Our 1-Day Hollywood Studios itinerary is an environment friendly step-by-step plan & technique for minimizing time ready in traces, maximizing rides, and avoiding crowds at Walt Disney World. It covers points of interest, eating places, reveals, together with Fantasmic, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and extra. (Up to date Could 7, 2023.)
This Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS) touring plan has been up to date to take into consideration the entire main adjustments within the final year-plus. The itinerary components in present crowd dynamics, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance reliability and recognition, Early Entry, Genie+ Lightning Lanes, the closure of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, debut of Mandalorian and Grogu, and uncommon character initiative at DHS.
Most notably, we’ve spent a number of days in DHS since Fantasmic returned. This consists of busy and not-so-busy days, and when the not too long ago reimagined nighttime spectacular has had one and two performances. Suffice to say, Fantasmic 2.0 adjustments quite a bit with how individuals strategy Disney’s Hollywood Studios–and our advisable technique, by extension. Accordingly, that is our revised 1-day Disney’s Hollywood Studios itinerary for Summer time 2023.
This itinerary assumes you’ll not be shopping for these line-skipping providers nor will you be making the most of Early Entry. Should you do plan on spending the additional, seek the advice of our 1-Day Disney’s Hollywood Studios Itinerary with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Should you’re staying on-site and may arrive early, take a look at our report on Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Both of these issues gives you a giant benefit, however neither are strictly crucial for a productive day in DHS. You’ll simply spend extra time ready in standby traces with out Early Entry or Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and also you’ll want/need to keep later within the day.
Thankfully, there are nonetheless methods to outsmart the crowds with out shopping for Genie+ or being eligible for Early Entry. With that mentioned, if you wish to know which of these (and different) approaches is greatest, see our new Genie+ v. Savvy Standby Technique at Walt Disney World, which particulars the perfect and worst methods to save lots of time in traces.
This publish continues our sequence of Walt Disney World Park Itineraries & Touring Plans designed to reply the continuously requested query, “what would you do in an excellent day on the park?” With Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway plus all of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge now open, together with each Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, there’s extra to do right here, and we as soon as once more suggest spending a full day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Nevertheless, it additionally generally is a very difficult and irritating day as a result of the attraction lineup may be very prime heavy, consisting virtually largely of extremely well-liked rides. In contrast to just about each different park at Walt Disney World, DHS is missing within the “supporting gamers” division. Which is to say there are only a few low trouble points of interest and reveals which might be straightforward to do with minimal wait to spherical out your day or kill time.
In contrast to all of our different WDW touring plans, our technique for Disney’s Hollywood Studios begins previous to the day of your go to…
DHS Rope Drop – For an excellent expertise at DHS, we suggest arriving to the park about 30 earlier than official opening time, and selecting up this itinerary from there.
Should you’re staying on-site and are eligible for Early Entry, we’d strongly suggest arriving 45 minutes earlier than the official begin time of that.
Begin with Second Decisions – Sadly, for those who’re staying off-site and are arriving for official park opening, you’re going to be behind the group, making each Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance dangerous choices for beginning the day. This leaves you with the “second alternative” choices.
Should you don’t thoughts criss-crossing the park and likewise don’t intend to remain all day, that opens up Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run or Toy Story Mania pretty much as good choices. These have excessive common wait occasions (#3 and #5 at DHS) over the course of the day, however gained’t but have lengthy traces. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is one other sturdy choice (#4 common wait at DHS) on the way in which into the park, and it additionally gained’t be dangerous but.
Usually, our recommendation is to “zig once they zag” proper initially of the day and head to Sundown Boulevard. Throughout the first hour, wait occasions for Rock ‘N’ Curler Coaster and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ought to be comparatively low. You possibly can normally begin with Rock ‘N’ Curler Coaster and also you would possibly even be capable of try this twice as a walk-on earlier than heading to Tower of Terror.
Nevertheless, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is at the moment closed for a prolonged refurbishment by means of Summer time 2023. Which means that beginning with Sundown Boulevard will solely assist you to do Tower of Terror, which is at the moment solely the sixth highest wait time on common at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as of Could 2023. In our view, that’s not sufficient time-savings for this strategy to make sense–however will probably be as soon as once more as soon as Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster reopens.
To make a protracted story brief, we suggest beginning with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway between now and July 2023. Possibly Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run for those who love Star Wars, need to see Galaxy’s Edge whereas it’s nonetheless quiet, and don’t thoughts additional strolling. After your first trip or two, it’s time for a contrarian strategy…
Hollywood Desires – By the point you’re accomplished along with your first trip or two, all points of interest could have excessive wait occasions. That is an unlucky actuality at Disney’s Hollywood Studios–wait occasions get lengthy sooner than another park. The primary bit of excellent information is that it’ll work to your benefit later within the day.
