How to Plan the Perfect Day at Hollywood Studios (2025 Tips & Strategy)
- Practically Perfect Pixie Dust
- Jun 25, 2023
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Updated 9/25/2025 to reflect the closings of Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
Every family’s Disney day looks a little different—what works perfectly for one group might not fit another. That’s why instead of giving you a rigid step-by-step itinerary, we’re sharing flexible tips and smart tools to help you create a Hollywood Studios touring plan that works for you. 🧭
✨ Need help with the big picture? Start with our general Walt Disney World planning guide. Ready to dive into the specifics for Hollywood Studios? Keep reading!
🎟️ Early Theme Park Entry Strategies at Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is packed with headliner attractions—and one of the best ways to experience a few of them with minimal wait is to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry. This is a special perk for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels (and select partner resorts), allowing you to enter the park 30 minutes before regular park opening.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Aim to arrive at least 30–45 minutes before Early Entry begins. The earlier you're through security and at the turnstiles, the better your spot will be in the pre-opening queue—and the shorter your wait at top attractions.
Once you arrive, Cast Members will guide Early Entry guests to a designated side of the entrance. You’ll typically be allowed into the park a few minutes before Early Entry officially begins, giving you a small head start.
During Early Entry and the beginning of the day the pathway between Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Toy Story Land is closed for crowd control.
🎢 Attractions
Want a full list of rides and experiences at Hollywood Studios? Check out our Hollywood Studios Attractions Guide for ride descriptions, height requirements, and insider tips on what’s worth the wait (and what to skip).
🎢 Rides Available During Early Theme Park Entry:
Alien Swirling Saucers
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania!
🛣️ How We Use Early Entry: Sunset Boulevard Plan
Our personal go-to is to rope drop Sunset Boulevard. We head straight to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and typically wait around 10 minutes once the ride opens. From there, we jump in line for Tower of Terror, which usually has a 15–25 minute wait by the time we arrive—still very manageable before the crowds pick up.
If thrill rides aren’t your thing (or you’ve already ridden them), we suggest focusing on either Toy Story Land or Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Here’s how to tackle each:
🚀 Toy Story Land Plan
Start with Slinky Dog Dash, the most popular ride in this area.
Once off, head straight to Toy Story Mania! to squeeze in another ride before the wait spikes.
🌌 Galaxy’s Edge Plan
Begin with Rise of the Resistance (note: this attraction often builds the longest wait first thing).
Afterward, make your way to Smugglers Run for a second Star Wars experience with a shorter line.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Arriving even 10–15 minutes before Early Entry officially begins can be the difference between a 15-minute wait and a 60-minute one for rides like Slinky Dog Dash or Rise of the Resistance.
Navigating the Crowds at Hollywood Studios
Crowds at Hollywood Studios don’t move evenly—they flow based on attraction popularity, show schedules, and even snack breaks! Knowing how traffic patterns shift throughout the day can help you avoid bottlenecks and wait less in line.
🎯 Toy Story Land: Popular But Compact
Toy Story Land is one of the most high-traffic areas in the park—and it feels especially crowded due to its layout. Even though it only has three rides, two quick-service dining spots, and a few character meets, everything funnels through one main walkway. There are no gift shops or shaded alcoves to absorb the crowds, which makes the area feel busier than it technically is.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Head to Toy Story Land first thing in the morning or during major shows like Fantasmic! to avoid the worst congestion.
🌌 Galaxy’s Edge: Spacious But Still Busy
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is large and immersive, so while it draws massive crowds, it doesn’t always feel shoulder-to-shoulder. That said, there are a couple of key choke points:
The Market Merchants area: This narrow, open-air marketplace draws people in with small shops, one of the land’s restrooms, and a main pathway between the Millennium Falcon and Rise of the Resistance.
Docking Bay 7 area: Around lunchtime, the area between Docking Bay 7 and the Millennium Falcon gets jammed with guests grabbing lunch, taking photos, and queuing for Smugglers Run.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you want a calm moment in Galaxy’s Edge, try walking the back path near Rise of the Resistance—it’s quieter and has some fun views of Batuu’s outskirts.
☕ Where to Get Coffee Without the Crowds
Craving caffeine? Skip the Joffrey’s near Toy Story Land, which often has a long line. Instead, head to the Joffrey’s kiosk tucked behind Tower of Terror. It’s a bit off the beaten path and tends to move faster.
🥪 Woody’s Lunch Box: Worth It, But Crowded
Woody’s Lunch Box is one of the most popular quick-service options in Hollywood Studios, and for good reason—the food is great! But tables are limited and highly sought after.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Use Mobile Order and arrive early. If no tables are open, consider eating at one of the overflow standing counters nearby, or grab your food and eat
elsewhere in the park.
🌠 Fantasmic! Crowds = Low Wait Times Elsewhere
When Fantasmic! is about to begin, a huge portion of the park’s guests head to the amphitheater. This is a perfect time to take advantage of shorter wait times for major rides like Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror, and Slinky Dog Dash.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you’re not planning to watch Fantasmic!, this is prime time to ride a couple of headliners with much shorter waits.
If you are watching the show:
Arrive 45–60 minutes early if you want to be in the front section.
Otherwise, you can usually show up closer to showtime and still get a decent view—Fantasmic! is designed to be seen from almost every angle.
🚶♀️ Exiting After Fantasmic!
Once Fantasmic! ends, the crowd disperses fast—but knowing your route makes a difference:
If the park is still open, you can exit the theater and turn left to follow a lesser-known path that leads directly toward the front of the park—this avoids much of the crowd heading back through Sunset Boulevard.
If the park is closing, all guests will be directed down this path regardless, which helps ease congestion.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Lines at Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster often spike right before and after Fantasmic!, so plan your evening rides around that surge.
