Hollywood Studios guide to the rides
If you are looking for some truly immersive thrills, Hollywood Studios is definitely the park to find it! This guide is going to give you everything you need to know to experience these Rockin, Playful, and Out of this World rides!
Although there are tons of amazing rides in this park, there are also a ton of shows and entertainment to enjoy as well. We’re saving those for another post, so make sure you are subscribed to our blog so you don’t miss it!
Twilight zone Hollywood Tower of Terror
This thrilling ride is located at the very back of Sunset Boulevard and begins to give you the chills the moment you see it! Based off of an old hotel, this ride takes you through the twilight zone where a runaway elevator shaft drops you from 130 feet!
This isn’t your typical drop ride either! Your ‘elevator’ will also move forward like a car during the storytelling part of the ride. Every ride has a different combination of drops and thrills, so you never quite know what’s going to happen!
This ride is pretty intense, so be sure to check the height requirements for your kiddos and know that this may be a little scary for smaller ones. (heck, it even scares me!)
Rocking Roller Coaster featuring aerosmith
This rockin’ coaster is Disney’s only inverted coaster! (That means you go upside down). The story of this ride is that you have received backstage passes from Aerosmith and you take a super speedy ride on a super stretch limo to make it to the concert on time!
This ride is FAST! You will launch from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds and scream through tons of twists and turns all while some popular Aerosmith jams are pumped into your ears by speakers behind your head.
There is also a single rider line for this ride, so if you want a little less of a wait, consider splitting up!
Located at the back of Sunset Boulevard as well, you are sure to hear lots of screams of terror AND delight!
Alien Swirling Saucers
This is an awesome family friendly ride featuring some of your favorite toy aliens! You sit in a ride vehicle attached to your very own alien and off you go twisting and whipping around while some fun music reminiscent of your favorite Toy Story Movies plays!
I would describe this ride like a carousel with a twist… literally! It doesn’t seem like it to watch, but this ride is more thrilling than it seems! But don’t worry, it isn’t too scary so most kiddos should find it fun too.
You can find this ride in Toy Story Land near the entrance to Galaxy’s Edge.
Toy Story Mania
This is one of my all time favorites! This carnival game type ride puts you in competition with your seat mate as you shoot virtual rings, balls, and more at different targets to earn as many points as you can.
Did I mention, this ride is 3D!?
This is a fun one for all ages and it makes you want to ride it again and again to see if you can beat your score! Not to mention, the queue for this ride is AMAZING! Everything is larger than life and you will even find Mr. Potatohead to entertain you while you wait. (Don’t forget to watch him take off his ear!)
This ride is located at the entrance of Toy Story Land just to the Left as you round the corner.
Slinky Dog Dash
If you are looking the perfect ‘big kid coaster’ for your younger ones, Slinky Dog Dash is perfect! This coaster is themed after, you guessed it, Slinky Dog!
The ride is super smooth and features a second launch and big drop (don’t worry, it isn’t too intense). My tip is to ride a little further back so that you can see. The front is fun, but Slinky’s head kind of blocks your view.
Say hi to Squeaky as he sings you a song at ‘The Big Finish!’
This line does get pretty long and is mostly out in the sunshine, so be sure to get to this one earlier in the day or later in the evening when the sun isn’t so hot. You can find it right at the heart of Toy Story Land!
Star Tours
Classic Star Wars Fans are going to love this one! With over 21 different segments mixed into dozens of scenarios, this 3D simulation ride is a surprise every time!
In this ride, you board a ship that is flown by C-3PO and takes you on a fun adventure through the galaxy. You’ll be given 3D glasses, so you will feel right in the middle to the action!
This ride does get pretty bumpy, so if you are prone to motion sickness, be wary of this one.
You actually won’t find this ride in Galaxy’s Edge. It is one of this park’s original Star Wars attractions and is located next to Backlot Express Restaurant. You’ll recognize it from the towering AT-AT guarding the entrance!
Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run
Speaking of Star Wars, this is one of the new rides located in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge! This ride, similar to star tours, is a flight simulation ride. You are piloting the Millennium Falcon itself and not only are you riding, but this interactive attraction allows you to fly, gun, and more in an almost video game style immersive experience.
Each rider will be assigned a role and various buttons and levers will light up when it’s time to use them. The exit to the ride will even be a little different depending on how successful your mission was!
Rise of the Resistance
This is the ride that everyone RAVES about! It is one of the most highly immersive rides you will find in any theme park and it’s honestly truly amazing!
However, there is a trick with this one. You can’t just get in the standby line, you have to get what’s called a boarding group and must be booked that morning at exactly 7am. You will then be given a boarding group number and you’ll get a notification on your phone when it’s your turn to ride.
Not everyone will get a boarding pass, so you have to be speedy quick. I mean SPEEDY!! Here are a few tips to help you get a boarding pass:
Get off of wifi. thousands of people will be using the wifi and app at the exact same time as you, so turn your wifi off and use data.
Make sure everyone in your party is linked properly in My Disney Experience. You have to add them all at the same time, so make sure this is done BEFORE your trip.
Speaking of which, you have to have a park pass for Hollywood Studios in order to get a Boarding Group. The app will not allow you to get one otherwise, so make sure you plan ahead!
Use another person’s phone to look at a clock with ‘seconds’ that way at EXACTLY 7 am, you can get on the app. If you are a few seconds too late, you most likely will not be able to get one. I know… scary…..
Practice getting a boarding group beforehand so that you know where you need to click when the time comes.
Because of this, I usually recommend to have two days planned at Hollywood Studios so that if you don’t get it the first day, you have another chance!
Trust me, if you are at all able to ride this one, definitely do it! You will also find this one in Galaxy’s Edge near the entrance by Muppet’s Square.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
This is honestly my favorite ride at Disney right now and rightfully so! It’s located in the Chinese Theatre right down Hollywood Blvd. It features Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and more in a trackless ride system. That means you have no idea where your car is going to go!
This is also considered 3 1/2 D which sounds crazy, but makes total sense when you see it! They use a mixture of projections and 3D sets to create a lifelike cartoon environment.
This is a super fun ride that is perfect for the whole family and you will want to ride it again and again!
Let me know some of your favorite Rides in Hollywood Studios in the comments below!
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