Disneyโs Hollywood Studios
By James | Last updated March 5, 2024
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Disneyโs Studio theme park (then called Disney-MGM Studios) opened in 1989 as part theme park and part working animation, film and television production studios. Like its rival Universal Studios Floridaยฎ, most of the shows and rides take their inspiration from motion pictures and television.
In 2004 the animation department closed down and today all of the film work has been moved elsewhere but Disneyโs Hollywood Studios still has a lot to offer.
Compared to the other major Disney parks, Disneyโs Hollywood Studios is quite small; you can usually do it in a day especially with so many attractions currently closed
Disneyโs Hollywood Studios is still one of our favorite parks with some of the best rides and attractions; it has a real feel-good factor. If you like the movies then youโll love Disneyโs Hollywood Studios and with the addition of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy Edge, it has become a major theme park again.
Disneyโs Hollywood Studios has a number of live stage shows as well as a daily parade and a fantastic evening fireworks display.
Hollywood Studios Areas
Like the Magic Kingdom, Disneyโs Hollywood Studios can effectively be split into several โlandsโ based upon streets and boulevards:
- Hollywood Boulevard โ an Art Deco-styled street that runs from the main entrance to the park and leads up to The Great Movie Ride (now closed) housed in a replica of Mannโs famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The Great Movie Ride will be replaced by Mickey & Minnieโs Runaway Railway
- Sunset Boulevard โ the Art Deco style continues, with the famous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror&tm;, the Rock โnโ Rollerยฎ Coaster starring Aerosmith, Beauty, Sunset Showcase and the Beast โ Live on Stage and Fantasmic!
- Echo Lake โ around the lake is the second stunt show, namely the Indiana Jonesโข Epic Stunt Spectacular!, the โnot to be missedโ Star Tours โ The Adventure Continues simulator ride, For the First Time in Forever โ A Frozen Sing-along Celebration and Star Wars โ Path of the Jedi.
- Toy Story Land โ Larger-than-life toys and attractions including the rapid Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania.
- Star Wars: Galaxyโs Edge. You explore the planet Batuu, the latest addition to Hollywood Studios. the space features rides like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and the immersive Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
- Grand Avenue โ Inspired by present-day Los Angeles, Grand Avenue presents a bustling urban streetscape. It is home to Muppet Vision 3D and several dining options.
- Animation Courtyard โ This area celebrates the art of Disney animation. It currently hosts two shows and, the Star Wars Launch Bay.
Hollywood Studios Tips and Tricks
When navigating Disneyโs Hollywood Studios, you can take on a crowd and money-saving strategy if you wish to optimize your visit. From dodging the wild crowds to saving a few dollars, these pointers can transform a good experience into a great one.
Avoiding Crowds
- Arrive Early โ For reduced wait times at the big attractions, you should take advantage of theย Rope Drop. You can get straight to the front of the queues for the busiest rides when you get through the gates first. Enter early and prioritize the popular rides.
- Use the Genie+ wisely. Log onto Genie+ when it option allows you to book first thing and secure the high-demand rides first. Itโs better to plan the list of the top 5 busiest rides first so you have alternatives on standby.
Saving Money
- Pack Snacks and Water. This simple step can cut costs significantly as you can imagine. With water bottles, youโre also ensuring you stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Souvenir Strategy: Set a budget for souvenirs and stick to it. Often itโs cheaper to purchase Disney merchandise ahead of time from less expensive retailers.
Hollwood Studios Changes
A โwalk-throughโ attraction that has now closed was called Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow.
Also no longer available is the Star Wars Guided Tour and Music of Pixar LIVE! A Symphony of Characters. Star Wars: Galactic Nights last took place in 2018.
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