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Walt Disney World · Lake Buena Vista, FL

Hollywood Studios

Where Star Wars, Toy Story, and Hollywood all intersect — Disney's most thrill-packed cinematic park.

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Opened 1989 7 themed areas Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (2019) ~10–11M annual visitors 135 acres
Updated May 8, 2026
Why this park

The Disney park where movies become rides

Hollywood Studios is the youngest of Disney World's four parks (opened 1989) and arguably the one that's evolved the most. What started as a working film studio with a backstage tour is now the home of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, and the most thrilling ride lineup at Walt Disney World.

Two recent expansions changed the park completely. Toy Story Land (2018) brought a full new land themed to Andy's backyard — colossal-scale toys, three rides, the most kid-friendly section of any Disney park. Then Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (2019) brought a full new planet — Batuu, a Star Wars outer-rim outpost where Cast Members stay in character, you can build your own lightsaber, and Rise of the Resistance is widely considered the best ride at Disney World.

What you trade for those headliners: Hollywood Studios is the smallest of the four Disney parks (135 acres) and the rides are concentrated in fewer areas. A focused day can hit every major attraction; a packed Saturday can also make every ride feel impossible. Lightning Lane and an early arrival do more work here than anywhere else at Walt Disney World.

Hollywood Studios is the park for Star Wars fans and the park for families with kids old enough to ride coasters. If you're not in either group, give it a half day; if you are, give it the full day.
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Hollywood Studios tickets

Prices verified May 2026 — check the official park site for current rates · 6 ticket types compared

Regular
Adults
2
Children (ages 3–9)
2
1-Day Base Ticket
One park, one day. Solid for a focused Hollywood Studios visit if you arrive at rope drop.
Total for 2 adults + 2 children: $562
$144/adult Children (3–9): $137
Find on Expedia → Or buy direct from Disney
1-Day Park Hopper
Visit multiple Disney parks in one day. The classic combo: morning at Hollywood Studios, evening at EPCOT for festival eats.
Total for 2 adults + 2 children: $822
$209/adult Children (3–9): $202
Find on Expedia → Or buy direct from Disney
2-Day Base Ticket
Most popular. Per-day cost drops sharply once you go beyond one day.
Total for 2 adults + 2 children: $1,044
$268/adult ($134/day) Children (3–9): $254
Find on Expedia → Or buy direct from Disney
3-Day Base Ticket
Typical Disney trip. Lets you give Hollywood Studios a focused half-day during a peak-tier date.
Total for 2 adults + 2 children: $1,554
$399/adult ($133/day) Children (3–9): $378
Find on Expedia → Or buy direct from Disney
4-Day Base Ticket
Recommended for first-time families wanting one day at each of the four Disney World parks.
Total for 2 adults + 2 children: $2,020
$519/adult ($130/day) Children (3–9): $491
Find on Expedia → Or buy direct from Disney
5-Day Park Hopper
Maximum flexibility. Best for international visitors making one big Disney trip per decade.
Total for 2 adults + 2 children: $2,766
$709/adult ($142/day) Children (3–9): $674
Find on Expedia → Or buy direct from Disney

Prices shown before tax. Children's tickets are for ages 3–9; kids under 3 are free, kids 10+ pay adult prices. Hollywood Studios uses date-based pricing — the same ticket costs more on peak and holiday dates than on value dates.

→ Verify current prices on Disney's official site

Skip the line

Lightning Lane add-ons

Lightning Lane lets you skip the standby queue on selected rides — for an extra fee on top of your ticket. Three options at Hollywood Studios, with very different math for whether they're worth it.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

$25per person, per day · price for your selected date

Reserve return-time windows for 3 attractions when you arrive, then book one more after each you ride. Ends up being roughly 4–7 rides skipped over a full day.

Worth it on: Peak weeks, weekends, and any day with a crowd index above 6. Skip Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, and Tower of Terror queues alone and you've recouped the cost.
Add Multi Pass →

Lightning Lane Single Pass

$20per person, per ride · price for your selected date

A separate add-on for Hollywood Studios' two most-in-demand rides — Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway — bought one ride at a time, independently of Multi Pass.

Worth it for: Rise of the Resistance specifically — standby waits routinely hit 120+ minutes, and on busy days the ride uses a virtual-queue boarding-group system. If you've grabbed a virtual-queue spot, you don't need Single Pass.
Add Single Pass →

Lightning Lane Premier Pass

$199per person, per day · price for your selected date

Unlimited line-skipping — one Lightning Lane reservation for every applicable ride, all day, no return-time juggling. Disney's most premium add-on outside of private VIP tours.