The second bit of excellent information is that, at the moment, character meet & greets lag behind different points of interest in having lengthy wait occasions. Get forward of the crowds by doing Pink Carpet Desires, which is the Minnie and Mickey Mouse meet & greet. This at the moment averages a 61 minute wait time all through the day, however ought to have an precise wait time of below half-hour while you arrive.
Uncommon Characters – There are a bunch of uncommon characters now showing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Most of those are everlasting, however are nonetheless topic to alter.
Specifically, we need to draw your consideration to the Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers meet & greet on the Journey Outpost by Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular beginning at 10:15 am day by day. Following that, Trip Goofy and Max Goof as Powerline seem on Grand Avenue close to the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge entrance beginning at 10:45 am. These uncommon characters are all extremely popular, and we extremely suggest seeing them as early on as doable. Relying upon the time, you could both need to do that or the subsequent step first.
Go See A Star Warfare: Episode I – When you’re completed with the characters, proceed to Star Excursions: the Adventures Proceed after which Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Don’t be afraid to decelerate and luxuriate in a few of the ambiance on Batuu–it’s the least crowded Galaxy’s Edge will likely be till the night hours. Contemplate perusing the outlets and market stalls now, as many could have traces later within the day.
We’d additionally strongly suggest prioritizing the free-roaming Mandalorian and Child Yoda characters who seem in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This duo is completely mobbed within the afternoon, however their units that begin earlier than 11 am should not practically as dangerous. Now may also be a very good time to attempt your luck with a walkup at Oga’s Cantina, the Star Wars bar.
If characters aren’t your factor, one other sturdy possibility is doing Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway first and Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run second. (Through which case, you need to skip Star Excursions and do it later.) You would possibly encounter a barely longer line for Smugglers Run, nevertheless it gained’t be practically as dangerous as later within the morning or early afternoon.
Early Lunch – Throughout the center of the day, you’re going to have a while to kill whereas ready for wait occasions to drop. Thankfully, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is residence to 2 of the Finest Themed Eating places at Walt Disney World.
Positively guide Advance Eating Reservations for proper round midday at 50’s Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. Disregard the detrimental opinions, because the expertise at each eating places is the star of the present. Personally, I believe each serve fairly good meals, too. (Be aware that each are extremely laborious Advance Eating Reservations to attain proper now; Hollywood Brown Derby can also be an incredible choose for those who can’t guide both of the opposite two.)
Exhibits & Stuff – Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a bunch of reveals which might be value seeing. These embody the Frozen Sing-along, Magnificence and the Beast: Dwell on Stage, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and MuppetVision 3D.
No technique is required for seeing these, simply do them at your leisure round their scheduled showtimes. They seldom have precise waits or traces, and are a great way to fill the center of the day whereas the rides have lengthy standby queues.
Specifically, we extremely suggest MuppetVision 3D–to skip it could be distinctly unpatriotic. Contemplate spending a while within the pre-show space and overflow queue at MuppetVision, as there are some hilarious Easter Eggs throughout.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular can also be a ton of enjoyable, a blockbuster manufacturing worthy of its “epic” title. Positively be sure to watch (not less than) each of these; these reveals are nice methods to kill occasions whereas ready for standby wait occasions to drop on the park’s headliner rides.
Early Dinner – Should you’ve one way or the other already labored up an urge for food and nonetheless have time to kill, think about doing one other meal. Ideally, whichever of the 2 desk service eating places you didn’t do above. Should you’re extra in a ingesting and snacking temper, give BaseLine Faucet Home a attempt (meals spreads pictured above).
Another choice is Docking Bay 7 Meals & Cargo in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. That’s at the moment among the finest counter service eating places at Walt Disney World. Yet one more various is to caffeinate by heading to Trolley Automotive Cafe (the Starbucks location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios) for espresso. Oh, and whilst you’re there, seize one of many two Finest Snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
No matter you do, be sure to’re not going to want to eat a full sit-down meal within the final 4 hours that DHS is open. This plan virtually depends on doing dinner early, which is one other “zig-when-they-zag” piece of planning recommendation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Sundown at Sundown – At this level, it’s a good suggestion to do Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway or the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which you didn’t do to start out the day.
With each points of interest, there are advantages to going earlier or later. First, that’s when its line is shortest, so that you’re ready the least period of time. Second, the queue is usually outside, and the solar may be brutal earlier within the day. Lastly, they’re close to the entrance of the park, and has the longest traces whereas visitors are arriving or leaving. The candy spot for brief traces is about 5 pm or so. You gained’t expertise the shortest traces of the day, however this can be a good compromise.
Toy Story Land Mania – The preferred a part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios with households is Toy Story Land. It’s much more well-liked than the larger funds Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with this demographic, and the crowds you’ll expertise earlier within the day bear this out.
