Disney World's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney's MGM Studios) is the third of Disney World's four main theme parks (there's also two spectacular water parks). For more information on Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and more, click through the links on the left of this page!

Hollywood Studios manages to entertain both young and old and is a drama-lovers paradise. There are wild rides, meet and greets with some of Disney's most popular characters and spectacular shows all around!

Hollywood Studio SHOWS

Beauty and the Beast

This 25-minute Broadway-style show captures all the fun and highlights from the popular movie and is usually preformed five times a day. Be sure to arrive at least 15-20 minutes early for seating.

American Idol Experience

For the past five years, guests (ages 14 and up) have registered to audition for a producer, hoping to selected for the daily theme park version of American Idol. If they pass the selection process, their put into hair and makeup, given a vocal coaching session and are given a chance to sing before a live studio audience and a panel of judges. Those with the most votes per show (usually there are a handful of preliminary shows a day) will go on to preform in the daily grand finale. The winner of which (if they are 16yrs or older) will be given a guaranteed audition at a future American Idol regional stadium audition.

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

The Indiana Jones show is unique in that several audience members are selected to be "extras" in the show. In order to be one of these extras, be sure to arrive early and when they ask for volunteers be as boisterous and eye-catching as possible. It's something we've done and LOVED! 

The show, usually preformed five times a day, lasts about 35 minutes and recreates several scenes from the much beloved series. It takes the audience behind the scenes and the director explains how some of the most exciting acrobatic and pyrotechnic aspects of the movie were made. Be sure to arrive at least 20 minutes early for seats-there's often a fun pre-show entertainer to help pass the time.

Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show

Specially designed cars, motorcycles and jet skis are used with pyrotechnics and stuntmen to take you behind the scenes of a spy-thriller movie in the making. The director narrates the hugely popular 35 minute show. This is one you NEED to arrive well in advance for the best seats as the open theater holds 5,000 people and will fill up every time. The show is generally preformed twice daily so be sure to check the times and plan accordingly.

Disney Junior Live on Stage

This is a MUST do for preschool and toddler families...even some older kids will get a kick out of it. Disney has combined four of their most popular television series (Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters) to create a show which lasts just over 20 minutes and is preformed nearly a dozen times a day. Bubbles, confetti and even pirate gold doubloons (tissue paper variety so as not to injure anyone) rain down while children and adults alike join in on the fun. 

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

This 15 minute musical combines live action, film clips, special effects and even puppets (Ursala is 12 ft tall!) to bring you Ariel's story. Disney does some amazing things with this show but you should know that the theater can get quite dark at times and it may be frightening for some small children. Also, the audience gets a slight misting at the start of the show so if that's something that might upset you or your child, be sure to sit in the back where it's less noticeable. 

Fantasmic!

Hollywood Studios does more than just the nightly fireworks or laser show you'll find in Epcot or Magic Kingdom. Fantasmic is truly a 25 minute extravaganza inside a huge amphitheater. Although the theater can hold 6,500 sitting guests and another 2,500 standing guests, you MUST arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the show...45 minutes to an hour would be better because it does fill up. There are some nights that the show is preformed twice and the second show generally fills up slower. To say the show is amazing would be an understatement. The use of giant water spouts as projection screens, Maleficent transforming into a 40 foot tall fire breathing dragon and literally boatloads of Disney characters from all across time combine with so much more to bring you an experience like nothing else. Click HERE for more information both about Fantasmic and the other nightly shows held at Disney World.

Hollywood Studios ATTRACTIONS

The Great Movie Ride

A 22 minute ride through cinema history complete with animatronics housed inside a full-size replica of Hollywood's famed Chinese Theater.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Disney World's only roller coaster to go upside down, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster takes guests in a stretch limo from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. If you get off the ride desperate for more, be sure to use the single rider line option and make your wait time.

Tower of Terror

The Twilight Tower of Terror is a unique ride that keeps guests guessing what will happen next. Guests buckle their seat belts and ride an old, rickety elevator up 13 floors and then drop...and rise...and drop. The number of drops and the length of each drop varies every time. We've been told there are four different sequences for daytime guests and four different sequences for nighttime guests.

Star Tours

Star Tours take you to a galaxy far, far away. You board your very own spaceship/flight simulator in this exciting 3D attraction. You quickly learn there is a "Rebel Spy" aboard your ship (someone chosen and displayed on your screen...our son LOVED when he was selected to be the Rebel Spy) and your mission becomes keeping him/her out of Vader's hands. The attraction is essentially a three act play with more than 50 different scenarios depending on which acts/characters are loaded for each particular experience so have fun riding over and over again.

Outside Star Tours, you'll find a stage for the Jedi Training Academy. Kids 4-12 learn the ways of the force daily. Check out our Jedi Training Academy post for more information!