Worth it for: Star Wars superfans on a tight schedule, or anyone visiting Hollywood Studios on a peak Saturday. The smaller park footprint means lines compound fast — Premier Pass turns a long day into a rewarding one.
Add Premier Pass →

Lightning Lane prices vary by date — same date-tier pattern as your base ticket. Multi Pass is the easiest add-on to recommend; Premier Pass is rarely the right call unless time is genuinely your scarcest resource.

Add to your ticket

Other ticket upgrades

Three more upgrades that change what your ticket gives you access to — water parks, premium experiences, or a complete photo package of your trip.

Park Hopper Plus

+$75–$95per ticket, on top of Park Hopper

Adds water-park admission (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach), Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course, Fantasia Gardens mini-golf, and ESPN Wide World of Sports. The number of "Plus" visits matches the number of days on your base Park Hopper ticket.

Worth it for: families staying 5+ nights who plan a water-park day, or anyone visiting June–September when Florida heat makes water parks most appealing. Skip if you're only doing 1–2 Disney days.
Add Park Hopper Plus →

Disney VIP Tour

$450–$900per hour · 7-hour minimum · up to 10 guests

Disney's most premium experience. A private VIP guide (the "Plaids," named for their signature shirts) leads your group through every park, skipping every line, with private transportation between parks and reserved viewing for fireworks and parades.

Worth it for: ultra-luxury vacations, multi-generational trips with limited time, milestone occasions (proposals, big birthdays). The math: ~$4,200 for a small family covers 7 hours of zero-wait Disney across multiple parks. Niche but unmatched.
Inquire about VIP Tours →

Memory Maker

$170–$210per group · pre-purchase saves $40

Disney's PhotoPass digital photo package. Unlimited downloads of every PhotoPass photo from your trip — character meet-and-greets, in-ride coaster photos (no separate fee), "Magic Shots," and Tower of Terror / Galaxy's Edge photo spots. Photos stay available for 45 days post-trip.

Worth it for: families who want professional photos without juggling phones at character meets. Math: in-ride photos alone average $20–$25 each at the park, so 8+ ride/character shots pays for it. Pre-buy from home for the lower price.
Add Memory Maker →
Discount programs

Other ways to save

If you qualify for one of these programs, you'll save more than any promo code or third-party reseller can offer. Disney doesn't surface these on its main ticket page — but they're real, official, and worth the extra five minutes to check.

Florida Resident tickets

Save 30–40%vs standard ticket prices

Disney offers dedicated multi-day tickets (3-, 4-, and 5-day) for Florida residents at significantly reduced prices. Plus FL-Resident-only annual passes at lower price points than the public versions. Proof of Florida residency (driver's license or state ID) required at the park gate.

Worth it for: any Florida driver's license holder. The 4-Day FL Resident ticket runs around $359 vs $519 retail — roughly $160 saved per person, $640 saved for a family of four.
See FL Resident options →

Armed Forces Salute

Save up to 50%on multi-day Park Hopper tickets

Heavily discounted Disney tickets for active duty, retirees, 100%-disabled veterans, and DOD civilians. The 4-Day Park Hopper runs around $409 vs $649 retail. The qualifying member can also buy up to 5 companion tickets at the same rate. Buy through your base MWR office, not Disney's website.

Worth it for: any qualifying service member or family. The savings are large enough that it's worth scheduling your Disney trip around your MWR office hours if needed.
Learn about Armed Forces Salute →

Annual Pass

$469–$1,549per person, per year

Four annual pass tiers, with significantly cheaper options exclusive to Florida residents. The lowest tier (FL Resident Pixie Dust Pass at $469) covers most weekdays. The top tier (Incredi-Pass at $1,549, available to anyone) has no blackout dates and includes parking.

Worth it for: Florida residents planning 5+ days in a year, or any frequent visitor planning multiple Florida trips. Break-even is roughly the cost of a 4-day ticket — past that, the pass pays for itself.
Compare annual passes →

These programs cannot generally be combined with each other or with promotional ticket bundles. If you qualify for more than one, do the math separately for each — usually FL Resident and Armed Forces Salute beat retail by the largest margin.

Special-event nights

After-dark events at Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios doesn't have as many separately ticketed events as Magic Kingdom, but the ones it does have are cinematic in scale. Holiday projections take over the Tower of Terror; the park's newest hard-ticket event is a 1990s-era variety show called Jollywood Nights.

Jollywood Nights

$159–$229per person · select nights, mid-Nov to late Dec

Hollywood Studios' separate-ticket holiday event (started 2023). 1930s Hollywood-themed variety show with vintage Disney character meet-and-greets, themed party-only food and drink, jazz singers, the "Cheers to the Holidays!" finale show, and most rides operating with party-only short waits. Adults skew over the audience.

