By You’ll enjoy every visit to Hollywood Studios since you know you are experiencing some of Disney’s finest attractions.
Disney’s 2018-2019 upgrades to this park fundamentally changed its appeal with most consumers.
Meanwhile, others of us have been there since the beginning and always loved it ever so much.
You’ll start every visit heading north on Hollywood Boulevard. You may want to hide your wallet, as the temptation to enter every shop will overwhelm you.
That’s a rookie mistake, though. You should save the shopping until the end so that you’re not carrying around bags all day.
Should you just keep walking straight ahead, you’ll encounter the first ride at this park, and the only one on Hollywood Boulevard: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
This trackless dark ride brings one of Walt Disney’s dreams to life as you can literally enter a Mickey Mouse cartoon.
For no apparent reason, someone has allowed Goofy to engineer a train. In a huge, shocking twist, it goes poorly.
That’s okay, though. You get to experience several different stereotypical cartoon settings such as the carnival, the desert, and the manufacturing facility.
This attraction oozes charm and is a must-do during every visit.
However, you don’t necessarily need to do it first!
You could take a right on Sunset Boulevard and stroll that way instead.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
When you walk to the end of this path, you’ll discover The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, one of the few themed areas at Walt Disney World based on a non-Disney brand.
Hollywood Studios sprung for the Twilight Zone license so that they could tell a spooky, gothic tale about a haunted elevator shaft.
The Tower of Terror is one of the park’s oldest rides, dating back to 1994, yet it remains every bit as great today.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Historically, people have tag-teamed this attraction with its sibling, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
However, Disney is currently retheming this ride with the Muppets. We’ve seen the images of the new experience, and everyone’s going to love it!
The limousines now reflect the colors of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, so it’s (literally) a more colorful attraction.
This attraction will be in high demand when it opens, but that’s really no different from the Aerosmith version, which typically requires a 60+ minute wait, anyway.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
Just adjacent to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After celebrates Disney’s darkest and worst.
This show tells the story from the perspective of those who torment Disney Princesses and other heroes and heroines.
This original show is Disney’s newest and definitely deserves a viewing.
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
On your way to or back from the Tower of Terror, you’ll walk past the Theater of the Stars.
Throughout the day, you can watch Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.
In the same vicinity, the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater hosts Fantasmic! almost every night.
Please understand that Disney won’t host this open-air show during instances of extreme weather, but that’s pretty rare.
Between Runaway Railway and Sunset Boulevard, you’ll find another themed area, one that’s currently in a state of transition.
Animation Courtyard
Disney is retheming Animation Courtyard into The Walt Disney Studios. The significant part of this change centers on the triumphant return of The Magic of Disney Animation.
This area will be turned into a cornucopia of children’s play and wonder, which means tired parents should drag their kids here when trying to wear them out.
The anchor attraction here, at least for the time being, will remain The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, which Disney unveiled in May of 2025.
We’ll also have a new Disney Jr. show.
One Man’s Dream
Disney also technically lists Walt Disney Presents in this themed land, which makes us want to hand someone a park map.
Fans of Walt Disney should take time to visit this place, as it shows his career highlights in a walkthrough museum setting.
The movie theater here also shows Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream throughout the day.
Since you’re visiting Walt Disney World anyway, you might as well spend five minutes learning about Walt Disney!
Once you get done here, you should head to the right and around the corner.
You’ll feel yourself growing smaller with every step as Toy Story Land approaches.
Toy Story Land
The conceit of this themed land involves you growing diminutive in stature until you’re the same size as a toy.
Every attraction in this area leans heavily into the concept, which makes it fun for children and parents alike.
In particular, we encourage parents (and all other adults) to pay attention while standing in line at Slinky Dog Dash.
Slinky Dog Dash
This family-friendly roller coaster pretends that you’re about to ride an incomplete Mega Coaster Playkit that Andy really should have finished building.
At one point, you actually stop and start again on this coaster, which heightens the excitement and anticipation.
The other fascinating thing about the ride is that it recreates the physics of a Slinky toy, which feels amazing on a roller coaster.
Toy Story Mania
Once you’re done here, head across the street to Toy Story Mania! This is where David gets revenge after Kim spends all our Magic Kingdom days whipping him at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Toy Story Mania! has digitally gamified Midway Carnival contests. You’ll throw pies, pop balloons, and toss rings at objects on the 3D display in front of you.
We could do this all day, and a few times in the years between 2015 and 2017, we did!
This one remains one of Hollywood Studios’ best attractions, even if other attractions in the same vicinity have exceeded it in popularity.
When you exit Toy Story Mania!, turn left and resist every temptation to eat at Woody’s Lunchbox. We’re only talking about attractions right now. Focus!
