Disney World! "The Most Magical Place on Earth" and a dream place for many children and adults. With 5 main theme parks, a sports complex, a waterpark, a downtown, and many resorts with transportation in between, one day is not enough time to experience Disney World in its entirety.
WHAT IS HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS?
Hollywood Studios is a theme park owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company. The theme park was opened on May 1, 1989 and has since taken visitors through the film development and history of Walt Disney World. It was originally opened under the name MGM Studios, but changed to Hollywood Studios in 2008.
Previously known for Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat, this was removed in 2001 and subsequently began the shift to a theme park is heavy in shows and rides. If you're a person who enjoys rides, this is the best park for you to visit given the new technology and quantity of rides. However, be warned these rides are generally higher impact than other parks such as Magic Kingdom. Meaning, if you're traveling with small children your ride opportunities here will be more limited.
Most notable places in Hollywood Studios include Sunset Boulevard, the Chinese Theater, and Tower of Terror. New attractions that are gaining huge popularity include Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land.
The view of the Tower of Terror from Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios.
WHERE TO STAY
Hollywood Studios is accessible by car for the external visitors, but for those staying on property the park can be reached bus, Disney's Friendship Launch Boat and the Disney Skyliner. All of the resorts listed below have Disney Skyliner hubs that can take you directly to Hollywood Studios. But, all resorts on Disney property can access Hollywood Studios by bus and are a great option. Another great benefit to Disney resorts is that parking is FREE!
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are the only Disney Resorts managed by Marriott. Meaning, for these hotels you can not only earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but also use them for your reservation. Additionally, this resort offers special teacher discounts. It's in a great location with access to Disney's Boardwalk nearby and is in close proximity to EPCOT.
Located on Disney's Crescent Lake, this New England-inspired resort provides a relaxing experience for their guests with subtle Disney inspired decorations. It's located on Disney's Cresent Lake with close proximity to Disney's Boardwalk, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios by a short boat ride.
My favorite Disney Resort! The Boardwalk Resort offers a variety of well-designed accommodations, pools, and activities to enjoy on property. Located right outside there is a quarter-mile promenade filled with dining, shops, and nightlife alongside Disney's Crescent Lake. The resort is also a short walk or boat ride to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
Tip: If you don't stay at the Boardwalk, you can still park at the hotel and enjoy the restaurants and view along the promenade.
Disney's Ferry Map.
An Caribbean-inspired resort, the grounds pull in influences from the islands of Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad and Aruba. This resort is known for it's great pools and easy accessibility by Disney Skyliner to reach both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
Disney's Riviera Resort is one of the newest properties on the Disney campus. A luxurious, European-inspired resort, this hotel offers detailed, clean indoor and outdoor amenities with great views of the lake and EPCOT fireworks show. This resort has easy accessibility by Disney Skyliner to reach both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
Paying homage to the magic of both Disney and Pixar, this resort is filled with colorful, animated displays of characters. It is also notably home to the largest resort pool of the Disney resort properties. This resort has easy accessibility by Disney Skyliner to reach both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
This resort will take you through Disney over the years. With displays and showcases of key Disney events from the 1950s to 1990s you have a front seat to learning about the history that's shaped Disney World as we know it today. This resort is playful and filled with color! This resort has easy accessibility by Disney Skyliner to reach both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
Disney's Skyliner Map.
Off Property Transportation
Not staying on property? No issue. Guests can park at the Disney's Hollywood Studios Parking Lots, then either walk or take a quick ride to the front gates. There are 5 lots: Olaf, Buzz, Jessie, Minnie, and Mickey, which you'll be directed to by the employees upon arrival.
Be advised while it's a relatively easy journey from the parking lot to the front gate, it can take about 20 min to get to the front gate. Then, another 10min+ to get into the park gates depending on how busy it is that day. Plan accordingly so you don't miss any reservations. With Disney, it's better to be early than to rush.
PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP
Buying Your Tickets
There are many third party sites to buy your tickets from and stores such as AAA that may offer packages with discounted pricing. Disney also offers discounted passes to Florida residents. Undercover Tourist is what my family uses to find the best priced tickets for less, but there are also other sites such as Orlando Fun Tickets and Get Away Today that provide discounted passes. That said, for my latest Disneyworld trip, buying our tickets directly through Disney ended up being the best pricing.
