Our Hollywood Studios 1-Day Itinerary is an efficient touring plan for what attractions, shows, and dining we’d do in our ideal day at the park. This itinerary is how we’d recommend experiencing all of the, what we consider, Hollywood Studios essentials.

While other touring plans are more focused on fitting in every attraction in one day, we’ll be more focused on how to have the best day possible. Instead of constantly running from attraction to attraction, this plan will also have you enjoying some of the little things that make Hollywood Studios special. Yes, we’ll get to the majority of the attractions but some are left behind in favor of, what we consider, better options. If you are more ride focused then check out our Hollywood Studios attractions rankings. We also have entertainment, table-service and counter-service rankings to help out your trip planning. We also have itineraries to every other Disney Park we’ve been to. Click here to find those.

Hollywood Studios has vastly improved over the last few years with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land all opening as well as new shows and a Muppets reimaging of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. For as much flack as I’ve given the park over the years, this is a park with quality attractions, good entertainment and surprising food. This is more than a half day park now, there’s a lot to do!

There are many different factors that go into a theme park day, so we do have to keep this plan somewhat general. I don’t know how busy the park will be when you visit, whether you have Lightning Lanes (this itinerary assumes you don’t), where you are staying, etc. What I do assume in this itinerary is that you are spending the full day inside of the park, getting there before the gates open and leaving after the park closes.

Staying at the Riviera, Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century or Art of Animation is the closest option to Hollywood Studios, just a Skyliner ride away. The Yacht or Beach Club, Boardwalk Resort, Swan & Dolphin, are close, as well. If not, don’t worry. Just get to the park before opening one way or another. As usual, staying on-site makes this park easier! If you’re looking for vacation packages or tickets to purchase then follow those links for our recommended sites. On to the plan!

Arrive Early and Spend a Morning in Toy Story Land!

We recommend arriving at least half an hour early to the park and follow the masses to start the day. Go straight to Toy Story Land and ride Slinky Dog Dash. The line is hot and long later in the day and getting there to be one of the first riders on it will pay dividends later. If you arrive a little closer to opening or don’t have Early Entry then consider saving Toy Story Land for the evening and head straight for the next step.

Assuming you do get there early and you’re able to get on Slinky Dog Dash relatively fast then keep hustling to the other Toy Story Land attractions, Toy Story Mania and Alien Swirling Saucers in that order. Both should still have low waits but if the times have ballooned over 25 minutes then come back for them at night.

Morning on Sunset Boulevard

After three quick attractions, head over to Sunset Boulevard for a mix of Rock n’ Roller Coaster, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and a light breakfast. The order in which you do these will come down to how high the wait times are and how quickly the previous step was done. Honestly, once you get these two attractions done then the day opens up quite a bit since there aren’t that many rides to go on after this. While we don’t typically advise waiting for anything over half an hour, this is an exception. I’d do either of these attractions if the wait is an hour or less. Tower of Terror definitely should be under an hour at this point but Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets has renewed interest. Wait it out and enjoy the Electric Mayhem rocking your socks off.

As a whole, I typically stay away from Starbucks in the park as they are busier than other spots and I don’t care for coffee. The one in Hollywood Studios is enjoyable though. Named Trolley Car Cafe, this Starbucks has a nice aesthetic and has a few unique treats. While this blog would never do something so unhealthy 😉 we wouldn’t judge anyone who gets a cupcake for breakfast here. I’m a big fan of the Fruit Tart at this spot. That’s healthy because it has fruit on it!

Sunset Boulevard packs quite a punch with two of Disney World’s better thrill rides. Be sure not to miss either of them!

First look at Galaxy’s Edge

Our first planned trip inside Hollywood Studios’ most immersive land comes mid-morning after letting the chaos of the rope drop crowds clear out. Keep an eye on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run wait times and if it’s under 30 minutes then hopping in line is a good way to go. You can also use the single-rider line! If not, this plan has you back here in the evening and the line will likely be shorter.

Outside of that, take the time to explore this enveloping land. The details are astounding and the design is jaw-dropping. Go in the shops, explore the market and just take a look around. If hungry, move the lunch step up a bit and grab something at Docking Bay 7 or Ronto Roasters. Both are good options.

Shows – Round 1 

After you’re done in Galaxy’s Edge, it’s time to slow down and enjoy something that Hollywood Studios has in abundance – shows! Some are good, some are bad, some are decidedly average but we have time to see most of them. Our favorites of the bunch are Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and One Man’s Dream. The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show is surprisingly good and Villains Unfairly Ever After is alright for those with young ones. Same with the Frozen Sing-Along.