Backlot Tour

A two-part attraction, the Backlot Tour starts with an outdoor viewing area where you get to see how a movie scene is put together (complete with a little audience participation...selected before the show-we've done it and it's a blast!). The second half is a tram ride through the Backlot of Hollywood Studios. You'll see real props that were used in some of your favorite Disney movie and television shows...and you'll have an exciting moment in Catastrophe Canyon. 

Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground

Need to give your kiddo a break from running one attraction to the next? Stop at this 11,000 square foot playground and let them run till their heart's content.

Muppet Vision 3D

After a 12 minute pre-show video...aimed mostly at getting as many guests into the waiting room as possible, the theater doors will open to an exciting show with some classic favorites. It's fun for all ages and although some of the technology is getting a little old, it still entertains.

Toy Story Midway Mania

One of Hollywood Studios' most recent attractions, Toy Story Mania is popular...like get-there-first-thing-in-the-morning-and-you-might-only-wait-30-minutes/fastpasses-are-gone-by-lunch-at-the-latest popular. And there's good reason for it. The queue alone is full of giant board games and children's playthings and even a fully animatronic Mr Potato Head who has a habit of telling corny jokes and picking people out of the crowd to interact with. The ride itself is a 3D ride through several arcade scenes...each guest has a "cannon" from which they can fire pies, rings, balls, darts, and even eggs depending on which scene you are at. It's a lot of fun and the lengthy wait/necessity to get there early are worth the extra effort.

Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

A new attraction we have yet to experience, it's said that "guests will journey deepin into an eerie lost grotto, where a mysterious pirate skull puts them to the test to see if they have what it takes to set sail with the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow. Along the way, they must face all teh perils of a pirate's life as their favorite moments from the films come to life before their eyes."

One Man's Dream

A walk-through experience which plays more like a museum to Walt Disney than an attraction, this is a must do if you are fascinated by the man who created it all.

The Magic of Disney Animation

Opening with a brief explanation of animation...including an appearance by Mushu from Mulan, young animators can experiment with a drawing of their own-guided by an artist as well as explore the use of various sound and paint effects in animation.

Parades and "Extra" Entertainment

Be sure to check the times guide for parade information as well as the times and locations of the "Citizens of Hollywood"...greatly entertaining street actors who often pull in the crowd to their "scene." 

Hollywood Studios CHARACTERS

Monster's Inc Meet & Greet

The only spot at Disney World to meet Sully and Mike Wazowski is at Hollywood Studios.

Disney Junior 

Several of the popular Characters from the Disney Junior Playhouse Live show are available for pictures and autographs just outside the theater. Handy Manny, the Little Einsteins and Jake are all frequently available.

Phineas and Ferb 

Near the Muppets Vision 3D attraction, you'll find these two crazy brothers.

Buzz and Woody

A super popular meet and greet across from the even more popular Toy Story Mania attraction, Buzz and Woody have a fun queue full of photo ops that lead up the the big event (aka the moment you, or rather, we decided to traumatize our 1 yr old)

Hollywood Studios TIPS

- Because shows can be canceled and characters rescheduled, check out Steve Soare's website WDW Entertainment for showtimes as early as a week before you leave and then be sure to grab a "Times Guide" either at your Disney World Resort Hotel or at each park as soon as you arrive. The times guide will show exact times for shows, character appearances and parades.

- Outside the Indiana Jones Stunt Show Theater, you'll find the often overlooked "Do Not Pull Rope" sign and rope near what appears to be an abandoned mine shaft...on first glance it just seems like decor but look again...and ignore the sign. Pull the rope for a little extra entertainment.

- Be sure to double check the height requirement page before your trip so you'll know for sure if your little one is big enough for Star Tours, Tower of Terror or Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.

- Need to eat and let your kiddos have a little fun? Check out the Pizza Planet Arcade but be sure to have a pocket full of quarters!

- The Starring Roles Cafe in Hollywood Studios is a great place to start your own Cupcake Crawl with a four inch butterfinger cupcake...so good! (but be warned, Starring Roles often closes early)

Jedi Training Academy

2013 UPDATE: The Jedi Training academy has expanded. It now can accommodate twice the number of children as the show has expanded beyond the stage to a roped off area in front-generally the children below the stage on circles on the ground are taller and older. Also, Darth Maul has been added to the show!

Hollywood Studios' Jedi Training Academy is one of the most exciting (and FREE) extras you can add to your next Disney World vacation. It started as something only offered during Disney's famed Star Wars Weekend (now held annually in late spring) but was so popular it has become a regular daily treat on par with Magic Kingdom's Pirate's League.

