Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened its gates on May 1st, 1989. Guests to the Walt Disney World Resort now could see a real movie and television production company at work. The original idea for Disney’s Hollywood Studios was to operate a real working television and movie studio along with a theme park with millions of visitors a year.
Many projects were done here at Disney’s Hollywood Studios but it became cumbersome to deal with the logistics of having 2 animation departments located over 2,000 miles apart. The Florida operations closed in early 2004 and since then the Disney animation department has been under one roof in Burbank, California.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios does not have a designated resort area. It does share water transportation and a walking path with Epcot, Disney’s BoardWalk, and some of the Epcot Resorts. Disney’s Hollywood Studios share the waterways with Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Walt Disney World Swan, and the Walt Disney World Dolphin. Disney’s BoardWalk Villas and Disney’s Beach Club Villas are part of the Disney Vacation Club and if you would like our opinion of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC)click here. If you are going to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios and would like to stay within a short boat ride or an enjoyable long walk, the Epcot Resort area is a great place to stay. For more information and reservations call 407-WDISNEY (934-7639).
EPCOT RESORT AREA
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Walt Disney World Dolphin
Walt Disney World Swan
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Hollywood Studios park hours vary from day to day. Print a copy of toddsorlando.com’s Disney Calendar and take it with you on your Disney Vacation. It will provide all the Disney Parks hours along with which Parks will be having the Extra Magic Hours for Disney Resorts Guests only. The Walt Disney World Resorts offer a wide variety of ticket options for its guests. It would be impossible for someone to be able to suggest the best option to buy tickets because of all the variables involved in planning your vacation. For tickets call 407-939-1289. Walt Disney World Resorts will accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club Card, and American Express credit cards. For your convenience, there are ATMs located through out Walt Disney World.
The layout for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is not as defined as the other 3 theme parks. It is located on 135 acres and it has more of a streetscape design with sidewalks and curbs through out much of the park. Many of the buildings have been part of a working studio and they can vary from building to building much like a real motion picture studio would. The signature icon of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the 122’ tall Sorcerer Mickey Wizard Hat located in the center of the park. This follows the Disney tradition of having a centerpiece to the theme park like Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, and the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Once you have entered Disney’s Hollywood Studios get your Times Guide & New Information brochure along with a Guidemap of the park. The Times Guide changes weekly so make sure you have the correct date on the top of the brochure. We have categorized the attractions and restaurants in to 4 themed areas. As we said before, some of the areas in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are not as defined as the other parks so follow your Guidemap and you wont miss a thing.
Hollywood Boulevard – When you enter the gates of Disney’s Hollywood Studios you are immediately immersed in to a fantasy world of Hollywood’s Golden age. Keep an eye out for the “Citizens of Hollywood” who are costumed entertainers doing live-action caricatures of figures from Hollywood’s past. You may see directors, talent agents, starlets, and aspiring future starlets. Hollywood Boulevard was designed with the same principle as Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom. You enter in to this area, which guides you to the center of the park then disperses you to the other themed areas. Behind the Sorcerer Mickey Wizard Hat is The Great Movie Ride. You enter this ride through a replica of the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre located in Hollywood, California. Look for the numerous celebrity handprints left in cement before entering The Great Movie Ride. The highly anticipated American Idol Experience is also located in this area. You can Watch, Vote, & Perform. Go to disneyworld.com/idol for more information. Hollywood Boulevard is filled with venues selling Disney merchandise. Since you have to go through this area when you are leaving, we suggest to buy your Disney’s Hollywood Studio merchandise on the way out so you don’t have to carry it around all day. The shops do get crowded close to closing time, but they do stay open a half-hour past park closing. The Hollywood Brown Derby, Hollywood & Vine, 50s Prime Time Café, and the Starring Rolls Café are located in this area.
