How To Tackle Disney’s Hollywood Studios If You Only Have One Day

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a must do for movie lovers everywhere. When guests step through the gates they are transported back to a time when Hollywood was filled with starlets and the silver screen was king of the day.

Getting the most of out of only one day at Hollywood Studios is somewhat easier than the other three parks. If you come prepared with a plan, it’s easy to hit all the must do’s while visiting “The Studios”.

Before You Go

Before your day at Hollywood Studios, and if you’re staying on Disney property, be sure to make your FastPass+ selections 60 days in advance on the My Disney Experience app. If you are not staying in a Disney resort you can make these selections 30 days in advance. FastPass+ selections at Hollywood Studios are tiered. Guests are allowed one selection from tier A and two from tier B.

To get the most out of your FastPass+, we suggest choosing Toy Story Midway Mania or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith from Tier A. These attractions usually have the longest wait times in the park. For tier B, good choices are The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Tours.

Morning

When you arrive at the park head to one of the two attractions from tier A that you didn’t make a FastPass+ for; either Toy Story or Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster. The lines for these attractions are shortest first thing in the morning.

Next, use your other scheduled FastPass+ selections, or, if you have time to kill, head to The Great Movie Ride. Lines for this are usually manageable, but getting it out of the way in the morning is a good idea. When you exit the Great Movie Ride take a left and continue straight ahead to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Live singing, acting and special effects make this a great place to cool off and enjoy life ‘Under the Sea’.

Lunch

Guests on the Disney Dining plan should use their quick service credits for lunch. There are several options at Hollywood Studios, but a good choice is always the Backlot Express. There are plenty of tables and the chairs are padded. The food is also pretty good, with choices ranging from burgers to salads to chili dogs.

Afternoon

After lunch head for Star Tours. The Star Wars theming at this attraction is a lot of fun, which makes the standby line a pleasure to experience. Following Star Tours, guests with kids should head over to Muppet Vision 3D, or the Beauty and the Beast stage show. Guests who enjoy stunts should get in line for the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

As the afternoon progresses and as time allows, the Frozen Sing Along is an excellent choice for families traveling with Elsa and Anna fans. For those who prefer Pixar characters, grab an autograph book and head to Pixar Place to meet Woody and the gang.

Dinner

There are several options for table service dinners at Hollywood Studios, but a not-to-be-missed experience is 50’s Primetime Café. Themed after the quintessential 50’s sitcom, guests are seated in replicas of 1950’s kitchens. You will be reminded to keep your elbows off the table and to eat all your veggies, and more often than not your server will refer to you as ‘kids’. Comfort food is standard fare here. Meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops and a blue plate special round out the menu. Try the combination plate, and of course, a milkshake. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

Evening

Head over to Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster if it was missed in the morning. The line sometimes drops off in the early evening hours. This is also a great opportunity to ride it for a second time. While you’re there hit Tower of Terror again if the wait isn’t too long. Once that’s out of the way do some shopping then head over to the Fantasmic viewing area to get a spot in line. Arrive early as this popular fireworks show often fills to capacity.

So that’s it! A perfectly, fun filled day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Before you leave be sure to stroll along the streets to take some photos of the fantastically retro neon shop signs. Then, head for the entrance and rest your tired feet on the ride home.