⚡ Making Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) Choices at Hollywood Studios
If you're planning to conquer all the thrill rides at Hollywood Studios, adding Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) to your day is a smart move—and for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, we strongly recommend purchasing Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP).
🎢 With seven headliner attractions regularly hitting wait times of 60 minutes or more, LLMP offers one of the best values for your money at this park.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you’re new to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, check out our full LLMP guide and download our printable LLMP cheat sheet here to get familiar with how booking works in the My Disney Experience app.
🎟️ Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) – Sold Separately
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
This top-tier attraction is not included in your LLMP selections and must be purchased separately using Lightning Lane Single Pass. It’s worth it if you want to avoid one of the longest lines in the park.
🎯 LLMP Tier 1 Attractions – Choose 1 to Start
When booking with LLMP, you’ll choose one Tier 1 attraction in advance, then add more as you use each one. These are the rides with the highest demand at Hollywood Studios:
Slinky Dog Dash (Hardest to book—snag this one early if it’s a priority!)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Once your initial LLMP is redeemed, prioritize grabbing another Tier 1 ride ASAP—Slinky Dog, Falcon, and Runaway Railway tend to go quickly.
🎠 LLMP Tier 2 Attractions – Choose 2 to Start
These are your best bets for initial pre-selects from Tier 2, especially if you're trying to balance thrill and nostalgia:
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Tower of Terror often has fluctuating wait times—using LLMP here can save you from catching it at a 60+ minute peak.
⏳ Lower-Priority Rides (Tier 2)
These attractions typically don’t need a Lightning Lane unless standby lines are unusually long:
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Alien Swirling Saucers
They’re great for filling gaps between higher-priority bookings, especially if wait times spike midday.
🎭 Live Shows – Usually No LLMP Needed
Most shows at Hollywood Studios allow walk-up entry, so booking Lightning Lane for them usually isn’t necessary:
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Save your Lightning Lane selections for rides—you can usually just walk into shows a few minutes before showtime and still get a great view.
🔁 Strategy for Refilling Lightning Lanes
Once you've tapped into your first Lightning Lane reservation, you can begin booking more. Here’s the ideal order for refilling selections:
Any remaining Tier 1 attractions
Moderately popular Tier 2 rides
Lower-priority Tier 2 (based on timing and location)
Stacking your top picks earlier in the day helps you maximize availability and minimize walking back and forth.
Random Tidbits
🌀 It’s Easy to Wear Yourself Out at Hollywood Studios!
Hollywood Studios is packed with high-energy attractions, sprawling lands, and long distances between rides—especially if you're park hopping with kids or trying to do it all.
Rides Without Height Requirements
There aren’t very many rides without a height requirement at Hollywood Studios. These rides are:
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Toy Story Mania!
There are lots of shows, more than any other park. Some of them are geared specifically to a family audience and are a lot of fun for all ages. These include
Indiana Jones
Frozen Sing-Along
Vacation Fun (Mickey short)
Walt Disney Presents (walk through)
Star Wars Launch Bay (closed September 25, 2025)
Disney Junior Play & Dance (closed September 25, 2025)
Beauty and the Beast
Fantasmic!
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
The Little Mermaid a Musical Adventure
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Use shows as built-in rest stops. Most run multiple times a day and are easy to fit between Lightning Lane reservations.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Tips
🍹 Where to Rest with a Drink
Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge is a must-see for Star Wars fans, but keep in mind:
Most guests stand during the experience
It’s noisy, fast-paced, and seating is very limited
If you're looking for a more relaxing break, head over to the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge. It’s a great place to sip a cocktail and do some people watching in a quieter atmosphere.
⚔️ Building a Lightsaber: What You Need to Know
Savi’s Workshop offers a truly special experience where you can build a custom, high-quality lightsaber for around $200. Here’s what to know:
It’s not a toy—these are collectible-grade sabers
The experience takes about an hour and requires advance reservations (60 days out)
Spots fill fast, so book early!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you can’t snag a reservation, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities sells pre-built sabers with the same high-end quality.
💡 On a budget or traveling with kids who want to play with their lightsabers?Check out the build-your-own lightsaber station at Tatooine Traders (next to Star Tours)—a fun souvenir for under $30!
🛍️ Best Places for Kid-Friendly Star Wars Gear
Galaxy’s Edge leans more toward premium collectibles and immersive merchandise. For more budget-friendly, playful Star Wars merch, head to:
Tatooine Traders near Star ToursHere, you’ll find action figures, toys, and dress-up gear perfect for young padawans.
📸 Star Wars Character Encounters
Galaxy’s Edge features wandering characters like:
Chewbacca
Rey
Stormtroopers
Vi Moradi (Resistance spy)
While they don’t usually stop for posed photos, they interact with guests in character, adding to the immersive feel.
Want traditional meet-and-greets with photos?
Chewbacca - to the right of The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Darth Vader - near Star Tours - The Adventure Continues
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Check the My Disney Experience app the morning of your visit to see who’s greeting guests that day—and plan around it.
🎬 That’s a Wrap on Hollywood Studios!
Planning ahead can make all the difference at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With fewer rides but huge headliners, it’s a park where timing and strategy really count. Whether you’re rope dropping Rise of the Resistance, catching all the shows, or making a beeline for Toy Story Land, a solid plan helps you skip the stress and soak up the fun.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Don’t forget to build in some downtime—it’s okay to slow down and just enjoy the atmosphere. Grab a cold drink, soak in the atmosphere, or take a break in the air conditioning before your next adventure!
Need more help with your Hollywood Studios day? Check out these resources:
Happy planning—and may the Force (and your park strategy) be with you!
Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
P.S. Planning your own magical getaway?
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