Staying Happy at Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios park opened on May 1, 1989 and has quickly rose to one of the most popular parks at the Walt Disney World resort. Boasting 2 of the most popular themed areas with Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land as well as housing epic attractions like Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, this park is known for crowds which can lead to stress and frustration if you don't plan the day.There are hundreds of specific strategies to tackle this park which can be influenced by a number of factors including if you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort, if you are willing to arrive for early park entry as a resort guest, height of your riding party and more.We are sharing 5 questions for you to consider as you plan your Hollywood Studios day to help keep your party happy.
What time of day will you visit the park? Depending on if you plan to arrive in the morning or not visit the park until later in the day can drastically adjust your schedule. This park maintains steady crowds from pre-open until after dinner so keep that in mind.
Are you staying a Walt Disney World resort? Walt Disney World resort guests are allowed to enter the park and access select attractions 30 minutes before the official park opening time. This can be a great advantage is you are an early riser, but if you are not interested in arriving and rushing to attractions early in the morning, you may need to reconsider which rides you start with because many will have long lines from the early entry guests.
How tall are the guests riding attractions? Hollywood Studios has some amazing thrill attractions, but many of those attractions also have height restrictions for safety purposes. Measure any smaller guests well before you arrive in the park to avoid a meltdown when a cast member has to turn them away for being too short to safely ride.
Are you using Disney Genie+ service and/or Individual Lightning Lanes? The new paid, Fastpass system can be a great way to save time in the parks especially at Hollywood Studios but it can take some planning and will require you to pay attention to your phone during the day. At this park, guests can anticipate being able to select 1-2 lightning lanes for major attractions to help them save time in the parks plus they might be able to make selections for other filler attractions.
What attractions are you willing to use as fillers during the day? Whether you use Genie+ or not, likely there will be certain times during the day where you won't want to wait in a 3 hour line for Rise of the Resistance or 2 hours for Slinky Dog, so what attractions are you willing to check out as fillers during the busiest time of day? Are you willing to watch some of the shows or look for smaller attractions such as Muppet's 3D or Star Tours?
There are many details to consider when planning a day at Hollywood Studios. One of the best ways to keep your party happy is to have clear expectations for the day such as setting a goal of perhaps 3 to 5 attractions that are accomplished so anything else feels like a bonus. Also remember to move at the pace that works for you and be ready to wait in line because no matter what time you arrive or if you use Genie+, there will be lines in this park.Want a more personalized itinerary and help planning your happiest Hollywood Studios day? Reach out to your Goofy Getaways Travel Consultant today or email us at info@goofygetaways.com to be connected with your personal Disney expert from our team.
