Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a very popular Disney Park at the Walt Disney World Resort that first opened to Guests in May of 1989. Guests who spend time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are given the opportunity to step through the camera and into the worlds of some of their favorite television series and films, and live out true Hollywood adventures.
On any given day, Guests who visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios can play with Woody and friends in Toy Story Land, join the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, enter into The Twilight Zone, rock out with Aerosmith, get into a crazy adventure with Mickey and Minnie, and so much more. With so much to see and do within the Disney Park, Guests might not know just what experiences and attractions truly cannot be missed. These experiences listed below are the best of the best in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and should not be missed on any visit to the Walt Disney World Resort!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
One of the newest and most immersive attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance which can be found in the heart of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This technologically amazing attraction has Guests join the Resistance and immediately whisks them into the middle of an adventure with several pre-show experiences that make waiting in line feel like part of the actual attraction. After communicating with Rey, Guests quickly board an escape pod with knowledge of a secret rebel base before being taken captive by the First Order and finding themselves face to face with Kylo Ren who desperately wants that information.
Only then do Guests board the actual attraction as other members of the Resistance appear to help them escape, and a winding and thrilling escape route is taken throughout a Star Destroyer. With appearances by favorite characters including Finn, Rey, BB-8, and Poe, and several thrilling encounters with Kylo Ren, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the ultimate attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that cannot be missed!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Also found in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, an interactive attraction that offers Guests the opportunity to enter the cockpit of one of the most famous ships in the galaxy. After meeting up with Hondo, a very advanced audio-animatronic, Guests board the Millennium Falcon and set off on a secret mission to collect items for special clients. Guests are assigned teams of six and given the roles of pilot, engineer, and gunner before boarding the cockpit and setting off on their mission which is impacted in real-time by their every move and reaction!
Oga’s Cantina
The final experience that Guests shouldn’t miss out on in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Oga’s Cantina, a unique lounge location where some of the most interesting individuals from the galaxy gather when in Batuu. Oga’s Cantina is always bustling with Rex the droid playing a mix of galactic hits as Guests sip on unique cocktails and non-alcoholic libations with memorable names including the Jedi Mind Trick, Fuzzy Tauntaun, and Dagobah Slug Slinger.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
The final Star Wars experience that Guests shouldn’t skip in Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be found not far from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the Grand Avenue area of the Disney Park. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is a thrilling attraction that begins as a regularly scheduled tourist flight that soon takes an adventurous turn after a passenger is identified as a Rebel Spy. With C-3PO at the helm, Guests soon find themselves in a series of randomized 3D scenes filled with memorable locations and characters and always packed with adventure.
Toy Story Mania
Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios invites Guests to feel like kids again as they shrink down to the size of toys and get the opportunity to play with Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the beloved characters from the Toy Story franchise. Toy Story Mania is the original attraction in Toy Story Land and offers Guests the chance to partake in some fun and friendly competition as they move through a series of 3D games with different targets to aim at. With the chance to trigger special effects and lots of spinning and dizzying fun, Toy Story Mania is a great attraction for Guests of all ages to enjoy.
Slinky Dog Dash
Also found in Toy Story Land is Slinky Dog Dash, a thrilling roller coaster that operates on a track that Andy himself constructed using a special kit and other assorted toys and supplies. Slinky Dog whisks into the station and Guests can board the favorite friend as he whips down the track moving through two separate launch areas and past other beloved pals like Jessie and Rex. Just before reaching the loading area and disembarking, Guests are also treated to a very special performance of a classic song by Wheezy. Not only is Slinky Dog Dash a wonderful attraction to enjoy, but it also offers up some of the most beautiful views of Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Alien Swirling Saucers
The final attraction in Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Alien Swirling Saucers, a fun and immersive update on the classic whip attraction which could be found at many boardwalk amusement parks and carnivals. The attraction features two large open-air areas where Guests can board spaceships that are driven by the memorable green aliens from the Toy Story films. Once the music starts, everything begins to rotate and Guests find themselves whipping around corners at high speeds in a fun and dizzying experience that will leave them laughing!
