Hollywood Studios

Understand

Walt Disney World's third theme park opened in May 1989 as Disney–MGM Studios, joining the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. The park, billed as "the Hollywood that never was", features live shows and attractions based on movie and television favorites, from classic Golden Age films to modern-day blockbusters. In addition to the well-known Disney-branded productions, several Disney subsidiaries also have inspired rides and shows here; it's the place to go for fans of Lucasfilm properties, Pixar films, ABC television, and Jim Henson's Muppets.

Among the top attractions are two exceptional thrill rides, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (a 13-story vertical drop) and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (a launched coaster, 0-60 in 2.8 seconds), and a ride through a Toy Story-themed shooting gallery.

Just south of Hollywood Studios is the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves and host to countless other sporting events throughout the year.

History

The genesis of the "Studios" theme park was as a new pavilion for EPCOT Center's Future World that would provide an animatronic ride through cinematic history, much as World of Motion did for transportation and Spaceship Earth did for communication. This spark of an idea was so inspiring, however, that then-CEO Michael Eisner suggested that the new ride instead become the marquee attraction in an all-new theme park.

The original vision for this new park was to combine a traditional theme park atmosphere—rides, shows, restaurants—with a real working production studio. A team of animators began work even before the park opened to the public, working on real Disney animation—Mulan and Lilo & Stitch, among others, were animated entirely at the theme park. Live-action was also filmed here, from movies like Newsies and Ernest Saves Christmas to television shows such as Mickey Mouse Club and Adventures in Wonderland. Most importantly, all of these production facilities were viewable on the park's Backstage Studio Tour—guests could actually see animating and filming as they occurred, if their timing was right; if not, they still got to see the real sets and real studios where their favorite productions were created. A backlot was also created and placed on the tour, with house façades used in actual films and television shows and authentic props from movies like Flight of the Navigator and Star Wars.

Those days are gone; the park's sound stages have been converted to rides and stage shows, the animation facility has closed down, and even the backlot tour is no more. The original ride idea, the one planned for Epcot, survived for a while as the park's centerpiece, The Great Movie Ride, and new thrill rides opened up to become the park's main draws. Despite all the changes, though, the park retains its enthusiasm for the fantasy worlds created on film, and guests can still enjoy being able to "step into" their favorite productions.

Get in

By car

Hollywood Studios is just southwest of Epcot; it's on Buena Vista Drive, which is accessible from either World Drive or Epcot Center Drive. Parking is $25 per car, although Disney resort guests can park for free with their Magic Bands. Preferred parking, allowing you to park in the closest spots to the entrance, is available for $50 per car. Parking is per day and is good at all four Disney theme parks — just show your receipt if park hopping!

Parking is free at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, which is on South Victory Way, south of Osceloa Parkway.

By Disney transportation

From Epcot and nearby resorts

From Epcot, the BoardWalk, the Yacht and Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin, you can take the Friendship ferries to Hollywood Studios. There is also a nice wide walking path that follows a similar route. If you are coming from Epcot, you must exit through that park's rear entrance: the International Gateway, located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase. From Epcot's main entrance, there is a bus that goes to the Studios.

Epcot is also connected to Disney's Hollywood Studios by Disney Skyliner. From the Hollywood Studios station, it connects to Disney Riviera Resort, Disney Caribbean Beach Resort, International Gateway at Epcot, and the Wide World of Sports resorts.

From the Magic Kingdom

From Magic Kingdom main entrance, board the Disney's Hollywood Studios bus.

From Animal Kingdom and other resorts

From other areas of the property, simply go to the bus stop and wait for the Studios bus to arrive. You will be dropped off in front of the Hollywood Studios gates.

From Disney Springs

Disney Springs does not have direct buses to the parks; you will need to make your way to a resort, then go from that resort to Hollywood Studios. The best option here might be to take the bus to the Swan, which is the closest hotel to the Studios, then take the Friendship or the walking path to the Studios. Another option is to walk or take the boat to the Saratoga Springs resort, then the bus to the Studios.

To the Wide World of Sports

To Wide World of Sports resorts use the Disney Skyliner. It connects you to Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century Resort. You will need to change gondolas at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.

Get around

Upon entering the park, you'll find yourself on Hollywood Boulevard, the park's equivalent of the Magic Kingdom's Main Street, U.S.A. Shops line both sides of this street, perfect for grabbing a souvenir on your way out at the end of the day. (Feel free to browse on the way in, though; you can always come back later, or you can have it held for you or delivered to your Disney resort.) Here, it's perpetually the 1930s, so keep an eye out for young starlets, ambitious directors, suspicious policemen, eager autograph hounds, and the like—these Streetmosphere actors play out comedic vignettes throughout the day, and they may just pull you into their stories. At the end of Hollywood Boulevard, you can see the beautiful replica of Hollywood's Chinese Theater, the centerpiece of the park.

As you travel down Hollywood Boulevard, you'll find the famous intersection with Vine St., a smaller street that heads off to the left towards Echo Lake. The next intersection is with Sunset Boulevard, another major thoroughfare that branches to the right. Here you'll find more shops and more Streetmosphere, and looming in the distance is the 199-foot-tall Hollywood Tower Hotel, which houses the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. (Why 199 feet? If it were one foot taller, it would require a blinking red light at the top under federal aircraft regulations.)

Past Sunset, as you approach the Chinese Theater, to the right will be a large gateway, through which you'll find the The Walt Disney Studios Lot. Through the gate and to the left, starting behind the Chinese Theater, is Mickey Avenue, which leads to the new Toy Story Land, where you'll shrink down to the size of a toy and meet Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang.