Sunset Boulevard – This section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in July of 1994. The motif for the area was designed after the Hollywood celebrity culture of the 1940s and 1950s. The phrase “Sunset Boulevard” will always be associated with the glamour of early Tinseltown. Once you turn right off of Hollywood boulevard on to Sunset Boulevard you are faced with the menacing Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at the end of the street. It is located in the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel and it captures the essence of the classic television series, The Twilight Zone. Next to the Hollywood Tower Hotel is Rock “n” Roller Coaster Staring Aerosmith. You do have to be 48” or taller to ride this coaster. If you want the younger kids to ride with you who are a little couscous about what they will ride, don’t tell them this ride goes up side down. Even when you ride the Rock “n” Roller Coaster, it is hard to tell. It is all indoors with minimum lighting. If you are wanting to ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock “n” Roller Coaster the most efficient way is to get to Disney’s Hollywood Studios when it opens and go straight to Sunset Boulevard. Get a FASTPASS to one, then stand in line for the other. If you get there early enough, you way be able to ride them twice before the lines get too long. Also in this area is the Theater of the Stars where the live stage show Beauty and the Beast takes place. Check your Times Guide for show times and don’t miss the first Disney animated feature film to become a Broadway Musical hit. At the end of the day come back to Sunset Boulevard for Fantasmic! This show represents Mickey’s dream as he battles some of Disney’s more infamous villains. The show last about 25 minutes and features laser lights, dancing waters, fireworks, and dramatic music. For your information the exit bottlenecks. If you stay for the whole show, it can take a while to get out of the theatre. If you want to avoid this, leave early. Guest may remain in their ECVs for this show. As you stroll down Sunset Boulevard you will notice a few specialty shops along the way that feature items from old classic films. After you ride 2 of the most popular rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Take it Easy” the rest of your time in this California setting on Sunset Boulevard. The Sunset Ranch Market is located in this area.
Backlot – This area encompasses many attractions and restaurants associated with the mega movies of more recent years. Part of the Backlot has the appearance of a working movie studio. The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is a live action stunt show featuring scenes from the 1981 movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. Guests may remain in their EVCs for this show. Star Tours – the ultimate Star Wars thrill ride is one of the most popular rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and it is not for the faint at heart. Check your Times Guide for Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. This show orchestrates motor stunts with specialty-designed cars, motorcycles, and jet skis. It gives you a behind the scene look at how action stunts are done for the movies. For the younger visitors don’t miss the “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure playground and Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3-D. Check your Times Guide for Meet & Greet the Characters at Al’s Toy Barn located close to the Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3-D. Have your cameras and autograph books ready. As you are walking through the Backlot keep your eye out for great picture shots of street scenes resembling New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, Sci-Fi-Dine-In Theater, ABC Commissary, Toy Story Pizza Planet, and Backlot Express are located in this area.
Mickey Avenue Animation Courtyard – This area was the Florida home of the Disney Animation Department before they consolidated in Burbank, California. It was originally the starting point of the tours of Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s active production facility. If you have any interest in how Disney animation is done you should visit the Magic of Disney Animation. Another must for Disney enthusiasts is Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. These are both walking tours so guests can stay in their wheelchair or ECVs. A day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios would not be complete with out a visit to the Studio Backlot Tour. Here you will have a guided walking and tram tour through the non-pedestrian areas of the park. Look for famous props from familiar television shows and movies. Guests can stay in their wheelchairs and ECVs for this tour. The newest part of this section is Pixar Place. Pixar Place includes many of the original soundstages that were used when Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a working production facility. It is also home to Toy Story Mania which is an interactive adventure featuring your favorite Toy Story characters. Check your Times Guide for show times at Voyage of The Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage. Guests can stay in their wheelchairs and ECVs for these shows. Don’t forget your autograph books and cameras at Mickey Avenue Character Greetings. Studios Catering Co. Flatbread Grill is located in this area.
