Hollywood Studios 1-Day Itinerary 2023 (With Times!)

Are you looking for an hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute plan to ensure you maximise your one day at Hollywood Studios?

If so then you’re in the right place.

Hollywood Studios is my favourite park, and despite the new addition of Galaxy’s Edge I still believe you can experience everything here in a single day.

I’ve gone against the grain in creating this post and actually broken the day down into times rather than areas to make this itinerary as easy to follow as possible.

As such this guide assumes the opening hours of the park are 9am until 9pm when in actual fact the opening times during your visit may be different (check those here).

Depending on your interests, the dynamic and ages of those visiting in your party, and whether you have Disney Genine+ this itinerary may differ slightly. That said I hope it works well as an outline to help you plan your trip.

Before Your Trip To Hollywood Studios

Before your trip to Hollywood Studios, you need to do a couple of things to ensure you’re permitted to enter the park.

Purchase Park Tickets

The first is to go ahead and purchase your Walt Disney World tickets.

While tickets can be purchased at the gate, I’d advise against doing this since you now need park reservations in addition to your tickets to guarantee entry into the park.

Make Park Reservations

Once you’ve got your tickets you’ll want to go ahead and make a park reservation for the date you’d like to visit Hollywood Studios during your trip to Walt Disney World.

Park reservations do fill up, and during our most recent visit (June 2022) Hollywood Studios was consistently the park that had no space.

As such it’s incredibly important to buy your tickets so you’re able to make those all-important park reservations as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.

Park reservations can be made online using the My Disney Experience website or mobile application which is available for both Android and iOS.

Decide Whether You’ll Purchase Disney Genie+

The next decision you’ll need to make before heading to Hollywood Studios for the day is whether or not you plan to invest money into Genie+ to skip the lines where applicable.

While you’ll be unable to purchase Disney Genie+ in advance, it’s good to know whether you’ll purchase it and subsequently which rides are going to be a priority when using it in advance.

Make Dining Reservations

Dining reservations for table service restaurants at Hollywood Studios open up 60 days in advance.

Since many restaurants sell out, especially at peak times it’s important you consider where you’d like to eat if you’re planning on having a table service meal and make that all-important reservation using the My Disney Experience page.

6.30am – Genie+

If you’ve decided that you’d like to invest in Genie+ then you’ll need to be up bright and early in order to purchase and subsequently use Genie+.

Genie+ is only available to purchase on the day of your visit and although the check-out opens from midnight, Genie+ doesn’t sell out.

As such we recommend waking up at 6.30am and purchasing Disney Genie+ before making your first Genie+ selection at 7am.

All guests are able to reserve their first Lightning Lane at 7am. After that, you can reserve a ride every 2 hours or after scanning in for a ride reservation – whichever comes first.

If you’re planning on purchasing Disney Genie+ you’ll get the most value from it by getting up early and making that all-important first selection.

Not to mention you’ll also have the best ride availability which is essential since Hollywood Studios has some of the most competitive rides for Lightning Lanes.

Provided you’re heading to Hollywood Studios for rope drop (which I highly encourage you to do so) you should aim for your first Lightning Lane to land at around 10:30am.

I recommend waiting until 10:30am so you’re able to maximise the benefit of rope drop wait times before capitalising on the benefits of Genie+.

8:15am – Arrive At Hollywood Studios

Since this post assumes Hollywood Studios opens at 9:00am, we recommend arriving at the park at 8:15am.

If however, the park opens earlier during your visit, we recommend adjusting the time you arrive to ensure you’re always 45 minutes early.

That’s because 45 minutes is enough time to park the car, or get off the resort bus, go through the security checkpoint and scan your tickets for entry while still leaving you with 15 minutes spare before rope drop.

While the crowds can seem incredibly busy at this time, as it’s dispersed across the park you’ll quickly realise the benefits of waking up and arriving at Hollywood Studios early to ensure you’re making the most of your day.

9:00am – Rope Drop

In my opinion “rope drop” is the first hour or so between the rope being dropped as the park opens (or cut depending on the park and the day).

This first hour is critical as it’s most often the quietest in the park. What you do in this first hour can make or break how long you wait for additional rides throughout the day.

As such it’s important you have a strategy in place as to which rides you’re going to head to first.

