Our Disney’s Hollywood Studios experience information accommodates opinions of high sights, in addition to numerical scores for each present and experience within the park. When you’re planning a visit to Walt Disney World, it’s an amazing place to begin when making a tough roadmap for one of the best issues to do. (Up to date September 18, 2024.)
When you haven’t visited Walt Disney World in a number of years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios could have probably the most issues which might be “new to you.” The massive additions are two lands: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, which changed parts of the backlot. Moreover, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway changed Nice Film Experience, and Fantasmic was reimagined in such a strategy to tremendously enhance this already-beloved nighttime spectacular.
Much more adjustments are on the horizon. Later in 2024, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” will open in Animation Courtyard. And earlier than that, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will shut on October 7, 2024 to make method for a brand-new Villains Magic Mirror stage present that’ll debut in Summer time 2025. Additional down the highway, a new Monstropolis land primarily based on Monsters, Inc. can be added to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For an thought as to when these everlasting closures and brand-new sights will debut, see Building & Openings Timelines for New Lands, Rides & Additions at Disney World. You can too discover momentary closures in our 2024-2025 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar.
The itemizing beneath solely opinions rides and reveals at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one of many 4 theme parks at Walt Disney World. Seek the advice of our Magic Kingdom Attraction Information, Epcot Attraction Information, and Animal Kingdom Experience Guides to plan for the opposite three parks.
Moreover, we extremely suggest pairing this DHS experience information with different assets for the sake of technique. Whereas there are some suggestions all through this publish, that’s merely not sufficient for beating the crowds at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is Walt Disney World’s most irritating park.
Suffice to say, an aggressive method and savvy technique are required at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s the hardest park to tour at Walt Disney World. There’s no magical method to sleeping in, rolling as much as the park a pair hours after rope drop, not shopping for Genie+, having fun with the park in a leisurely method, and conducting all the pieces.
Listed below are our greatest DHS technique posts:
You will get away with ‘going with the stream’ to a higher diploma on the different parks, however not Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whereas we suggest leveraging savvy technique at the entire parks, it’s downright important at DHS. Studying a pair (or all!) of the above posts will prevent a ton of time and complications. You’ve been warned.
Now let’s flip again to the experience information for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Numerical scores are on a scale of 1 to 10, and solely take into accounts total high quality relative to that particular kind of attraction, and contemplating how a lot their audience will get pleasure from them. In different phrases, we solely take into account how effectively achieved the attraction is, total and inside its class, when skilled by its goal demographic.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Experience Scores
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (10/10) – The blockbuster of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it is a revolutionary feat of Imagineering that redefines what a theme park attraction may be. It blurs the boundaries of queue, pre-show, attraction, and places friends in the midst of an intergalactic journey. We may go on and on about this mind-blowing expertise and its nonstop barrage of wow-moments. For that, you possibly can learn our spoiler-free Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Overview.
Nevertheless, the aim of this publish is to supply scores, opinions, and sensible recommendation for finest experiencing the sights in an environment friendly method. With out query, that is probably the most tough to do experience at Walt Disney World. On account of its unreliability and downtime, it entails leaping by means of some hoops–that are all value it. Studying our Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Experience Information & FAQ earlier than your journey is important.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (8.5/10) — The ‘supporting’ attraction for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. It’s undoubtedly not an ideal attraction, with the interactivity being a combined bag and a gameplay-centric experience not being everybody’s cup of tea. Furthermore, not the entire roles are of equal enjoyment. When it comes to “want success,” pilot is unquestionably the most suitable choice.
Nevertheless, there’s lots to love about Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run past the sport/experience expertise. The queue is gorgeous, the pre-show is spectacular, and stepping foot into the Millennium Falcon whereas ready to board the experience is arguably the spotlight of the attraction as a complete. Utilizing a Lightning Lane on Smugglers Run is a good suggestion, however doing it later within the day or by way of Single Rider will keep away from lengthy wait instances simply as effectively.
Star Excursions: The Adventures Proceed (8.5/10) – A 3D movement simulator montage experience by means of numerous in-universe areas that was lately up to date to incorporate scenes from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and tie into Galaxy’s Edge. These adjustments have tightened the story, improved its cohesiveness, and made the already jarring experience rather less chaotic. Star Excursions: The Adventures Proceed has a 40″ top requirement and isn’t beneficial for individuals who simply get movement illness. Though this has a Lightning Lane, it additionally has a really excessive experience capability, and an entertaining queue.
