Touring Hollywood Studios

Apr 12, 2020

6 min read

Hollywood Studios is the third theme park that opened at Walt Disney World. Opening on May 1, 1989, it was originally called Disney-MGM Studios. It was renamed to Hollywood Studios on January 7, 2008, when Disney and MGM decided not to renew their contract.

This is the park that has gone through the most changes since it’s conception. The idea for this park originated from, what was a going to be, a new movie based pavilion in Epcot. Disney-MGM studios originally opened as a theme park and a working studio. This park was to be “a Hollywood that never was, and always will be.” It represented what everyone’s perfect idea of Hollywood was. It was also heavily based on attractions that showed you behind the scenes of movie and tv show productions.

Now, Hollywood Studios is moving towards giving you the experience of actually stepping into the movies themselves. Thus, came two lands to give you this experience, Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Hollywood Studios, currently, has nine different areas. Some of these areas have completely cohesive themes (like the two new areas), and they are based off of the idea of stepping into Hollywood’s movies. Others are based on idealized versions of real life locations in Hollywood and Los Angeles. These “lands” have attractions interspersed that don’t necessarily fit that “theme.” The nine areas are called: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Commissary Lane, Grand Avenue, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, An Incredible Celebration, Animation Courtyard, and Sunset Boulevard. You can see on the map below how the park is laid out.

Hollywood Boulevard starts at the park entrance and leads up to a replica of the Grauman Chinese Theater. This area is lined with unique shops where you may find merchandise that you won’t find anywhere else at Disney World. The one main attraction on Hollywood Boulevard is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which is inside the Chinese Theater. To date, this is the newest ride to open in this park. This ride transports you into a cartoon, and it is the first ride ever that stars Mickey Mouse.

If you take a sharp right (almost going backwards) before you get to the circle that the Chinese Theater is in, you will end up in Sunset Boulevard. This street is inspired by a real life location. Like Hollywood Boulevard, this street is lined with shops. The main icon you will see walking down Sunset Boulevard will be the Hollywood Tower Hotel which houses the thrilling Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. If you ride this ride multiple times, you will find that each time the experience is a little bit different. Not far from Tower of Terror is another thrilling attraction, called Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. This is an indoor roller coaster that features Aerosmith. There are also a couple shows located in this land.

If you back your way out of Sunset Boulevard, and continue going right, you will find Animation Courtyard. This area consists of mostly walk through attractions and shows. One of these attractions is called Star Wars Launch bay, which consists of actual movie props used in Star Wars films. You can also meet some of your favorite Star Wars characters in here. Another walk through attraction is Walt Disney Presents. In here, you can explore artifacts and the history of Walt Disney, himself. This walk through ends with a film that used to be about Walt Disney, but, more recently, they have been giving you sneak peaks of upcoming Disney films. If you are looking for a more traditional Disney-based attraction, Animation Courtyard also contains a live action show based off of The Little Mermaid.

When you leave Animation Courtyard, it you keep to your right, and pass the walkway to Toy Story Land, you will end up in a small area called “An Incredible Celebration.” This little area is themed like a Municiberg city block from the film, The Incredibles. There aren’t really any big rides or attractions here, but there are plenty of photo opportunities, character meet and greets, and Incredibles merchandise, and some food options.

When your done experiencing The Incredibles, you have to go back out the way you came in, as it leads to a dead end. This will take you back to the Toy Story Land entrance. This land is filled with gigantic props that will make you feel like you are the size of a toy. Here, you can ride on the back of Slinky Dog on a family roller coaster, take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, and compete for the best score on the popular, and interactive, ride, Toy Story Mania. You will also find plenty of Toy Story characters, including the green army men.

When you exit Toy Story Land on the other side, you will end up in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This is the largest single-themed expansion that Disney has ever done in one of their parks. You’ll think that you have entered a whole new world after you walk through the tunnel to get here. You will be on the planet Batuu, which is a new planet that was imagined for the land. They really go to the extra effort to immerse you in this land. All of the cast members (workers) live on the planet, Batuu, and they have their own backstories. They probably won’t know what you are talking about if you ask them about any other area of Disney, since Disney World isn’t on their planet. Even the coke bottles look completely different here. There is so much to see and do here, from exploring the trading posts and hanging out in the cantina, to building your own light saber. Of course, the main attractions are the rides. You will be able to make your childhood dream come true by taking the driver’s seat in the Millennium Falcon. The other ride is one of the most technologically advanced rides ever built, called “Rise of the Resistance.”

If you leave Galaxy’s Edge on the opposite side, you will pass Grand Avenue. This is another relatively small “land,” which is inspired by the real life location in downtown Los Angeles. The main attraction you will find here is, a 4D attraction, based on The Muppets. You will want to find your way over here if you are craving Italian food.

If you don’t go into Grand Avenue, the next area you will pass is Commissary Lane. This is a small pathway that goes back to the Chinese Theater. This area contains a unique restaurant that is themed like a 50’s drive in theater. You sit inside a car-shaped booth and watch clips of old sci-fi classics on the big screen! You’ll can also meet Mickey and Minnie while they are working on their latest films. Mickey will be dressed in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice outfit, and Minnie will be on the set of her latest film.

If you keep to the right when you exit Commissary Lane, you’ll finally come full circle, and you can explore Echo Lake. Star Wars, again, is well represented in this area. There is a 3D simulator ride that will take you on a different journey each time you ride, and there is a Jedi Training live show, that features kids who have signed up to be trained by a Jedi master. Another George Lucas property, Indiana Jones, is also represented here, with a live Stunt show. You can also get your Frozen fix in this land, with a musical show that features a mix of live actors and scenes from the movie.

Below, is a list of major attractions that are featured in each land. With the closing of The Great Movie Ride on August 13, 2017, this is the only park where there are no opening day attractions still operating in this park. The oldest attraction still running is Indian Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, which made it’s debut almost four months after the park opened (August, 25, 1989).

Hollywood Boulevard