Genie Plus
A relatively new feature that Disney has adopted is Genie Plus. This feature allows guests to log on to their My Disney Experience app and plan out their day with the help of "Genie." When logging in you'll be able to see resources to help you organize your day such as your tickets, park maps, mobile food orders, resort information, and more. When planning your day at the park, use the My Disney Experience app's My Disney Genie Day to see what rides are up and running and book your times to visit. This is an extra cost around $18-$20 per ticket that can be added at midnight on the day of your active pass.
Tips for using Genie Plus
You can start booking rides at 7am the morning of your tickets.
Be ready, on your phone to book your first Genie Plus "fast pass" by 6:55am
Know what ride you're going to book, at 7am sharp scroll in the alphabetical list of experiences to book yours.
You won't see the time you'll receive, but book fast! The quicker you book around 7am, the quicker it will be.
Your time can change from the reservation screen to the booking. Keep clicking through to reserve - your time is not held on the initial reservation screen.
At parking opening, or after you use your pass, you are able to book your next pass.
You can book your next Genie Plus after you scan in to the ride with a reservation.
Lightning Lane
For select rides, you may need to purchase Lightning Lane in addition to your park pass with Genie Plus to avoid the line. The cost will range between $10-$12 per person per ride depending on the time of the day. When booking a time slot for the ride, you will see a LL which indicates Lightening Lane. You can do this all directly through your MyDisneyExperience app.
Key Point: The total cost is Park Pass + Genie Plus + Lightning Lane. You buy LL per ride, not per day.
Managing Your Tickets
If you're traveling in a big group, you may consider becoming friends with everyone in your party on your MyDisneyExperience account. The benefit is so when you're going to make a booking, someone in your party can select everyone's pass and then make the reservation together. If you purchase your tickets separately, have no fear, you can easily transfer your tickets into one account by navigating to your MyDisneyExperience account then click Tickets and Passes then Link Tickets & Passes.
PLANNING FOR THE DAY
The biggest piece of advice I have is to familiarize yourself with the park map in advance of your visit so that you're not running from one side of the park to the next. It may be smarter to forgo an earlier Genie Plus reservation for a later time slot if it makes more sense about where you'll be and when. Since there are so many new, high-demand rides in Hollywood Studios you'll want to make sure you're planning well and not running across the park to make a GeniePlus time.
Disney World's Hollywood Studios Park Map.
PACKING FOR THE DAY
My biggest tip is to pack lightly and efficiently. You'll be walking around all day and the more stuff you bring, the more stuff you need to not only carry around, but make sure you don't lose. Disney World allows outside food and drink so if you're looking to save money or have dietary restrictions you can bring in your own food. Also, consider the weather. Florida is generally hot and humid, you never know when a rainstorm may roll in. Be prepared for the sunshine and check the forecast for rain. That said, here's what I'm packing:
Magic Band - Purchase your magic band and link your park ticket in advance for easy entry.
Minnie Ears - Speaks for itself, have to show some Disney love!
Tee Shirt - An oversized cotton tee protects your shoulders from the sun and is ultra comfy.
Shorts - Athletic shorts are comfy and will dry quickly if you get wet on a water ride.
Sneakers - With so much walking, it simply doesn't make sense to wear anything else.
Small Backpack - Keep it small and pack only the essentials.
Sunscreen - Protect yourself from the sun - wear your sunscreen!
Chapstick - Again, we don't want our lips to burn.
Band-Aids - You never know when you'll get a blister or trip and fall.
Ibuprofen - Always nice to have on hand in case of the sun-induced headache.
Snacks - Keep them light and (kind of) healthy, nice to save some money by packing snacks.
Sunglasses - No matter the time of year, the sun will be out. Bring some shades!
Water Bottle - Bring in your own water bottle and refill it at inside the park.
Rain Poncho - Go to the dollar store and pick up a cheap rain poncho in case of a quick rain.
WHERE TO EAT
Once you've made your mind to go to Disney's Magic Kingdom, you should start checking out the reservations. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance of your visit right on the My Disney Experience App. Although not needed, there are some great restaurants inside the park and it's always nice to secure some air conditioning to escape the Florida heat and humidity.
