Hollywood Studios With Kids: Is It Worth a Full Day?

Hollywood Studios was our first-ever Disney park.

And honestly, the experience started before we even reached the entrance.

Driving toward Walt Disney World, the road signs changed, Disney billboards started appearing, buses were everywhere and suddenly it felt like we had properly entered the Disney bubble.

We arrived about an hour before opening, parked and walked toward the entrance.

There was already a crowd waiting.

For a family doing Disney for the first time, even that felt exciting.

We had bought two-day, one-park-per-day tickets for our family of four, which cost us around €1,300 in total.

And yes, parking was extra. 😅

For our first day, we chose Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

By the end of the day, it had become our favourite theme park we had ever visited.

At least until Universal Studios Japan came along years later.

Is Hollywood Studios Good for Kids?

For our family, absolutely.

Hollywood Studios worked surprisingly well because it has a really good mix of:

• immersive themed areas
• thrill rides
• family rides
• character meetings
• live shows
• interactive attractions
• big evening entertainment

It never felt like a park that was only for small kids or only for adults.

Maj and Naja could both find things they liked, and there was enough for us adults to enjoy too.

Arriving Early Was Worth It

We got there roughly an hour before the official opening time.

There were already plenty of people waiting, but the park still didn’t feel overwhelming once we got inside.

Because we were there early, we headed straight toward Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

That turned out to be one of the best decisions of the day.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Was Incredible

Even if you’re not the biggest Star Wars fan, this area is impressive.

Galaxy’s Edge doesn’t really feel like a normal theme park land.

You walk in and suddenly everything changes.

Buildings, sound, characters, vehicles, details everywhere.

It feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet.

And because we got there early, we managed to do the first Star Wars ride with almost no queue.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Our first ride was Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Walking inside the Millennium Falcon was already enough to make it memorable.

The ride itself is interactive, with guests taking different roles while flying the Falcon.

It was fun, and because the queue was still short, it was the perfect way to start our first Disney day.

But for us, it wasn’t the best Star Wars attraction.

That came next.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

This was the one.

And calling it “a ride” almost undersells it.

You move through different environments, become part of the story, walk through areas that feel like film sets and eventually board a ride vehicle as you try to escape the First Order.

Disney officially describes it as a large-scale attraction using multiple ride systems, and that’s exactly why it feels so different from a normal coaster or dark ride.

For us, it was one of the best experiences in the whole park.

Building Our Own BB-8 Droid

Of course, Disney also found another way to get some extra money out of us. 😂

Inside Galaxy’s Edge, we built and bought our own BB-8-style droid.

Definitely not included in the ticket price.

Definitely not cheap.

But also one of those souvenirs the kids actually remembered afterwards.

And honestly, in a place like Galaxy’s Edge, it’s very easy to get carried away.

Meeting Chewbacca

We also got to meet Chewbacca, which was another big moment for the kids.

Character meetings are one of those things that sound slightly silly before you go.

Then you see how excited the kids get and suddenly you understand why everyone does it.

Toy Story Land

Later we moved into Toy Story Land.

This was another really fun area, especially with kids.

Everything is designed to make you feel small, like you’ve entered Andy’s backyard.

We went on Toy Story Mania!, the interactive shooting ride.

This was actually the longest queue of our day, at around an hour.

And surprisingly, even with that wait, the park never really felt overcrowded to us.

That probably helped shape our opinion of Hollywood Studios quite a lot.

Slinky Dog Dash

In the evening, Naja and I went on Slinky Dog Dash.

It was a really good family coaster.

Fast enough to be exciting, but not so intense that it becomes a serious thrill ride.

Disney still lists it as one of the main Toy Story Land attractions. Walt Disney World

Maj and Tjaša skipped that one and went to get seats for the evening show instead.

Fantasmic!

While Naja and I were on Slinky Dog Dash, Maj and Tjaša went to Fantasmic!

That’s the big nighttime show with water, boats, projections, lights and pyrotechnics.

Disney currently describes it as a nighttime spectacular built around Mickey’s imagination, with stunts and pyrotechnics.

For a park day that had already been packed with rides and shows, it was a pretty spectacular way to finish.

Indiana Jones Stunt Show

One of the live shows we really enjoyed was the Indiana Jones stunt show.

This was a nice break from queuing for rides.

You get action, explosions, stunt work and that classic Indiana Jones atmosphere.

It also made the day feel more varied.

Hollywood Studios does this really well.

You’re not just moving from ride to ride.

Frozen Sing-Along and Meeting Olaf

For Naja, one of the highlights was naturally Frozen.