Slinky Canine Sprint (9/10) – The crown jewel of Toy Story Land, this family-friendly curler coaster presents delicate thrills, a pleasant monitor structure, respectable period, and fascinating queue stuffed with enjoyable particulars. The most important weak spot is its relative lack of Imagineering, with no present scenes–albeit a cute ending. There’s unrealized potential right here, however the coaster continues to be higher than anticipated.
We extremely suggest getting a Genie+ Lightning Lane for Slinky Canine Sprint if you happen to can, however that’s no straightforward activity. When you’re unable to attain a Genie+ Lightning Lane, do Slinky Canine Sprint very first thing within the morning or get in line simply earlier than the park closes.
Toy Story Mania (8/10) – A 3D screen-based shooter recreation with Toy Story characters. As soon as probably the most heavily-hyped attraction at Walt Disney World, standby strains have gotten shorter for this within the final yr because it opened a 3rd monitor. It’s a enjoyable game-based attraction, however it does really feel a bit like a glorified Wii recreation, with out a lot in the way in which of bodily units. It’s a enjoyable and “intense” recreation that many friends are sure to actually get pleasure from. Toy Story Mania is a medium precedence Genie+ choose; it often has Lightning Lane stock effectively into the afternoon.
Alien Swirling Saucers (5/10) – The little inexperienced aliens pilot spaceships that spin and whip round friends in an attraction that’s similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disney California Journey. When you haven’t skilled that, consider the tea cups at Magic Kingdom, besides with friends in freely shifting trailers hooked up to the tea cups as a substitute of within the cups themselves. It’s a cute and enjoyable attraction, however it might be a bit extra quirky or have extra particulars within the queue to up its rating.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (10/10) – A free-fall thrill experience set within the Twilight Zone with an elaborate lead-in and glorious story. That is one of the best Walt Disney World attraction to open within the final 20 years. It’s technically a thrill experience, however it’s a lot extra.
Tower of Terror’s temper, the environment, and the environments earlier than the experience are all top-notch. It’s value going by means of the expertise of the attraction up till that time, even if you happen to don’t do the experience itself. Tower of Terror has a 40″ top requirement and presents Genie+ Lightning Lane line-skipping. It’s a superb use of Genie+, particularly if Tower of Terror is working at lowered capability (which is commonly the case), however don’t hesitate to attend in line for 30-40 minutes for this–the queue is an expertise itself, with loads of references from Twilight Zone episodes.
Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith (8.5/10) — Intense (by Disney requirements) curler coaster with a loop, that includes Aerosmith. The pre-show and queue assist make it extra of a totally fleshed out expertise, however Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is principally an unthemed rollercoaster at nighttime. It’s enjoyable, however it’s not 90-minute-wait enjoyable. It’s a thrills for the sake of thrills attraction. It is a nice Genie+ choice on your third or fourth Lightning Lane choose of the day. In any other case, do it very first thing within the morning or by way of Single Rider.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (9/10) – This contains a sequence of loosely-connected vignettes in a wide range of environments that the runaway automobiles bounce between at a reasonably frenetic and disorienting tempo. Consequently, we’ve loved it increasingly on subsequent ride-throughs, as soon as we had our bearings on issues and have been higher capable of embrace the chaos.
In a way, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway could be very a lot in line with how a cartoon would bounce round, and it additionally boasts an earworm of an unique track. This attraction is a reasonable Lightning Lane precedence.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Exhibits & Spectaculars
Fantasmic (10/10) – Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ nighttime spectacular by which you enter Mickey Mouse’s goals in a present that includes projections, characters on stage, boats, fireplace, fireworks, and extra. Fantasmic is totally in contrast to the fireworks at Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and is an absolute must-see.
For individuals who are accustomed to Fantasmic however haven’t seen it since its return, lots has modified. The nighttime spectacular has been reimagined with beautiful new results, upgraded audio & visible know-how, and a brand-new heroes montage scene. This brings to life heroic moments from Moana, Mulan, Aladdin, Frozen 2, and Pocahontas. The heroes medley replaces an prolonged, all-Pocahontas scene, and is a HUGE improve.
Seek the advice of our Viewing Information for Fantasmic at Walt Disney World for all of our tricks to get one of the best seats at no cost. Alternatively, we extremely suggest reserving the most cost-effective Fantasmic Eating Bundle and guaranteeing your self an amazing seat that method!
