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8 Hidden Gems at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is Disney’s premiere theme park for all your entertainment cravings. The whole park is designed to make you feel like you have stepped into the world of music, movies, and TV. With premiere attractions like: Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Tower of Terror it’s easy to forget there is so much more to see and do in this theme park.

8. Pizza Planet

It’s a great and quick meal to have when you don’t feel like you have the time to do a table service dinner. I love pizza and their pizza is delicious! They have other great Italian options as well like meatball subs and antipasto salads. My husband and I really try to vary our meals from day to day, but we couldn’t help but make a repeat visit in less than a week to this quick service restaurant. Located right next to Muppets Vision 3D, Pizza Planet is themed after the famous restaurant from the Toy Story franchise and is filled with arcade games and fun things to do in an air-conditioned building. Our “secret place” is the second floor. Hardly anyone ever sits there and if you catch a seat by the window it’s a great and relaxing place to cool off and people watch.

7. The Snare Drum in Rockin’ Roller Coaster Gift Shop

This is for all my pin traders out there! My husband and I go crazy for the random pin boards and this is one of our favorites. It’s usually set up near the picture station of the gift shop and I don’t think a lot of people know about it which is a good thing for pin traders because that means a lot of the good pins are still there and haven’t been picked through!

6. Jedi Training Academy

If you’ve got a little Stars Wars fan, you must sign them up for this! After learning how to fight like a Jedi, each little one gets a chance to use what they’ve learned and fight the dark side. We got a chance to watch all the padawans fight and it was fun for those who were participating and those who were spectating. You could see the huge smile on their faces when they realized they had defeated Darth Vader.

5. Animation Station

Want a fun and free DIY souvenir from Hollywood Studios? Stop on by the Animation Station. Each guest is given easy-to-follow instructions so that he or she can create a famous Disney character. This is yet another great and fun attraction that will get you out of the heat and is something your whole family will enjoy.

4. Character Meet and Greets

Hollywood Studios is a great place to meet characters that are hard to catch in other parks. As my husband and I were leaving the park one day, we quickly jumped in line when we spotted Rafiki from The Lion King. Hollywood Studios is of course where you can meet many of the Disney Junior characters your kids have been dying to meet as well. Mike and Sully, Buzz and Woody, Lightning McQueen and Mater, and Phineas and Ferb are all great characters to catch when you’re in Hollywood Studios.

3. Star Wars Weekends

Although Star Wars Weekends itself isn’t a Hidden Gem, many of the things that are available very much are! If you are ever able to visit one of these weekends, it will be well worth your visit. It’s free with your park admission! Personally, even though I enjoy Star Wars, I am not a crazed fan, but this weekend made me want to become one. There are fun dance parties, awesome treats, and very special merchandise. Some of my personal favorite things that are available are the “Darth Vader Cupcakes” and the FREE meet and greets. Last year they had Ray Park who played Darth Maul as one of the people you could stand in line to meet.

2. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream

This is something that gets me every time and is my personal favorite hidden gem at Hollywood Studios. One Man’s Dream is a self-guided tour that follows Walt’s life from his early childhood days into his successful career. It honors the man he was and all the hard work him and his team put in to make The Disney Company what it is today. So many people skip this attraction because it seems like just a museum, but it’s so much more. My absolute favorite part is at the very end when you get the chance to experience a fifteen-minute film hosted by Julie Andrews and you can listen to Walt’s voice as he recounts his life and his career.

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1. Singing in the Rain umbrella

As you’re on your way to Lights, Motors, Action! on Streets of America, stop by the street pole with an umbrella on top of it. This is definitely a hidden gem because most people won’t even notice, much less take the time to go stand underneath it and let the rain come down! This is a fun little side trip to make and the kids will love it.

Hopefully these are all things that you are able to do on your next visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Take time to walk around and enjoy everything this theme park has to offer. Do you have any hidden gems that you visit in Hollywood Studios every time?

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best price for your vacation, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!

About Madison

My name is Madison, I'm 21 years old and currently live in Kentucky. Disney is my passion, research is my hobby, and writing is my "made for this". I have been a big Disney fan ever since I can remember, I loved all the Disney princesses, and I will never forget my first trip to Disney World when I was seven years old. It wasn't until my husband and I took our "Disney Honeymoon" that I was REALLY hooked. In June we will have taken our third trip to Disney in less than a year and have many more planned in the future! I am a big pin trader, my favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty, and the Wishes Fireworks Show brings me to tears every time.

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