler are common during the summer. Check the weather before you go so you know what to expect.
11. Day Bag Packing
You don’t want to fight crowds while carrying a cooler. Trust me on this one. If you don’t have a stroller, go easy here. With that said, don’t forget:
A. A poncho
B. A hat or sunglasses
F. Sunscreen
12. Transportation and Parking for Hollywood Studios
Guests at Disney’s on property resorts can take resort transportation to the park for free. Depending upon your resort, you may access the park by bus, boat, or Skyliner.
Buses start running about 45 minutes before Hollywood Studios opening time. You want to be at the front of the line when the bus arrives, so get to the stop at least an hour before park opening. It is less of an issue for the boats and Skyliner, but you still want to line up an hour ahead of time if being one of the first into the park is important to you.
If you drive to the park, expect to pay around $35 per day for standard parking and roughly $50 to $60 per day for preferred parking, depending on the day. Prices creep up over time, so confirm the current rate when you go. The good news is one parking fee covers all four theme parks that day, so you’re not paying again if you hop.
Pro tip: There is a special Disney bus for people who are park hopping.
Bonus pro tip: If you park hop, you don’t have to pay for parking twice in the same day.
Extra bonus pro tip: Guests of on property resorts (who likely paid for parking at their hotels) do not have to pay to park at the theme parks.
13. There is a Baby Care Center
There is a baby care center near the entrance across from the Oscar’s Super Service store. It includes rocking chairs for nursing, changing tables, high chairs, a microwave, a sink, and a store that sells baby items.
14. Make a Touring Plan
This park is the most obscenely crowded popular at Disney World right now. It does not have as many rides as Magic Kingdom. If you’re wondering how to get the most out of Hollywood Studios, you need a touring plan. That sea of humanity isn’t going away.
The best plan for you depends upon your priorities. No matter what, arrive prior to park opening and eat at off times. When deciding what to do first at Hollywood Studios, consider going to Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, or Sunset Boulevard to ride the Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Save shows and shopping for the afternoon.
Pro tip: Check out the Hollywood Studios map before you go to familiarize yourself with where things are located.
Bonus pro tip: Touringplans.com creates free personalized touring plans. Input what you want to do to generate a plan. Your plan can be modified throughout the day based upon current Hollywood Studios wait times.
Extra bonus pro tip: The park employees will not kick you out of a line if you are in it before the park closes. If you get in line one minute before Hollywood Studios closing time, you will be allowed to ride.
Note: Disney‚Äôs free Genie tip board claims to provide you with a free touring plan. While this is technically true, it tends to send people to rides with longer wait times that don’t make sense for your day. Disney wants to control where the crowds go, not maximize your experience. Try touringplans.com instead.
Hollywood Studios Disney Tips for Adults
A Hollywood Studios itinerary for adults should include arriving early, riding big rides in the morning and before park close, and spending time in Galaxy’s Edge.
Pro tip: If you don’t care if you sit with your party, single rider lines will have substantially shorter Hollywood Studios queue times.
15. Is Lightning Lane Worth it at Hollywood Studios?
First, a terminology update, because Disney loves renaming things. The old free FastPass+ is long gone, and so is Genie+, its paid replacement. As of mid-2024, the paid skip-the-line system is called Lightning Lane Multi Pass (the day-long, multi-ride version) and Lightning Lane Single Pass (the à-la-carte, pay-per-ride version). Same idea, new names, new prices.
Paying for something that used to be free still stings. I get it. But at this particular park, where almost everything has a long line and there’s barely any filler to soak up the crowd, throwing money at the problem actually works. And since not everyone bothers, the people who do skip ahead of a lot of standby misery.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Multi Pass lets you reserve return windows to skip the standby line on a set of Hollywood Studios attractions throughout the day. The big improvement over the old Genie+: you no longer have to wake up and fight everyone at 7:00 a.m. on the day of your visit. You can pre-book your first selections in advance — up to 7 days ahead if you’re staying at a Disney resort, and 3 days ahead for everyone else.