Everybody’s gotta eat, and most of the people dine on a constant and predictable schedule. That is doubly true of households with young children, the core viewers of Toy Story Land. Like clockwork, households will begin doing dinner at round 6 pm, leading to a little bit of a lull in Toy Story Land crowds. That is exactly why we advisable zigging once they zag and consuming an early dinner if in any respect doable.
With so many high-profile rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that is actually your greatest play for those who aren’t eligible for Early Entry and are unwilling to buy Genie+ entry to Lightning Lanes. The truth is that you simply’re going to need to compromise someplace, because it’s merely not doable to get every part accomplished with out going in opposition to the grain someplace. You possibly can’t have your cake and eat it too at DHS…except you accomplish that at 4 pm or 5 pm! 😉
When you’re in Toy Story Land, you’re going to need to do each Toy Story Mania and Slinky Canine Sprint. Which you need to do first actually is dependent upon while you enter the land. Should you arrive earlier than 6 pm, do Toy Story Mania first. If after 6 pm, do Slinky Canine Sprint first. Don’t fear an excessive amount of about posted wait occasions–they’re reactive quite than proactive, which means Slinky Canine Sprint’s posted wait time will drop in direction of the tail finish of the dinner lull…proper as persons are beginning to bounce again into line. (Skip Alien Swirling Saucers.)
Another choice right here for those who’re not up for an early dinner is consuming at Woody’s Lunch Field after each Toy Story Land points of interest, after the dinner rush subsides a bit there. In case you have much more time, you are able to do the brand new Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant. Nevertheless, that usually requires ADRs or getting actually fortunate with Stroll-up Waitlist!
Go See A Star Warfare: Episode II — Following Toy Story Land, we suggest backtracking to Batuu as soon as once more. It’s higher to spend the majority of your time in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge later within the day quite than within the morning for a few causes. First, crowds are literally worst within the morning and get progressively higher because the day wears on.
Second, as a result of Star Wars Land is solely higher because the day goes on. The lighting provides quite a bit to the moody off-planet ambiance, and makes the expertise much more immersive. If time permits, attempt to knock out each Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance through the standby line.
Do the points of interest in that order, and count on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to take lower than an hour, even when the posted wait time for the standby line is 90 minutes or longer. (Barring a breakdown, it’ll take far much less time than the posted wait time suggests.)
Fantasmic – Returning after an almost 3 12 months hiatus in reimagined type, Fantasmic is a should see. On nights when there’s just one exhibiting of Fantasmic, that’s the one you’ll do (clearly). When you can line as much as see Fantasmic as much as 90 minutes prematurely, we suggest exhibiting up round half-hour prematurely. You gained’t get pretty much as good of a seat, however most views within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater are “ok.” (Contemplate reserving the most cost-effective Fantasmic Eating Bundle to ensure your self an incredible seat that means!)
On nights when there are two showtimes of Fantasmic, it’s frequent for the second to happen at park closing or half-hour after. We’ve managed to see the second exhibiting of Fantasmic from spectacular seats with out arriving greater than 5 minutes prematurely of showtime.
This has been the case even on evenings when the primary efficiency was fairly busy and seats crammed up half-hour earlier than showtime. On those self same busier days, the late performances of Fantasmic had a number of total sections that went unfilled. I used to be capable of snag the third row of an incredible part at (actually) 2 minutes earlier than showtime, and that was on a busy day.
Should you’re a Fantasmic fanatic, you would possibly choose the ‘excellent’ view of the newly-reimagined nighttime spectacular. Once more, we’d suggest reserving the eating package deal in that case. For extra viewing recommendation, see our Information to Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
After that, take the time for a sluggish stroll out of the park upon exiting, taking your time to take a look at and {photograph} all the gorgeous neon indicators. The excellent news right here is that though it’ll be darkish out, the neon is so brilliant that it’s straightforward to {photograph} at night time.
All in all, it ought to conclude a reasonably satisfying day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This park is so significantly better than it was just some years in the past–it’s now unquestionably a full day park and one which is freed from seen building. The added excellent news is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios ought to additional enhance as soon as extra of the stage reveals begin to return. That has already occurred with the Frozen Sing-Alongside, so hopefully the others will comply with go well with quickly!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Should you’re eager about studying extra about inns, our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page is an effective place to start out. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions web page. If you wish to get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind you need to get, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at unconventional issues you need to take in your journey. When you arrive on the parks, our Walt Disney World “Trip Guides” are nice for figuring out what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of those matters and a lot extra, the perfect place to start out is our complete Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information to benefit from your expertise!
Your Ideas
What would you embody in your supreme day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? What’s your most well-liked technique for Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the Sundown Boulevard duo? What in regards to the first v. second exhibiting of Fantasmic? Do you make the most of a zig-when-they-zag strategy to DHS, or follow typical technique? Should you haven’t visited Walt Disney World, what do you intend on doing? Do you agree or disagree with our technique or plan of assault? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!