We all have different definitions of our “perfect” day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and today I will be sharing my definition. Hollywood Studios is my second favorite park, so it’s hard to have a bad day there, making every visit close to perfect. I say almost perfect because some days I can’t complete my checklist when I visit.
Speaking of my checklist, let me share it with you.
- Watch Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
- Go Window Shopping
- Ride Toy Story Mania
- Ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
- Get a Yummy Snack
Each time I walk into the park, I have this checklist in mind, and it’s my goal to check everything off each time. The hard part is that, unfortunately, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster goes down often, so sometimes it’s not possible to enjoy the attraction. Anyway, let me explain why this is my list!
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage is on my checklist, and this shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows me. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie EVER. So much so that the animated classic inspired my wedding decor. I have had such a deep connection with the film since I was a kid, which led to me developing one with the show at a young age.
Anytime we visited when I was kid, this was on the top of my must-do list for our Hollywood Studios day, and it is still on the top of my list. The last time I saw the show about two weeks ago, I noticed some new performers on the stage, and they added more life to the show with all the acting choices they made. It was impressive.
I really love that show. It hasn’t lost its charm even though it has been in that theater for a long time. The show continues to be successful because of the performers. They genuinely keep this show alive, which keeps guests coming back each trip. This is a show I never skip, and if, for some reason, I can’t see it, my day is slightly ruined.
Window Shopping
I love window shopping. If it were a sport, I would definitely be the champion. No matter which park I’m in, I always find myself walking through stores, whether for an air conditioning break, to cut through an area of the park, or if I want to stroll. Hollywood Studios has some unique-looking stores, and some of the merch I find I rarely see anywhere else, depending on the store.
Personally, I love starting my day by walking through the stores on Hollywood Boulevard and browsing the new arrivals. My favorite shop is actually on Sunset Boulevard and is called Legends of Hollywood. It is filled with fabulous trendy merchandise, and they have a Pandora jewelry section and Disney-themed fashion. The store is meant to look like a reimagined boutique, which I think is so cute.
Toy Story Mania!
Toy Story Mania! is one of my favorite attractions because I am a very competitive person. Now, this is an attraction that I wouldn’t say I like doing alone because the element of winning isn’t there when I’m alone. But I do have to say when I’ve done this ride alone, I still have fun because I try to beat my personal best.
If I am traveling with my family or wife, this is something we do every time because it makes us laugh together and creates friendly competition between all of us. When my wife joins me for a park day, and we ride this attraction, I skip one section of the game. She loves the green aliens, so when we get to the portion of the ride, I stop playing and allow her to catch up. That’s true love.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was the first “big kid” roller coaster I rode, and I immediately fell in love with it. This ride ignited my love for roller coasters and Aerosmith. I was the only kid in 7th grade listening to the band and singing Walk This Way down the hallway.
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t always get to ride this attraction on each visit to the park because, unfortunately, the coaster goes down a lot. On days when it’s working properly, I feel like I’m on top of the world because I get to enjoy one of my favorite coasters of all time. I know it isn’t the best roller coaster out there, but the memories I have created there make up for that.
Snack Time
I don’t really love a lot of the food that’s offered at Hollywood Studios, but there is one snack that I love. Fairfax Fare has these amazing waffle bowls that are perfect for snack time or even lunch. I don’t usually eat every time I go to the park because that adds up over time, and for the most part, I have food at home. That was before the menu changed at Fairfax to these waffle bowls.
There are four different bowls available to order, even a plant-based bowl. The waffle itself is sweet, complementing the savory food inside the bowl. The bowl is the perfect size, too. The portions aren’t overwhelming and can be good for sharing if you want a quick snack.
Well, folks, that’s my perfect day at Hollywood Studios checklist. Now that I’ve shared my list, I’d love to see yours and compare! Leave your checklist in the comment section below.
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.