From there, you soon hit a dead end where the former backlot used to be. Now, if you were to peek over the construction walls, you might see the mountains of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge rising. You can't get through here yet, so head back to the Chinese Theater. Off to the left of the theater is Echo Lake—just look for the giant Dinosaur Gertie. Here, you'll find the Lucasfilm attractions. Or you can take Commissary Lane towards Star Wars Land.

See and do

Hollywood Studios' attractions separate into one of two camps: sedate but fun stage shows and up-tempo thrill rides. There's very little in-between, but this is changing with the three rides of Toy Story Land, added in an attempt to fill the gap.

FastPass, the system that allowed you to go to an attraction and get a ticket to come back later and skip the standby queue, is no longer available. All Studios guests will be using Lightning Lanes, where you choose your own return time for each of three attractions. Lightning Lanes for attractions are available for virtually every ride in the park through the Walt Disney World Resort app, along with some shows and character greetings.

For parade and stage show performance times, which change daily, please see the Guide Map and the Times Guide you'll receive when you enter the park. You can also check the Wait Times Board at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, which lists current wait times for rides and show times for shows.

The denotes rides with safety restrictions. See Stay safe in the main Walt Disney World article for more information.

Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood Boulevard is mostly a location for shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, but at its far end is where you'll find the park's centerpiece, the Chinese Theater. While there, be sure to check out the cement plaza in front—just like at the real Chinese Theater in Hollywood, you'll find a number of celebrities have placed their handprints and signatures there. Everyone from Donald Duck and R2-D2 to Carol Burnett and Michael Jackson has left their mark.

The park's marque attraction, housed within the Chinese Theater, was The Great Movie Ride. It closed in August 2017 in anticipation of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. This dark ride, using state-of-the-art Disney-invented tech that enables you to see 3-D images without the need for glasses, is scheduled to open sometime in 2019. It's also, surprisingly, the first ride-through attraction the company has built that stars Mickey Mouse.

Sunset Boulevard

In addition to more shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, Sunset Boulevard is home to the Studios' two major stage shows and its two popular mega-thrill rides.

See Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

Themed to The Muppets, the attraction features five well-known songs covered by The Electric Mayhem with guest artists as guests board the attraction.

Checked Jun 2026

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The Walt Disney Studios Lot

The Walt Disney Studios Lot is a faithful replica of the Walt Disney Studios campus in Burbank, and features attractions based on characters and films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Inspired by the 2023 centennial animated short film Once Upon a Studio, the lot includes static figures of Disney animated characters designed to appear as though they have come to life throughout the area.

Toy Story Land

Opened in July 2018, everything is larger-than-life in this new land built on former backstage space. With light-posts built from tinker toys and Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Rex standing watch over Andy's backyard, the two new rides here add in some much-needed kid-friendly attractions to a park that was sorely lacking in that regard. The entrance to what is probably the park's most popular ride, Toy Story Mania!, has been rerouted to face this land, and the former entryway, Pixar Place, is closed.

See Alien Swirling Saucers

Themed as a playset that Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant, step into these outer space saucers as the famous green Aliens whirl you around. Listen to some electronic intergalactic music play as you watch and see if you get "chosen" by the claw!

⚠ Last checked Jul 2018 — confirm before you go

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See Slinky Dog Dash

Andy's wrapped his Slinky Dog toy around the cars of his Mega Coaster Play Kit — and you get to ride it! A tame but exciting family roller coaster that winds through the building blocks and around the Lincoln Logs of the backyard.

⚠ Last checked Jul 2018 — confirm before you go

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Echo Lake

On one side of Echo Lake is a large steamboat, known as Min and Bill's Dockside Diner; on the other is a large dinosaur, with Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction. Around the perimeter of the area are attractions based on Lucasfilm properties, restaurants, and a couple of soundstages. Running north from the lake is Grand Avenue, themed to present-day downtown Los Angeles and home to the Muppets Courtyard and the future main entrance to Star Wars Land.

See Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

An exciting 35-minute live-action stunt show recreating some of the best scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark (and explaining how the stunts work). A few lucky audience members might even get to appear on stage as extras.

⚠ Last checked Jul 2018 — confirm before you go

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See Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

The much-loved (but 23-year-old) Star Tours ride closed in 2010, but this "prequel" to the original takes Star Wars fans to new locations in that galaxy far, far away. An upgraded motion-simulation system, a 3D screen, and over 1,500 combinations of scene sequences mean that this ride will remain crowded for years to come. New scenes based on the sequel trilogy and the Star Wars Disney+ originals are now in rotation at this attraction.

⚠ Last checked Jul 2018 — confirm before you go

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ESPN Wide World of Sports

South of Hollywood Studios is the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex (formerly Disney's Wide World of Sports), a state-of-the-art sports complex with fields, stadiums, and arenas for a variety of sporting events.

The complex is the flagship facility of the Amateur Athletic Union, which has its headquarters on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Disney Springs area. Regularly-scheduled AAU-sanctioned events are held at the complex from January to August. Outside of that time-frame, whether you'll find something going on is hit-or-miss. If there is something happening, it's probably a high school game with just a handful of spectators, though several national cheerleading competitions take place here.

Admission to the complex counts as one of your "Fun Visits" if you've added the Water Park Fun & More or the Park Hopper Plus option to your tickets, however, considering the low cost of admission it could be said that it's better to save your "Fun Visits" for one of the more expensive options. Admission is $18.50 for adults and $13.50 for children ages 3–9.

Do Champion Stadium

A 9,500-seat baseball stadium. The Atlanta Braves play their spring training games here, and the Rookie-league GCL Braves play here all summer. Other events occur throughout the year.

📍 700 S Victory WayWorld Dr to Osceola Pkwy, east to Victory Way💲 $0–32

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