Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four parks within the Disney World Resort. This park’s theme surrounds the movies and shows that Disney produces. While strolling around the park, you can find Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Grand Avenue, Pixar Plaza, Commissary Lane, Animation Courtyard, and Sunset Boulevard. It’s big enough to finish your trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in less than a day, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a few noteworthy rides and more entertainment or live shows.
Noteworthy Rides
If you haven’t been to any of the Disney parks in California, here are the top five rides you must go on (note: these rides may be a bit thrilling):
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
- Slinky Dog Dash
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Star Tours
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
If you have, you can go straight to Slinky Dog Dash and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror first. If you have time, you can move on to the other rides that we don’t have. Star Tours features the same scenes as Disneyland’s. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is more for nostalgia purposes as DCA revamped theirs to Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.
Experiences to Enjoy
If you plan on spending a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, plan out the trip. This can include ending the night with Fantasmic or any of the big shows. Space out entertainment between rides to rest your legs and energy in between. Be sure to check out the Star Wars Launch Bay for an interactive experience with the Star Wars universe.
The Commissary Lane mimics the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, which also hosts Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Echo Lake highlights the lake in Echo Park (Los Angeles). This is a great way to enjoy Hollywood in the east coast (ironically too, since there is a city named Hollywood in Florida).
For those who are familiar with California’s Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park, you might see some references between the parks (more particularly towards the latter, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios is literally based on the whole Hollywood vibes in California). You can find Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Tours from Disneyland here. Additionally, you can find the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania from Disney California Adventure Park at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Food & Drinks
You have the option for a casual quick service (order & go) and table service (dine-in) restaurant. Note that restaurants do have vegetarian and kids options.
Quick Service
- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo: Stir fry, pork ribs, tuna poke, chicken tip yip, and chicken salad.
- Backlot Express: Burgers and salad.
- BaseLine Tap House: Pretzel, charcuterie board, and beer.
- Woody’s Lunch Box: BBQ brisket melt, grilled cheese sandwich, smoked turkey sandwich, and potato nachos.
- Dockside Diner: Hot dogs and macaroni & cheese.
- ABC Commissary: Shrimp/pork tacos, chicken salad, and chicken sandwiches.
- Fairfax Fare: Beef/chicken/pork belly bowls and macaroni & cheese.
- PizzeRizzo: Pizza, salad, and meatball sub.
- Rosie’s All-American Café: Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, nuggets, and salad.
Table Service
- Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano: Italian-inspired menu. Expect steak/fish, pizza, and pasta.
- Roundup Rodeo BBQ: Pay a fixed price to have access to a platter of BBQ options.
- 50’s Prime Time Cafe: Diner vibes with fried chicken, pasta, salad, pot pie, pot roast, meatloaf, pork chop, and salmon.
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant: Burgers, pasta, and salad.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
I had a very nostalgic experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, especially with this park resembling a lot like the Disney California Adventure Park. We have the old Terror of Tower, and basically what Los Angeles (Hollywood) used to be (when it was still very much iconic). If you’re looking to explore through all of the parks within Disney World, this is a great place to start to ease into the experience. This park is not too big, so you’ll have a great time strolling through the park.
When we visited this park, the weather seemed fine in the morning (gloomy), but by noon, a monsoon hit and Disney banked on everyone spending $13 on ponchos. Slinky Dog Dash was quite the wait, but I was shocked about how thrilling it ended up being. As always, I have to hold my organs in place while being on the Tower of Terror. The drops reminded me that I am not 20 anymore. This was home away from home.
This blog post is part of my Disney World series.