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10 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Credit: Disney Dining

If you want to hit all the main attractions and feel like you’ve fully experienced Hollywood Studios, it may take a little planning or research. Here are 10 tips for getting the most out of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

10. Single Rider Line at Rock ‘N Roller Coaster

Rock ‘N Roller Coaster is an exhilarating thrill ride that often has a long wait. It’s a good idea to secure a FastPass+ for this ride, but sometimes one ride just isn’t enough and you’re left wanting to ride again and again. A great solution is to get in the single rider line. Cast members pull people from this line to fill the empty seats. The single rider line is always short and it means you get to ride more often without wasting time in the standby line.

9. Citizens of Hollywood

The Citizens of Hollywood are improv performers that look as if they just stepped off the set of a movie from the 1930’s or 40’s. They wander around Hollywood Boulevard performing improvised scenes. Scenes often include audience interaction and they are always hilarious and highly original! These performers will never break character and definitely help to fully immerse guests into the golden era of Hollywood at the Studios. Keep an eye out for these mini performances, they are a totally unique experience at this park.

8. Minnie’s Seasonal Dine

Throughout the year Minnie hosts a seasonal party at Hollywood and Vine. Character dining experiences are a terrific way to have a fun Disney dining experience and also meet a number of characters. Depending on the time of year, Minnie’s Seasonal Dine may be celebrating springtime, Halloween, summer or Christmas. Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy join Minnie at her parties. The characters encourage guests to take part in the music and table activities. This is a very interactive experience, which is great if meeting characters is high on your list of things to do at Hollywood Studios.

7. Dine with an Imagineer

At the Brown Derby in the Bamboo Room, you and a small group of people can discuss all things Disney with an actual Imagineer over a 4-course meal at lunch. This does require a reservation and is an extra cost, but it is guaranteed to be the experience of a lifetime!

6. Shopping

It’s true that a lot of the Disney merchandise is available at all the parks, but that’s not always the case. If you want a photo frame, magnet or shirt specific Hollywood Studios then shop while you’re here! Each store is decorated differently, making it fun to wander through shops and take in the amazing Disney theming. And don’t forget about attraction stores, like the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost, or Star Wars Launch Bay for all your Star Wars needs, and Tower Hotel Gifts to remember your stay at the Twilight Tower of Terror.

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5. Nostalgic Dining

There are few options for restaurants that are nostalgic in their theming. The 50’s Prime Time Café should come with a bit of a warning: you may get scolded if you put your elbows on the table (though it’s all in good fun). This restaurant transports you back into the kitchen of the 1950’s complete with Formica tables, and TV’s playing episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. The menu includes comfort food favorites like fried chicken, pot roast and meat loaf. The Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre restaurant is another vintage themed restaurant. You can sit in a 1950’s style convertible, which also just happens to be your table. As you dine on American favorites like ribs, burgers and hot fudge-sundaes, you can watch a movie as if you really are spending a night at the drive-in in the 1950’s.

4. Arrive Early

Arriving early is key to getting the most out of any Disney park. If you arrive for the rope drop you’ll find you can get on rides quicker. It’s also great to walk around the park before the crowds begin to form and snap some photos with fewer people in the background.

3. Fantasmic

Fantasmic is the nighttime show at Hollywood Studios that takes guests into Mickey’s dreams. It is an exciting show filled with projections on water screens, fireworks, music, lasers and a large array of Disney characters. It’s a great way to finish off the day at Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic is one attraction you may want to opt out of using a FastPass+ for. During peak times of the year, there are two showings each evening and the Amphitheatre can accommodate almost 10,000 guests, and every seat has a great view of the show. Another good option for Fantasmic is the Fantasmic Dining Package. You can make a reservation at Hollywood and Vine, Mama Melrose’s, or the Brown Derby and receive a VIP voucher for reserved seating at a showing of Fantasmic.

2. FastPass+ Reservations

Toy Story Mania remains the most popular ride attraction at Hollywood Studios, and the line up usually seems to be at least an hour at any given time. It’s a smart idea of book a FastPass+ for Toy Story so you don’t waste time waiting in line. Rock ‘N Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror often have longer line ups as well, so they are also a good use of FastPass+ reservations. If you don’t want to spend time waiting in line for character meet and greets, that may also be a wise FastPass+ choice for you.

1. Character Meet and Greets

Grab a times guide and check out when and where you can meet some of your favorite characters. There are characters at Hollywood Studios that you cannot meet anywhere else on Disney property, such as Chewbacca and Kylo Ren. If Kylo Ren is too scary for you, why go for the Disney Jr. characters or Buzz Lightyear and Woody. The photos and autographs you take away with you from these meet and greets are wonderful memories of your time at Hollywood Studios.

About Lauren Repei

Lauren lives in Hamilton Ontario, but dreams of one day moving to Orlando to be closer to the Magic Kingdom. She loves the atmosphere, the history, the magic of the parks and Dole Whips, so she’s always in the midst of planning her next vacation. In the meantime, she spends her days working for the family business as a baker, and as a travel agent specializing in Disney with ClicktheMouse. Lauren’s most memorable Disney moment by far, is when she became engaged in front of Cinderella Castle making it her best Disney vacation to date.