For example;

Meeting a character at Celebrity Spotlight might have a 5-minute wait time at rope drop. However, come 1:00pm when the park is at the height of its capacity the wait time is likely only going to average 20 or 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land might have a 20-minute wait by the time you get to it after rope drop. However, come 1:00pm that line is likely going to be averaging 100 or even 120 minutes.

Much like your Disney Genie+ choices, the ride(s) you head to during this time are going to depend on;

• The height of the members of your party
• Your interests (Toy Story, Star Wars etc.)
• Whether you’re a fan of rollercoasters
• Which ride you’ve reserved with Genie+ (if you’ve purchased it)

As such I’ve gone ahead and broken down the rides based on these factors to help you pick the best one(s).

If Everyone In Your Party Is Over 97cm

In this case, I suggest heading straight for Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land since the standby wait time for this ride is pretty much always over 100 minutes.

After you’ve been on that ride I’d head to Toy Story Mania just across from Slinky since it’s super close and the wait time for this ride is often between 45 to 100 minutes.

Shorter Than 97cm / Not Interested In Rollercoasters

In this case, I’d head straight for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway since the standby wait time for this ride is consistently between 60 and 100 minutes.

Once you’ve been on this ride I’d recommend heading around to Toy Story Land and going on Toy Story Mania since the wait time for this ride is often between 45 to 100 minutes.

There are no height requirements for either of these rides.

If You’re A Fan Of Star Wars

If however, a member or members of your party are fans of Star Wars I suggest heading for Rise of the Resistance at rope drop.

Given how new this ride is, how popular Star Wars is and the fact that this ride has an individual Lightning Lane as part of Genie+ and frequently costs $15 per person (and sells out) it’s no surprise that the competition to get here at rope drop will be fierce.

Standby wait times for this ride during the day frequently exceed 100 minutes.

Once you’re finished with this ride (although keep in mind the wait will be longer than the likes of Slinky Dog or Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway) head across to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

If you’re happy riding individually here there is a single-rider line for this ride which can help you save even more time.

If you’ve purchased Genie+ then just as the park opens your two-hour wait will be up and you’ll be able to reserve a Lightning Lane for an additional ride.

In this case, the ride you choose is likely going to depend on the ride you selected as your Lightning Lane earlier and the rides you plan to head to at rope drop.

Some of the rides I’d consider choosing include;

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

10:30am – Snacks & Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

An hour and a half after rope drop, you’re likely all wrapped up with your initial rides and ready to grab a drink and a snack.

In that case, I recommend heading to one of the snack carts around Echo Lake and picking up a churro, ice cream or doughnut before heading to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

At the time of writing the first showtime of the day for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is 10:45am however, the times have been changing frequently over the past year or two so be sure to check the Walt Disney World website before you travel.

The show is fun and engaging, even for those who’ve never seen any of the Indiana Jones movies.

However, there are a number of large explosions and special effects which may be frightening for younger guests.

11:00am – Meeting Characters / Star Tours

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular lasts roughly 30 minutes, so it’s likely going to be around 11:00am before you’re back out into the park ready to get on with your next adventure.

In this case, you’ve got two options;

You can head across to Celebrity Spotlight and meet the latest character (during our visit it was Olaf).

Alternatively, you can head around the corner to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

Both experiences should have a wait time of around 30 minutes, which after the experience itself and parooze around some of the nearby stores should you should be ready to explore more of the park at around 12:00pm.

If you’ve purchased Disney Genie+ it’s ideal to aim for your first Lightning Lane selection to land at around this time so you’ve had the benefit of heading to some of the additional popular rides inside Hollywood Studios before having a break with a drink & a snack.

Of course, it also means that it’s been two hours since your second Lightning Lane selection (the one you made at 9:00am as the park opened) and as such you’re able to select a new Lightning Lane.

I suggest considering one of the following;

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

12:00pm – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

If you’ve not had the chance to go on Mickey & Minnie’s Runway by this point, now is a great time to do so.

This ride is suitable for all heights and ages and frequently has a wait time of between 30 to 80 minutes throughout the day.

This is one of Hollywood Studio’s newest rides and see’s you board a train cartridge following Mickey, Minnie & Goofy.

Given the ride is suitable for all heights and ages it has no drops and isn’t scary.

That said, we were told the height had no restrictions while holding our seven-month-old baby and we questioned whether it was safe for him again with staff as we boarded our carriage.

We were told it was.

