Disney’s Hollywood Studios – tickets, prices, what to expect

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the place for blockbuster thrills. It is home to Star Wars, Toy Story, and classic Hollywood glamour.

While it is smaller than the other parks, it is very dense with major attractions. It often feels the most crowded of all four parks because it has fewer “small” rides to absorb the crowds. This is a park where you need a good plan.

Important Updates for 2025 Visitors

  • New Little Mermaid Show: The long-closed “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” is scheduled to be replaced in 2025 by a brand new show called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.”
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is OPEN: After a long refurbishment in 2024, this popular coaster is back and running smoothly.
  • Lightning Lane is Essential Here: Because this park has so many “headliner” rides that everyone wants to do, ride lines get very long, very fast.

Tickets and Prices

Disney uses “dynamic pricing,” meaning tickets cost more during busy times (Christmas, Spring Break) and less during quiet times (September, late January).

Hollywood Studios is usually priced higher than Animal Kingdom but slightly lower than Magic Kingdom.

1. Base Ticket Prices (One Park Per Day)

If you only want to visit Hollywood Studios for one day, here is what to budget:

  • 1-Day Ticket Range: In 2025, a one-day ticket specifically for Hollywood Studios typically ranges from $139 to $194 (plus tax).
  • Child Discount: Kids aged 3–9 pay about $5 less per day than adults. Kids under 3 are free.

2. The “Park Hopper” Decision

Should you pay the extra $70 to $95 to visit multiple parks in one day?

  • Yes, if: You want to spend the morning riding Star Wars rides, but want to have dinner at EPCOT. (You can easily walk or take the Skyliner gondola between these two parks in about 20 minutes).
  • No, if: You want to see Fantasmic! at night. There is enough to do at Hollywood Studios to fill a completely full day from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM without needing to leave.

3. Essential “Hidden” Costs to Budget For

Hollywood Studios has more optional (but popular) add-ons than any other park.

Lightning Lanes (Almost Essential Here)

Because this park has so many major rides with long lines, most visitors buy Lightning Lanes.

  • Multi Pass: Expect to pay between $26 and $39 per person, per day at this park.
  • Single Pass (Rise of the Resistance): If you don’t want to wait 2+ hours for the big Star Wars ride, you will need to pay between $20 and $25 per person to skip the line.

Galaxy’s Edge Experiences

If you are a huge Star Wars fan, you might want to book these special experiences. They are very expensive and require reservations months in advance:

  • Savi’s Workshop (Build a Lightsaber): Costs roughly $250 (plus tax) per builder.
  • Droid Depot (Build a Robot): Costs roughly $120 (plus tax) per builder.
  • Oga’s Cantina: It is free to enter (with a reservation), but the special drinks are expensive. Budget about $15–$20 per drink.

Standard Extras

  • Parking: Standard car parking is roughly $30–$35 per day (Free if you are staying at a Disney hotel).

Opening Hours & Best Time to Arrive

Hollywood Studios can feel very busy by 10:00 AM.

  • Typical Hours: 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
  • Early Entry (On-Site Hotel Guests): Starts 30 minutes before official opening (e.g., 8:00 AM or 8:30 AM).
  • When to Arrive: You should arrive at the park gates 60 minutes before it opens.
  • Rope Drop Strategy: Most people rush to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash first. If you want to avoid the biggest crowd, go to Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster first—they will have almost no wait right at opening.

Must-Do Attractions by Visitor Type

For Thrill Seekers (High Intensity)

  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Galaxy’s Edge): More than just a ride, this is a 20-minute immersive experience. You will be captured by the First Order and have to escape. It is widely considered one of the best theme park attractions in the world. (Height: 40″)
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Sunset Blvd): A spooky drop-ride in a haunted hotel. The drops are randomized, so every ride is different. (Height: 40″)
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Sunset Blvd): An intense indoor roller coaster that features a very fast 0-to-60 mph launch and goes upside down three times in the dark. (Height: 48″)

For Families & All Ages

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Center of the park): A fantastic, trackless dark ride that takes you inside a classic cartoon. It is funny, cute, and uses amazing technology. (No height requirement)
  • Slinky Dog Dash (Toy Story Land): A family-friendly roller coaster that is smooth and fun, but still exciting enough for adults. (Height: 38″)
  • Toy Story Mania! (Toy Story Land): A 3D ride where you play carnival games and compete for the high score. It is very addictive. (No height requirement)
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue (Echo Lake): A classic 3D motion simulator that travels to different Star Wars planets. (Height: 40″)

The Big Shows

Hollywood Studios is famous for its entertainment. These are great for resting your feet in air conditioning.

