Best Hollywood Studios Rides & Shows Revealed

If you’re headed to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you might be overwhelmed with all of the fun rides and attractions available. There’s so much to do that it’s nearly impossible to do it all in a single day.

But if that’s all you got, here’s a list of the 10 best Hollywood Studios rides and shows so you can narrow down which attractions to hit up next time you’re there.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Believe it or not, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the first ride at any Disney park to feature Mickey, Minnie, and their pals.

Board the Runaway Railway and be ready for twists and turns as you ride through an animated universe featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Pete.

This ride debuted March 4, 2020, replacing The Great Movie Ride. It is also available at Disneyland in California.

• Location: Hollywood Boulevard
• Height requirement: Any height
• Genie+: Yes, this ride is available as part of Genie+ and recommended as a potential selection.
• Duration: 5 minutes

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

This fun sing-along show may not seem worth it if you’re visiting Walt Disney World resort strictly for the rides.

However, it’s a ton of fun, thanks to the comedic hosts, who are random characters from Arendelle who tell stories and share gossip in between songs. 

Aside from the good laughs and stellar performances, there’s air conditioning. Honestly, you can’t go wrong!

• Location: Echo Lake
• Genie+: Yes, this show is available as part of Genie+ and recommended as a potential selection.
• Duration: 30 minutes

Beauty & the Beast – Live on Stage

Watch the story of Beauty & the Beast unfold before your eyes on stage, using all of the iconic song from the hit animated film.

There’s singing, dancing, acting – and all of it is just superb. This show is also accessibility friendly, with seating for those in wheelchairs or EVs. Plus, you can request an American Sign Language interpreter.

On my last visit to this show, there were 2 interpreters available to play the different roles on stage and a section toward the front roped off for guests who requested this service and their companions.

• Location: Sunset Boulevard
• Genie+: Yes, this show is available as part of Genie+.
• Duration: 30 minutes

Slinky Dog Dash

This adorable roller coaster is built to look like the roller coaster cars are part of Slinky Dog’s body – how perfect is that theming?

Slinky Dog Dash is what I like to call a “junior” roller coaster ride. It’s not quite a kiddie coaster and isn’t super wild like Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster or Space Mountain; it’s somewhere right in the middle.

In other words, this is a great ride for kids who are interested in riding roller coasters but might not be ready for the big ones. Or, if you want a little bit of a thrill without the upside down loops, this is perfect.

• Location: Toy Story Land
• Height requirement: 38 inches
• Genie+: Yes, this ride is available as part of Genie+ and recommended as a potential selection.
• Ride photo: Yes, this attraction has a ride photo.
• Duration: 2 minutes

Toy Story Mania!

I love this ride SO much! It’s part ride and part carnival game. 

You board a car with faux blasters, stopping to play 4D blaster games every so often. 

There’s a digital score counter on the dashboard of the car for each player, so have a little friendly competition with your car mate!

This is the first Toy Story ride at Disney World, years before Toy Story Land was even announced.

• Location: Toy Story Land
• Height requirement: There is no height requirement for this ride.
• Genie+: Yes, this ride is available as part of Genie+ and recommended as a potential selection.
• Duration: 8 minutes

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

On this fun indoor roller coaster, there are drops, twists, and loops all at 57-miles per hour to a mix of Aerosmith’s hit songs.

My favorite part is the ride photo because try as I might, I can never get one with a cute face. I always look part terrified and part smooshed from the force due to the sudden speed increase. 

• Location: Sunset Boulevard
• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Genie+: Yes, this ride is available as part of Genie+ and recommended as a potential selection.
• Single rider line: Yes, this attraction has a single rider line.
• Ride photo: Yes, this attraction features a ride photo.
• Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

This ride terrifies me in the best way possible! The first time I rode it, I swore I’d never go on it again. But somehow I got roped into going on it again and discovered that I liked it this time around.

This Twilight Zone themed ride takes place in the abandoned Hollywood Hotel. Guests board an “elevator” that moves in every direction, rather than just vertically, plus there are quite a few sudden drops. 

The best part is that the ride is programmed to not be the same path, so you can’t ever anticipate what’s going to happen next!

• Location: Sunset Boulevard
• Height requirement: 40 inches
• Genie+: Yes, this ride is available as part of Genie+ and recommended as a potential selection.
• Ride photo: Yes, this attraction features a ride photo – and video!
• Duration: 4 minutes

Fantasmic!

Oh how I love this nighttime show!

Based partially on the Disney animated classic Fantasia, where Mickey battles evil forces, this show combines pyrotechnics, fireworks, and surprise appearances from tons of other Disney characters.

It’s a great way to end a day at Hollywood Studios and my family’s favorite nighttime show – even over Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After fireworks!

• Location: Sunset Boulevard
• Genie+: No, this attraction is not available as part of Genie+.
• Duration: 25 minutes

Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run

One of the newest rides at Hollywood Studios is Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

This simulation ride puts you and several other guests onboard the Millenium Falcon, where you must play the role assigned to you to get the ship to safety.

The outcome of the ride depends on every riders’ participation, so it’s unique each time!

• Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge 
• Height requirement: 38 inches
• Genie+: Yes, this ride is available as part of Genie+.
• Single rider line: Yes, this attraction has a single rider line.
• Duration: 5 minutes

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Another new ride at Hollywood Studios is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It’s the longest ride available at Hollywood Studios, clocking in at 18 minutes.

On Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the Resistance is gathering recruits to help fight against the First Order. Who will win the battle?

The average wait time for Rise of the Resistance regularly tops 90 minutes (source). There are 3 options to help avoid a long wait: rope drop, go during Fantasmic!, or get an individual lightning lane pass.

If you don’t want to get up early or miss Fantasmic!, then an individual lightning lane is worth the cost in my opinion.

• Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Height requirement: 40 inches
• Genie+: No, this ride is not available as part of Genie+.
• Lightning Lane: Yes, this ride is available as an individual lightning lane pass.
• Duration: 18 minutes

What are your favorite rides at Hollywood Studios?

Well there you have it – the 10 best attractions and rides at Hollywood Studios, according to me!

Now it’s your turn – what are your favorites at this funtastic park? Let me know in the comments below!

This post was originally published on April 21, 2022. It was last updated on March 8, 2023.