Disney Film Magic & Great World of Animation (7/10) – Two completely different projection reveals celebrating films which might be very related in nature. Disney Film Magic is usually reside motion, together with Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Guide, and TRON.
Great World of Animation options a wide range of Disney animated movies, together with some unheralded ones. Each are basically a pre-show for the “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks present, being proven about half-hour earlier than the fireworks begin.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (8/10) – A stunt present themed to Indiana Jones. Regardless of its age, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular nonetheless works. It options a wide range of completely different stunt types, presents humor, and interesting narrative scenes that simply work. So far as action-oriented reveals at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that is by far one of the best. Lightning Lane is accessible, however completely pointless.
Magnificence and the Beast: Reside on Stage (7/10) – A Broadway-style stage retelling the story of Magnificence and the Beast in condensed type. Usually, we’re not followers of reveals or sights which might be merely condensed variations of the traditional tales, however Magnificence and the Beast: Reside on Stage does sufficient with its choreography and performances (particularly by the inanimate objects) and dramatic styling that it feels prefer it truly brings one thing completely different to the desk. In a park excessive on stage reveals, it is a spotlight. Similar story right here with the Lightning Lane–it’s not wanted.
Lightning McQueen Racing Academy (7.5/10) – A ten-minute present that includes a powerful Lightning McQueen Audio Animatronics car who interacts with different characters on display screen and the viewers as he makes use of a state-of-the-art racing simulator. McQueen encounters mates like Mater and Cruz Ramirez, with the salient message being one among teamwork, friendship, and perseverance. He additionally encounters one among his foremost foes, Chick Hicks, who interrupts the present to problem Lightning McQueen. I gained’t give away how this all ends, however you possibly can in all probability guess it. It’s a enjoyable present with some cheeky humor and sufficient morsels that it gained’t bore adults–youngsters will possible adore it.
Walt Disney Presents… (7/10) — A walk-through tribute to Walt Disney, with a movie on the finish. It helps put the parks in context, lifts the curtain on some issues, and in so doing makes the theme parks extra spectacular. Commit 10 minutes to it to get out of the solar and into the air-conditioning. You’ll possible end up spending much more time inside as you pore over the numerous fascinating items which have made the Disney empire what it’s right now.
MuppetVision 3D (7.5/10) – 3D present that includes the Muppets. When you have a humorousness, you’ll love MuppetVision 3D. The pre-show is definitely the spotlight of MuppetVision, and we predict it may well pretty be described as sidesplitting. Be sure to arrive early sufficient to see the complete pre-show (wander round this holding space on the lookout for gags as you watch). The principle 3D present is sweet, and makes use of the standard 3D present gimmicks, plus characters within the theater. The sharp scripts within the pre-show and foremost present are extremely quotable, too. Not loving MuppetVision 3D is distinctly unpatriotic. Lightning Lane line-skipping is accessible by way of Genie+, however completely pointless.
Frozen Sing-Alongside Celebration (6.5/10) – This sing-along is clearly for youths, however there are a number of moments of chuckle-worthy humor for adults. The Royal Historians of Arendelle weave the songs along with a free retelling of Frozen.
Star Wars Launch Bay (3/10) – This glorified present store with a smattering of film replicas and a few meet & greets is a fast one-and-done. As soon as once more–you guessed it–Star Wars deserves higher.
Disney Junior Dance Occasion! (6/10) – A musical celebration that includes Disney Junior characters, together with Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Timon, and Mickey Mouse. When you have youngsters, it’s in all probability for you. When you don’t, it’s in all probability not. We don’t, so we’re in all probability the fallacious folks to evaluate it.
That’s a protracted record of reveals and it leaves out atmospheric leisure (like the wonderful Residents of Hollywood performers) which might be nonetheless on hiatus–and possibly gained’t return at this level. Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues to be an amazing park that’s value your time proper now, it’s only a disgrace that proper after the park completed all development and was totally reimagined, the closure occurred…and the following reopening has meant just about no leisure.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you could know!
Your Ideas
Which Disney’s Hollywood Studios sights are your favorites? Which of them do you usually skip? Do you agree or disagree with our scores? When you haven’t visited Walt Disney World but, which Disney’s Hollywood Studios sights are you most enthusiastic about? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your questions and ideas within the feedback!
