Hollywood Studios is a film- and Hollywood-themed park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The park opened in 1989 and has housed some great Disney classics over the years.
This guide contains basic information about the rides and shows at Hollywood Studios. For ones that can be tricky to fit in, we give quick tips for riding or seeing them. But if you’re primarily looking for help planning your ride strategy at Hollywood Studios, check out our Walt Disney World Genie+ guide, our Hollywood Studios Genie+ guide, our Hollywood Studios Rope Drop and Early Entry Strategy, and our one-day Hollywood Studios itinerary.
Hollywood Studios has finished up an extensive rebuilding phase and isn’t expected to see any major changes for a few years. Toy Story Land opened on June 30, 2018 after years of construction. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a much more ambitious area, opened on August 29, 2019. Rise of the Resistance followed later that year. And, finally, a new trackless dark ride, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, opened in March 2020.
Recent years also saw the debuts of Early Theme Park Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. All of these are touched on in this post, where appropriate.
We provide descriptions and height requirements below, but you can also consult our post on the height requirements at Walt Disney World for a more exhaustive discussion of that subject. If you’re visiting with a small child, you may want to read our post on the Best Rides for Toddlers at Hollywood Studios.
Meeting Characters at Hollywood Studios
Last thing before the rides…because the characters in the park are subject to change so frequently, we have separate posts to help you navigate meeting characters at Disney World:
To see the characters currently greeting at Hollywood Studios, you’ll typically just want to check the My Disney Experience app (“Characters” and filter for the park) in a morning before you visit. The characters disappear from the app as they finish their greetings, so later looks will give an incomplete picture.
Best Rides At Hollywood Studios
The best rides at Hollywood Studios that you cannot miss are:
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Tower of Terror
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Slinky Dog Dash
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
We also consider Muppet Vision 3D and “Walt Disney Presents…” to be can’t miss attractions, but they’re not rides and don’t have to actually be prioritized in planning.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Type: Dark Ride / Thrill Ride
Height: 40 in / 102cm
Queue: Standby or Individual Lightning Lane
Read more about Star Wars Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the best ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We don’t want to give too many spoilers since so few people have ridden and, really, it’s a ride where surprise is key. If you’re in the “can I handle this ride?” group, I’d say the maximum “intensity” is comparable to something like Star Tours, but (trying to avoid spoilers) that level of intensity doesn’t last as long.
Riding It: If you have Early Entry, you’ll have the option to rope drop Rise of the Resistance. Alternatively, you can wait standby during the day, or it is the most expensive individual Lightning Lane at Hollywood Studios, and it often sells out around the time the park opens.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Height: 40in / 102cm
Type: Thrill Ride / Drop Ride (Intense)
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read more about Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror is a nearly perfect ride. Like Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom, Tower of Terror looms over those who approach it, intimidating you before you’ve even reached the queue.
Throughout the early queue, you’ll hear the screams of other guests on the ride. When you finally enter, you’re surrounded by one of Disney’s better spaces, the spooky lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
From there, well, c’mon the ride is a classic, thrilling and chilling experience. The Walt Disney World version of this ride is still the best, even better than the beautiful and creative counterpart at Tokyo DisneySea. We even rank it as one of the best Disney rides in the world.
Riding It: Tower of Terror is a pretty popular ride. It usually won’t make sense to rope drop it (though thrill-centric families might love starting there and then heading next door to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster), but it will usually be your second or third Genie+ pick of the day.
Bonus Tip: Try to get this one (and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, hopefully) in before your lunch at Hollywood Studios—there are a collection of quick service restaurants nearby if you want to head straight to lunch from this ride.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Height: Any
Type: “2.5D” Dark Ride
Queue: Standby or Genie+
Read More About Runaway Railway
Having taken over the space of the closed Great Movie Ride (a big loss to the park), Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the first Disney ride themed to the company’s most famous couple and the newest ride a Hollywood Studios. It’s a trackless dark ride through a colorful and busy adventure featuring the classical Disney characters.
I’d note that while I think the ride walks a fine line without being too scary for little kids, it definitely has an intensity to it that could upset the smallest riders.
Riding It: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a part of Genie+, though it usually won’t be your first or second pick on that service. It might make sense for families with small children to start the morning there, but generally this is going to be a mid-priority Genie+ or a wait later in the day.
Slinky Dog Dash
Height: 38in / 97cm
Type: Kiddie Coaster
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read more about Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is still one of the most popular rides in Hollywood Studios, even though it’s only the fourth newest in the park at this point. We’d rate it as better than average kiddie coaster during the day. At night, the ride is stunning, and we’d even rank it ahead of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Riding It: Slinky Dog Dash is part of Genie+ and a good option for your first Genie+ pick of the day. Alternatively, it might be a part of your rope drop strategy, allowing you a little more flexibility with Genie+. If you can make the time, we recommend riding it at night, as well.
