Why We Love Disney's Hollywood Studios

Each of the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort has so much to love – rides, attractions, characters, dining options! A couple of weeks ago we talked about why we love Animal Kingdom and this week we’re excited to talk about why we love Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Hollywood Studios has seen quite a few changes in the last few years. Some popular attractions – like Studio Backlot Tour and The Great Movie Ride – have closed, but new attractions, and in some cases lands have replaced them.

So, why do we love Hollywood Studios?

50’s Prime Time Café – This eatery allows you to step back in time to the 1950s. Household items from the era are the décor for this restaurant and at some tables you’ll find small black and white TVs showing a reel of commercials and bits of shows from the 50s. The atmosphere is fun, everyone is family here – but be sure to eat your vegetables and keep your elbows off the table! In addition to the fun, the food is a big reason we love this location. There are so many amazing options to choose from here, but some of our favorites are the Beer-battered Onion Rings, Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese, Grandpa’s Crab Cake, Chicken Pot Pie, Meatloaf, A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes, and the Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater – When I was growing up, and even as an adult when we still had one near us I loved going to the drive-in movies! Sci-Fi Dine-In allows you to experience something close to the real thing and we love it! Your table is inside a car and the whole restaurant space is themed to look like a drive-in theater. Cars, speakers, signs that read “dim your lights,” the snack bar at the back and of course the giant screen that plays commercials and bits of shows from the 1950s. The overall experience is fun, and the food is not your traditional drive-in snack bar snacks! Some of our favorites eats are the Drive-in BBQ Burger, the Sci-Fi Barbecue Platter, the Warm Glazed Doughnut, the Lemon Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote, and the House-made Sci-Fi Candy Bar.

Toy Story Land – We got to experience Toy Story Land for the first time on our last trip and it was amazing! As you enter the land you feel as though you’ve been shrunk down to the size of a toy! Favorite characters from the films are larger than life, the details are amazing, and it was especially fun since Toy Story was such a big part of my childhood, and Christian has loved it as well. There are three rides in Toy Story Land – Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, and Toy Story Mania. We rode all three on our last trip and really enjoyed them all. In addition to the amazing details and fun attractions we love Toy Story Land because of Woody’s Lunchbox. This quick service restaurant offers fun eats in a fun atmosphere – the walk-up window is a lunchbox! We really like the BBQ Brisket Melt, the Potato Barrels, and the Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tart!

Galaxy’s Edge – So many people have been waiting for Galaxy’s Edge to finally open since the land was first announced. As a family we love Star Wars and although we haven’t been to Galaxy’s Edge yet, we know that we’re going to love it when we visit in February! From what we’re seen in TV specials and vlogs online the detail and immersive-ness of the entire land is enough reason to love it! We’ll update this post after our visit, but for now we love the aspect of being a part of Star Wars, enjoying the experiences, the rides, the food, and making our own lightsaber.

Characters – Hollywood Studios is all about the movies, and you can meet your favorite movie and show characters throughout the park! At the time of posting the current character experiences at Hollywood Studios are:

Meet and Greets – BB-8, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Olaf, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Mike and Sulley, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, Mickey and Minnie, Chip, Dale, Pluto, Cruz Ramirez, DJ, Edna Mode, Frozone, Mr. Incredible, and Mrs. Incredible.

Shows – For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Celebration, Jedi Training: Trails of the Temple, Disney Junior Dance Party.

Dining – Hollywood & Vine (Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine breakfast and Minnie’s Seasonal Dining for lunch and dinner.)

Keep in mind that characters and experiences are subject to change.

Hollywood and Vine – We love a good buffet and Hollywood & Vine offers just that. We have enjoyed breakfast and lunch here and really enjoyed both meals. The chance to meet characters is always a plus for us as well, especially Disney Junior characters!

Carrot Cake Cookie – We LOVE carrot cake. All four of us love it, the cake itself, and of course the cream cheese frosting. The Carrot Cake Cookie at Hollywood Studios is one of our favorite park snacks. The location where the cookie can be found has changed a few times over the years, and so has the overall appearance of the cookie itself. We miss Writer’s Stop and the original cookie, but it is still a delicious treat.

Rock n Roller Coaster – The whole experience of this attraction is a lot of fun. Loud music, a speedy start, rushing through the looping “streets” of Los Angeles. It’s a fun ride.

Tower of Terror – While this attractions isn’t for everyone I love it. I love that no two experiences are exactly the same and it is overall a lot of fun.

Fantasmic! – Characters, catchy music, a fireworks, and a great story line await you in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. We really enjoy this nighttime spectacular.

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – There’s nothing better than ending your day with a celebration of all things Star Wars! Fireworks, iconic quotes and clips, music, special effects. The whole experience is amazing and it’s hard to put into words what it is like to someone that hasn’t experienced it. Our advice: see this nighttime spectacular for yourself, you won’t regret it.

Why do you love Hollywood Studios?

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