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Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios Basics

Last updated: July 18, 2023

Arriving at Hollywood Studios

ARRIVING FROM INSIDE DISNEY WORLDIf you're staying at an EPCOT resort, it'll take you 20-30 minutes to walk the mile or so from your hotel to the Studios' entrance.


Boat service is also available from the EPCOT resorts to the Studios, and it's about a 20-minute ride on the Skyliner system, which links the Studios to Disney's Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation resorts.


In addition to the Skyliner, Disney may offer bus service to the Studios from these hotels on days with high attendance.


Guests at other Disney resorts will get to DHS by bus.


If you're staying at Pop Century and Art of Animation and see a Skyliner wait of more than an hour, use a Disney bus (if available), a taxi, or a ride-hailing app to get to the park instead - that hour is not a great use of your time.


DRIVING The DHS parking lot is located next to the park. The parking lots open about an hour before official park opening.


Once you've parked, take a tram or walk from the parking lot to the front gate. There can be traffic delays in the morning while everyone waits for the lot to open.

Getting Around Hollywood Studios

AT THE PARK ENTRANCE Guest Relations will be on your left. Go here for a park map, to report lost persons, or to access the Baby Care Center.


To the right of the entrance are locker, stroller, and wheelchair rentals plus the park's Lost and Found.


As in the Magic Kingdom, you enter the park and then pass down a main street. In this case, it's the Hollywood Boulevard of the 1930s and '40s. At the end is a replica of the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre, home of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.


As you face the Chinese Theatre, two themed areas, Sunset Boulevard and Animation Courtyard, branch off Hollywood Boulevard to the right. Branching left off Hollywood Boulevard is Echo Lake.


Beyond that, Grand Avenue holds Muppet-Vision 3-D and Mama Melrose's, a full-service Italian restaurant.


Toy Story Land's attractions are located behind the Chinese Theatre and to the left of Animation Courtyard.


Finally, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is in the upper-left corner of the park, accessible from Grand Avenue and Toy Story Land.

Rope Drop at Hollywood Studios

'Rope Drop' refers to cast members using a length of rope to hold back crowds until the park opens. After the rope is dropped, guests can head to their first ride.


ALL RIDES START RUNNING as soon as guests are admitted into the park. Shows normally begin running an hour or more after the rest of the park.


On-site guests who want to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry should arrive 60 minutes before official opening (that is, 30 minutes before Early Entry) on all days.


Off-site guests (who aren't eligible for Early Theme Park Entry) should arrive 30 minutes before official opening on all days.


Is Lightning Lane Worth Paying For at Hollywood Studios?

You almost certainly don't need Genie+ or Individial Lighting Lane at Holywood Studios if:

  • You're elgible for Early Theme Park Entry
  • You'll be in line for your first attraction when Early Theme Park Entry starts
  • You'll purchase Individial Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance
  • You're using one of our computer-optimized Hollywood Studios touring plans

Otherwise, you may want to consider Genie+ or Individual Lighting Lane if any of the following apply to you:


  • You'll arrive at the park after Early Theme Park Entry begins (that is, you won't be at the park as soon as it opens). This includes off-site guests (who aren't eligible for Early Theme Park Entry) and on-site guests who want to sleep in.
  • You won't be using a touring plan.
  • You're visiting during anything other than the slowest time of year (see our Crowd Calendar).

Regardless of the time of year you visit, arriving at park opening should allow you to see at least two headliner attractions without significant waits.


Since only around Hollywood Studios attractions participate in Genie+ (and it's not useful for some of those), it's unlikely you'd need more than three or four reservations per day.


On days of heavy attendance, though, the lack of attractions means you'll be competing with lots of people, which pushes out return times and limits how many Genie+ reservations you can obtain.

See the list of Hollywood Studios attractions that benefit most from Genie+ and Lightning Lane arrow

More Hollywood Studios

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Basics for Other Walt Disney World Parks

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Typhoon Lagoon Basics arrow

Blizzard Beach Basics arrow

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