Hollywood Studios is a park with a few can’t-miss rides, a couple of forgettable rides, and lots of shows.
Let’s take a look at all Disney Hollywood Studios rides….
UPDATE: Attraction closures
Several rides, shows, and character meets are temporarily unavailable due to current global events. These attractions have been noted below, and we will continue to make updates as Disney releases additional information.
In this article
What rides are at Hollywood Studios?
Hollywood Studios has a total of 20 rides and live shows:
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty & the Beast – Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Dance Party!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Mickey Shorts Theater (showing Vacation Fun)
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Toy Story Mania!
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Walt Disney Presents
As you can see from the list above, Hollywood Studios is themed after movies and includes attractions from nearly all of the major franchises and brands owned by Disney including Star Wars, Toy Story & Pixar, Frozen, and Indiana Jones.
There are also lots of live shows to see here, making it difficult to plan since you have to try to fit them all into your day.
Characters and Nighttime Entertainment
In addition to the attractions and shows listed below, Hollywood Studios also offers visitors lots of opportunities to see characters as well as popular nighttime shows like Fantasmic! and Wonderful World of Animation.
Hollywood Studios Character Guide
Hollywood Studios Entertainment (Coming Soon!)
Hollywood Studios Map
This park is divided by street names and distinctly themed lands:
Animation Courtyard
Star Wars Launch Bay
This attraction allows guests to interact with beloved Star Wars characters, tour galleries of memorabilia and replicas of large-scale Star Wars artifacts, shop for special Star Wars merchandise at “Launch Bay Cargo” and play the latest Star Wars interactive video games.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody, especially Star Wars fans
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: Anytime, although waits are shorter in the morning
Tip(s): Chewbacca will speak to you at their meet & greets so you might want to brush up on your Wookie
Disney Junior Dance Party! (Modified Experience)
Interactive dance party featuring characters from The Lion Guard and Mickey and the Roadster Racers as well as Vampirina and Doc McStuffins. Interactive elements include bubbles, streamers, and “snow.”
Note: At this time, a modified show called Disney Junior Play & Dance is taking place.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes, for families with little ones
When to visit: Anytime, as scheduled
Tip(s): Most people will sit on the floor for this show, although there are some benches in the back. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to sit closer to the stage.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Temporarily Unavailable)
17-minute show featuring a combination of live performances, puppets, film clips and special effects.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody (though the dark theater and the Ursula character may scare some little ones)
Do we recommend? Yes, for families with little ones
When to visit: Anytime, as scheduled
Tip(s): See this show before lunch to avoid lines
Walt Disney Presents
This museum-style attraction is a chance to see lots of memorabilia from Walt’s life. Items include a model of Main Street, U.S.A., Oscar trophies, plus concept art for upcoming attractions. Character greetings are also frequently available inside as well as sneak peaks of upcoming movies.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Only as a time filler for those who love knowing more about the history
When to visit: Anytime
Tip(s): Ask a Cast Member for a trivia quiz. If you answer the trivia questions correctly, you’ll be given a certificate.
Echo Lake
Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
3D flight simulator that takes guests through one of dozens of different Star Wars experiences including new characters and adventures from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as well as Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Batuu, the home planet of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Height req.: 40 inches
Suitable for: Anybody 40″ or taller who can handle simulators and some rough movement.
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: 2nd hour
Tip(s): The exit area is a great Star Wars gift shop that has areas to build LEGO Star Wars characters and light sabers. If this store seems too busy, you may have better luck at Once Upon a Toy store in Disney Springs where you can get the same items.
Mickey Shorts Theater
Enjoy Vacation Fun, an original animated short featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse at the Mickey Shorts Theater.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: Anytime
Tip(s): This is a great attraction to take a break from the heat.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
This 25-30 minute show is hosted by hilarious historians from Arendelle who walk you through the story of Frozen with a chance to sing songs from the movie along the way. Characters from the movie appear on stage for a bit during the show as well.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Definitely for Frozen fans
When to visit: Anytime, as scheduled
Tip(s): Be sure to show up about 20-25 minutes before show time to ensure a seat.
Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular! (Temporarily Unavailable)
35-minute show that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the effects used on a movie set, using scenes from Indiana Jones movies. The theater is outdoors but covered so you’ll be protected from the sun but not sitting in air conditioning.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: Anytime, as scheduled
Tip(s): To increase your chances of being picked to be in a scene, show up early, sit near the front and be enthusiastic.
Hollywood Boulevard
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
A 2-1/2D trackless attraction that puts guests inside of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: 2nd hour
Tip(s): Keep your eyes peeled during the carnival scene for a poster titled “The Great Moving Ride” that obviously is in honor of The Great Movie Ride.
