If you are looking for the best Hollywood Studios rides and attractions, you’ve come to the right place! In the last 30 years Hollywood Studios has seen lots of changes, and that includes the Hollywood Studios rides and attractions. So many new must-see rides have been added, but there are still a lot of iconic classics to see as well. So how do you decide what to ride, what to see, and what’s worth your time and Genie+ selections?
You use this list of course! We’ve ridden the rides, seen the shows, and we’ve compiled a list of the best Hollywood Studios rides and attractions that you can’t miss. Use these tips to make sure you choose the best rides and attractions for your group, and plan the best strategy.
And we hope this list will help you have the perfect day at the park, and you won’t miss the best Hollywood Studios has to offer!
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Understanding Hollywood Studios Lands
There are 6 different lands within Hollywood Studios, and all of them offer a wide array of rides and attractions. The six lands are: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Animation Courtyard, Sunset Boulevard, Grand Avenue, and Echo Lake.
You enter Hollywood Studios walking towards Hollywood Boulevard, and here you can get all your rental items, do some great shopping, and even stop at Starbucks to get your day started.
First up on your right is Sunset Boulevard, with a vintage, old-Hollywood feel, and the iconic Tower of Terror looming ahead. Some of the best Hollywood Studios rides and attractions are here, and you’ll want to get your picture standing in the middle of Sunset Boulevard.
Up ahead is Animation Courtyard, a section of the park that still feels more like it’s former identity, but offers the unbelievable and beautiful Chinese theater, as well as one of the best rides at Hollywood Studios – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
To the left of Sunset Boulevard is Echo Lake, marked by Gertie the adorable giant green dinosaur, and some very delicious and popular restaurants.
Tucked behind Echo Lake is Grand Avenue. Grand Avenue is a great place to see muppets, take a break, and eat at some of the best restaurants in Hollywood Studios.
Behind Grand Avenue is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The world of Batuu welcomes you into the world of Star Wars, and here you can escape Earth to build a lightsaber, be a part of the resistance, and eat some out of this world food! Star Wars lovers cannot miss this land!
Last, but not least, is Toy Story Land. Here you will find three great rides, epic theming, and everything here lands itself on our list of best things to do at Hollywood Studios.
Once you’ve figured out what rides and attractions you want to ride, and what lands they are in, it’ll make your life so much easier! You’ll be able to make the most of your time and our list of the best Hollywood Studios rides.
Full Hollywood Studios Attraction List
There are over 20 different rides and attractions at Hollywood Studios, so there’s a lot to see and do! Here is a full list of the attractions at Hollywood Studios for your to reference:
Sunset Boulevard: home to some of the best rides and shows at Hollywood Studios, there’s a lot to see in this area.
- Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage
- Fantasmic!
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Animation Courtyard: home to the iconic Chinese Theater, a great ride, and some shows that give you a peek into the creation of Disney.
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Walt Disney Presents
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Disney Movie Magic
- Wonderful World of Animation
- Disney Junior Play and Dance!
Echo Lake: great shows and one fun ride are the landmarks of Echo Lake. Grab a funnel cake and see two of the shows that made it onto this Hollywood Studios guide.
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie
- Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
Grand Avenue: Come here to grab a meal, go see the cute Christmas store, and stop by and see the Muppets!
- Muppet*Vision 3D
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Visit Batuu for an amazing day, and ride two of the best Hollywood Studios rides!
- Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Toy Story Land: Shrink down to the size of a toy and play with all of Andy’s favorites! There are some of Hollywood Studios’ best rides here and you don’t want to miss out on this area!
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Toy Story Mania
- Alien Swirling Saucers
What is the Most Popular Ride at Hollywood Studios?
This isn’t the easiest question to answer, especially at Hollywood Studios because there are two types of people: those who love Star Wars and those who don’t.
For the Star Wars crowd, Rise of the Resistance is hands down the answer. It’s one of the best rides at Disney World, not just one of the best Hollywood Studios rides. You cannot skip this ride, and even non-Star Wars fans will end up loving it.
For the other crowd: It’s either Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. People like to come to Hollywood Studios for a thrill ride, and you can’t beat a heart-stopping elevator drop or one of the best Hollywood Studios roller coasters.
Which Rides Should I Ride First at Hollywood Studios?
This is definitely relative and all about preference, but anything that has a long wait and is pretty popular is something you should run to when the park opens. If you’re here for a thrill, head to Sunset Boulevard for Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Slinky Dog Dash is a great rope drop ride, and a great way to start your day!
If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly way to start the day, then head to the Chinese Theater and get on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
And if you want to ride the latest and greatest, and you don’t want to deal with Genie+, then you need to head straight to Rise of the Resistance.
15 Best Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions
Star Wars: Rise Of The Resistance
Rise of the Resistance is easily the best ride AND attraction at Hollywood Studios! Yes, it takes the part of BOTH! It is also one of the top two best rides at Disney World in general, up there with Flights Of Passage from Animal Kingdom!
