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7 Non-Negotiables To Experience In Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the smallest theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort. However, the Disney Park has plenty of top Disney attractions. Don’t worry if you don’t wish to spend your day waiting in long lines. Instead, you can take a break from the rides by resting your legs and watching incredible Disney shows, including:
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream at Walt Disney Presents
But what are the must-do experiences in Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park? We believe there are seven non-negotiable experiences in the Disney Park. Let’s take a look at them!
See Fantasmic!
Any day that ends with Fantasmic! is magical. We love to spend the evening in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and finish it in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre. As the nighttime spectacular only occurs once per evening, it’s worth taking the last 45 minutes in the Disney park before closing time to secure your viewing spot. We enter the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre around 8:15 p.m. if the show begins at 9 p.m. Doing so allows you to get an excellent viewing spot. Grab your popcorn and drinks before you take your seat so you don’t have to move until after the show. Arriving at Fantasmic! early allows you to enjoy the Disney hits that play beforehand. A Fantasmic! experience isn’t complete without the Mexican wave passing through the audience too.
Cross over into The Twilight Zone
If you haven’t ridden The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, you haven’t visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. The Hollywood Tower Hotel is the icon of the Disney Park and sits at the end of Sunset Boulevard. A maintenance service elevator is waiting for all Guests, providing they are 102cm tall, to cross over into The Twilight Zone. You’ll explore the hotel grounds before entering the iconic lobby. After watching a short video in the library, you’ll pass through the boiler room to the elevator.
Look out for a line of 13 minutes when using the My Disney Experience App or passing by the Disney attraction. 13 minutes signifies no wait for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, similar to the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom Park.
Eat Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie
There are many snacks to try during a Disney vacation. You may think of Mickey Premium Bars, Dole Whip, popcorn, and toffee apples when you hear ‘Disney snack’. While there are many tasty snacks in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, our favorite is Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie. You can pick up a giant, warm, gooey cookie from the Market in Pixar Place. Enjoy it anytime – as a mid-morning snack, light lunch, or dessert after dinner. The Market is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie is also available from the Neighborhood Bakery in Pixar Place, a little further up the street from the Market. However, the quick-service location is only open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Wherever you pick up your cookie from, you’re a short walk away from the Joffrey’s location at Pixar Plaza. Enjoy a coffee with your Disney snack.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
When visiting the Disney park, a ride on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is so much fun. Enter the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, and step right into the Disney cartoon universe. After Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s perfect picnic is interrupted by Goofy’s train, you get to board the runaway railway and embark on a whirlwind ride. Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy as you enter the cartoon world. No two rides on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway are the same. Your ride experience will depend on the train car you are seated in. Look out for plenty of Hidden Mickey’s as you ride.
If you are left wanting more cartoon fun, stop by Vacation Fun – An Original Animation Short with Mickey & Minnie afterward. Doing so is an excellent way to take a break from the Florida heat.
Explore Batuu
Exploring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a must, whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not. Every Disney Guest can appreciate the land of Batuu and the intricate details you can see. Riding Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will enhance your experience. You can enter the Star Wars universe and help to combat the Dark Side. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll enjoy browsing the stores in Batuu and buying unique souvenirs from your Disney trip. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is also an excellent spot to eat. Enjoy quick-service dining at Rondo Roasters or Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. Alternatively, pick up snacks from Kat Saka’s Kettle or the Milk Stand. If you need an alcoholic beverage, you’ll want to visit the popular Oga’s Cantina during your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For a more immersive experience, visit Savi’s Workshop and construct your own lightsaber. Alternatively, design and build your own Droid at the Droid Depot in Black Spire Outpost. Once you have your lightsaber or Droid, you can enjoy using them throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Toy Story Mania!
Toy Story Land is home to three popular Disney attractions – Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash, and Toy Story Mania. You can expect Slinky Dog Dash to have an extensive line throughout the day. However, Toy Story Mania can vary. We particularly love the interactive nature of Toy Story Mania. Play against your partner to see who can get the best score as you play five different arcade shooting-style games. Don’t miss out on the fun – make sure you ride Toy Story Mania!
Meet Rare Disney Characters
Meeting Disney characters is a fun part of visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. Enjoying Disney character dining experiences is one way to meet your favorite Disney friends. However, visiting the Disney theme parks allows you to see rare and unique characters too. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the place to meet Edna Mode, Olaf, and Sorcerer Mickey. Check the My Disney Experience app for up-to-date line times for these Disney character experiences during your visit.
What are your non-negotiable when spending time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Do you agree with our selections? Are there any that you would change for other experiences?
We’ve also covered the non-negotiable experiences in the following Disney Parks for your upcoming Disney trip:
