Disney’s Hollywood Studios has gone through a major transformation over the last few years bringing Guests amazing new experiences in both Toy Story Land as well as in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
This once half-day Park is now full of exciting, thrilling and fun rides that shouldn’t be missed. Because of all the new experiences, it can be hard to figure out how to experience all the rides without long waits.
We have suggestions, just like we did with Magic Kingdom, on how you can ride these top rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios with lower wait times.
As a review, there are some basic strategies you can use to have lower wait times:
- Arrive early (before Park opening also known as rope drop)
- Buy Genie+ Lightning Lane Access ($15/per person per day)
- Buy Individual Lightning Lane Access (price ranges from $5 to $15 per ride per person)
- Use early entry option (for Disney resort Guests only)
- Use extended evening hours (for Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts only starting in April)
- Single Rider
- Wait until Park close
Let’s look at some of the top rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and possibly Walt Disney World) and how you can ride them with little wait.
Rise of the Resistance- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Rise of the Resistance is a truly immersive experience that puts Guests in the middle of the Star Wars story like never before. Help Rey and BB-8 as they take on the First Order.
As the most popular ride in all of Walt Disney World, the standby line for Rise of the Resistance builds at the beginning of the day and remains long all day. So how do you avoid waiting in line for hours?
There are a few ways you can manage Rise of the Resistance with lower waits:
- Purchase Individual Attraction Selection
- Use early entry
- Hit at Park close
- Arrive early
As Rise of the Resistance is extremely popular, we highly recommend investing in the Individual Lightning Lane option. This is the best way to ensure you will be able to experience the ride with low wait times.
Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
The other popular ride found in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. On this motion simulator, Guests work together to fly the biggest hunk of junk in the galaxy.
Star Wars fans flock to this ride as they want to live out their dream of flying the Millennium Falcon. Luckily there are a few ways to avoid long lines.
- Purchase Genie+
- Use early entry
- Use extended evening hours
- Hit at Park close
- Arrive early
You can really choose which method would work the best for your touring plans; however, if this is something that you really want to do make sure you get a Genie+ early on in the day.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway- Hollywood Boulevard
The newest ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios features Mickey Mouse himself. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a fun, family-friendly ride that all Guests can enjoy together.
This ride features Mickey and friends as Guests travel through a variety of adventures with amazing effects and a trackless ride system.
Since this is new, wait times rise throughout the day. If you want to make sure you experience it, use one of these following methods:
- Purchase Genie+ (Between Feb. 25, 2022 – Aug. 7, 2022, the following attractions will be added to Disney Genie+ service)
- Use early entry
- Use extended evening hours
- Hit at Park close
- Arrive early
If you really want to make sure you experience Mickey and Minnie’s Runway Railway you will want to purchase an individual lightning lane; however, we don’t think that it’s required. Look at hitting it up in the morning or later on during the day.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster- Sunset Boulevard
Get ready to rock and roll on this high speed, thrilling roller coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This ride blasts Guests off with a launch and then takes them looping and twisting through the streets of Hollywood as Aerosmith music blasts.
As one of the more thrilling rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, long lines are seen here mostly during the middle of the day. You can overcome long wait times by doing the following:Purchase Genie+
- Purchase Genie+
- Use early entry
- Use extended evening hours
- Hit at Park close
- Arrive early
Wait times don’t build until normally later in the day so if you can ride Rock n’ Roller Coaster early on in the morning you can save some time. Rock twice during your day by using Genie+ as well.
Tower of Terror- Sunset Boulevard
Drop in for a fun ride with Tower of Terror right by Rock n’ Roller Coaster. The other high thrill in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tower of Terror is a drop ride that has Guests screaming with fear and delight.
We have seen longer lines lately for Tower of Terror as often one of the ride vehicles are closed making it a slower loading process.
You can experience lower wait times by choosing one or more of these options:
- Purchase Genie+
- Use early entry
- Use extended evening hours
- Hit at Park close
- Arrive early
Tower of Terror is a extremely fun, thrilling ride but make sure you don’t spend a long time in line waiting to ride by choosing to get there early or use Genie+.
Slinky Dog Dash- Toy Story Land
Have fun in Andy’s backyard with a ride with Slinky Dog and friends. This family-friendly Toy Story coaster is full of twists, turns and laughs. As one of the most popular rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash sees extremely long wait times starting early in the morning.
Choose one of these options to race of with Slinky Dog:
- Purchase Genie+
- Use early entry
- Use extended evening hours
- Hit at Park close
- Arrive early
If you are wanting to use Genie+ for a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, make sure you choose to do so early in the day. These selections go early and quick so you don’t want to wait until the afternoon.
Like with our information on experiencing the top rides in Magic Kingdom with little wait, we hope that this post will help you enjoy some of Disney’s Hollywood Studios top rides with little wait.
Wanting more help with your Walt Disney World vacation? Check out our top rides HERE or look at what we pack in our Disney Park bag!