Bonus: Check out our list ranking the roller coasters of Walt Disney World to see where Slinky Dog Dash falls in that list.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Type: Thrill / Motion Simulation
Height: 38in / 97cm
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read more about Smugglers Run
While it might not earn a best-of spot in our hearts, there’s no denying that many fans will love the chance to pilot the famed ship. Join a team of six as you attempt to collect coaxium for a famed smuggler, Hondo.
Your actions on the ride will impact how it goes, with pilots having the ability to crash the ship (not fatally, thankfully). The screens (the windshield of the Falcon) aren’t huge but do a good job of sucking you into the story.
Riding It: Smugglers Run is the in the middle of the Genie+ priorities but is sometimes the second most popular pick in the park. We don’t typically include it in rope drop strategies. For the shortest wait without Genie+ you’ll want to use the single rider line.
Muppet*Vision 3D
Height: Any
Type: Indoor 3D Show
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
We have a soft spot for Muppet*Vision 3D, but we're definitely not alone. This 15-minute show is premised around the Muppets showing off some new 3D technology, complete with a few "cheap 3D tricks." It's Muppet humor at its finest, and a staple of our visits to Hollywood Studios. Expect short waits (usually up to the 15-minute length of the show) throughout the day.
Walt Disney Presents
Height: Any
Type: Walkthrough Museum
Walt Disney Presents is a small museum celebrating Walt Disney. The exhibits are attached to the building that shows either previews of the latest films from the Walt Disney company or the short film about Walt Disney, One Man's Dream.
The museum contains some great artifacts and anecdotes about Walt Disney and the development of the Disney parks. It's definitely worth a visit during any trip to Hollywood Studios.
The Rest of the Rides At Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Mania!
Height: Any
Type: 3D Game / Dark / Indoor
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read More About Toy Story Mania
Toy Story Mania! is a fun-for-all-ages carnival 3D carnival-style game attraction. You and a partner ride through five carnival games, using your cannon to throw/shoot/toss virtual objects at targets to score points.
As a ride with no height requirement, popular characters, and a location near the very popular Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania! can command a fairly long wait during peak hours. The nice thing, though, is that the queue is almost entirely indoors and, while not perfect, it is a fun piece of Imagineering.
Riding It: Toy Story Mania is part of Genie+, and while it won’t usually be worth your first or second pick, it rarely is as easy to snag as Alien Swirling Saucers and Star Tours. You should be open to waiting in the standby line, which is well-decorated and mostly indoors.
Alien Swirling Saucers
Height: 32in / 82in
Type: Spinning
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read More About Alien Swirling Saucers
This ride is the same ride system as Mater's Junkyard Jamboree in Disney California Adventure Park, though we enjoy Mater much more. It’s sort of a teacups-light system where you'll be weaving around the platform but not whipping around with the same force at the teacups.
Riding It: Alien Swirling Saucers is part of Genie+, and we expect you’ll have little trouble most days grabbing a reservation for it. Without Genie+, Saucers will be low on your priority list, just don’t wait more than 15-20 minutes for it.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Height: 48in / 122cm
Type: Indoor Dark Roller Coaster (Fast, Upside Down)
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read more about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
There aren’t many things in Disney parks I dislike more than Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. When I was a teenager, though, I absolutely loved Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Am I just getting old? Surely that’s some of it. I definitely won’t say it’s a bad ride.
If you’re looking for a high-speed, thrilling roller coaster with loops and corkscrews through the dark, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is what you need. If you don’t like roller coasters, definitely skip this ride. If you love roller coasters, definitely ride this ride.
I’m not opposed to roller coasters, so why do I take issue with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster? First of all, no one cares about Aerosmith anymore (Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris rethemed the ride around Iron Man). Second, the queue is just awful. A plain cement box is nowhere I want to wait for two hours, especially when the ride itself is only 82 seconds.
Riding It: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a part of Genie+ and usually good for a mid-to-late Lightning Lane selection. In many situations it will be a part of your rope drop strategy as its waits won’t jump as quickly as some of the park’s other highlights. As noted above, I find the standby queue very unpleasant and won’t endure a midday wait for this ride.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster also has a single rider line. While it’s maybe worth a shot, we’ve often found the single rider line to have around 75% the wait of the standby line.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Height: 40in / 102cm
Type: 3D Motion / Thrill Ride
Queue: Standby or Genie+ Lightning Lane
Read more about Star Tours
Star Tours laid the technological groundwork for some of the best rides in Disney Parks. Once you enter your Star Tours vehicle with the other passengers, the movement of the vehicle and the screen in front of you combine to take you on a thrilling journey through the Star Wars universe.