Hollywood Studios uses a tier system. The roughly dozen Multi Pass attractions are split into Tier 1 (the big headliners) and Tier 2 (everything else). In advance you can typically lock in one Tier 1 plus two Tier 2 picks, then earn the ability to book more as you redeem the ones you’ve got.
Tier 1 here includes the heavy hitters: Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, with the re-themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets joining as a fourth. Tier 2 covers Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Alien Swirling Saucers, and the theater shows.
You don’t get to pick an exact ride time. You get the return window Disney offers. If your first selection lands later in the day (very likely with Slinky Dog Dash), you may end up holding more than one pass at once after you book your next one.
Pricing is demand-based and changes by date, so I won’t pretend to give you an exact figure — but plan on roughly $22 on a slow day up to about $39 per person, per day on a busy one (before tax) at Hollywood Studios. That’s a real jump from the old flat Genie+ rate, so check the price for your actual date before you commit.
Note: You generally can’t book the same attraction twice in one day. If you want a repeat ride, you’re in the standby line with everyone else.
Note: Return windows have a grace period — typically a few minutes early to fifteen minutes late. Show up outside your window and they don’t have to honor the pass.
Tips for Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Pro Disney Hollywood Studios tip: You can pick and choose which days you buy it. You don’t have to purchase Multi Pass for every day of your trip.
Bonus pro tip: Sometimes you have to scan your pass more than once in the same line. Don‚Äôt book your next ride until you’re sure you’ve gone through all the scanners.
Extra bonus pro tip: If you don’t care about sitting with your party, you can skip Multi Pass entirely on the rides that offer single rider lines and ride for free.
Extra bonus pro tip: If Slinky Dog Dash is important to you, make it your first Tier 1 pick. It’s the one that books out fastest.
Lightning Lane Single Pass (Rise of the Resistance)
Here’s the change that trips people up: Rise of the Resistance is not part of Multi Pass. It’s sold separately as a Lightning Lane Single Pass, and it’s the only Hollywood Studios attraction in that category. (Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which used to be the other pay-per-ride option, is now a regular Tier 1 Multi Pass ride.)
For Single Pass you pay a flat, demand-priced fee to skip the standby line once. For Rise, plan on roughly $22 to $25 per person, per day before tax, though it swings with the calendar. Confirm the price for your date.
Pro tip: Disney resort guests can start booking Single Pass up to 7 days in advance; everyone else gets 3 days. Either way, do it early.
Bonus pro tip: If you don’t care about sitting with your party, the single rider lines have short wait times.
Extra bonus pro tip: Rise of the Resistance Single Pass sells out fast. Don’t sit on it.
Are These Extras Worth it?
So is paying to skip the line worth it at this park? Short answer: at Hollywood Studios, more than almost anywhere else.
Single Pass for Rise of the Resistance
Single Pass for Rise of the Resistance can make sense. If you’re only there once, don’t want to sprint at rope drop, and don’t want to burn an hour-plus in standby, it may be worth the money to you.
As for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you generally don’t need to spend a Multi Pass slot on it. You can usually walk on with a short line first thing in the morning. If you’d rather rope-drop something else and save it for later in the day, that’s a reasonable use of a pass.
Multi Pass
Unlike at Animal Kingdom, Multi Pass is worth it here. Almost every ride comes with a long line, and the park doesn’t have the gentle filler attractions that let you coast. You don’t want to burn your whole day standing around. There are enough headliners to justify the cost.
16. What Are the Must Do Hollywood Studios Disney World Rides?
Hollywood Studios Walt Disney World has a bunch of headliners, and almost no fillers. Determine your priorities and be prepared to wait in line.
Animation Courtyard Attractions
Animation Courtyard is located about halfway to the back of the park to the right. Heads up: this whole area is being torn up and reimagined into a new “Walt Disney Studios” land, so most of it is walled off for construction. For now, the two things still open here are Walt Disney Presents and the new Little Mermaid musical. Save them for the afternoon.