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Hollywood Boulevard is the very first experience that Guests have in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and nestled on the very end in a replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This family-friendly attraction was once the home to The Great Movie Ride and currently gives Guests the unique opportunity to literally step through the screen and into the cartoon world of Mickey Mouse and friends. The experience begins as a calm tour through the park with Goofy as conductor, but an accidental flip of a switch leads Guests on an immersive and incredible adventure with Mickey and Minnie coming to the rescue. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses incredible technology to make Guests feel like they are in the cartoon world and the experience should not be missed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Moving over to Sunset Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Guests can enjoy a thrilling attraction that also features an eerie theme. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror can be found inside the Hollywood Tower Hotel which was abruptly abandoned years ago after five individuals mysteriously disappeared into The Twilight Zone. Daring Guests learn about the building’s harrowing past and soon find themselves on a service elevator that seems to have a mind of its own before it moves forward horizontally and initiates a random sequence of drops and lifts that will have Guests screaming along.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Also found on Sunset Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, one of the fastest attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort and the only one to feature any inversions. This high-speed attraction begins with a tour of G Force Records where Aerosmith invites Guests to be Guests backstage at a concert across town. After boarding unique super stretch limos, Guests blast off into the darkness of the night and find themselves rocking (sometimes upside down!) to favorite songs by Aerosmith. Thrill seekers have plenty of options to enjoy in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is one of the best!
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to plenty of dining options, but an amazing table service option that should absolutely not be missed can be found at the end of Hollywood Boulevard. The Hollywood Brown Derby is modeled after the original location of the same name in Hollywood and welcomes Guests to dine in art deco splendor accentuated by countless caricatures of some of Hollywood’s most beloved actors and actresses. The restaurant serves up a menu of contemporary American cuisine for lunch and dinner each day, and some delicious options include Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad, Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise, Our Famous Cobb Salad, Braised Short Rib, Shrimp and Scallops Newberg, and Filet Mignon with Walt Disney’s Roast Beef Hash. The Hollywood Brown Derby is an unforgettable table service meal with delicious food that Guests shouldn’t miss out on!
BaseLine Tap House
Those looking for a more laid-back dining option to enjoy while in Disney’s Hollywood Studios can head to a unique location in the Grand Avenue area of the Disney Park that features a wonderful menu of small bites and California sips. BaseLine Tap House is a relaxed quick service location with a small interior packed with charm including exposed brick walls and industrial touches. Guests can order up beer and wine on tap directly from California in addition to indulgent small plates including the Coffee-rubbed Rib-Eye Beef Puff, California Cheese and Charcuterie Plate, and Bavarian Pretzel. The best part of BaseLine Tap House is the large outdoor patio that features comfortable picnic tables with umbrellas for shade, large overhead fans, and string lights for a wonderful ambiance at night all overlooking Grand Avenue for some great people watching.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
A true classic experience in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a stage show that has been wowing Guests for years in the Echo Lake area of the Disney Park. The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is performed several times throughout each day in a truly massive open-air theater and the show aims to bring some of the most memorable stunts from the Indiana Jones film franchise to life while breaking down the mechanics behind them to maintain safety. Each stunt demonstration features Indy, Marian, and other characters, and Guests are sure to be wowed by a series of fight scenes, explosions, and more. In addition to the thrills, Guests will find themselves fascinated by the technical detail and planning behind each effect and stunt in order to keep the actors and crew safe. The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is an unforgettable show and definitely can be considered a must-do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Walt Disney Presents
The final experience that Guests should not miss out on in Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be found in the Animation Courtyard area of the Disney Park and celebrates the history of the Walt Disney Company, as well as the man who started it all. Walt Disney Presents is a unique walk-through gallery experience that is filled with a wonderful assortment of memorabilia, artwork, large-scale models, and props from all eras of the company, and Guests can learn more about the early animation days, conceptualization of the Disney Parks, and much more. At the end of the exhibit is a small theater that continuously plays Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, a short film that shares more about the life, ideas, and legacy of Walt Disney narrated by Julie Andrews. Walt Disney Presents is definitely an underrated experience in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but it is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Walt Disney and the incredible legacy that he created and left behind.
