Five Things to Know About Commissary Lane in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Commissary Lane is one of the nine “lands” in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There’s not a lot going on here, but you can think of it as a sort of behind-the-scenes look at life in a movie studio. And while it’s mostly a walk-through to get from Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway to Star Tours, Commissary Lane does its part in building the park’s character. And, it can provide a bit of respite on a long day of touring!

1. First of all, what’s a commissary?

The word commissary means a whole lot of things. And if you just google it, you can end up confused about why a “commissary” would be at DHS. Commissary can mean a food and supply store for employees, or a sort of grocery store. It could refer to a person serving as a delegate, like a government official with a certain responsibility. Or, it can mean a restaurant in a large facility or complex like a military base, a prison, or … a movie studio. It’s that last definition, the restaurant, that inspires the name Commissary Lane.

2. So why is there a Commissary Lane in the middle of a theme park?

When Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in May 1989, it was called Disney’s MGM Studios. At the time, it was not only a theme park, but a fully functional TV and movie production studio!

Sound stages served as production facilities for TV shows, including Disney Channel’s version of the Mickey Mouse Club, special episodes of Wheel of Fortune, and more. Disney also built an animation studio here. Animation for Mulan, Lili & Stitch, and other features was produced here. I remember taking the tour back in 1994 and walking through the building to watch the artists at work.

Several attractions were focused on this studio theme. Examples are the audience participation attraction Superstar Television, and the Backlot Studio Tour. On the Backlot Studio Tour, guests took a tram ride through a “boneyard” filled with movie props and then through a “live” movie set where Catastrophe Canyon would experience an earthquake and flood. The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is one of the few remaining attractions created in that spirit.

Since Disney’s Burbank studio built a commissary in 1940 to serve the needs of the staff working there, a commissary in MGM Studios just felt like great placemaking from the Imagineers.

3. Is there still a Commissary on Commissary Lane?

Let’s be clear: it’s had other names over the years, but the commissary on Commissary Lane has never been a true studio commissary. It’s always been a restaurant. Today, it’s called the ABC Commissary: it’s a quick-service restaurant with a wide variety of options.

Open for lunch and dinner, the décor consists mostly of posters featuring shows on ABC, which is owned by Disney. The menu is a bit eclectic, but mostly features grilled proteins and vegetables; some of the healthiest – or at least healthiest-appearing – Quick Service items in the park.

The other option for dining on Commissary Lane is the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. A Table Service restaurant, the gimmick here is that it’s built like a 50s-style drive-in. You eat your meal while watching clips of old scary movies on the screen and sitting in a convertible car. Open for lunch and dinner, we think the setting is better than the food. Adult beverages and allergy-friendly options are included on the menu of mostly American faves like burgers, corn dogs, and wings.

4. Are there any attractions on Commissary Lane?

The only attraction on Commissary Lane is the Meet & Greet, “Meet Disney Stars at Red Carpet Dreams.” The stars, of course, are Mickey and Minnie. And the premise for this stop is that you’re visiting both of them while they’re working on their latest films. Mickey’s dressed in his starring role from Fantasia as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, while Minnie is decked out in formal wear befitting a red-carpet walk.

After you enter, you first meet Minnie, then go down another hall to meet Mickey. Disney photographers snap your encounter with the stars (and will take pix with your camera, too, if you ask). Red Carpet Dreams is located between the entrance to ABC Commissary and the entrance to Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre, and times can be found in the My Disney Experience app.

5. Five bonus fun things to know about the Lane.

⭐ The queue for Red Carpet Dreams is decorated with posters for fictional movies. All of them are made by “Red Carpet Pictures.”

⭐ The poster for “Wild West Caper” features Big Thunder Mountain in the background.

⭐ The “Sweethearts of Swing” poster says Goofy plays Sid Cahuenga. Sid is a fictional character the Imagineers created for Hollywood Studios. He runs the store Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind at the entrance to the studios.

⭐ At the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaurant, the license plates bear the date 1955. This is the year Disneyland opened.

⭐ Props featured at the Sci-Fi Restaurant include the Rocketeer’s jet pack and helmet, and Peevy’s blueprints for the jet pack, among others.

The Bottom Line.

While there’s not a whole lot to see and do here, Disney still counts Commissary Lane as one of the nine lands in Hollywood Studios. And we usually hit the ABC Commissary for lunch when we visit; it’s one of our personal favorites. It’s always fun to meet Mickey and Minnie – a great time is during lunch and dinner when others are eating. The next time you’re heading from Star Tours to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, take a little time to enjoy the ambiance of Commissary Lane on your journey.

Do you visit the commissary on Commissary Lane? Or do you just stop in to see Mickey & Minnie? Let us know in the comments!