Hollywood Studios Star Wars Launch Bay
Star Wars Launch Bay was a walkthrough attraction that housed movie paraphernalia plus a theater playing a snoozefest documentary about the saga. It sat in the part of Animation Courtyard now caught up in the construction overhaul, so don’t count on it being open — check the park map at the time of your visit before you walk back there.
Height requirement: None
Lightning Lane: No
Hollywood Studios Walt Disney Presents
Walt Disney Presents is a gallery about Walt Disney followed by a movie about Walt Disney. If your kids don’t care about Walt Disney, you can skip it. In a pinch, it is a great place to get out of the sun in the afternoon.
Hollywood Studios ride height requirement: None
Lightning Lane: No
Hollywood Studios Echo Lake Attractions
Echo Lake is located near the front of the park to the left. You can safely save this section for the afternoon.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Vomit City Star Tours is a motion simulator that has seen better days. There will be a line in the afternoon, but not an unreasonable one.
Height requirement: 40″
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass
Hollywood Studios Vacation Fun
Vacation Fun is a Mickey Mouse cartoon in an air conditioned theater. You will never encounter a line beyond waiting for the next show to start. There is nothing special about it, but the show is cute, and it is a great place to sit down in the afternoon.
Height requirement: None
Lightning Lane: No
Grand Avenue (Now Under Construction)
Grand Avenue sits about halfway to the back of the park; veer left from the Hollywood Studios entrance to reach it. I’m leaving this section in for context, but the news here is a demolition: the old Muppets Courtyard closed for good and is being rebuilt into a Monsters, Inc. land. There’s nothing to rope-drop here for a while.
Muppet Vision 3D (Permanently Closed)
Pour one out: Muppet*Vision 3D and the whole Muppets Courtyard closed permanently in June 2025. It was a cute, old, all-day movie — genuinely worth a stop, particularly for people who got a Rock Tumbler for Christmas in 1990 — and it was one of the few attractions that swallowed a big crowd at once, which this park desperately needs. In its place, Disney is building a Monsters, Inc. land (“Monstropolis”) with a Monsters-themed coaster, which isn’t expected to open until around 2027. So the bad news is the park lost a crowd-eater; the good news is a real headliner is coming.
Status: Closed; future Monsters, Inc. land
Hollywood Boulevard Attraction
Hollywood Boulevard is the first section you encounter at the entrance to Hollywood Studios. Think Magic Kingdom’s Main Street. In addition to being a popular place to take photos, it houses one popular attraction.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Formerly the Hollywood Studios Great Movie Ride, Mickey & Minnie’s is a must do. It is a fun, relatively mild ride, during which you are in a Mickey Mouse cartoon. You enter said cartoon, literally, as you walk through a broken wall after the ride’s preshow.
The line for this ride builds throughout the day. The queue is in the blazing sun with very little shade. This is a great ride to hit at rope drop if you are interested. You can also skip the line with Lightning Lane Multi Pass, but going here first thing in the morning is a free way to avoid a wait.
Hollywood Studios Mickey ride height requirement: None
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 1)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Attractions
What should you not miss at Hollywood Studios? If you like Star Wars, Galaxy’s Edge is a must do.
Galaxy’s Edge is a mecca for nerds Star Wars fans. It is heavily themed, isolated from the rest of the park, has employees that speak Nerd another language, and offers plenty of expensive shopping opportunities. It has two popular Hollywood Studios Florida rides, plus a lot at which to look beyond them.
This section is located all the way in the back of the park. It gets crowded throughout the day. If it is important to you, consider heading here first.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Smugglers Run is a motion simulator that allows its occupants to navigate the Millennium Falcon. It can be crashed, and it will if your six year old has anything to say about it.
Height requirement: 38″
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 1)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
This Hollywood Studios Star Wars ride is reliably one of the most popular at all of Disney World. It’s exceptionally well done, with multiple ride systems stitched together into one experience. Most people would call it a true must-do.
Disney used to run a free virtual queue anyone could join in the morning, but, you know, money. That went the way of FastPass+ when the paid system took over. Today, the only way to skip the standby line on Rise is to buy its Lightning Lane Single Pass — it’s the one ride here sold separately from Multi Pass.