Fairfax Fare
A walk up food stand on Sunset Boulevard that offers turkey legs, waffle bowls, and other hearty snacks/meals.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
A new BBQ restaurant in Toy Story Land with Andy's Toys.
Woody's Lunch Box
A pop up cart in Toy Story Land with great snack foods and tasty treats.
Ronto Roaster
Located in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge this spot has hearty snacks/meals including the famous Ronto Wrap.
Oga's Cantina
Located in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge this is a popular sit down restaurant with Star Wars inspired treats. Reservations are needed.
BaseLine Tap House
A laid back outdoor atmosphere where you are able to order beer flights and other American fare.
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
A popular casual Italian restaurant, you will need reservations to get in.
50's Prime Time Café
A popular, unique dining experience with stereotypical homemade 50's food. This spot is famous for "minding your manners" and playing along with guests when they don't follow suit.
Toy Story Land is the coolest with the best food options.
WHAT TO EAT
The Disney snack services have been stepping up their game in recent years. Now, each park has their own unique snacks for guests to try at the walk-up stands. Hollywood Studios has especially great themed food. In both Toy Story Land and Star War's Galaxy Edge there are snacks you can't get anywhere else in the park that fit both of the world's storyline.
Turkey Legs
Commonly found on Sunset Boulevard, turkey legs are a park staple and a hearty meal while walking around.
Lunch Box Tart
Found at Woody's Lunch Box, these are a take on the childhood favorite Pop Tart but BETTER.
BBQ Brisket Melt
Found at Woody's Lunch Box, a BBQ sandwich with tater tots on the side.
Ronto Wrap
A hot dog / pita combination found in Star War's Galaxy Edge's Ronto Roasters. A great lunch snack!
Black Caf Cold Brew
A deluxe cold brew coffee located at Kat Saka's Kettle in Galaxy's Edge.
Cheddar-Jalapeno Pretzel
A cheese stuffed pretzel found in Pretzel Palooza - a cart located near the entrance of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.
The Black Cafe Cold Brew at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. So deluxe!
WHAT TO DO
Below is a list of my favorite rides starting going down Sunset Boulevard heading toward Toy Story Land and moving through the park in counterclockwise order to the Star War's Galaxy Edge. This will help limit walking, but also prepare for the day. Scattered throughout Hollywood Studios are both exciting rides and neat shows and animation sessions I'd highly encourage attending.
Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage
A Broadway-inspired muscial that tells the storyline of the Disney classic story Beauty & The Beast.
Tower of Terror
A thrilling ride taking riders high into the tower, then quickly dropping, as you travel through the Twilight Zone.
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
A high-speed roller coaster with turns and flips simulating racing Aerosmith to their next concert.
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
A low-impact, high animation ride taking guests through Mickey & Minnie's railway experience.
Toy Story Mania
A low-impact interactive target game to virtually toss rings, shoot darts and targets racking up the most points.
Slinky Dog Dash
A high-speed rollercoaster suitable for children taking you around Toy Story Land on slinky dog.
Alien Swirling Saucers
A spinning ride suitable for all ages taking riders through an intergalactic spin with the Toy Story Aliens.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
A thrilling, interactive ride taking you along a suggling mission. There are 4 roles that you'll be allocated to play in this mission.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
A low-impact, high technology ride taking riders through a battle against the First Order.
Muppet Vision
A Muppet show where guests can enjoy some air conditioning in a true theater setting.
Star Tours - The Adventure Continues
A moderate-impact, stationary, yet moving, ride that takes you through Star Wars against the First Order.
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
An exciting action show of Indiana Jones and their story.
If you are thinking "okay this is great, but what should I use my Genie Plus on?"
I would recommend Star War's: Rise of the Resistance and Toy Story's Slinky Dog Dash & Toy Mania.
A sneak peak into a small part of Rise of the Resistance.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Hollywood Studios continues to get better year after year! It's clear to see there's a shift happening in the ride offerings at the theme park and that Disney continues to pour in money to invest in park and ride enhancements. The shows continue to improve as do the rides. For me, Hollywood Studios is the most fun them e park if you're interested in rides. Plan your day smartly and take advantage of the Genie Plus, Lightening Lane, Single Rider lines, and early/late magic hours to maximize your day. HAVE FUN!
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