I’ve always loved Disney’s Hollywood Studios – especially all things Star Wars, Tower of Terror, and Disney’s version of the Hollywood that never was! Now when I visit with my two year old, it’s still familiar but a very different experience. While he may not be tall enough for Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster or even Slinky Dog Dash, we still find new ways to love this park together.
We typically do not purchase Genie+ and start our day waiting in the standby line for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. I find this line moves pretty quick and is usually a lower wait time than what is posted. This is one of the few attractions at Hollywood Studios without a height requirement and is a must-do for toddlers!
Even if you’re not traveling with a toddler, you should absolutely start your day in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge with a Breakfast Ronto Wrap and a Cold Brew Black Caf. My toddler, Owen, and I split the wrap and I enjoyed the caffeine in the cold brew. Pro tip: you can Mobile Order both of these on your walk back to Batuu. The seating area near Ronto Roasters is usually pretty crowded, so we enjoyed our breakfast in the outdoor seating at Docking Bay 7. We even caught a glimpse of Chewbacca and Rey!
Did you even go to Walt Disney World with a toddler if you didn’t visit Disney Junior Play and Dance?? We love this show because you can usually show up last minute without waiting in line. Not only is this a great chance to let your toddler dance and see multiple characters, but it’s also a great break for the parents to enjoy some AC. I would, however, petition for an update to this show! It features characters from Mickey and the Roadster Racers, The Lion Guard, Vampirina, and Doc McStuffins. We watch a lot of Disney Junior in our house and would love to see Bluey and Mickey Mouse Funhouse!
While we love Disney Junior, we are a Toy Story house through and through. Toy Story Land is a major showcase of Hollywood Studios if you are traveling with little ones. Owen’s favorite attraction has to be Alien Swirling Saucers. The wait times can vary here, but we waited about 20 minutes, and it was well worth it! This is one Owen likes to ride back to back, so Lightning Lane would be helpful if your toddler is a big fan of Buzz Lightyear!
This was our first time visiting Jessie and Woody! I would recommend having a snack for the line or splitting up because it is almost always a long wait – we waited 45 minutes+.
To our surprise, the line to meet Buzz Lightyear was much shorter. We waited around 15 minutes. They say never meet your heroes, but Owen was glad he did!
It’s lunchtime in Hollywood Studios and if your toddler is anything like ours, mac and cheese is a staple. For the adults, BaseLine Tap House is our staple. My pro tip here is to Mobile Order a kids’ meal from Backlot Express and walk it over to BaseLine so everyone can enjoy what they want!
Cheers to the adults who enjoyed the charcuterie and a Bavarian pretzel! We ended our day by making one more character stop to see the #1 himself, Donald Duck and watching the Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. The Lightning McQueen show is an under 20-minute experience, which is great for a two-year-old’s attention span! We also usually visit the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration but it was nap time.
What I love about these Disney days with a toddler is the opportunity to slow down and see the joy of Disney through my son’s eyes. If I was traveling with my parents or if this was my only day at Hollywood Studios, I would have found a way to ride Rise of the Resistance and Tower of Terror. That being said, this is a great way to spend a half day in the park with a toddler and ensure their highlights make the list!
There’s no doubt traveling with kids changes the way you do Disney! What are your tips and favorites at Hollywood Studios?
Hannah Anderson is a Dreams Unlimited Travel Agent, DIS Contributor, former Disney Cast Member, and Orlando local. Mostly importantly, she is a mom and loves spending time in the Disney Parks each week with her family.
[email protected]