Like the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studio has daily parades. At this time the parade is the Pixar Block Party Bash featuring Pixar characters performing in a non-stop musical street party. The parade route goes through part of the Backlot and down Hollywood Boulevard. Also look for the High School Musical 3: Senior Year parade. They travel down Hollywood Boulevard then perform several times daily in front of Sorcerer Mickey’s Wizard Hat. Check your Times Guide for show and parade times. Don’t forget to check out Fantasmic! for the end of the day show. Call 407-WDW-DINE and ask about the Fantasmic! dining experience. It allows you to dine at The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, or Hollywood & Vine. After you dine you will be given a pass for a reserved seating area at the Fantasmic! Amphitheater. This will keep you from having to stand in the long line waiting to enter the Fantasmic! Amphitheater.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios does not provide tours of the park. You can book a tour with VIP Tour Services and they can customize a tour for you and help you with show times and the FASTPASS system. They can help you get the best seats in the house for live shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars. There is a 6-hour minimum at a cost of $125 to $150 per hour per party. They will allow up to 10 people in your party. Theme park admission is required. To schedule your VIP Tour call 407-560-4033 Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. eastern time. You have to be within 90 days of the day you want to schedule your tour to make reservations.
RESERVATION DINING
Playhouse Disney’s Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood & Vine – Come and dine with Jo Jo & Goliath from “Jo Jo’s Circus” and June & Leo from “The Little Einsteins”. Interact with the Playhouse Pals over an all-you-care-to-eat buffet for Breakfast and Lunch. This Character Dining takes place at the Hollywood & Vine restaurant and is only for Breakfast & Lunch. Hollywood & Vine is located in the Hollywood Boulevard area. Don’t forget your cameras and autograph books. Indoor and outdoor seating is available and they participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
The Hollywood Brown Derby – Dine in the authentic replica of the original Hollywood Landmark, The Brown Derby. Imagine rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest stars in the Golden Age of Tinseltown. The walls are filled with movie star caricatures made from the original Brown Derby sketches. The cuisine is classic American with seafood & steaks. Try the famous Cobb Salad, which was invented at the original Brown Derby. Enjoy classic cocktails poured at your table. The Hollywood Brown Derby is located in the Hollywood Boulevard area and they serve Lunch & Dinner. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre – Dine under the starry sky in your vintage 1950s era car complete with fins and whitewalls. Disney has created an in-door 1950s drive-in complete with a large screen showing old sci-fi shorts and cartoons playing in a continuous loop. The cuisine is American and the menu features hot & cold sandwiches along with BBQ Ribs and flame-broiled hamburgers. The adults can enjoy the interstellar Concoction cocktails while the kids will love the delicious milk shakes. The Sci-Fi- Dine-In Theatre is located in the Backlot area and they serve Lunch & Dinner. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
50’s Prime Time Café – Dine at this location and you will be transported back to the 1950s when laminated kitchen tables & counter tops, pull-down lamps over the kitchen table, and black-an-white TVs were the norm. The cuisine is classic American comfort food including meat loaf, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and old-fashioned pot roast. You will be waited on by Mom (or one of her family members) and you will be encouraged to keep your elbows off the table. The 50s Prime Time Café is located in the Hollywood Boulevard area and they serve Lunch & Dinner. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan. If you get there a little early, enjoy a libation at the Tune-in Lounge adjacent to this restaurant.
Hollywood & Vine – This eatery was inspired by the famous intersection it is named after. It was the neighborhood of the Capitol Records Building and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The exterior is art deco with a contemporary 1950s diner interior. Here you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat buffet including carved meats, seafood, poultry, pasta, and vegetables. You can order beer and wine at an extra cost. Interior and exterior seating is provided. Hollywood & Vine is located in the Hollywood Boulevard area and they serve a Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner buffet. Breakfast & Lunch are reserved for the Character Dining only. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano – Dine in this festive Italian restaurant and enjoy the specialties inspired by the bold tastes of Italy. The menu includes wood-fired and brick-oven-baked pizzas along with seafood, pasta, risotto, chicken, and crispy calamari. Try Mama’s homemade sangria. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is located in the Backlot area and they are open for Lunch & Dinner. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
For any of the RESERVATION DINING experiences, we highly recommend you call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) and make reservations as soon as you can. You cannot make reservations on line. You have to call 407-WDW-DINE. Create a vacation schedule and write your time & reservation # along with the Disney Dining # 407-WDW-DINE. They will allow you to make dining reservations up to 180 days prior to your visit. It is better to be safe than sorry. When you call, be sure to ask about the Disney Dining Plan. It can save you up to 30% on your dining at the Walt Disney World Resort.