  • Fantasmic! (Sunset Blvd): The massive nighttime spectacular featuring Mickey Mouse fighting classic Disney villains. It features fireworks, water screens, and live actors. Arrive at least 45 minutes early for a seat.
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! (Echo Lake): A huge live-action show demonstrating how movie stunts are performed, with explosions and fights.
  • Frozen Sing-Along Celebration (Echo Lake): Very funny live actors retell the story of Frozen while snow falls in the theater.

Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

This 14-acre land is incredibly immersive. It is designed to look like the “Black Spire Outpost” on the planet Batuu.

  • The Two Rides: Rise of the Resistance (the main attraction) and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (where you actually pilot the famous ship).
  • Oga’s Cantina: A very popular bar with strange, bubbling alien drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). You almost always need a reservation to get in.
  • Building Lightsabers & Droids: You can build your own custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop ($250+) or a custom droid at Droid Depot ($100+). Advance reservations are required for both.

Dining Guide

Quick Service (No reservation needed)

  • Best Theme: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (Galaxy’s Edge). Unique, tasty food that looks “alien” but tastes familiar (like fried chicken with interesting sauces).
  • Best for Families: Woody’s Lunch Box (Toy Story Land). Great for grilled cheese sandwiches and “Lunch Box Tarts” (homemade Pop-Tarts). Warning: It is all outdoor seating and gets very hot.
  • Best Basic Food: ABC Commissary. A good indoor spot with air conditioning that serves standard burgers, chicken sandwiches, and salads.

Table Service (Reservations needed)

  • Best Overall: The Hollywood Brown Derby. An upscale replica of the famous restaurant in Los Angeles. It is famous for its Cobb Salad and Grapefruit Cake.
  • Most Fun for Kids: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. You sit in classic cars and watch old, cheesy sci-fi movie clips while eating burgers and milkshakes. The food is just okay, but the atmosphere is amazing.
  • Best Character Meal: Hollywood & Vine. Meet Disney Junior characters at breakfast, or Minnie Mouse and friends in seasonal costumes at lunch and dinner.

Lightning Lane Strategy 2025 (Highly Recommended Here)

Hollywood Studios is the hardest park to manage without Lightning Lanes because it has so many Tier 1 rides.

1. Lightning Lane Single Pass (Pay per ride)

  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the only ride here that uses the Single Pass.
  • If you are not ropedropping this ride, you should buy this pass. Wait times regularly exceed 2 hours.

2. Lightning Lane Multi Pass (The Bundle)

  • Hollywood Studios uses a strict tier system.
  • Tier 1 (You can only choose ONE initially):
    • Slinky Dog Dash (This is the hardest one to get. Pick this first!)
    • OR Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
    • OR Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
    • OR Tower of Terror
  • Tier 2 (Choose TWO initially):
    • Toy Story Mania! (Best choice)
    • Tower of Terror (Sometimes this is Tier 2 depending on the season—if it is, definitely pick it here!)
    • Alien Swirling Saucers
    • Star Tours
    • Various shows (Frozen, Indiana Jones)

3 Essential Tips for Hollywood Studios

  1. Stay Until Closing: Lines for major rides like Slinky Dog Dash and Rise of the Resistance often drop significantly in the last hour before the park closes.
  2. Use Mobile Order for Food: Quick-service lines get very long here at lunch (especially at Woody’s Lunch Box). Order your food on the Disney app hours before you actually want to eat.
  3. Don’t Miss the “Beacons of Magic”: At night, the Tower of Terror transforms with beautiful projection mapping. It is not a full show, but it is lovely to watch as you leave the park.
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