Ultimate Guide to Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is a favorite park for many people. We’ve chatted about this park a few times before but today we are going all in! Hollywood Studios is packed full of entertainment, attractions, character experiences, and more. Because it is so full of great things, it’s easy to overlook a great part of Hollywood Studios.

We never want that to happen! Today we are sharing a quick but helpful ultimate guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This post will end with a document check-list you can print out and use while you are planning your day at Hollywood Studios. The post should have pretty much every event and attraction there is at the park but, of course, things in Disney are subject to change. There are also a few exclusive VIP opportunities that you can message us to learn more about.

Let’s look at everything Hollywood Studios has to offer you and your family.

Entertainment

The entertainment that Hollywood Studios provides is nothing but magical. From fireworks to live stage shows, Hollywood Studios offers many different kinds of entertainment. For instance, the classic live show that has been around for man years in Beauty and the Beast. You can enjoy the story we all love and know as a live stage performance in Hollywood Studios. This park is also home to one of the famous firework shows, Fantasmic. Fantasmic is a nighttime firework show with dancing water, pyrotechnics, and laser lights. Here is a list of entertainment:

• Beauty and the Beast (Live Show)
• Fantasmic (Firework Show)
• For the First Time in Forever: Frozen sing along (live show)
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (live show)
• Jedi Training Academy (Live Show)
• Citizens of Hollywood (Hollywood Boulevard)
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Animation Courtyard)

 

Character Experiences

Character experiences are one of Disney’s timeless traditions. There is nothing more special than meeting your favorite character in person. Hollywood Studios is packed full of character experiences. For our Star Wars friends, you can meet BB8, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and watch the First Order March. But there are many other experiences available. For the younger Disney fans, you can even meet your Disney Junior Pals! Here is a list of the character experiences:

• BB8 Astromech on Duty
• Celebrity Spotlight
• Meet Disney Junior Pals
• March of the First Order
• Minnie and Mickey Starring in Red Carpet Dreams
• Star Wars Launch Bay: Encounter Kylo Ren
• Star Wars Launch Bay: Meet Chewbacca
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

 

Attractions

Hollywood Studios has some of the best thrill rides. If you enjoy a high thrill level, you have to visit the Sunset Boulevard where two of the most well-known rides in Disney World Rock n Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. We have briefly talked about some of the best of Hollywood Studios in a previous post so make sure to take a look! But Toy Story Land is now open and ready for you to enjoy! Toy Story Mania is a ride that allows you to blast away the moving targets. Think of them like virtual carnival games! But you will be playing inside Andy’s room. Here is a list of the attractions:

• Alien Swirling Saucers (Toy Story Land)
• Muppet Vision 3D (Grand Avenue)
• Rock n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith (Sunset Boulevard)
• Slinky Dog Dash (Toy Story Land)
• Star Tour- Adventure Continues (Echo Lake)
• Star Wars Launch Bay (Animation Courtyard)
• Toy Story Mania (Toy Story Land)
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Sunset Boulevard)
• Walt Disney Presents (Animation Courtyard)

 

Dining

Hollywood Studios is not lacking dining options! There are many options from fast counter service to themed dining. If you’re looking for a more upscale dining option, stop at the Hollywood Brown Derby which is considered fine dining. But you will enjoy the American cuisine in the Golden Age of Hollywood themed decor. This would be a perfect dining option for couples or adults. The menu includes braised beef short ribs, pork belly pastrami BLT, and blue lump crab crispy wontons.  Woody’s Lunchbox is a new quick, counter service dining option that even takes mobile orders! This unique counter service offers things from lunch box tarts and a banana split parfait to sandwiches and even adult drinks. Woody’s Lunchbox is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you can always grab a snack or treat from it.

• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• 50’s Prime Time Cafe
• ABC Commissary
• Backlot Express
• Baseline Tap House
• Cataline Eddie’s
• Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
• Dockside Diner
• Disney Early Morning Magic
• Fairfaxe Fare
• Hollywood Scoops
• Hollywood & Vine
• KRNR the Rock Station
• Mama Melrose’s
• Oasis Canteen
• PizzeRizzo
• Rosies All-American Cafe
• Sci-fi Dine-in Theater
• Trolley Car Cafe
• Tune-in Lounge
• Woody’s Lunch Box

Below is a printable checklist to use when you’re heading to Hollywood Studios! Just so you don’t miss anything, of course. And click here for a map of the park. We hope you enjoyed this Ultimate Guide to Hollywood Studios. 

All about the Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom! Disney World meets the wilderness. The most recently built park, Animal Kingdom opened in April 1998. This park opened up a whole new world to Disney goers and was unlike any other park.

At over 500 acres, Animal Kingdom is also the largest Disney World park and has over 4,500 cast members to date just in this park. Obviously, Animal Kingdom is full of over 300 species of animals and holds about 2,000 animals. Just to finish explaining this park in numbers, Animal Kingdom has over 4 million trees, ferns, bushes, vines, and more. If you spend even a minute in the park, you will see how much detail went into all of the aspects of the park. Disney is always all about the little details and this park is no different. Each decor element is researched and done with the most accuracy. Animal Kingdom is comprised of 5 different areas in the park: Africa, Asia, DinoLand USA, Discovery Island, and Pandora the World of Avatar.

Park ”lands”  overview

Africa takes you into the wildlife of Africa. A recreated African village allows for fun and authentic look into this continent. One of the biggest attractions in the Africa area of the park is the Kilimanjaro Safari. You will hop on an open-air safari vehicle and drive into the recreated lush African savanna for an 18-minute ride. This attraction puts your up close and personal with some amazing animals such as gazelles, giraffes, warthogs, flamingos, and many more. Kilimanjaro Safari is perfect for all ages- bring on the whole family!

Asia has many different attractions to help you step into the many aspects of Asia. From the rapids to the rainforest, Asia has many different things to offer. One of the most popular attractions in Asia is Expedition Everest. This runaway coaster brings you to the edge of the rapids and many more places. Expedition Everest takes you through the famous Himalayan Mountains as you try to stay away from the Abominable Snowman. This coaster is for all riders 44 inches and up.

Dinoland USA is the best land for all you dinosaur experts out there! There is a dig site for the kids, a stage show with original songs, and a whirling coaster. If you enjoy adventure and learning about those dinos, make sure to spend some time in Dinoland. Dinoland is full of great attractions from The Boneyard to the Primeval Whirl and TriceraTop Spin. If you are over 48 inches, you can hop on the Primeval Whirl for a spinning good time. This spinning and sliding coaster takes you back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. 

Discovery Island is home to what is probably the most known element of Animal Kingdom- the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life also has a theater that plays a funny 3D show. This famous attraction celebrates all living creatures big and small. The tree is this parks iconic symbol like the Magic Kingdom has the castle. And not only does the tree look impressive, but it also has the theater built into it.

Pandora is a newer land that celebrates the well-known film Avatar and embraces nature. One exciting attraction in Pandora is the Avatar Flight of Passage. This attraction brings rides and 3D action together to create one exciting attraction. Hop onto the back of a flying banshee and take off on this interactive 3D ride. This thrill ride is open for those who are 44 inches and taller.

Fun Facts

The first animal born in Animal Kingdom was a large African Antelope which is called a Kudu.

Animal Kingdom runs a Disney Conservation Fund and it has raised more than $70 million dollars to help over 600 nonprofit organizations.

One of the leading zoo hospitals in North America is located right inside Disney World in the Animal Kingdom.

Like we mentioned before, over 4 million plants, shrubs, and more were planted inside Animal Kingdom. You’re surrounded by many different kinds of greenery all the time.

The floating mountains in Valley of Mo’ara are actually about 130 feet above the valley floor.

There are 325 animal carvings on the Tree of Life. It took 10 artists and 3 Imagineers about 18 months to create all of the intricate carvings on the tree.

There are over 103,000 leaves on top of the Tree of Life.

Are you wanting to plan a fun trip to Animal Kingdom? Let us help you plan the perfect vacation!