COUNTER SERVICE DINING
ABC Commissary – This counter service restaurant is located by the Chinese Theatre. There is lots of seating in the dining area and the menu includes full meals with an international flare. They are open for Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner and are located in the Backlot area. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Backlot Express – This eatery was designed to resemble an old movie-studio prop shop. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, chicken strips, and more. Beer is also available. The Backlot Express is open for Lunch & Dinner and is located in the Backlot area. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Starring Rolls Cafe – This is the perfect place to get that light breakfast and jolt of espresso or coffee to get your morning started. They serve freshly baked goods and pastries along with coffee, soft drinks, and wine. They are open all day and they are located in the Hollywood Boulevard area.
Studios Catering Co. Flatbread Grill – This counter service restaurant is located next to the “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure playground. They offer an eclectic menu including grilled chicken & rice, beans, and pulled pork sandwiches. They serve Lunch & Dinner and there is a full service bar attached to this restaurant. They provide covered outdoor seating only. They are located in the Backlot area and participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Sunset Ranch Market – Sit back and relax along Sunset Boulevard. Have a quick bite to eat at the famous Sunset Ranch Market. Food stands provide hamburgers, hot dogs, smoked turkey legs, McDonald’s French fries, ice cream, and of course fresh fruit. The stands are open for Lunch & Dinner. The Sunset Ranch Market is located in the Sunset Boulevard area. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Toy Story Pizza Planet – This counter service restaurant is very kid friendly. It has a limited menu of pizza and salad but the kids don’t seem to mind because of the arcade games that line the walls. The parents don’t seem to mind either as long as the kids are happy. They are open for Lunch & Dinner and are located across the way from Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3-D in the Backlot area. They participate in the Disney Dining Plan.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Call Guests Relations at 407-939-6244 to get your Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities before you take your Disney trip. It provides a detailed overview of services and facilities available for guest with disabilities. Most attractions, restaurants, shops, and shows are accessible to all guests. There may be some rides that a guest in a wheelchair may need help from a member of their party to transfer from the wheelchair onto the ride. Most of the restrooms in the Walt Disney World Resort have facilities to accommodate a guest in a wheelchair. There are designated handicap parking spaces throughout Walt Disney World, but you must have a valid disability-parking permit to use them.
Pet owners please take note that pets are not allowed at any of the Theme Parks or Resorts. For the 4-legged members of your family, there are Pet Care Kennels located adjacent to each of the Theme Park entrances and one by Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Pet Care Kennels at: Disney’s Animal Kingdom 407-938-2100 - Epcot 407-560-6229 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios 407-560-4282 – Magic Kingdom at the Transportation and Ticket Center 407-824-6568 – Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground 407-824-2735. Reservations are not required but they do suggest calling and making reservations.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios offer stroller rentals at the front entrance. The stroller rental fee is $15 per day for a single passenger stroller and $31 per day for a double passenger stroller. You can also rent wheelchairs for $10 a day and an Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV) for $45 a day. The rented units must be returned to the original rental location for the deposit refund. All of the rental items are issued on a first come first served basis. If you want to be sure to have an ECV for the whole trip, you can call Buena Vista Scooter Rental at 407-938-0349.
A visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is like stepping back in time. You get a glimpse of what it may have been like back in the hey-day of early Hollywood. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning before the lines to the most popular rides get too long. If you can, arrive about a half hour before the park is scheduled to open. They open the gates early but no rides or attractions start until the park is scheduled to open. This will allow you to be one of the first riders of the day for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or the Rock “n” Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.