Your Guide to Disney's Hollywood Studios

By Lauren Tjaden

Movies, television, music and theater entertain us—and much more.

TV shows can make you giggle, bring tears to your eyes, or make you think long and hard. Movies can whisk you away to fantastic worlds, brimming with incredible sights, events and characters. And music sometimes feels like someone is peering into your soul and turning it into notes.

Disney's Hollywood Studios, located just southwest of Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, invites you to become the ultimate showbiz insider, celebrating the songs, shows and film that turn storytelling into magic. Read on to discover how you can meet celebrity characters, watch live shows, or take center stage in the action.

Let me Entertain You

Glitz, glamour and excitement are the hallmarks of characters and entertainment at Hollywood Studios. Offerings include For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, packed with stories and songs, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, which promises to thrill you with special effects and stunts, and Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams, where you can rub shoulders with the famous couple and even snag an autograph. Make sure to stick around for Fantasmic!, a nighttime musical that incorporates pyrotechnics (that’s fireworks, kids), laser lights and one million gallons of dancing water to showcase the story of good and evil battling it out in Mickey’s dream.

Ride On

What’s fun for your toddler and what’s fun for your teenager are likely very different animals, a truth that’s not lost on Disney's Hollywood Studios. Attractions and rides run the gamut from warm-and-fuzzy affairs like Muppet*Vision 3D – a laugh-out-loud film and live action experience—to thrilling ones that include The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, an adventure that warns you up-front that it’s dark, scary, and features big drops. But the folks at Hollywood Studios make it easy to figure out which attractions and rides are perfect for your gang. You can search them by thrill level, age, height, interests and more.

Especially Special

Go where you want to go, do what you want to do… the words of the Mamas and Papas song could have been written for Disney’s VIP Tour Services. When you opt for this benefit, your personal guide will customize your day to your desires, making sure you enjoy perks like preferred seating, expedited entry into attractions, and door-to-door transportation. Special Events and Tours also include the Star Wars Guided Tour, an all-access, full-force glimpse into the magic of this American epic space saga. Holiday and seasonal special events round out the offerings.

Foodies Take the Spotlight

After all that fun, you’ll want to recharge your batteries. Hollywood Studio's 24 restaurants and dining experiences include grab-and-go goodies, like the signature sweets at the Oasis Canteen, to glamorous gourmet fare at The Hollywood Brown Derby, an authentic replica of the famed Tinseltown landmark. Guests 14 and older can also enjoy a once-in-a lifetime experience there when they dine with an Imagineer, one of the creative geniuses that breathes life into Disney magic.

Know Before You Go

Disney’s Frequently Asked Questions will help you navigate directions and parking, provide useful information for disabled guests, and give you the low-down on transportation options, tickets, park hours and much more. If you don’t see an answer to your question, please call Walt Disney World at (407) 939-5277 for help with your visit.