Last Updated on June 29, 2021 by Kimberly Stroh

BEST Disney’s Hollywood Studios Itinerary

This Hollywood Studios itinerary will help you navigate the classic attractions and new! Disney’s Hollywood Studios is constantly changing and evolving.  2019 is a very exciting time because it is a time of unprecedented change.  In recent years Disney’s Hollywood Studios has shrunk. 

It was never a large park to begin with, but at least it was an operating studio with a tram tour.  Now, Hollywood Studios is shifting the focus from behind the scenes to beyond the screens – with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening. 

Plus, print your FREE Hollywood Studios park guide to help plan your time.

Related: The Best Magic Kingdom Itinerary

The Perfect Day: Your Hollywood Studios Itinerary

With more exciting changes coming, you’ll want to plan their inclusion on your day planning for your next Disney World visit.  This Hollywood Studios itinerary will help you maximize the value of your park day. Be sure to check back as more information about Galaxy’s Edge is revealed!

Hollywood Studios Must-See Shows

As a show business based theme park it’s not surprising that a great deal of the attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are stage shows:

• The Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• Disney Junior Dance Party
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Beauty and The Beast Live on Stage (temporarily closed until March 9, 2019)
• Frozen Sing Along
• Disney Movie Magic
• Fantasmic!

Star Wars Entertainment

• March of the First Order
• Jedi Training
• Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away
• Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular (8:30)

Luckily most of these shows run continuously several times throughout the day.  In most cases there is at least one every hour.  However, you should pick up a show schedule when you walk into the park. You can refer to it throughout the day to follow or change your plans.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular has only a handful of shows.  It’s only 30 minutes long, but it requires a lot of set up and involves a lot of performers and crew.  Make This a priority – pick one of the five performances and show up thirty minutes in advance for.

While you are moving around the park, try not to be too hasty.  Leave yourself some time to mill around.  There is a lot of street entertainment to take in between attractions.  Have a look at your show schedule to see when performers will be out in your area.

Hollywood Studios Attractions For Young Kids

There are so many characters to meet in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  First off, there is the Star Wars Launch Bay where you can meet Chewbacca, BB-8 and Kylo Ren.  Also, in the Animation Courtyard, you can meet popular Disney Junior Characters: Doc McStuffins, Vampirina and Fancy Nancy.

Mickey and Minnie are meeting Guests on Commissary Lane at Red Carpet Dreams.  Mike and Sulley are meeting guests at Walt Disney Presents near the Animation Courtyard.  In Pixar Place you can meet Edna Mode and party with Frozone and the Incredibles.  Kids can also see the Green Army Men and meet the toys of Toy Story in Toy Story Land.

Even more great fun for kids is coming soon in the form of a new car ride for all ages.  Based on the new Emmy winning Mickey Mouse series, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad will capture our hearts and imaginations with a wild and zany cartoon adventure, in the Chinese Theater.  On Sunset Blvd, Lightning McQueen will train new racers (starting May 2019).

One more way for kids to meet with some Disney characters is to have a character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine Restaurant.  Characters are either Minnie Mouse and Friends, or Disney Junior, depending on time of year, so consult your guide to find out which.

Hollywood Studios Most Popular Rides

A Single day Hollywood Studios ticket could easily be spent on just the “E ticket” attractions – AKA the most popular ones.  You want to build your Hollywood Studios itinerary around these. The park has Star Tours, Aerosmith’s Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania.  All of these are can’t miss attractions. 

Toy Story Land has also introduced two new attractions: Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers.  When Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens up in the fall there will be two new attractions including a trackless dark ride encounter with Kylo Ren and a chance to fly the Millennium Falcon.

Whenever something new opens at Disney World, you’ve got to grab Fast Passes as soon as your window opens. You want to be ready to grab them before they’re gone. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to grab them randomly as well. Always check your My Disney Experience App if there’s a ride you truly want to do.

Hollywood Studios Dining Options

When you’re building your Hollywood Studios itinerary, consider dining very carefully.  There are a lot of counter service places to choose from and a few table service restaurants.  There are really only three top choices. 

Sci-Fi Dine In Theater and 50’s Prime Time Cafe are the two best themed restaurants that are a ton of fun for the family.  The Hollywood Brown Derby is signature dining (two points per person on the Disney Dining Plan) and it’s a can’t miss if you’re a foodie who enjoys fine dining.  Hollywood and Vine is a fun character breakfast, but not known for it’s food.  If you have character reservations elsewhere, at a different park, this can be skipped.

Related: What’s Free at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

Navigating Disney’s Hollywood Studios

As soon as you walk in you will find a very short street leading to a large open area in front of the Chinese Theater.  It’s not super obvious, but this is the hub. There are no gateways to different lands with the exception of the Animation Courtyard and Pixar Place which you can’t see because it’s behind the theater.

The first thing you want to do is turn around to your right and head straight down Sunset Blvd. It’s great if you have a Fastpass for either Rockin’ Roller Coaster, or Tower of Terror.  Whichever one you have, use the standby line for the other one and use the Fast Pass after that.  Two major attractions down.

This is the area where Lightning McQueen’s attraction will be opening in May, so if you have little ones, you may want to consider that option while you’re here.  Also, if you have kids with you, you should head back up the street for the Animation Courtyard. 

There are a couple of continuously running shows and character meet and greets, so you won’t be waiting terribly long for any attractions.  Next go behind the Chinese theater to find Pixar Place, which is temporarily transformed into Municiberg.  This is a fun alley of interactive gags and character photo ops.  The Gateway to Toy Story Land is also here.

If at any point you become hungry, I recommend getting a footlong hot dog by Rockin’ Roller Coaster, or Stoping for Starbucks by the Animation Courtyard.  Otherwise, Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land is a good place to grab a quick breakfast or lunch.

By early afternoon you should be ready for Indiana Jones over at Echo Lake.  Heading up to Grand Avenue, you’ll come across Star Tours, and then Muppet Vision 3D.  Baseline Taphouse is a good place to stop and sample som craft beers.  It’s also the beginning of Commissary Lane.  Sci-Fi Drive In Theater is Here.  If you keep going back to the hub you will run into The Hollywood Brown Derby – if you have reservations for lunch or dinner.

You can cover a lot of ground quickly, or take it slow and watch a lot of shows and street performances.  The best thing is getting two main attractions out of the way early.  When Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad opens, prioritize that. 

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens, you will need to add a second park day to your Hollywood Studios itinerary.  If you only have one day at Hollywood Studios and you love Star Wars, that is pretty much going to be your whole day. Plan for heavy crowds for a very long time after opening day. 

Free Hollywood Studios Itinerary Planning Guide

Want all of this itinerary in the parks? Download, save and print this free guide. You can be sure to get the Fast Passes and visit all of my attraction picks for Hollywood Studios! You can use legal size paper or print on two pages.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT YOUR HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ITINERARY