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First Things We Do When Arriving at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

toy story mania
Credit: Disney

Arriving at any one of the Disney theme parks is a special occasion.  The day is filled with possibility and a certain degree of the unknown.  When we are at Magic Kingdom — do we turn right and head towards Space Mountain at the Hub or meander through the paths of Adventureland?  In EPCOT – do we start a journey through World Showcase with a crisp Canadian lager or a frozen Mexican margarita? The multitude of choices open to us is what makes a trip to Disney World so enjoyable.  When we visit Disney World’s third park at Hollywood Studios, here is our list of the things we do first!         

  

Credit: Disney

1. Rise of the Resistance Boarding Pass

Technically this one should happen BEFORE you arrive to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney has a Boarding Pass system for guests to ride Rise of the Resistance.  Guests are required to check in via their phones on My Disney Experience to grab a boarding group for the day.  With decreased ride capacity and the attraction still being new, it can be difficult to get a boarding pass. Boarding passes open for guests with park pass reservation at 7am which means you’ll want to set that alarm and get ready to click into your My Disney Experience App from wherever you may be. If you don’t get a boarding group at 7am, you can try again at 1pm.

2. Shops Along Hollywood Boulevard

Some of our favorite stores in Disney World are located in Hollywood Studios.  The combination of the theming of the park, as well as the characters that call the park home lead to some creative merchandise.  No trip is complete without browsing the stores along both sides of Hollywood Boulevard — we usually wait to purchase any souvenirs until later in the day as we are leaving the park so we aren’t carrying around bags for most of the day.

3. Thrill Rides

Guests who rope drop Hollywood Studios have a great opportunity to ride two of the best thrill rides at Disney World writhing 30 minutes of one another.  Our first stop for attractions in the park will be at the of Sunset Boulevard as we climb aboard Tower of Terror and strap ourselves into Rock ‘n Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith.  Even when the parks are crowded you usually can get through both rides with a minimal wait of 20 minutes or less!

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4. Breakfast Deliciousness

Hollywood Studios has some great choices when it comes to food! One of our favorite breakfast destinations is on Hollywood Boulevard at The Trolley Car Cafe. You can pick up your favorite STARBUCKS coffee here and a delicious breakfast muffin or Disney baked good!

Slinky Dog Roller Coaster

5. Toy Story Land

During this unique time, guests may wish to take advantage of lower crowds to enjoy the attractions in Toy Story Land when they first arrive while lines are shorter.  The three attractions in Toy Story Land are all family favorites, so no matter the composition of your party, you’ll find something for everything.  Slinky Dog Dash is an invigorating family coaster, Toy Story Mania is a great attraction that everyone will love, and Alien Swirling Saucers puts a fresh twist on a classic spinner ride!  We’re confident that you’ll enjoy all three of these attractions!

6. Millennium Falcon

While the lines may be a little longer since Disney is currently only loading each pod with members of your party, this gives you a great chance to pilot the classic ship!  Having ridden the attraction three times since it opened last year, pilot is the only position that I have not gotten to tackle yet and am very excited for our future trips!

Credit: Disney

7. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

What better way to start a day at Hollywood Studios than riding the newest attraction at Disney World.  Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened shortly before the parks shut down due to the coronavirus, so many guests still haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy the attraction yet.   The combination of popular attractions at Hollywood Studios and lower crowd levels due to social distancing, this may be the best time for guests to get a ride on this new attraction!

Visiting a theme park comes with many different decisions that you have to make.  What to ride first? Where to eat lunch?  Turning right or left upon entering a park?  While you have all of these decisions to make, we are confident that there isn’t a wrong choice to be made when visiting Hollywood Studios!  What is the first thing that you do when you visit Hollywood Studios?

About Tyler

Tyler is a lawyer living in South Florida who visits Disney World at least once a month. He enjoys re-living classic Disney experiences and discovering new things about the parks when he visits. Friends and family always ask him to plan their trip for maximum Disney magic!

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