Many Disney fans say that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a mess of a park and can be considered a half-day park for those who don’t enjoy Star Wars. I can understand that. Whether we spend half a day there or the entire day, I do four things every time I visit. These experiences are things I make my friends do with me, or if I’m alone, I make it my mission to complete each item. We all have certain attractions and dining locations that we feel are must-dos each trip, and I would love it if you shared your Hollywood Studios list in the comment section so we can all compare!
Okay, enough of my rambling. Let’s jump into my list of the four things I never skip at Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Rise of the Resistance is a top-tier attraction when it’s actually up and running and not down for technical issues. It’s a great time, even when the ride runs on B mode. Everyone visiting Hollywood Studios should ride this attraction because it’s one of the best at Walt Disney World.
My bonus mom and my sister visited about a year ago, and they know nothing about Star Wars other than it takes place in space. I made them get on Rise of the Resistance before the park closed because I wanted them to experience this phenomenal ride. The queue and pre-shows were so detailed that they were able to follow the story and ended up loving the attraction. They both said they were glad they didn’t follow my dad and brother to the Hollywood Tower of Terror because this was so much better.
This is an attraction that I try to ride each time I visit the park if it’s up and running. It still blows me away, and I still find new things to look at each time I get on the ride. To me, that’s the magic of this attraction; there’s always something new to see.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith
Now, everyone might not agree with this, but I love this attraction. This ride was the first “big kid” roller coaster I ever rode, and I am convinced this is what turned me into a thrill-ride enthusiast. I also love the music that gets piped into the coaster, and the pre-show is my favorite.
It’s a family tradition with my mom to always ride this attraction on our Hollywood Studios day, and we can’t leave the park until we’ve done it. A moment I will never forget is being so nervous in line before I rode it for the first time, and when I got off the ride, all I wanted to do was get back on.
I even tricked my cousins on one of our family trips to ride. I told them it didn’t go upside down and was just like Space Mountain. Naturally, when they saw the ride vehicle, they got mad at me, but once we got off the ride, they told me they were glad they did it because they loved it.
Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage
My favorite thing about Hollywood Studios has always been the entertainment. Sadly, we’ve lost a lot of it over the years, but I am thankful that Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage still exists. The show hasn’t changed much other than it got a costume refresh not too long ago. As Cogsworth once said, “if it’s not Baroque, don’t fix it!”
This show is perfect for all ages and will have everyone in the audience feeling enchanted. It’s a magical show with outstanding performers, and I hope it never goes away. I watch the show each time I visit Hollywood Studios, and it’s the perfect spot to take a break and relax.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
I miss the Great Movie Ride dearly, but I do love Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It’s cute, fun, and perfect for all ages. Guests will zip away on a zany adventure through a cartoon universe crammed with surprises. Not only is the ride fairly new, but it’s also considered a first-of-its-kind ride. It used groundbreaking technology and an innovative ride system to turn the flat world of a cartoon into a multi-dimensional sensory experience.
I love bringing my family and friends on this ride because it’s so fun seeing their faces light up as we move from scene to scene. My favorite experience was bringing my niece and nephew on the ride. They absolutely love it. When we went to Daisy’s dance class, we all danced together and created a core memory together. Now, every time I ride the attraction, I think of them, and it makes me smile, which is why I can’t leave the park without doing this ride. I used to skip it all the time, but recently that changed.
Well, folks, that’s my list of the four things I never skip at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Please leave your list in the comments below so we can compare!
Hi, I'm Erica, and I write about all things Disney. Before working for The DIS, I was a theme park performer at SeaWorld, but I also performed at Disney. I have such an immense love for theme parks to the point I studied them in college.