The 30 minute show gives children ages 4-12 the chance to become Padawans. A Jedi Master trains the young ones the way of the force and after taking the Jedi Oath and a quick light saber tutorial, they're put to the test when Darth Vader and two Stormtroopers arrive. Vader attempts to lure the children to the dark side.

*side note: Vader's dialogue is all pre-recorded and has changed over the years. At one point he would tell the children who to join him by coming forward and kneeling before him until apparently, one adorable little girl actually did...Cast Members told us that Vader had to walk away in the moment for fear of breaking character. Now, the script is less inclined to allow children to turn to the dark side and the Jedi Master seems well equipped to battle any such inclinations.

The Padawan students must resist the Dark Side and prove themselves against Vader with the help of their Jedi Master. They each, one by one defeat him by following a series of steps the Jedi Master teaches. After Vader and his Stormtroopers are forced to leave, the children each receive great praise from their Jedi Master as well as a Jedi certificate before they pose for a group photo and return both the robes and light sabers. 

Where To Go:

The show itself is held on a stage next to the newly renovated Star Tours attraction in Hollywood Studios but sign up is at the ABC Sound Studio (where the old Sounds Dangerous show used to be). There is only same day sign up for the Jedi Tutorial so advanced reservations of any kind are not a possibility. Also, be sure to BRING YOUR CHILD to the sign up area AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. There are usually 15 shows a day but only 15 children are permitted per show and shows for the entire day can fill up by 10am (earlier even during the busiest times of year). You must bring your child to the sign up-even if you are signing them up at 9am for a 4:10pm show because a cast member must ask them questions in order to ascertain that they are capable of following directions for their own safety and to be sure that the child is the one wanting to do the show and not being forced into it by a parent. 

Once you have signed your child up, return to the sign up area 30 mins prior to their assigned showtime. ONE parent or adult may stay there with the child while everyone else must leave (it's a small area so too many family members waiting around wouldn't be comfortable) but it works out great because it gives everyone the chance to get a good spot in front of the stage while the children are given basic directions. About 10 minutes before the show the children are lined up and marched to the stage for the performance.

Photos:

Most parents will take pictures or video themselves but Disney will (almost always-although I've never heard of a show where they didn't) have a Photopass Photographer there taking photos of the whole experience. At the end of the show, simply get a card from the photographer but keep in mind, that card will have pictures of EVERY child that participated in that specific show. It's a good idea, particularly if you plan to buy the Photopass CD (we recommend it if you can afford it) to take the Jedi Photopass card to one of the photopass locations and have just the images you want transferred to another card. 

Souvenirs and Extras:

Star Tours, which has a 40" height requirement, is next to the Jedi Training Academy Stage along with the souvenir shop, Tatooine Traders where children can build their own light saber, buy one pre-made and even pick up a genuine Star Wars Padawan robe just like the one they use in the show.


May the force be with you.

Overwhelmed? Start your Disney World planning HERE!

You've decided to go to Disney World...now what?

Where do you start? How much will it cost? When should you go? Where do you buy tickets? There's more than just the Magic Kingdom??? 

The questions can be overwhelming and it's probably one reason so many people end up not going at all. They think it sounds like a good idea but then someone like me tells them to start planning and that restaurant and special extras can book up six months out, suddenly Disney-phobia sets in.

Relax. You can do this. It can be complicated but you just have to take it one decision at a time. 

Let's get started with a quick overview for those just starting out with planning their very first (or first in a long time) vacation...

There are four theme parks and two water parks...

Magic Kingdom is the original and has Cinderella's Castle. If this is your first time planning, Magic Kingdom is probably the theme park you're thinking about when you think Disney World.

Epcot connects to Magic Kingdom via monorail and was the second park built. For years it wasn't considered very kid-friendly and it still caters to adults (eat and drink your way around the world) but has certainly grown to be a favorite for many kids with attractions like Turtle Talk with Crush where kids actually do get to talk with Crush and he talks back.

Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) is probably the park that is the most balanced between what kids and what adults want. There's stunt shows and thrill rides but also Disney Jr characters and a Woody and Buzz Lightyear meet and greet spot.

Animal Kingdom is a double-edged sword. It's awesome but it will ruin your ability to just go to your local zoo and have a good time. The Kilimanjaro Safari is worth the price of admission alone but there's also Expedition Everest-a roller coaster that will have you running to the single-rider line over and over (thereby skipping the regular line which can get pretty long even in the slowest of seasons).

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are Disney's two water parks and each offers a lot for those that are so inclined. If you have very small children and want to do a water park, we recommend Typhoon Lagoon as Blizzard Beach has more of the high-adventure type water coasters. Typhoon Lagoon does, however, give you the opportunity to swim with sharks...yup, sharks. We've done it a few times and it's a blast. Just be sure to bring your underwater camera (the Kodak Sport C123 works great).