There are two really great things about Star Tours, beyond the ride itself. First, the queue is one of the best at Hollywood Studios. Once you’re inside the building, you’re in your storyline, preparing to depart on your tour. Second, the ride is dynamic. Disney has added storylines every few years as new Star Wars movies have come out, so you can have different experiences across multiple rides.
Riding It: Star Tours tends to be the least popular ride in Hollywood Studios—a bit surprising because it’s quite good. Grab a short wait when you can or use one of your last Genie+ picks for it.
Entertainment At Hollywood Studios
In this guide, we're going to list the major entertainment offerings. The guide was last updated in late 2023. For the most current and complete offerings, check Disney's own Hollywood Studios entertainment page.
Keep in mind that throughout the year seasonal offerings may come and go. Most notable is the addition of special nighttime entertainment during the Hollywood Studios Christmas season.
Daytime Entertainment At Hollywood Studios
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is a ten-minute show centered on Lightning McQueen and his race simulator. It’s a fun show with a pretty good Lightning McQueen animatronic and a very impressive theater. It occurs every 15 minutes or so, just swing by to beat the afternoon heat (or rain).
Mickey Shorts Theater
The Mickey Shorts Theater is a new theater just off Echo Lake, near Star Tours and the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. It plays a Mickey Mouse short film (about 10 minutes). Currently the film is “Vacation Fun,” but it’s expected it will change at some point. In any case, it’s a fine way to spend 10 minutes, particularly if you can escape the afternoon heat.
Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage
Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage is a 30-minute stage performance of songs from Beauty and the Beast. There are a few standout moments in the performance, but for the most part the show is going to tug at the heartstrings of Beauty and the Beast fans. There are usually about five performances a day. Genie+ Lightning Lanes are available to guarantee a seat.
For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Another half-hour show, but this one is at least interactive. Monitors display the lyrics to your favorite Frozen songs (as if you needed them), as guests are invited to sing along to Frozen songs. While it can get a bit long (over 30 minutes), the hosts throw in a few jokes for the parents, and it’s a fun time overall (and a must-do for Frozen fans). Genie+ Lightning Lanes are available to guarantee a seat.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is our favorite show at Hollywood Studios. Over 30 minutes, it takes you behind the scenes of some scenes from the Indiana Jones films. While it will probably only really impress the younger kids, it is still a good show, and it's much, much better than some attempts to copy if that we've seen at other theme parks. Genie+ Lightning Lanes are available to guarantee a seat.
Disney Junior Play and Dance!
Disney Junior Play and Dance! has replaced Disney Junior Dance Party! which replaced Disney Junior: Live on Stage. This singing and dancing party has showings throughout the day and is geared toward younger kids who will enjoy dancing to the lead of their favorite characters. You can check out a video of the attraction at this link. Genie+ Lightning Lanes are available to guarantee a seat.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure (Debuts Fall 2024)
The old “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” show never reopened following 2020, and it will be replaced in fall 2024 by an entirely new show, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.
Nighttime Entertainment at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios has three types of nighttime shows. First, the feature show is Fantasmic, which is held in a separate theater with an entrance near Tower of Terror and Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. Second, there are a variety of projection shows at the Chinese Theatre in the middle of the park. Finally, there are occasional projection shows on the Tower of Terror.
While Fantasmic is a staple of the park, the other shows vary somewhat. We try to keep this post updated, but you can check the app for specific entertainment listings when you visit.
Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is the highlight of the Hollywood Studios nighttime shows and, for some, the highlight of Disney's nighttime shows. The show is known for two things: being an amazing show and for taking place in a theater that is an oddly long hike from the rest of the park.
The show features a variety of sequences from Disney's animated films, and it culminates in a battle between Mickey and Disney Villains. It's a great show, and generally one we'd consider worth the 30-minute length.
But that’s the rub. To get a good seat, most commentators suggest arriving an hour early. If there are two shows, the later one is usually much easier to see.
The Fantasmic Ampitheater is tucked away behind Tower of Terror. It's a decent hike to get there from the queue along Hollywood Boulevard, but it's the exit that is worse. Because there's only a single path connecting the amphitheater to the rest of the park, around 6,000 people wind up in the same, relatively small, pathway once the show is done.
You should definitely try to see Fantasmic! at least once. If there are two shows, we suggest seeing the second showing in the day, if possible. For the first (or only) show, plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes early.
Wonderful World of Animation
Wonderful World of Animation is one of the projection shows on the Chinese Theatre. If you love projections and love Disney animation, then this show is for you. There’s no storyline, but the projections are good quality, and as it happens it seems like animation projects much better than live action, which makes this an improvement over the old show.
Disney Movie Magic
Disney Movie Magic is another Chinese Theatre projection show. It runs many nights before or after Wonderful World of Animation. It focuses more on live action films than its animation-centric counterpart.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.