9 Do’s And Don’ts For Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Paula K

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is not the park that it was a couple of years ago. The Sorcerer Hat is not the first thing you see when you walk in, and many attractions, stores, and even restaurants are gone forever. The good news is that exciting changes are taking place, and once the work is finished the park will be better than ever. Here are nine do’s and don’ts for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

9. DON’T: Skip the Park

It’s easy to think that with so much going on, you can skip Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you do, you’ll be making a huge mistake. The park is still worth a day of your vacation, even with all the construction going on. If you skip Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll miss out on some of Walt Disney World’s best thrill rides, dining, and shows.

8. DO: Use FastPass+

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios FastPass+ is in two tiers. You will pick one option from Tier One and two from Tier Two. Both Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Toy Story Midway Mania! are Tier One attractions, which makes for a hard decision. Most days they will run out of FastPass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania! before Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, so you might want to keep that in mind when making your selection.

7. DON’T: Waste Your FastPass+ Choices

There are a few attractions that you might not need a FastPass+ for. Muppet*Vision 3D and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! are usually fine without a FastPass+. The Great Movie Ride is a Tier One attraction, and although the line can get long for it chances are you would rather use your only selection on one of the two rides mentioned in the previous point. If you’re planning on attending the first Fantasmic! show of the evening, see if you can use that as your fourth FastPass+ choice. After you’ve used all three selections you can grab another one, and the tiers will not matter for that.

6. DO: Proceed Directly to the Other Tier One Attraction

Back to Toy Story Midway Mania! and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for a moment. Most people want to ride both with as little wait as possible. The best way to do that is to arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at rope drop, and proceed directly to the ride that you did not get the FastPass+ for. The lines for both grow long quickly, so if you show up in the middle of the day expect a lengthy wait.

5. DON’T: Ride Star Tours Only Once

You don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Don’t ride it only once. Before the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens there were over 50 different combinations possible for the ride. Since then old scenes have been updated, and ever more new elements have been added. If you only ride once, you’re missing out on more adventures.

4. DO: Make a Restaurant Reservation

There are some diverse dining choices at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll find two of the most creative restaurants in any theme park restaurant, delicious Italian food, and fine dining. You can also eat with Disney Junior characters or Minnie and friends, who update their attire seasonally. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will change the way that you think about dining inside a theme park.

3. DON’T: Show Up Late for Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is the perfect way to end your day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The show features characters, live action, fireworks, water screens, and so much more. Hollywood Hills Amphitheater is huge, so you might think that it’s not a big deal to show up ten minutes before the show is scheduled to start. Don’t do that. While the theater is large, seats still go fast. If you’re worried about getting a spot, use FastPass+, or book the Fantasmic! Dining Package. With the package you’ll get dinner in a great restaurant, and a voucher for reserved seating. If you don’t have reserved seating and there are two shows, the second one is usually less crowded.

2. DO: Look for Characters

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a great place to meet some of your favorite characters, but you need to look for them. Pick up a Times Guide, or use the My Disney Experience App to know where to look and when. You can find Star Wars, Disney Junior, Toy Story, and classic characters. There are sometimes other characters in the park as well. If you’re not sure where to look, ask a Cast Member.

1. DON’T: Complain (Too Much)

There are construction walls up everywhere at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and it is most likely going to get worse before it gets better. The walls and the closures make the park feel small. Don’t complain too much about all that is going on. Instead, think about what is coming. Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land are both going to be incredible. Think of what is happening right now as growing pains. Enjoy what is still at the park, and don’t complain about the walls and the changes. A little bit of grumbling is allowed, just don’t overdo it.