However, had we personally known the speed and the sudden change of direction that this ride entails we wouldn’t have taken him on it.

As such we advise proceeding with caution on this ride if you’re travelling with children under 12 or even 18 months.

1:00pm – Lunch

By 1:00pm you’re no doubt ready for lunch and luckily being in the centre of the park you’ve got a couple of options to choose from.

If you’ve already gone ahead and reserved a table service restaurant then you can head directly there.

If you’re still looking for a more formal dining option feel free to head to the My Disney Experience mobile app to see what options are still available.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a quick service meal consider visiting one of the following;

ABC Commissary

This restaurant has a whole host of delicious foods including;

• Shrimp Tacos
• Chicken club sandwich
• Mediterranean salad

Given the extensive and incredibly tasty menu, the prime location just behind Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway and the amount of indoor seating available this is our favourite quick-service dining location in Hollywood Studios.

Pizzerizzo

If you’re looking for pizza for lunch be sure to head over to PizzeRizzo located in Grand Avenue just to the side of the Miss Piggy water fountain.

This quick-service restaurant serves exactly what you might expect, pizza with a choice of a side including; caesar salad, Babybel snack cheese or a mandarin.

Sunset Ranch Market

If you’re travelling with a large group who all have different tastes and / or allergy requirements then consider taking a seat at one of the benches along the left-hand side of Sunset Boulevard as you head towards the Hollywood Tower of Terror.

There are a number of booths along this strip, all within a one-minute walk of the covered benches. These booths include;

• Anaheim Produce – Serving a range of cold drinks & snacks
• Rosie’s All-American Café – Serving hot dogs, cheeseburgers & salads
• Catalina Eddie’s – Serving pizzas, salads and breadsticks
• Fairfax Fare – Serving gourmet hot dogs
• Hollywood Scoops – Serving a range of sundaes and ice creams

If you’ve gone ahead and purchased Genie+ now’s also the time in which you’ll want to go ahead and make your next Genie+ selection.

I suggest considering one of the following;

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

2:00pm – Adults Option / Kids Option

There are two options for your itinerary after your lunch break. Which one you choose will likely depend on who you’re travelling with.

Option one is designed for children who are shorter than 102cm and therefore unable to go on the rides in the second option.

This leaves option two as you might have guessed designed for those who are looking for an adrenaline pump from some of the park’s incredible rollercoasters.

Under 102cm: Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage & Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

If you’re not a fan of rollercoasters or are travelling with children under 102cm then it’s a great time to enjoy two of Hollywood Studios’ most popular shows.

The first is Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage which currently has a show time of 2:00pm (this is subject to change and there are others if you miss this one).

Given the prompt show, time start such you’ll want to cut lunch just a little early to give yourselves plenty of time to head across to the stage which is located at the far end of Sunset Boulevard just to the right of Hollywood Tower of Terror.

The show lasts 30 minutes and features a shortened version of the feature-length movie while still ensuring all the classic sing-along tunes are involved.

Once the show is finished head across to the opposite side of Sunset Boulevard towards Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster. Just to the right as you enter this area of the park back behind the entrance to the ride you’ll find Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.

This show runs consistently throughout the day and often has a wait time of 15 minutes or less. The show is hosted indoors and lasts roughly 12 minutes in total.

The technology behind this show is incredibly impressive and sees a real-life Lightning McQueen come out and demonstrate his racing abilities on a screen – it’s hard to explain, but believe me it’s cool!

Over 102cm: Hollywood Tower of Terror / Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

If you’re into rollercoasters and are 102cm and taller then you can head to the icon of Hollywood Studios, the incredible Hollywood Tower of Terror.

This ride is absolutely incredible, one of my all-time favourites.

However, the same goes for many other Hollywood Studio goers which results in wait times for this ride often being anything from 40 to 80 minutes depending on the park’s capacity and the time of the year.

If you get lucky or happen to have a Lightning Lane for this ride at 2:00pm then you may be also able to head to Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster afterwards which is just to your right as you exit the Tower of Terror and come back out onto Sunset Boulevard.

That being said it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to queue for and go on both of these rides in under an hour.

This all means that you’ll have to either only go on one of these rides, cut lunch short, or skip some of the itineraries later in the day.

Note that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has a higher height requirement than the Hollywood Tower of Terror at 122cm.