We watched For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, which is still one of the park’s current live shows.

And we also got to meet Olaf.

That’s one of the things I liked about Hollywood Studios with kids.

You can go from Star Wars and thrill rides to Frozen and character meetings within the same park.

Lightning McQueen Show

We also saw the Lightning McQueen show.

It was another nice break from the rides and something the kids enjoyed.

This is one of those moments where I’d make clear in the article that this was part of our visit, rather than treating it as a current must-do, because Disney entertainment changes over time.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Another family ride we liked was Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

This one is much more playful and easygoing.

It’s a good contrast to rides like Tower of Terror or Rise of the Resistance, and Disney still lists it among the park’s main attractions.

Tower of Terror

I ended the night with one of my personal favourites:

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

I loved it.

It’s dark, atmospheric and the drops are properly fun.

Disney still lists Tower of Terror as one of Hollywood Studios’ headline thrill rides. Walt Disney World

For me, it was the perfect way to end the park day.

How Crowded Was Hollywood Studios?

This surprised us.

We expected Disney World to feel packed.

And yes, there were crowds.

But it never felt unbearably crowded during our visit.

The longest wait we had was around one hour for Toy Story Mania!.

Because we arrived early, we were able to get through Galaxy’s Edge before the biggest queues built up.

That’s one thing I would absolutely repeat.

If Hollywood Studios is your first park day, arrive before opening.

How Long Do You Need at Hollywood Studios?

For us, this was definitely a full-day park.

We arrived before opening and stayed into the evening.

And we still had plenty happening right up until the end.

If you want to do Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, several shows, character meetings and the nighttime entertainment, I would not plan Hollywood Studios as a half-day park.

Give it the whole day.

How Much Did Hollywood Studios Cost Us?

Our Disney tickets covered two days with one park per day for our family of four.

We paid around:

€1,300 total

That covered both Disney park days.

Parking was extra.

Current Disney World parking is $35 per day for standard car parking, while preferred parking costs more.

Then you obviously have extra spending inside the park:

• food
• drinks
• souvenirs
• droid building
• anything else your kids suddenly decide they absolutely need 😅

So Disney is definitely not a cheap day out.

Was Hollywood Studios Worth It?

For us?

Yes.

Very much.

It was our first Disney park, so there was probably some extra magic simply because everything was new.

But even looking back now, Hollywood Studios was genuinely excellent.

Galaxy’s Edge was the standout.

Rise of the Resistance was probably our favourite ride.

Toy Story Land worked really well for the kids.

There were enough shows and character meetings to break up the queues.

And Tower of Terror gave me something properly fun to finish the night.

For a family with kids who enjoy Star Wars, Disney characters and rides, Hollywood Studios is very easy to recommend.

Our Favourite Hollywood Studios Attractions

If I had to pick our highlights:

1. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
The most immersive attraction of the day.

2. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
The whole land was incredible.

3. Tower of Terror
My personal favourite thrill ride.

4. Slinky Dog Dash
A great family coaster.

5. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Easy, fun and good for the whole family.

6. Frozen Sing-Along
A big hit with Naja.

7. Indiana Jones stunt show
A really good break from ride queues.

Hollywood Studios With Kids: Our Verdict

Hollywood Studios became our favourite theme park at the time.

It stayed that way until our visit to Universal Studios Japan later.

That probably says enough. 😅

If this is your first Disney park, it’s a brilliant introduction.

You get Star Wars, Pixar, Disney characters, live entertainment and some genuinely excellent rides all in one place.

Our only real advice?

Get there early.

That first quiet hour made a huge difference.

Staying Near Hollywood Studios?

If you want to stay close to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the other Walt Disney World parks, you can compare nearby hotels and family-friendly stays here.

Find hotels near Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios With Kids FAQ

Is Hollywood Studios good for kids?
Yes. There is a good mix of family rides, characters, shows and more thrilling attractions.

How long do you need at Hollywood Studios?
We would recommend a full day. We arrived before opening and stayed into the evening.

What is the best ride at Hollywood Studios?
For us, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was the standout.

Is Galaxy’s Edge worth visiting?
Absolutely. Even beyond the rides, the theming alone makes it one of the most impressive areas in the park.

What was our longest wait?
Around one hour for Toy Story Mania!.

Is Tower of Terror too scary for kids?
That depends completely on the child. I loved it, but it is darker and more intense than most of the family rides.

Is parking included at Hollywood Studios?
No. Standard parking is currently charged separately unless you qualify for included parking through certain Disney hotel or passholder benefits.

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