Hollywood Studios has undergone one of the biggest transformations of any of the Disney Parks around the world. Not only did they add Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, they removed some of the areas that made the park unique, including the Backlot Tour, Streets of America, and other favorites. Throw in the removal (re-theming) of the Great Movie Ride and this park has lost all of the character that prompted the ”Studios” name and appeal, or has it? This park is more popular than it has been in years, but the reasons for that have definitely changed.
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In the Park Detail series, we will be taking a much more in-depth look at each of the 4 theme parks of Walt Disney World. This series is meant to inform our readers on what is available and where you can find it at each park. We will break it up into sections, so that you can easily find information quickly.
Bringing in a New Crowd
The transformation happening at Hollywood Studios is coming to its short term completion with the addition of the Star Wars themed hotel experience. With this phase now complete, the park has a whole new feel and is attracting a new crowd. For those of you looking for the classics like Tower of Terror and Fantasmic, check out our blog on those here, but most of the people entering the park now are headed straight for one of the two new areas. Brand new rides and spectacular scenery have set the stage for these new areas to be the most sought attractions for years to come.
Toy Story Land -
Get ready to shrink down to “Fun Size” and play with the other toys in Andy’s backyard. This area opened in 2018 to expand on the popularity of of the existing Toy Story Midway Mania ride. The expansion included 2 new rides, a quick service restaurant, and bathroom area with all the toys that you will remember from your childhood. From tinker toys to Uno cards, there will be new things to find in the land’s scenery each time you visit.
The Rides -
Let’s start with what was already there. Toy Story Midway Mania is a 3D interactive shooting arcade that features spinning cars that wildly move you from screen to screen. Get ready to challenge your friends and family to see who will get the highest score. This ride is very family friendly as long as you have an adult to ride with your smaller toys.
Keeping with the family friendly theme, Alien Swirling Saucers if is a fun whip style ride that is tame enough for most of your toys. It does have a height requirement of 32", but is a great introduction to some of the bigger rides if your kids are timid riders, and usually boats a lower wait time compared to the other rides in this land. Buzz Lightyear and the Pizza Planet aliens provide the framework for this fun ride.
We might have saved the best for last with Slinky Dog Dash. It is a small roller coaster that offers a very smooth ride and a couple of very cool launch elements. Slinky Dog transforms into your ride vehicle and offers one of the best attraction additions since Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This is the ride with the tallest height restriction in the land at 38”, make sure your little toys measure up before entering the queue line, which can stretch well outside the ride queue area. Speaking of the queue line, this may be the most well done queue area of any ride we have ever encountered. Take some time to look around if you aren't breezing through the FastPass+ lane.
Food and Other Attractions -
Woody's Lunch Box is the only brick and mortar food offering in this area. It offers a variety of kid friendly options with adult twists such as a Grilled 3 Cheese sandwich and "Tatchos". Most of the food here is rather heavy, so take that into consideration when planning your day. Also, be on the lookout for characters (when they return from their CoVid hiding). Buzz, Woody, Bo Peep, and Jessie roam and set up shop for pictures and autographs around the land. Finally, the Green Army Men put on a percussion show as they walk through the land multiple times each day (maybe after CoVid).
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge -
We don't know if there has ever been a more largely anticipated area open up at any of the Disney properties worldwide. When Galaxy's Edge opened up in Florida, Hollywood Studios became the go to park at Walt Disney World for months and it wasn't even flexing its best attraction. As a Star Wars fan, you can get lost in this world that was so well done one of our associates described the time he needed to get readjusted to reality as he left the land for the first time. Not only is the decoration amazing, Disney went the extra mile to have cast member character back stories and their own language.
The Rides -
There are two rides in this land and both of them are can't miss. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a flight simulator gyroscope ride that gives you the feeling that you are flying the fabled movie ship. Each "cockpit" seats 6 guests that will have roles (pilots, gunners, and engineers) in the success of the mission. All rider must meet the 38" height requirement and not be sensitive to changes in lighting or flashes.
Start Wars: Rise of the Resistance is an attraction like nothing else we have ever experienced. It is a multi-faceted experience that weaves a story putting you right in the middle of the action, if you can get a seat. This is currently the only ride that utilizes a virtual queue system and snagging one of those coveted spots has proved difficult, even for the seasoned Jedi. Boarding passes are released at 7am and 1pm each day and you must obtain through the My Disney Experience app. A couple of tips, don't rely on the Disney WiFi to get you through the fastest and don't be scared if you don't get a boarding pass at 7am. Make sure you are in Hollywood Studios for the 1pm drop. Once you get your boarding pass called, prepare to be amazed. The size and scale of some of the elements is breathtaking and has no current comparison. Riders must be 40" tall and be prepared for a roughly 20 minute experience.
The Food -
Galaxy's Edge is home to some of the more creative dishes that we have seen on property. Ronto Roasters and Docking Bay 7 offer a variety of dishes and drinks that may have you thrown off by their names. Be sure to check the menu and use mobile ordering when it is available. It will save you a bunch of time. The Milk Stand offers the blue and green milks made famous by the movies. Both offerings have a creamy fruit slush consistency and can be made in adult versions. If you are looking for more adult beverages, look no further than Oga's Cantina. DJ Rex holds down the beats in this unique bar setting with unusual drinks. Reservations are highly suggested and you will have a 45 minute time limit while in the building. Be sure to try the Fuzzy Ton Ton, your mouth won't know what hit it.
Other Attractions -
Galaxy's Edge is also home to some of the best shopping in any land. Not only do you have your not so run-of-the-mill merchandise locations, you have 2 custom shops for the Star Wars fan in your life. First, the Droid Depot lets you customize your very own R-unit or BB-unit. Reservations are highly recommended, but there usually is some walk up availability day of. If you do try and walk up, make it one of the first things you do, as you may be able to schedule for later in the day. Also, you have the ability to hand make you own custom lightsaber at Savi's Workshop. Reservations are required and Disney tries to make the cost of this experience worth it with a great story and quality product. Be on the lookout for the First Order and the Resistance moving through Black Spire Outpost as the struggle between good and evil continues throughout the day. Last, but certainly not least, get ready for an out of this world on the Halcyon, a galactic star cruiser that will make port on Batuu for special 3 day - 2 night excursions. This Star Wars experience will immerse you in the story like never before with your own cabin and itinerary for the space cruise. Details are continuing to be released, but look for the first flights to begin later in 2021.
As you can see, Disney has put a lot of effort into the expansion/intellectual addition to Hollywood Studios and has taken this from a 1/2 day park to a multi day park, with no real plans for change in the near future. Be sure to take your time in both of these areas just to look around. There is an amazing amount of hidden gems to find in each area and even more if you are a fan of either franchise.
Are you ready to take the next step? Fill out our information form on the Booking Your Trip page and let's talk about your Disney adventure. If you are looking for more information, the Disney Planning Insights Podcasts and Princesses and the Mouse Blogs provide more information to help you plan your next Disney vacation.