As such if you’re travelling with someone whose height is between 103cm and 122cm then you will not be able to go on Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster and instead only able to go on the Hollywood Tower of Terror.

3:00pm – Toy Story Land

The next two hours are going to be spent exploring Toy Story Land. However, if you’d rather head to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge first and then come back to Toy Story Land after dinner head to my notes under the 6:30pm header.

During this next hour, it’s also highly likely that if you have Genie+ you’re able to make your next ride selection.

In that case, I suggest considering one of the following;

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

If you’ve managed to get your Disney Genie+ selections just right, and arrived in time for rope drop then it’s possible that at this point you’ve experienced all of these rides.

In that case, you may want to consider booking Genie+ for;

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Celebrity Spotlight
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

While you can reserve a Lightning Lane for some of the shows at Hollywood Studios, this only gets you entry into the seating area 10 minutes before the standby line which allows you to get some of the best seats for the show.

As such, I’d only recommend looking at reserving a Lightning Lane for a show as a last resort.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that if you’ve got Disney Genie+ then it’s likely your next Lightning Lane has become available so you’ll be heading to the ride you selected.

Toy Story Land isn’t as large as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge yet there’s still a whole lot of action packed into a small space.

Toy Story Mania

Toy Story Mania is a 4D interactive ride with no height restrictions.

The standby wait time for this ride is often between 45 and 100 minutes but given the limited number of rides at Hollywood Studios suitable for those under 97cm it can often be worth the wait.

Especially since the queue see’s you step inside Andy’s room and make your way through a toy chest full of classic games before picking up your pair of special 3D glasses for the ride.

The ride itself sees you board a carnival-inspired tram and use your spring-action shooter to take your best shot at several moving targets.

This game is great for family and friends since each shot sees you achieve points which are recorded on a display in front of you.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers has a minimum height requirement of 81cm, as such it’s not suitable for some guests.

Similar to the Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom, this ride sees your vehicle spin around on a turntable.

The standby wait time for this ride is often the shortest of all the rides in Toy Story Land at between 20 and 40 minutes with the ride lasting roughly 5 minutes in total.

Slinky Dog Dash

The icon of Toy Story Land is Slinky Dog Dash which stretches across this area of the park.

This ride has the largest height requirement of all three rides inside Toy Story Land at 97cm, and as such, it may not be suitable for everyone.

If your children are too small to go on Slinky Dog Dash (min-height 97cm) and / or Alien Swirling Saucers (min-height 81cm) you might find yourself with some free time here.

In that case consider heading back out to Animation Courtyard and going to the Disney Junior Play & Dance! which has a 15:30, 16:15 and a 16:55 showing.

This launched roller coaster twists and turns past giant toys and springs across Andy’s oversized backyard!

This ride pretty consistently has the largest standby wait time of any ride here in Toy Story Land which often exceeds 100 minutes.

Drinks & Snacks

If you find yourself looking for a drink or snack in Toy Story Land be sure to head to Woody’s Lunchbox situated just to the side of Toy Story Mania.

This quick-service restaurant has a small number of benches outdoors and serves a range of options including;

• Box tarts (various flavours)
• BBQ brisket melt
• “Totchos”
• Tomato-basil soup
• Mini Babybel snack cheese
• Ice cream float with Barq’s root beer

5:00pm – Dinner

By 5:00pm you’re no doubt ready for dinner. Luckily in Toy Story Land, you’re still fairly central and no more than 10 minute walk from most major food options.

If you’ve already gone ahead and reserved a table service restaurant then you can head directly there.

If you’re still looking for a more formal dining option feel free to head to the My Disney Experience mobile app to see what options are still available.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a quick service meal consider visiting one of the following;

Backlot Express

Situated between Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! and Star Tours – The Adventure Continues is the Backlot Express.

This is a large, covered quick-service restaurant serving a range of delicious food including;

• Smoked BBQ pulled pork burger
• Teriyaki chicken bowl
• Angus cheeseburger
• Cuban sandwich
• Southwest Salad

Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo

Situated inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge just across from Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run this restaurant is a must-eat if you’re a fan of Star Wars.

The food here is as creative as the decor with dishes including;

• Batuuan beef and crispy topato stir-fry
• Peka tuna poke
• Smoked kaadu pork ribs
• Fried endorian chicken tip yip

ABC Commissary

Given the extensive and incredibly tasty menu, the prime location just behind Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway and the amount of indoor seating available this is our favourite quick-service dining location in Hollywood Studios.