As soon as we entered the first part of the ride, we were entertained and interested.
Then we proceeded throughout the experience, and it was an experience, and we continued to be in shock and awe. BLOWN AWAY! The level of detail. The graphics. The immersive experience. It was insane. We were transported to the Star Wars that we grew up with mixed with the newer Star Wars characters. You are NOT going to want to miss this Hollywood Studios ride!
CLICK HERE FOR FULL INFORMATION ABOUT RISE OF THE RESISTANCE!
Mickey And Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Mickey And Minnie’s Runaway Railway is easily one of the best rides at Hollywood Studios. While it replaced the Great Movie Ride and we miss that ride still, this is such a fun, family-friendly addition to the park.
It utilizes the same technology as Rise Of The Resistance above but has no height requirements and is a family-friendly ride! Family-friendly does NOT mean boring in any way, shape, or form! The latest technology, sites, and sounds means that this ride is here to stay!
It is straight-up delightful from start to finish.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The Tower of Terror is an ominous sight that can be seen when you’re entering Hollywood Studios. It’s located at the end of Sunset Boulevard in the park, and you can’t miss it.
After the pre-ride show featuring the television series that inspired the ride, The Twilight Zone, and the perfect host, Rod Serling, you’ll be sent flying up and down an elevator shaft, with big drops on a dark ride. When you reach the top, the doors slide open and you can see the entire park.
The drops are completely random, and you’ll never have the same sequence twice.
Needless to say, this ride at Hollywood Studios isn’t for everyone. It has a 40″ height requirement, and the sudden, fast drops could be too frightening for a lot of guests. It is one of the best thrill rides at Disney!
The ride is also almost completely in the dark, minus the few windows that open on your ride in the elevator, and this could also be too terrifying for some guests. But if you love a good thrill and don’t mind the drops, then the Tower of Terror is a Hollywood Studios ride you can’t miss out on!
Toy Story Mania
Toy Story Mania is one of the best Hollywood Studios rides. It’s a spinning, fast-paced shooting game in 3D, where your goal is to get the most points! This ride is perfect for all ages, and there isn’t a height requirement.
Grab your 3D glasses, climb in your ride vehicle, and get ready to shoot at some virtual targets. The whole family will have fun competing to get the highest score in the 5 shooting games that are based on classic carnival games. This Hollywood Studios ride is great for kids, and all lovers of Toy Story.
It’s located at the opening to Toy Story Land, and this is a great ride to use Lightning Lane on! It’s one of the busiest at Hollywood Studios, and it can have waits that are well over an hour throughout the day.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a serious Hollywood Studios ride. It’s located off Sunset Boulevard near Tower of Terror, and it means business when it comes to being a rollercoaster. This ride features three inversions and a 0-60 mph launch at the beginning! And it’s LOUD too! It features rock classics by the band Aerosmith, and the music is pumped in through 125 speakers, 24 subwoofers, and a total 32,000 watt stereo system.
This stretch limousine is only for those who can handle big drops and the blaring music. The height requirement is 48″ – the tallest at this park. This is one of the rides at Hollywood Studios that may not be everyone, but we do recommend this ride for kids, teens, and adults who love a thrill, love Aerosmith, and love a good, exhilarating rollercoaster.
This is truly one of our favorite things to do in Hollywood Studios!
Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is the newest rollercoaster in the park and one of the newer Hollywood Studio rides that opened with Toy Story Land. It’s a family-friendly coaster that takes you on a ride of Andy’s “Mega Coaster Play Kit” on the back of Slinky Dog. While it is a coaster with a small launch and some good drops and turns, Disney considers it very kid friendly.
It is easily one of the best Hollywood Studios roller coasters and you really shouldn’t miss it! Even if you hate “scary” roller coasters, this one is better for the whole family!
The height requirement is 38″, and a lot of kids are going to find this Hollywood Studios ride a blast. They’re going to love riding Slinky Dog, seeing Jessie and Rex, and even singing along at the end. This is a great coaster for those who want to ride a rollercoaster but are scared of the bigger ones Disney has to offer. Adults and kids alike are going to love this fun, cute coaster.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
The Millenium Falcon is hidden within the middle of Galaxy’s Edge, and the reveal is breathtaking. It’s just as amazing as you would think, and the ride inside is just as fun.
You get to control the Millenium Falcon and go out on a smuggling mission for Hondo Ohnaka, where you will be assigned a job: pilot, gunner, or engineer. Pro tip: you want to be a pilot, they have the best job!
This ride is a simulator, and it is dark and features some small drops and loud moments. The height requirement is only 38″, and a lot of kids will enjoy this ride even if they aren’t “good” at the job they are given (trust us, everyone is just mashing the buttons anyway).
This ride is perfect for lovers of Star Wars of all ages, and everyone from kids to adults will enjoy this ride, and that’s why it’s on our list of rides Hollywood Studios.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Frozen Sing-Along Celebration isn’t one of the Hollywood Studios rides, but it is an attraction you can’t miss! It’s a mix of clips from the movie “Frozen,” sing-along songs, and the Royal Historians of Arendelle retell the story of Elsa and Anna that we all know and love.