Alien Swirling Saucers
Your next destination should be slightly down the path at Alien Swirling Saucers, which may have the worst reputation of any ride at Hollywood Studios.
Friends, that offends us, as we have a grand ol’ time on Alien Swirling Saucers.
You board a spaceship driven by one of the little green men, the kawaii three-eyed aliens from Pizza Planet.
Let’s just say that they probably need their space drivers licenses revoked, because steering in a straight line seems to offend them!
They’d rather whip their spacecraft around corners instead, causing you to whip into the person sitting beside you in the ride cart.
This one is violent and fun, which makes it oh so very American!
You should never have to wait long for Alien Swirling Saucers, and it’s such a playful ride for couples and especially small children and their parents.
Please try not to crush the kids!
When you’re finished slamming into loved ones, exit the ride and turn right. It’s showtime!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
After a few feet, you are now standing in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the most popular themed land in America.
You’ll want to see and do everything in this area, but we’re focusing on the attractions right now.
So, you have two destinations, both of which will require extensive waits.
Thankfully, they’re both worth it… and then some.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run allows fans of the Holy Trilogy to live out their dream by piloting Han Solo’s spaceship.
You may even encounter Chewbacca during the preshow. Well, you’ll hear him, anyway.
Disney has added a gamified element to this attraction, as you’ll perform illicit retrieval missions for The Resistance.
Essentially, you’re going to acquire cargo that doesn’t belong to you in the interest of goodness and virtue. The ends justify the means, right?
The original mission involves taking some coaxium by force, but the joy comes from two of the three job assignments.
Six people ride in the Millennium Falcon cockpit. Two of them are pilots, two are gunners, and two are very bored engineers.
During your quest, all the engineers do is push a couple of buttons when the ship sustains damage.
So, four people in your group have fun, while the other two watch the equivalent of a Star Wars YouTube video.
However, in May of 2026, a new mission arrives, and it costars a cute little Star Wars character you may know by the name of Baby Yoda. David stubbornly refuses to call him Grogu after all this time.
Do you know who gets to choose the mission AND interact with Baby Yoda? The engineers!
Suddenly, the engineers are MORE than passive observers, finally making Smuggler’s Run a true six-person mission.
Once you’re done here, you’re heading to the crown jewel of this park and arguably Walt Disney World as a whole.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is AMAZING, and it even blurs the line about when the attraction starts.
You’ll stand in line for a while, but then you’ll meet with Rey, learn your mission, board a space transport, get taken hostage, and then board a different spaceship.
At that point, the real ride begins, which makes this whole thing a 20-minute immersive experience.
P.S. The Cast Members portraying the members of The First Order WILL talk smack to you.
That’s definitely not something you’ll find anywhere else at Disney World.
We fervently believe that a Hollywood Studios visit is a failure if you don’t ride Rise of the Resistance. It’s that good.
You don’t have to leave Star Wars behind when you head to Echo Lake.
Star Tours
That’s because the original Star Wars attraction, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue! anchors this themed land.
This 3D motion simulation ride dates back to the 1980s, with the current version opening in 2011.
Disney has kept the experience fresh by adding a randomization factor.
You can encounter literally thousands of scenarios here involving your favorite Star Wars characters.
Unless you’re visiting on May the 4th, Star Tours will likely have the shortest wait of any ride at the park, so it delivers a large amount of bang for the buck.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
You can keep the Lucas film vibe going by heading over to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
This experience is one of the oldest at Hollywood Studios. It’s a live-action movie stunt performance that reveals some of the secrets of the Indiana Jones franchise.
The outdoor seating here provides a nice respite when you’re tired and/or hot.
Since David loves Indiana Jones, we stop here quite often.
It’s actually fascinating the first time but works like comfort food during later visits.
Then again, there’s a better show in the area, and it’s indoors!
Also, the name will tell you that this show will help you chill out when it’s hot.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
We passionately recommend For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, which we consider Disney World’s best overall show.
Two jovial Arendelle residents narrate highlights of the first Frozen movie. Then, Elsa comes out and sings “Let It Go.”
What could possibly be better?
Wait, don’t answer yet!
We haven’t even told you the best part. It snows inside the theater at the end.
By the way, if you purchase a MagicBand+, please remember to look at it occasionally during this show.
Finally, in case you haven’t heard, Disney has closed a couple of beloved experiences. We’ll mention one old one and one recent one since they were integral to the park.
Disney closed The Great Movie Ride in 2017 to make room for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which operates in the same space in the Chinese Theatre.
Then, in June of 2025, Disney closed Muppet*Vision 3D for the final time. That’s why we’re getting Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets.
Don’t worry! As things stand, you won’t have enough hours in the day to do everything you want at Hollywood Studios.
It’s a two-day park now.