Now that you're excited about where you're going, let's talk about all those planning decisions you have to make..

First you should decide when you want to go. Most people ask us "what's the best time of year to go?" which generally translates into "when are the crowds the lowest, the temperatures the best and the prices the cheapest?"

Crowd levels-

Historically, the lowest crowd levels are...

January (just after New Years) to President's Day in February 

*tip-all US national holidays are times that will be much busier as both locals and families from around the nation who don't want to pull their kids from school will opt for these times

September (the week following Labor Day) to the week BEFORE Thanksgiving

*tip-if you opt to go in late September/October keep in mind that Magic Kingdom will close early at least twice a week for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Epcot will be MUCH busier-especially at night because of the annual Food and Wine Festival 

The week AFTER Thanksgiving to mid-December

*tip-this time can really be hit or miss, there's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom and the Candlelight Processional in Epcot BUT it's a great time to go with pretty low crowds if you're wanting to see the parks decorated for the holidays

Moderate crowd levels...

The week of Thanksgiving

*tip-the crowds may not be as packed at the peak season where you're just sardines in a can but moderate crowd levels can still be overwhelming and if you plan to have a nice Thanksgiving meal, you MUST call 407-WDW-DINE 180 days in advance at 0700 est. Disney restaurants-especially American themed restaurants like Liberty Tree Tavern and the popular Character meals like Cinderella's Castle will book up first and fast!

Late April through early June (with the exception of Memorial Day which falls into the peak season)

Highest crowd levels (aka insanity...at least 90 minute wait times for most attractions)...

President's week in February

Mid-March until late April

Memorial Day Weekend

About the second week of June through Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day Weekend

Christmas Eve through New Year's

*tip-New Year's Eve is the single busiest day of the year. The parks often reach capacity and shut down the front gates mid-day. Go during any of these peak times only if you must, you don't want to see our family or you're just a big fan of waiting two hours for a 60-second ride.

It may go without saying but resort stays are cheapest during the seasons with the lowest crowds and highest during the peak seasons. Check out our break down of the resorts by clicking on one of the resort links on the left. We've included a general idea of what to expect to spend. As for temperature, that's all up to you. We prefer early fall because we still get that summer feeling without melting into the pavement.

Second, figure out your budget. Someone asked us yesterday if they're family of four can go to Disney World for less than $10,000. I choked a little when I heard the question because as many times as we've been and even though we've gone for as long as 15 days and have always stayed on Disney property, we've never spent anywhere near that much. In fact, I'll level with you. The most we've spent from our front door to Disney and back is less than $5,000. Granted, we're on a budget and we are vigilant about seeking out the best deals. My husband is in the military and I'm a stay-at-home mom-it goes without saying that we have to be wise about what we spend and where it goes. Can you go and spend $10,000? Absolutely. Do you need to? No. However, if you'd like to, I have a few ideas of what you can do to make it an amazing time...and if you decided to take me along, I'd be ok with that too...just throwing that out there. Once you know your budget, you can start on the third decision you have to make...

Where will you stay? We always recommend staying at a Disney-owned resort on property but you can check out your options with our comparison of on-property/off-property and even Shades of Green (for all our military friends and family) for more details.

Next, where do you buy your tickets/package? I know people who ONLY use a travel agent because they're afraid they'll make a mistake on their own...understandable but stay informed because more than once, we've known about a discount someone qualified for but didn't receive because their travel agent either didn't know about it or didn't bother to do the work to get them the discount. If you want to plan it on your own...as I suspect since you're here...keep in mind some of the biggest discounts...free dining, room-only discounts, and Disney's Military discounts CANNOT be purchased or added to a reservation online. You MUST call into the reservation center at 407-WDW-7675. In fact, if you call that number and ask them, they'll help you start your planning and the great thing with Disney is that when you're ready to book your vacation, you only need a $200 deposit. The rest of your package is due 45 days before you check-in so you can make monthly payments or save up and pay it all off at once...just be sure to book as soon as you can so rooms fill up fast. If you're looking for just tickets...for example, you've decided staying on property just isn't for your family, and you don't qualify for the greatly discounted military tickets, check out websites like Undercover Tourist for discounted tickets. However, generally speaking, you'll only find discounted tickets when you purchase a minimum of three of four days worth of tickets. 

Lastly, if you have children...especially small children, be sure to take a little more time and do some extra planning-particularly check out the height restrictions. Also, click on our Bibbidy Boppidy Boutique and Pirate's League pages for the fun extras to add to your trip.

As always, if you have any questions, email me by clicking on the profile (where it has my name), I'm happy to help.