Echo Lake
Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
This outdoor show allows young Padawans to master their Jedi skills before facing off against forces from the Dark Side (Darth Vader & the Seventh Sister Inquisitor from Star War Rebels).
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Disney requests participants be between the ages of 4 & 12.
Do we recommend? Yes, especially for young Star Wars fans
When to visit: Sign up in the morning
Tip(s): Registration to participate is located at the Indiana Jones Adventurers Outpost store. In order to secure a spot you should sign up in the morning.
Muppet Courtyard
Muppet*Vision 3D
This indoor, 3D show is a fun attraction featuring the Muppets. Things happen in the theater as part of the show, making the show even more fun (especially for little ones).
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes, for little ones (as a time filler for everybody else)
When to visit: Anytime
Tip(s): The theater holds a lot of people and usually doesn’t have a long wait. It’s a good option to escape hot afternoons. Be sure to check MDE for hours as this attraction sometimes opens after park opening and closes before park closing.
Sunset Boulevard
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
A new show featuring Lightning McQueen and other favorite Cars characters. Watch as Lightning showcases his racing simulator on the wrap around screen and then takes on a racing challenge.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes, especially for little ones and Cars fans (and as a time filler for everybody else)
When to visit: Anytime, as scheduled
Tip(s): This show is inside in the air conditioning and can be a good opportunity to take a break from the heat in the afternoon.
The Twilight Zone of Tower of Terror™
One of the best themed attractions in all of Disney World, this ride takes you on an elevator ride that ultimately results in dropping you 13 stories. After the initial drop, the ride goes up and down in random sequence, dropping you multiple times.
Height req.: 40 inches
Suitable for: People 40″ and taller who love thrillers
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: 1st hour
Tip(s): Just before boarding the ride vehicle, there is a chicken exit for those who choose not to ride.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
This high-speed, takes-off-really-super-fast coaster features the music of Aerosmith. The story line is that you’re headed to a red carpet event and don’t have much time so you’re in a fast-paced limo that takes you through twists and turns (some parts are inverted) and delivers you to the red carpet.
Height req.: 48 inches
Suitable for: Coaster lovers that are 48″ and taller
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: 1st hour
Tip(s): Single rider line is sometimes available here
Beauty & the Beast – Live on Stage (Reopening August 15, 2021)
As the name implies, this is a live show featuring the story of Beauty and the Beast.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes, especially for princess lovers
When to visit: Anytime, as scheduled
Tip(s): Food is allowed here, so feel free to grab lunch or a snack and bring it in to eat while you watch
Toy Story Land
Alien Swirling Saucers
Similar to Mater‘s Junkyard Jamboree at Disney California Adventure, this attraction swirls guests around in spaceships on a dizzying ride through space.
Height req.: 32 inches
Suitable for: People 32″ and taller
Do we recommend? Yes, especially for little ones as a time filler for everybody else
When to visit: 2nd hour
Tip(s): This attraction has a great soundtrack that sometimes changes for the holidays
Slinky Dog Dash
This family-friendly coaster is similar in intensity to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Guests ride in adorable Slinky Dog cars as they experience lots of wacky dips and twists, bridges and drops.
Height req.: 38 inches
Suitable for: People that are 48″ and taller and coaster fans
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: 1st hour
Tip(s): If you aren’t able to ride in the first hour of the park being open, consider getting in line right before park close for shortest waits
Toy Story Mania!
Fun ride that includes wearing 3D glasses and riding through various carnival game scenes to score points.
Height req.: None
Suitable for: Anybody
Do we recommend? Yes
When to visit: 1st hour
Tip(s): Arrive early to ride it ASAP after park opening.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance puts guests in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order.
Height req.: 40 inches
Suitable for: Anyone, but may be scary to little ones
Do we recommend? Yes. The attraction can be scary for little ones but highly recommend for everybody else, especially Star Wars fans.
When to visit: Guests must receive a virtual boarding group at park opening to be able to ride.
Tip(s): At this time, guests must have a boarding group (distributed electronically twice during the day) to ride
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Guests get behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon in one of three flight crew roles.
Height req.: 38 inches
Suitable for: Anyone, though some controls may be harder to reach for little ones
Do we recommend? Yes, especially Star Wars fans
When to visit: At park opening or at the end of the day
Tip(s): Single rider line is available here
Dining at Hollywood Studios
We have a dining guide below to help you decide on dining options at Hollywood Studios.
The pros and cons of all Hollywood Studios restaurants
I’ve put together a list of all of the restaurants at Hollywood Studios with my thoughts on each to help you decide where to eat during your time at Hollywood Studios.
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