Disney's Hollywood Studios opened as as Disney-MGM Studios on May 1, 1989 and recently added two new lands: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land. The park also recently opened Disney's first ride devoted to Mickey Mouse — Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, which you will find inside the replica of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre that stands in the middle of the park.
Our recommendations below come from our annual survey of Theme Park Insider newsletter subscribers. Locations with star ratings ★ ranked especially highly among our readers. Click here to subscribe to our free, twice-weekly email of theme park news and to participate in the next ranking survey.
Certain locations may not be available due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Top recommendations
Other notable shows include the nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! on Hollywood Boulevard; Disney Junior Dance Party in the Animation Courtyard; Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy on Sunset Boulvard; Mickey Shorts Theater on Commissary Lane; and Walt Disney Presents on Mickey Avenue.
Top recommendations
Disney's Hollywood Studios is part of the sprawling Walt Disney World Resort, located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida – about 24 miles from Orlando International Airport.
You must reserve the day you want to visit in advance using the Disney Park Pass Reservation system. Once you have your dates reserved, you can start making restaurant reservations up to 60 days in advance of your visit. As for ride reservations, Walt Disney World's Fastpass+ system has been suspended due to the pandemic and the need for additional physical distancing in queues.
The top-rated Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance uses a virtual queue, for which you can apply to enter at 7am on a day for which you have a park reservation and again at 1pm on the same day, using the official "My Disney Experience" app. There is no standby queue for Rise of the Resistance. Once you have applied for the Rise queue, head straight for Runaway Railway at opening, then either to Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania or to Rock 'n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, depending upon big the kids in the family are.
Want to talk more about Disney's Hollywood Studios visiting strategies? Start a discussion in our Walt Disney World Forum.