The dining options here include;

• Shrimp tacos
• Chicken club sandwich
• Mediterranean salad

If you’ve purchased Disney’s Genie+ then over dinner you’ll likely be ready to make your next Lightning Lane selection.

I suggest considering one of the following;

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

If you’ve managed to get your Disney Genie+ selections just right, and arrived in time for rope drop then it’s possible that at this point you’ve experienced all of these rides.

In that case, you may want to consider booking Genie+ for;

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Celebrity Spotlight
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

While you can reserve a Lightning Lane for some of the shows at Hollywood Studios, this only gets you entry into the seating area 10 minutes before the standby line which allows you to get some of the best seats for the show.

As such, I’d only recommend looking at reserving a Lightning Lane for a show as a last resort.

6:30pm – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

After dinner, it’s time to head to the latest and most popular area in Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

If you’ve been unable to explore this land at rope drop between going on the two rides here (Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance) then now is the best time to do so.

That’s because after 6pm is the quietest time at Hollywood Studios second only to the first hour and a half after rope drop.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

This incredible motion simulation ride sees you climb inside the cockpit of a life-size Millennium Flacon.

Each person will be given a role essential to ensuring a daring flight in the Millennium Falcon is successful. These roles include the pilot, the engineer and the runner.

This ride is only suitable for those 97cm or taller and has an average wait time of around 60 minutes.

If you’re looking to minimise how long you wait for this ride consider joining the single-rider queue instead.

While this may see you separated from other members of your party during the ride, resulting in you riding separately it can also cut the standby wait time in half.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the most popular ride at Hollywood Studios.

This ride has individual Lightning Lanes available for purchase at roughly $15 per person plus tax as part of Genie+.

The exact price can vary depending on a number of factors such as; how busy the park is, how popular the ride has been that day & Genie+ availability

However, if you don’t want to splurge or the Lightning Lanes have sold out for the day then expect to wait roughly 10 minutes.

This is what makes Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance the best ride to head to at rope drop.

However, if you were unable to go on this ride in the morning, then the second best time is now since the crowd levels and subsequent wait times should have reduced from those seen earlier in the day.

Everything from the interactive elements in the queue through to the ride itself has been incredibly well designed to immerse you in the world of Star Wars.

Meanwhile, the latest technology means that this ride is like no other you’ve previously experienced.

During these next couple of hours, it’s also highly likely that if you have Genie+ you’re able to make your next ride selection.

The park should be getting quieter now and as such, some of the Lightning Lane options you’ve been unable to get earlier in the day may become available.

If you’re stuck for choice, keep refreshing the app as new options will appear all the time depending on the standby wait times and other Genie+ guests.

Drinks & Snacks

If you’re looking for a drink or snack while exploring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge then I recommend trying to reserve a spot at Oga’s Cantina.

Reservations can be made using the My Disney Experience app up to 60 days in advance of your visit – which I’d highly recommend for fans of Star Wars.

If you’ve watched some of the Star Wars films then you’ll no doubt no Oga’s Catina as the local watering hole where bounty hunters, smugglers, rogue traders and weary travellers of all ages come together to enjoy music and drinks.

The food menu here is limited to just two items; Batuu bits and happabore sampler. However, the drinks menu is extensive with wild and wonderful concoctions in both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic format.

If there’s no space remaining at Oga’s Cantina I recommend heading over to Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo.

Situated just across from Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run this restaurant serves snacks alongside entrees such as;

• Batuuan beef and crispy topato stir-fry
• Peka tuna poke
• Smoked kaadu pork ribs
• Fried endorian chicken tip yip

9:00pm – Wonderful World of Animation

Your extensive one day at Hollywood Studios finishes with the Wonderful World of Animation show.

I’ve given this show a time of 9:00pm in this itinerary, however, depending on a number of factors including the park’s closing time this could change. As such it’s important to check the show times for your specific visiting date in advance.

This exciting projection show will take you on an incredible journey through more than 90 years of Disney and Pixar animation both starting and ending with the mouse that started it all, the one, the only Mickey!

The projection takes place on the Chinese Theatre which plays host to the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride.

This central location means that once the projection has finished you’ll be able to turn around and walk directly up Hollywood Boulevard to the park’s exit.