Everyone wants to ride, which means the line is long all day. If you can run really, really fast, head here first. If not, don’t bother sprinting — buy the Single Pass or accept that you’ll be waiting awhile.
Pro tip: If you want the Single Pass for this ride, don’t wait. It sells out very quickly.
Height requirement: 40″
Lightning Lane: Single Pass (roughly $22–$25 per person, demand-priced)
Sunset Boulevard Attractions
Sunset Boulevard is located in the front right of the park. The rides aren’t new, but they are still super fun. If you don’t care as much about the shiny stuff, this is a great place to go first thing in the morning before the lines build. Most people will head elsewhere.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
This is an indoor, air conditioned show starring Lightning McQueen from Cars. It is a great place to sit down in the afternoon. Do not go here first. There won’t be a wait. Ever.
Height requirement: None
Lightning Lane: No
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Here’s a change worth flagging: the Aerosmith theme is gone. The coaster reopened in May 2026 as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, now featuring Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem instead of guys your kids never recognized in the first place. Same ride system underneath — an indoor, launch-into-the-dark, upside-down coaster — just a different soundtrack and storyline. It’s still smooth and still a lot of fun.
As a freshly re-themed headliner, the line gets long, but you can often walk on with almost no wait first thing in the morning.
Height requirement: 48″
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 1)
Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of the most iconic Hollywood Studios rides. You go up an elevator, then drop. It’s a genuine thrill, so if you’re traveling with little ones, it’s worth knowing where it lands on our roundup of the scariest rides at Disney World before you put a nervous kid in line. This line gets long, but not first thing in the morning.
Hollywood Studios Twilight Zone height requirement: 40″
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 2)
Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land
Toy Story Land is adorably themed with giant blocks as far as the eye can see. It is a Hollywood Studios must do with little kids.
This Hollywood Studios land is located in the back of the park to the right. It is stupid crowded popular, so if this is important to you, head here first, and quickly.
Alien Swirling Saucers
Alien Swirling Saucers is a Hollywood Studios kids’ ride. It looks a whole lot like Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in California Adventure, meaning they are basically the same ride with different cars. Think upgraded Scrambler.
You will likely have to wait, but not for an extended period of time.
Height requirement: 32″
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 2)
Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is a Hollywood Studios roller coaster that is fast enough to please adults, but not crazy enough to deter small children. The sun beats down on this queue. Two hour waits are not unusual. Plan accordingly.
Pro tip: This is the Tier 1 ride that books out first. Make it your first Multi Pass pick if it matters to you. You may not land a return window until later in the day, but you won’t get one at all if you wait.
Height requirement: 38″
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 1)
Toy Story Mania!
Toy Story Mania! is a ride/game where you shoot at objects on screens. It isn’t as popular as Slinky Dog Dash, but it should be. The largely indoor, air conditioned line builds, but it is manageable. This ride should not be missed.
Pro tip: If you get to Toy Story Land first thing in the morning and the Slinky Dog Dash line is already over an hour, jump in this line instead. It will be short.
Hollywood Studios height requirement: None
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 2)
17. Utilize Rider Switch
Kids are always ruining adult fun. It’s just a fact. Fortunately, Disney World has a Rider Switch program that allows multiple adults to ride things that their short companion cannot. One of the best Hollywood Studios Orlando tips and tricks for adults is to utilize it.
You wait in line one time with your entire party. One adult stays with the child while the other rides, than the adults switch without having to wait in line a second time.
Pro tip: If you have an older child, he or she can ride with both adults.
18. There Are Live Hollywood Studios Shows
Hollywood Studios Beauty and the Beast
This live stage production of Beauty and the Beast seems outdated compared to the show offered on Disney Cruise Line. The teacups are the same size as the humans. If you have a cruise coming up, you can definitely skip. If you want to see it, check the show times.
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 2)
Location: Sunset Boulevard
Disney Junior Play & Dance
Disney Junior Play & Dance is Hollywood Studios entertainment for young kids. There are characters and jazz hands. Everyone sits on the floor. This really isn’t for people with all of their adult teeth. One catch: it lives in Animation Courtyard, which is in the middle of its construction overhaul, so confirm it’s still running before you build your day around it.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to check the show times and current status.