The Royal Historians tell a lot of jokes, and really get into telling the story. The experience feels very immersive, and this is a great show for all lovers of Frozen.
This show is perfect for all ages, and little ones will especially love it. All your princess loves, Frozen lovers, and those who enjoy a good corny joke will enjoy this show. It’s located near Echo Lake, and the show only runs 30 minutes so it won’t take up too much time during the day.
The show is a great place to relax and take a breather, especially after a meal. This is definitely one of the attractions you don’t want to miss if you’re looking for what to do at Hollywood Studios.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
This is another attraction that isn’t a Hollywood Studios ride, but it’s so much fun! The stunt spectacular is a great show for all ages, and you will learn some of the behind the scene secrets of the stunts from Indiana Jones movies.
You’ll get to watch Indy and Marion act out some of the famous scenes, and crowd participation is greatly encouraged! You can volunteer to be part of the show, and that can be a lot of fun for kids, teens, or adults.
The stunt show is located around the back of Echo Lake, and it is an outdoor amphitheater so the show can be canceled due to inclement weather.
If the weather cooperates, snag a seat and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks to watch this exciting and interesting 30 minute show. It can be a great place to relax and take a break.
Fantasmic!
Fantasmic isn’t a Hollywood Studios ride either, but is one of the two nighttime shows offered at Hollywood Studios. In this show, Mickey faces the villains in a battle of good versus evil. It features many classic Disney characters, lots of music, and is very exciting!
There are awesome special effects including pyrotechnics and water effects. We recommend this show for all ages, and for anyone looking for a suspenseful, exhilarating way to end a great day in the park!
This show is very popular and the line to get into the amphitheater gets long fast! Get there early and get a seat, but you can see the show from anywhere around the lagoon so it doesn’t matter what section you sit in.
Pro tip: you may get wet if you sit in the first couple of rows! Fantasmic lasts about 30 minutes, and the amphitheater entrance is located next to Tower of Terror on Sunset Boulevard. The walk from the entrance to the actual lagoon can take a while and is partially up hill, so keep this in mind when deciding whether this is right for everyone in your group.
Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage
The Beauty and the Beast show is another non-Hollywood Studios ride that is on our can’t miss list! It’s a Broadway-style musical with amazing costumes and scenery, and features your favorite songs from the movie.
It’s a great show for all ages, and little princesses will definitely love to see this show. We recommend this as another great escape and place to chill out in the park.
This show does run about 25 minutes, and is a condensed version of the Beauty and the Beast story. The amphitheater has lots of seating, and the shows run pretty frequently and we think it’s a can’t miss for you trip.
You’ll find it right on Sunset Boulevard before you get to the Tower of Terror, and you can even do a Sunset Boulevard tour of the best Hollywood Studios rides and attractions – this show, Tower of Terror, and Rock’n’ Roller Coaster are all very close.
Alien Swirling Saucers
This is a fun, fast-paced ride in Toy Story Land. It’s one of the best Hollywood Studios Disney World rides because it whips you all around in an Alien spaceship, all while listening to quirky, futuristic Disney music.
This is located in the very back of Toy Story Land, and does have a height requirement of 32″, so do keep that in mind when adding this to your Hollywood Studios ride list.
It’s also a ride that spins and whips you around with no rhyme or reason. That being, this is a FUN ride, but it may not be for everyone. Those who suffer with motion sickness could have a tough time with the spinning.
Disney Junior Play and Dance!
If you have little ones, then this is a must-do for your Hollywood Studios day! Toddlers and school-age children will love dancing with their favorite Disney Junior and Disney friends, while parents can relax in the air conditioning.
This is located back in Animation Courtyard, and is great place to let your little ones get out some energy and see some characters up close. There are typically 10 or so shows during the day, and it’s worth taking a dance break here.
Muppet*Vision 3D
This isn’t one of the Disney Hollywood Studios rides, but is another show you don’t want to miss. Muppet*Vision 3D is fun, nostalgic, and so cute!
Located back in Grand Avenue on the way to Galaxy’s Edge, Muppet*Vision is worth stopping for. This is a 3D show where you will put on your 3D glasses in order to witness the antics of Kermit and his friends, as well as get to see a few of them up close and personal!
This is a great show for all ages, and it’s another place to take a break after a meal or on a hot day.
There are so many Hollywood Studios rides and attractions, and we know it can be hard to figure out what to do and what is worth your time. The great thing about the park though is that there is something for everyone at Hollywood Studios, from princesses to Wookies to epic nighttime shows.
There are thrill rides and Broadway-quality shows, and the rides are some of the favorites at Walt Disney World. We hope that our list helps you and your party pick the perfect Hollywood Studios rides and attractions. Did you favorite make it on our Hollywood Studios ride list?
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