Lunch 

Counter-service options at Hollywood Studios were incredibly bad for a while but have improved by leaps and bounds. Still there aren’t many options so we’ll just list our favorites here for you and you can choose! Docking Bay 7 (in Galaxy’s Edge) and ABC Commissary are our favorite quicker options in Hollywood Studios. The former is a little more expensive but a great value on the Disney Dining Plan. ABC Commissary has a lousy atmosphere but some of the best food in the park.

Woody’s Lunch Box, Toy Story Land’s quick-service restaurant, serves really good grilled cheese sandwiches. Woody’s is a logistical nightmare with long lines, and a lack of seating which all happens to be outdoors without shade. Fortunately, the food is good and at a fair price. Use the mobile order feature on the My Disney Experience app to avoid the line!

A George Lucas Late Afternoon

Now that it’s the hottest part of the day, head over to Echo Lake and go for a swim! Kidding. Instead, enjoy a few George Lucas inspired offerings. Star Tours and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! are all on the docket. Star Tours doesn’t generally have a very long line so you should be able to find it for under half an hour. Check the times guide for Indy and show up 15 to 20 minutes ahead of the show. If you are hungry during this time, stop by Gertie, our favorite dinosaur, for some ice cream.

While we’re in this step, go ahead and walk over to Walt Disney Presents, which is another short show that is worth seeing. It’s not about George Lucas but another visionary – some fella named Walt Disney. There’s a small exhibit before the show that’s well worth spending some time in, as well!

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

By now we should be into late afternoon and it’s time to bite the bullet on one of the park’s best rides. We’re biting the proverbial bullet because regardless of the wait time, it’s time to get in line for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It’s not a pretty queue, at least the outside portion, but we’ve done almost every other attraction at this point and going here now will free up the rest of the night for dinner, Star Wars and a nighttime spectacular! I guess the one caveat here is if the line is over an hour long or it’s exceptionally hot on this day. Otherwise, enjoy the attraction that’s inside of the park’s icon!

Dinner

If it’s too early to eat again then just swap this step with the following step. For dinner we recommend 50’s Prime Time, Hollywood & Vine or the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge over anything else. If you didn’t try any of the counter-service options for lunch then it’s an option here and fits in with the following step. If you want to spend more money then the Hollywood Brown Derby is probably the best restaurant in the park albeit a little pricey. That said, the Lounge has some cheaper options that are very tasty.

Rise of the Resistance & Galaxy’s Edge at Night

After dinner, venture to the back corner of the park and ride one of the best attractions in Walt Disney World – Rise of the Resistance. The line should be pretty manageable at this point. Don’t worry about the wait time, instead just look to see how much of the outdoor queue is being used. If there aren’t many people out there then your wait will be relatively short. This ride is not to be missed!

Assuming you have some time left, explore the beautiful area and hop on Smuggler’s Run if you haven’t done so already. Galaxy’s Edge looks brilliant at night, especially the market. Take your time to really soak it all in!

Nighttime Spectaculars

We’ve written off Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios for too long and have started to come around on the show. If you’re in the park when there are 2 showings of it playing, see the second one. It’s usually half hour after park closing and is never full! While Fantasmic isn’t perfect, the 2nd half of the show is excellent and worth checking out.

Along with this, there’s typically a projection show at the Chinese Theatre around 9 PM. It’s a nice little add-on but nothing to plan around.

A slow walk out!

The park is probably closed by now! If you’ve done everything on this list, great job. That’s a very full day. If you have any energy left then take your time exiting the park and explore some of the areas that aren’t blocked off.

As we’ve covered, Galaxy’s Edge is the best environment in the park so linger here for a while on your way out. Outside of that, the big hat is back and beautiful at night in the Animation Courtyard. The Hollywood Tower looks a little spookier at night and the Chinese Theater is beautiful anytime of day. My favorite part of Hollywood Studios at night is Echo Lake with the reflections of Echo Lake and a few interesting subjects (mostly just Gertie) around it. If photos aren’t your thing, then find a bench around there and take a moment to relax and enjoy the night. Slowly make your way out of the park and maybe go buy yourself a drink. You just made it through a whole day of Hollywood Studios!

As always, if you have questions or thoughts on our Hollywood Studios itinerary then leave a comment below. If you are planning a trip to Disney World, then check out our planning guide. This site has discount tickets to Walt Disney World. If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. You can do all of that on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!