Location: Animation Courtyard (under construction)
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
The Hollywood Studios Frozen Sing-Along is in a large theater. It has a show on a screen with some live actors on a stage. You generally won’t have to wait. Use a Multi Pass slot here if it makes you happy, but it’s not necessary.
Pro tip: This doesn’t play all day. Be sure to check the show times.
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 2)
Location: Echo Lake
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
There is an Indiana Jones show with a big rolling boulder. That is the extent of the positive things I have to say on this topic. The Echo Lake area has seen some shuffling lately, so check the show times and confirm it’s still running if it interests you.
Lightning Lane: Multi Pass (Tier 2) when running
Location: Echo Lake
Hollywood Studios Jedi Training Academy
Jedi Training Academy is a Star Wars show starring random kids in the park. If you want your kid to participate, get there ASAP.
Note: This Hollywood Studios experience has been suspended for a while now. Don’t count on it.
Lightning Lane: No
Location: Echo Lake
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
The old Voyage of the Little Mermaid puppet show closed years ago and never came back. Its replacement, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, opened in Animation Courtyard in May 2025 — a fuller live retelling of the story with talented stage actors who are not painful to watch. It’s one of the few things still open in that under-construction courtyard. Check the show times.
Lightning Lane: No
Location: Animation Courtyard
19. There Are Nighttime Shows
Fantasmic
Fantasmic is a long-running nighttime show starring Mickey Mouse from Fantasia, with a parade of popular movie characters. A version of it also runs at Disneyland. Because the park is mid-renovation, showtimes (and whether it’s running at all on a given night) can shift, so confirm before you plan your evening around it.
Pro tip: This Hollywood Studios night show is popular. Check the show times and arrive early.
Bonus pro tip: If you want to avoid the crowd, there is a dessert party that gets you into a reserved seating area. It used to run around $39 per adult and $19 per child, which was a relative steal compared to the Magic Kingdom offering, but Disney prices tend to drift up, so check the current rate before you book.
Extra bonus pro tip: There are dining packages available that get you into a reserved seating area. Multiple Hollywood Studios Orlando restaurants offer them, and you can bank on it being expensive. Check availability at the time of your visit.
Fireworks
Hollywood Studios features a nighttime show that changes from time to time. All shows have fireworks and are dripping with intellectual property. Check the show times at the time of your visit and plan to stake out a spot early.
Pro tip: There is a Star Wars dessert party option that offers VIP seating to the fireworks. Last I checked it ran somewhere around $89 per adult and $53 per child ages three to nine — and like everything else here, it has almost certainly crept higher since, so confirm the price. It’s obscene, but it does include alcohol. I still have no idea how they justify the kid price, or the fact that a ten-year-old pays adult prices but can’t drink. Skipping this one with kids makes sense.
20. Hollywood Studios Best Restaurants
Unlike EPCOT, Hollywood Studios has lackluster options when it comes to dining. Some are better than others. Disney posts the restaurant menus on its website to help with your decision.
Mobile order is your friend. Use it for Hollywood Studios quick service restaurants, and don’t wait until you’re ready to eat to do it. It is not uncommon to be offered a pickup time that is hours from the time you order.
Pro tip: If you’re wondering how to do Hollywood Studios in a way that maximizes your day, eat at an off time. This will allow you to avoid crowds and take advantage of shorter ride lines. Alternatively, make reservations for the latest possible time. This will keep you in the park after it closes so you don‚Äôt waste time eating while you could be riding.
Hollywood Studios Tips for Dining Reservations
Pro tip: Everyone can make dining reservations for Hollywood Studios 60 days before the date of their visits starting around 5:45 a.m. EST. If you stay in a Disney hotel, you can make reservations for up to ten days at once starting 60 days from the day you check into the resort, giving onsite guests an advantage for tough to get hot spots. The popular ones go fast. Set an alarm.
