Top Things to Do at Hollywood Studios 2021

Jump inside of some of your favorite movies at Hollywood Studios. Shrink down to the size of a toy in Toy Story Land, immerse yourself in the Star Wars Galaxy, and drop in at the Hollywood Tower of Terror.  These are my top things to do at Hollywood Studios.

Top Things to Do at Hollywood Studios

A lot of tears were shed on August 13th, 2017 when one of the original rides at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios ran its’ last day. The Great Movie Ride is one less attraction for guests, but the fun addition of Toy Story Land eases the pain a little.  These are the top things to do at Hollywood Studios while we are waiting for the completion of Star Wars Land.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

This is one of the best rides on Disney property. You are required to join the virtual queue to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. A standby queue is not available. The virtual queue is limited and subject to availability.

With the First Order desperate to extinguish the spark of the Resistance, the mission is bound to have unexpected twists and turns. When your transport is captured by an imposing First Order Star Destroyer filled with legions of stormtroopers—and even Kylo Ren!—you’re going to need all the help you can get. Fortunately, a covert team of Resistance fighters—including Rey and BB-8—is at the ready to give you a fighting chance to escape… and a chance for the Resistance to rise.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, will take guests into the cockpit of “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” They will take the controls of the Falcon in one of three unique and critical roles as the ship hurtles through space. Some will be pilots, some gunners, and some flight engineers, creating multiple ways for guests to experience the attraction.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Mickey and Minnie are taking a leisurely drive to a picnic in their sporty roadster—with Engineer Goofy’s train following merrily along. Plot twist—you get to go, too! This ride is so amazing it feels just like you are in the middle of a Mickey cartoon. There is a cute preshow and and then go onto the ride.

Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage

This show is done Broadway-style and has all the songs you love to sing. The theater is outside but covered. No Fastpass is needed, most seats offer a great view. This attraction is great for everyone in your traveling party. 

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along

Frozen Sing along with Royal Historians that make the show fun for adults too with added humor. Join the Royal Historians along with Anna, Kristoff, and Elsa as they tell the story of Frozen and sing along to the movie’s greatest hits. The finale includes a reprise of Let it Go accompanied by “snow”. During the holiday season, they add a song from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. This is attraction is great for everyone in your party. 

Toy Story Mania

3d Target practice with the Toy Story gang. This attraction used to be a hard Fastpass selection. Now that Toy Story Mania, Slinky Dog Dash, and Aliens Swirling Saucers are all tier 1 Fastpass+ selections I would choose one of the newer rides.  A third track has been added and the queue is inside in comparison to the other Toy Story rides so the wait will not be horrible. This attraction is great for everyone in your party. 

Alien Swirling Saucers

In this new ride, you are being driven around in circles by the Toy Story Aliens while being whipped back and forth. If you tend to get motion sickness this may not be the ride for you. Children need to be 32″ to ride this ride for safety reasons. If you weren’t able to secure a Fastpass+ for Slinky Dog Dash then this would be a good second choice.

Slinky Dog Dash

This is currently my favorite ride at Hollywood Studios! I have a Cast Member friend that invited me to their preview and I got to ride it 5x in a row. This is a very smooth coaster that is plus-size friendly. The intensity is between Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (but smoother). There is a ride photo. Children need to be 38″ to ride this ride for safety reasons. 

Rockin’ Roller Coaster

Superfast roller coaster ride with a rock and roll twist. Children need to be 48″ to ride this ride for safety reasons.

Hollywood Tower of Terror

Elevator ride that has unplanned ups and downs. I love it! It is one of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World. Children need to be 40″ to ride this ride for safety reasons.

Star Tours

3d Simulator ride that takes you inside of a Star Wars adventure. You can ride this ride more than once and not have the same adventure. Children need to be 40″ to ride this ride for safety reasons.

Unique Dining Experiences

Two of the most unique and fun dining experiences are available at Hollywood Studios. One of the 50’s PrimeTime Cafe where you are transported back to the 1950’s where you don’t get dessert if you don’t eat your veggies and the Cast Member will jokingly tease you about your manners. The second experience is the Sci-Fi Diner. You dine in car tables and watch old Sci-Fi movies on a big screen. Both of these dining options are reasonably priced too if you paying out of pocket and not on the Disney Dining Plan.

Disney Movie Magic

This is a projection show on the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The show is a tribute to movies throughout the years.

Fantasmic

Still one of the best night shows at Walt Disney World. You need to get the theater about 30-45 minutes early to secure a good seat. You can also book a Fantasmic dining or the new dessert package which comes with priority seating. The dessert package comes with a snack box.

The adult box features chocolate-covered strawberries, cheesecake, a chocolate cupcake, apple crisp, California trail mix and cheese and crackers. Kids will enjoy chocolate pudding with crushed chocolate cookies and gummy worms, confetti popcorn, grapes and a vanilla cake bite which features the star of Fantasmic! — Sorcerer Mickey. Your Clients will also receive a bottle of water and a specialty alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage in a light-up keepsake Fantasmic! cup. The cost is $39 for adults and $19 for children ages 3-9.

Other Great Hollywood Studios Attractions

In order for your visit to Hollywood Studios to be a success, each of the above-mentioned attractions needs to be on your “to-do” list. First concentrate on doing the above list as they are all the top rides at Hollywood Studios. Then do the remaining attractions according to the time you have left.

• Disney Junior Dance Party
• Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Muppet*Vision 3d (now only open with limited hours)
• Star Wars Launch Bay (currently unavailable)
• Walt Disney Presents (nice air-conditioned Disney history walk-through)

Thank You for Spreading the Pixie Dust!