New TouringPlans Teaches Episode: Hollywood Studios Day with Genie+ Stacking
In this week’s episode of TouringPlans Teaches, I’m going through how to plan a day at Hollywood Studios while stacking Genie+ reservations. One of the most popular TouringPlans Teaches episodes ever was all about Genie+ Stacking. What it was, how to do it, and why you might want to try stacking Genie+ reservations on your next trip. Combine that video’s popularity with the fact that I get more questions about how to tour Hollywood Studio’s efficiently more than any other park, and it made this week’s strategy a simple choice.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this video:
- Why you should always do Rise of the Resistance first thing during early entry
- What to ride immediately after Rise of the Resistance
- How to spend an afternoon at Hollywood Studios when the lines are long
- Which Genie+ reservations you can stack to make your evening a breeze
Join me below (or on YouTube) as we walk through an example day of Genie+ stacking during a full day at Hollywood Studios. And of course, don’t miss the special guest star!
If you have questions about WDW touring strategy, or a specific strategy theme or topic you’d like to see covered, drop them in the comments below!
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I plan on using this stacking strategy on my trip in 2 weeks. However we are going to do Magic Kingdom in the morning using early entry and standby and then Hollywood studios in the afternoon with the stacked genie+ reservations. My question is when will I be able to book my 2nd genie+ reservation? I know it’s 2 hours after park opening, but which park opening?! My park reservation is for Magic Kingdom which opens at 8am that day, but my first Genie+ reservation will be for Slinky Dog at Hollywood studios which opens at 8:30 that day. So will I be able to make my 2nd reservation at 10 or 10:30?! Does anyone know?
Pretty sure it is the park you have a reservation for so you should be able to book at 10.
I do this all the time. It’s great.
One area where I get confused is park hopping with Genie+. On my last trip, I could not get lightning lane passes for another park since I did not park hop yet and did not make a park reservation for my next park. I guess I have to enter the next park?
As long as you have park hopper tickets, you should be able to make reservations for your second park as soon as you’d like. The only caveat is that you have to book a ride with a return time that is already 2 pm or later.
Thank you Becky for the video.
I confirm that stacking at Hollywood Studios is a very solid strategy. Did this 3 times over the past week and was capable of obtaining 5 fastpasses (still not calling them lightning lanes – there was enough lightning in Florida anyway) every single time for the following attractions: Slinky Dog, Tower of Terror, Rock and Roller coaster, Mickey Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania (you can also substitute Millenium Falcon for either option 3 or 4 above or simply use the Fastpass on Millenium Falcon when one of the above rides go offline).
This, combined with getting in line for Rise of the Resistance right before closing (each time with less than a 20 minute wait) allowed my family to ride most of the headliners at Hollywood Studios in less than 4 hours consistently – from 5pm to closing.
I would say that combining stacking with a park hopper strategy is probably the best approach for Hollywood Studios, especially if you are a ride preferring group. Of course, if you or your group prefer shows, then you will need to arrive earlier to be able to attend.
Considering that you had Brian appear in a cameo (twice!), I am considering sending in a small write-up on the above park-hopping strategy to show how one can maximize its Genie + dollar.
This was fantastic Becky. Thank you! As someone who up to this point has been avoiding learning about Genie+ — and frankly dreading it — I found this to be the clearest example yet of how to use Genie+ and in a tricky park. We have a trip planned for next year, so I know I need to learn this. This video not only started teaching me what I need to do, but it has put my mind at ease a bit as well.
Thanks for the feedback, and I’m glad that it’s helpful, and hopefully not-so-dreadful 🙂
Another fine episode filled with great advice.
Thanks.