Bonus pro tip: Don’t make your dining reservations in chronological order. Make the most difficult to get first, then circle back, even if it means reserving the restaurants you will visit at the end of your trip first.
Extra bonus pro tip: Save the most difficult to get Hollywood Studios reservations for the end of your trip. On property guests who check in before you have already made reservations for some of the days of your trip when your booking window opens. If you stay on property, you will be more likely to get something a few days after your check in date.
Extra bonus pro tip: People cancel reservations all the time, especially last minute. If you don’t get what you want right away, keep checking.
Note: The Disney Dining Plan is back. Resort guests can once again add the Standard or Quick-Service plan to a package, so if you’re staying on property and like to prepay your food, it’s an option again. Run the numbers — it only saves money if your family genuinely eats that much.
Hollywood Studios Restaurants to Consider
Hollywood Studios’ options are not as good as some of the other parks, but it does have allergy menus and gluten free items at most locations.
50s Primetime Cafe
50s Primetime Cafe’s theme is old school diner with some sass. Frankly, the show falls flat, as does this Hollywood Studios food, and I seriously enjoy sarcasm. With that said, it is popular, so make reservations early if you’re interested.
Pro tip: The crab cake is the best option on the menu for Hollywood Studios gluten free dining.
Location: Echo Lake
The Hollywood Brown Derby
The Hollywood Studios Brown Derby, most widely regarded for its Cobb Salad, is popular. The food is expensive, but better than most other options.
Pro tip: Reservations for this Hollywood Studios table service restaurant go fast. Book early.
Bonus pro tip: This restaurant offers a Hollywood Studios Fantasmic dining package that gets you into reserved seating for the show.
Extra bonus pro tip: Disney Visa cardholders get a discount when they pay with their cards.
Location: Hollywood Boulevard
Oga’s Cantina
Oga’s Cantina is a bar with a couple of Hollywood Studios snacks. People go here for the themed cocktails and Star Wars atmosphere. Reservations are coveted.
Location: Galaxy’s Edge
Hollywood Studios Sci-Fi Diner
Sci-Fi Diner is themed like a drive-in Hollywood Studios movie theater. You eat your meals in cars while clips of old movies play around you. The food is slightly above average, but the atmosphere is unique.
Heads up: I thought the kids would like this, because, screens. My nine year old was creeped out by the movies enough to declare he did not want to return. They may be scary to small children.
Pro tip: This restaurant has gluten free buns.
Location: Commissary Lane
Hollywood Studios Woody’s Lunch Box
Woody’s Lunch Box is a Toy Story themed quick service. It lacks indoor seating. Be sure to mobile order early before the crowds form and the sun is at its hottest.
Pro tip: This restaurant has gluten free bread.
Location: Toy Story Land
21. There Are Hollywood Studios Characters
You can meet characters throughout the day in various locations. Check the schedule at the time of your visit.
Note: If you’re looking for Hollywood Studios character dining, you have one option, Hollywood & Vine. The restaurant has a couple of different meals, but the food is notoriously awful. Save your money and character dine at a different park.
22. What’s Changing at Hollywood Studios (2025–2027)
This is the single most important thing to understand before you go right now: Hollywood Studios is a construction zone. Disney is in the middle of a multi-year overhaul, which means more of the park is walled off than usual. That matters because this park already had a filler problem — fewer open attractions means the open ones get even more crowded. Here’s the lay of the land:
- Muppets Courtyard → Monstropolis. Muppet*Vision 3D and the surrounding Grand Avenue area closed permanently in June 2025, making way for a new Monsters, Inc. land with a Monsters-themed coaster, expected around 2027.
- Animation Courtyard → “Walt Disney Studios.” Most of this area is fenced off for a new land. For now, only The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents remain open here. Star Wars Launch Bay is part of the reimagined zone.
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster re-themed. The Aerosmith version closed and reopened in May 2026 as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets — same ride, new theme.
- The Little Mermaid musical replaced Voyage of the Little Mermaid, opening in May 2025.
