Disney's Hollywood Studios crowds
How to deal with the Disney's Hollywood Studios crowds.
The Hollywood Tower of Terror, Rock-N-Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, Toy Story Mania, and The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, these are some of the great rides in Disney's Hollywood Studios that attract huge crowds. And really long lines.
Disney Hollywood Studios Crowds are bigger on Fantasmic Days |
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| Photo by Express Monorail |
Disney Hollywood Studios is probably the hardest park to tour. Most of the attractions draw long lines all day. There are more shows here than any other park and that creates a challenge when developing a touring strategy.
Touring Plan
It's very important to have a plan when your trying to get through the park. If you know where you are going after each ride or show and if you get the big rides done early, you'll avoid most of the backlog that develops in the afternoons.
For help developing your plan to avoid Disney Hollywood Studios crowds check out Touringplans.com. Touringplans is the web site for The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. They wrote the book on how to get around the parks with the lest hassel.
Dad's Touringplans.com page
Dad's Tips
Here are a few of Dad's Tips on how to avoid the crowds at the Studios.
Get to the park early
The early bird gets the best. The least busy time to tour is the first couple of hours after the park opens. Try to arrive at the park at least 20 minutes before it opens (30-45 minutes if you need to get any tickets). Unlike the Magic Kingdom, stroller rental is inside the ticket gate.
Start at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
If you plan to ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, that's your first destination. But as you go by, stop at the FastPass kiosk for Tower of Terror and pick up FastPasses (if you have someone in your party, like Mrs. Mom, who doesn't ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, let them grab the FastPasses and the rest of you go ride the ride.) (See Dad's sure-fire strategy for Tower of Terror.)
After your done with the thrill rides go directly to Toy Story Mania.
Star Tours
Try to hit Star Tours during an Indiana Jones Stunt Show presentation. (See why.) Lines get very long right after the Stunt Show lets out.
The Shows
Make sure to line up for Fantasmic at least 30 minutes and maybe as much as 45 minutes before show time. Lines form quickly. Usually at 30 minutes before the show, longer during the busier times, Disney Cast Members start turning away guests.
The same is true for some of the other big shows. You can get FastPasses for most of the other shows. If you want a seat without waiting too long, get a FastPass. FastPass guests are allowed into the theater first and get the best seats.
Disney helps
Disney's Hollywood Studios was the first Disney park to have a central place where you could see how long the lines were. There aren't a lot of attractions to spread the crowds, so lines here tend to get very long. You can check out the wait times for attractions at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.
Dad's Bottom Line
Disney Hollywood Studios crowds are some of the hardest to avoid at Disney World. Planning can help. Using common sense can help. But you just can't beat getting to the park early.
