Getting Your Bearings at Disneyâs Hollywood Studios (2026 Guide)
- Brenda
- Jun 9, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Updated 12/26/25 to reflect the closings of Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
đŹ Get the Lay of the Land at Disneyâs Hollywood Studios. Planning a day at Hollywood Studios can feel like stepping onto a movie set â full of energy, characters, and must-do attractions. In this virtual walk-through, weâll explore the different lands of the park and highlight the key rides, shows, and character encounters in each one.
đ§ââď¸ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Want a printable version of everything in one place? Grab our Hollywood Studios Cheat Sheets for an easy overview of rides, characters, and shows.
For more details on every ride and show, check out our full Hollywood Studios Attractions Guide â including ride types, thrill factors, and Lightning Lane tips.
Commissary Lane and Grand Avenue
Hollywood Boulevard
As you enter Hollywood Studios you will find yourself on Hollywood Boulevard. The whole front area of the park (including Sunset Boulevard and Echo Lake area) still captures that feel of old world Hollywood, when classic movies were made and anyone could be the next big star. The only attraction to be found in the Hollywood Boulevard area is down at the end of the street, where you will find Mickey & Minnieâs Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theater.
You can also find lots of shopping options on either side of the street as you make your way down to the Chinese Theater, and a couple dining options on the right side. This includes The Trolley Car Cafe, where you will find the Starbucks location in Hollywood Studios, and The Hollywood Brown Derby, which is a signature dining location.
Echo Lake
If you veer left from Hollywood Boulevard, you will find yourself in the Echo Lake area. Here you will find lots of dining options ranging from sit down to quick service with an indoor seating area to grab and go. We heartily recommend 50âs Prime Time Cafe, but be ready to be heckled by your servers while gobbling up classic comfort foods.
The Echo Lake area is also where a couple of the big shows in Hollywood Studios are located. This includes Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Spectacular, which is filled with lots of fun pyrotechnics and fake fight scenes, and the Frozen Sing-Along show, which is super funny as well as a joy to sing along with. This is also where the original Star Wars attraction is located: Star Tours.
Commissary Lane and Grand Ave
Commissary Lane boasts a quick service and table service dining location, and is where you will find the Mickey and Minnie meet and greet location in Hollywood Studios. Other than that itâs mostly just a quicker way to cut from the Chinese Theater over to Grand Avenue and then on to Star Wars: Galaxyâs Edge.
Curious where to find Mickey, Olaf, or Darth Vader? Head to our Hollywood Studios Character Meet and Greet Guide for locations, tips, and downloadable maps.
Want character cheat sheets for all four parks? Weâve got you covered with our full set of Disney World Character Downloadable Maps.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
After passing by many dining locations, shows, character meet and greets, and attractions, you have finally made it to the main event: Star Wars: Galaxyâs Edge! Join Rey and her resistance friends as they take on the First Order. Galaxyâs Edge is a phenomenally themed area that will transport you to a galaxy far far away. Here you will find unique food, exclusive merchandise, Star Wars characters wandering around (they typically donât stop for photos and such), and some incredible attractions.
One of the coolest attractions to open at Walt Disney World recently is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This is a multipart ride that is as immersive as it gets, taking guests inside the belly of the beast and then on a wild ride to escape the clutches of the First Order. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run isnât quite as out of this world cool but is still another level as guests get to actually fly the Millennium Falcon in this interactive attraction.
đ§ââď¸ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Planning to use Lightning Lane? Check our Lightning Lane Multi Pass & Single Pass FAQ to learn how it works and which rides are eligible at Hollywood Studios.
Toy Story Land
If you didnât come for the Jedi mind tricks you clearly came because there is a snake in your boot (figuratively we hope). Toy Story Land is next to Star Wars: Galaxyâs Edge and behind the Chinese Theater and is a delight. In this area you have been shrunk down to the size of one of Andyâs Toys and have been invited to play in Andyâs backyard on some of his very own creations. Toy Story Mania! Has been around for a while now but is still an excellent interactive ride where guests get to try their hand at some carnival games set up in Andyâs bedroom. Alien Swirling Saucers takes guests for a whirl with our favorite little green aliens. Finally, Slinky Dog Dash is a family friendly coaster with Slinky Dog that will take you on a twisty and turny ride above Toy Story Land.
The details in this area really are amazing, from benches made from popsicle sticks, railing from Kânex, CandyLand children measuring the height of kids for Slinky Dog Dash, and so much more. Itâs both clever and immersive all at once. There are also two dining locations in Toy Story Land, a quick service and a table service
Animation Courtyard
If you veer right from the Chinese Theater, youâll find an archway leading into Animation Courtyard. Much of this area is currently closed as itâs being re-imagined for the brand-new Magic of Disney Animation attraction. Donât worry thoughâWalt Disney Presents is still open, and itâs a wonderful stop if you want to explore the story of Walt Disney himself and how Disneyland (and later Walt Disney World) came to life. Just next door, you can meet Ariel from the live-action Little Mermaid. The Courtyard is also home to the newly reopened The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure, a must-see for anyone who loves Princess Ariel.
Sunset Boulevard
Stroll down Sunset Boulevard, past shops and quick service locations, and at the very end you will find a plethora of attractions. The two biggest thrill rides in the park are down this way: Tower of Terror and RockânâRoller Coaster. One will chill you with faster than gravity drops, and the other will get your head banging to Aerosmith music while you twist, turn, and flip through this intense coaster.
There are also a few different shows, the most notable being Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage and Fantasmic! The first is an abridged production of, you guessed it, Beauty and the Beast complete with the beloved musical numbers played out in grand theatrical fashion. The second is a nighttime show that is not to be missed, Fantasmic! which follows Mickey into his imagination and battling the forces of evil. Will Mickey triumph?
Speaking of Forces of Evil, the wildly popular new show, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, is located just behind Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.
Park Overview
đ§ââď¸ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Download our Hollywood Studios Cheat Sheets to keep all this info handy while youâre in the park!
Click image above for all over our free downloadable Hollywood Studios cheat sheets in both PDF and JPGS.
đŹ Ready to Take on Hollywood Studios?
Now that youâve got the lay of the land, youâre one step closer to feeling like the director of your own Disney day. Whether you're racing through Toy Story Land, piloting the Millennium Falcon, or chilling with Olaf, having a good overview makes everything smoother.
Looking for more tips and tools? Be sure to check out:
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