None of this should scare you off — there are still excellent rides here. Just go in knowing the park has fewer ways to soak up a crowd than it normally would, which makes a touring plan and a skip-the-line strategy more valuable, not less.
Hollywood Studios Tips FAQ
How many days do you need at Hollywood Studios?
One full day is enough to hit the major rides if you arrive at rope drop and follow a touring plan. Give it two days if you want to re-ride favorites, take your time in Galaxy’s Edge, or you’re visiting during a busy stretch when waits balloon past two hours.
Do you still need a park reservation for Hollywood Studios?
For most people, no. Disney dropped the park reservation requirement for standard date-based tickets in January 2024. Reservations still apply to certain Annual Passholders and some specialty tickets, so check if you fall into one of those buckets.
What happened to Genie+ at Hollywood Studios?
Genie+ was renamed and restructured. The day-long, multi-ride version is now Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and individual à-la-carte passes are Lightning Lane Single Pass. The big upgrade: you can pre-book in advance — up to 7 days out for Disney resort guests, 3 days for everyone else — instead of scrambling at 7 a.m. on the day of your visit. Multi Pass runs roughly $22–$39 per person per day depending on demand.
Is Rise of the Resistance included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
No. Rise of the Resistance is a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass, sold on its own for roughly $22–$25 per person per day (demand-priced). It’s the only Hollywood Studios attraction in the Single Pass category. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which used to be a separate pass, is now a regular Tier 1 Multi Pass ride.
What is closed at Hollywood Studios right now?
The park is mid-makeover through about 2027. Muppet*Vision 3D and the Muppets Courtyard closed permanently for a future Monsters, Inc. land, and most of Animation Courtyard is walled off for a new “Walt Disney Studios” area. Always check the current park map before you go, since open attractions shift during construction. If you’re traveling with little ones, our look at Hollywood Studios with toddlers covers whether the park is even worth it for the stroller set.
Final Thoughts – Disney World Hollywood Studios Tips and Tricks
The park has some great attractions, but it lacks shade and smaller rides that help manage crowds. It. Gets. Hot. Mentally prepare yourself for some discomfort. Use the Hollywood Studios tips that work for you to maximize your day and maintain your sanity.
Is Hollywood Studios worth it? Absolutely. Visit. You will not regret it.
These are great tips for visiting Hollywood Studios! I especially like the water tip and the up to date Covid information. It is really helpful for anyone who is looking to visit soon.
Did not even realize this was a section of the park! But wow, totally worth visiting – love the photos and seeing all the movie themed stuff. Disney has sure come a long way from the days of “Princess-everything!”
Nice post 🙂
Wow, thank you for putting so many amazing tips in one post!! My fiancé and I are planning a trip to disney for this coming fall and this is incredibly helpful. Thanks so much for sharing!
How fun! I am so jealous of all of your guy’s wonderful family vacations. Such a magical childhood for your kiddos. 🙂
Such a thorough list of tips – anyone would be so prepared!
So many great tips thanks!
So many amazing tips in one post!! HS is probably my least explored park at Disney. Definitely makes me want to go now!
I don’t think I ever did Hollywood Studios as a kid. It would be cool to go back now and experience it!
We’re planning a trip to Disney World sometime soon, so this was super helpful. I especially like the crowd calendar!
I’ve never been to Disney Hollywood Studio’s. But it’s on my list. The Hollywood Boulevard Attraction looks lovely!
Wow! There’s a lot to do. I’ve nearly forgotten what a vacation is all about. This is a thoroughly detailed article that makes me want to go check it all out in person. I wonder if I can bring my dog, Henry too? ??
There is so much information here! It really makes me want to go right now!
What great pro tips. We have talked about a Disney trip but it gets dismissed due to crowds etc. Having these tips might put it back on the list!
Great article. We have stayed at Pop Century a couple times. Great low cost option. It is on the Disney Skyliner so getting to Hollywood Studios is very easy. Our last trip was before the new early access rules so not sure how that is impacting the park.
Keeping this in mind for our next trip! So much great information and tips!
Thank you for such an extensive close-up of the park. Especially love the tip about the ice water!