Hollywood Studios Tips: How to Skip the Lines for Your Favorite Rides

Over the last few years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has become the most popular Disney Park after Magic Kingdom. With the addition of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Guests of all ages don’t want to miss out on a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Because of the popularity of this Disney Park, crowds have grown, and so have wait times. This can visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios feel not as magical. To help you have a great time, we will explain how you can skip the lines for the best rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We want to provide you with various options to choose which will work best for your family.

Basic Tips

Before we dive into the specific rides, we want to give a general tip for avoiding long lines at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Our first big tip is to arrive early. Setting the alarm during vacation isn’t fun, but it will pay off. By getting to Disney’s Hollywood Studios before, you will be ahead of the crowd and be able to enjoy a handful of rides before those long wait times build.

Take advantage of early entry for those staying at a Disney Resort hotel. This will get you into Disney’s Hollywood Studios thirty minutes before posted opening. During this time, you can get at least one, if not two, significant attractions checked off, giving you a huge advantage.

Let’s jump into the top attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and how you can avoid those long lines.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The top ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues to be the immersive Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Luckily, there are a handful of ways that Guests can avoid long waits for this attraction.

Purchase Individual Lightning Lane: In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance is the attraction that is available through an Individual Lightning Lane. By purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane, Guests are purchasing a return window. This gives them access to the Lightning Lane queue, which will be much shorter than other standby options.

If Star War: Rise of the Resistance is essential to your group, purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane will be your best option.

Early Morning: If you don’t want to spend the money on purchasing an Individual Lighting Lane, then head to Batuu to get in line early in the morning. This is when the line will typically be the shortest. Keep in mind that sometimes it doesn’t open on time.

As Park Closes: Finally, consider getting into the standby line as the evening wraps up. Guests can get into the line up until the official Park closing. Again, remember that this ride goes down a lot, so there may be better choices than waiting until the last minute.

Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is a family-friendly coaster that allows everyone to have a great time together in Toy Story Land. As the queue is mostly outside in the elements, avoiding long waits is essential to enjoying this coaster.

Genie+: Slinky Dog Dash is part of Genie+, and if it is essential to your group should be your first selection at 7 a.m. The return times for Slinky Dog Dash go quickly in the morning, so make sure to snag it early. This will be our top recommendation for avoiding a long, hot wait.

Early Morning: Head to Slinky Dog Dash right as the Park opens and get in line. This will be the shortest wait of the day. Even as the Park gets ready to close, the wait for Slinky Dog Dash can continue to be extended.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Another family-friendly option is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This fun trackless ride is one that the whole family can enjoy together.

Genie+: If you have already purchased Genie+ for your day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, use it for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. You will see return times throughout the day, so you don’t need to jump on this as fast as Slinky Dog Dash. Typically Genie+ will remain available through late afternoon.

Late Afternoon/Evening: If you are heading to Slinky Dog Dash early in the morning, we recommend skipping Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway until later. Morning wait times build quickly. Since it is located right in the middle, many Guests start here, causing the morning wait to be longer. Hold out a little and visit later in the day.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The last major ride we will focus on is the Tower of Terror. This is such a unique thrill ride that wait times build quickly throughout the day.

Genie+: Use Genie+ early in the morning to avoid the long afternoon waits that build. If this ride is essential to your group’s thrill seekers, we recommend booking it after Slinky Dog Dash.

Early Morning: If you aren’t heading right to Slinky Dog Dash because either you got a Genie+ return time or it doesn’t interest your group, head right to Tower of Terror when the Park opens. This is going to be the lowest crowd level.

Evening: Finally, if you aren’t attending Fantasmic, the check-in wait times during the show. Since Fantasmic pulls so many Guests out of the lines, this can be a great time to jump on a few rides.

After Hours and Special Events

Our final tip for skipping the lines at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is to look into unique events that might be taking place. This summer, Disney returned After Hours, giving Guests three hours to enjoy the Park at night.

Disney also announced that Guests can purchase tickets to a special holiday event called Jollywood Nights this holiday season. This will even give Guests access to the rides and special holiday celebrations.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has some fantastic rides for everyone to enjoy. Use these tips to ensure you don’t spend all day in lines.