Worth it for: adults who want a "grown-up Christmas" Disney night with cocktails and live music — totally different vibe from the kid-focused Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at MK. December dates after the 15th are the strongest value.
See event dates →

Sunset Seasons Greetings

Includedwith regular ticket · nightly, mid-Nov to early Jan

A nightly holiday projection-mapping show that turns the Hollywood Tower Hotel (Tower of Terror) into a rotating holiday display — Olaf's frozen castle, the Toy Story Christmas, Mickey's gingerbread house, and more. Plus the "Wonderful World of Animation" projection on the Chinese Theatre. Free with regular admission, runs every 15–20 minutes after dusk.

Worth a visit: any December visitor — show up at the Tower of Terror plaza after sunset, watch a few rotations. The Tower of Terror is genuinely one of the most striking holiday displays in any Disney park.
Learn more →

Disney After Hours

$189–$249per person · scattered nights, year-round

A three-hour after-park event (typically 9pm–midnight) where Hollywood Studios stays open with deliberately limited attendance. Most rides walk on, including Rise of the Resistance and Tower of Terror. Includes complimentary ice cream, popcorn, and select beverages.

Worth it for: Star Wars fans who want unlimited Galaxy's Edge access without daytime crowds, and thrill-seekers who want to ride Tower and Rocker walk-on multiple times. The math works out compared to a frustrating peak-tier full day.
Check availability →

Hard-ticket events (Jollywood Nights, After Hours) are completely separate from regular park admission. Sunset Seasons Greetings is included free with any regular ticket. Annual Pass discounts apply to the hard-ticket events; Lightning Lane is generally unnecessary since waits during the events run 5–20 minutes.

Top attractions

The rides you can't skip

Hollywood Studios has 14 rides — the smallest count of any Disney World park, but the highest concentration of headliners. These six are essential.

Headliner

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Widely considered the best ride at Walt Disney World. An 18-minute multi-ride-system experience that combines a trackless dark ride, a vehicle simulator, and a drop tower into one continuous Star Wars story. Uses a virtual-queue boarding-group system on busy days — open My Disney Experience at 7 AM exact.

Height: 40" minimum
Headliner

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The 199-foot-tall Hollywood Tower Hotel — Disney's most iconic thrill ride and the park's visual centerpiece. Free-fall drops in a haunted hotel elevator. Different drop sequence every ride. Showing zero signs of aging since 1994.

Height: 40" minimum
Headliner

Slinky Dog Dash

A family-friendly coaster in Toy Story Land — perfect first big-coaster ride for kids stepping up from Magic Kingdom. Two launches, smooth rolling, great theming. The longest standby line in the park most days; Lightning Lane it.

Height: 38" minimum
Headliner

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

Disney's newest dark ride (2020). A trackless ride into a Mickey Mouse cartoon — every ride has different vehicles take different paths through the same set. Funny, family-friendly, gorgeously animated. No height requirement makes it the best headliner for younger kids.

Height: No minimum
Cult favorite

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

Disney World's only inverting coaster, re-themed and reopening May 26, 2026. Same ride system — launches from 0 to 57 mph in under 3 seconds, three inversions, a high-energy soundtrack — but now the storyline follows Kermit and the Electric Mayhem at G-Force Records instead of Aerosmith's L.A. studio. The Aerosmith version retired permanently on March 1, 2026, after 27 years.

Height: 48" minimum
For Star Wars fans

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

You and 5 fellow visitors crew the Millennium Falcon — pilot, gunners, engineers — through a smuggling mission. Interactive cockpit with 200+ buttons and screens. Replayable: each role does something different. Great for Star Wars fans, mildly disappointing for non-fans.

Height: 38" minimum
Timing your visit

When Hollywood Studios is at its best — and when its small footprint becomes a problem

Hollywood Studios has the same date-tier pricing as the other Disney parks, but the timing question is sharper here than anywhere. The park is the smallest at Walt Disney World (135 acres), with most of the headliner rides clustered in two relatively small areas (Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land). On a peak day, those areas fill up fast and stay full. On a value day, you can hit every ride in the park.

Best-value weeks (Value tier)

Mid-January through mid-February and late August through mid-September are the strongest picks. Lower ticket prices, fewer crowds, and Hollywood Studios specifically benefits because the small footprint feels spacious instead of jammed. Bonus on January–February dates: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge looks especially atmospheric in cooler, overcast weather.

Worth-the-premium weeks (Regular & Peak tier)

Mid-November is the sweet spot — Sunset Seasons Greetings projections are running on the Tower of Terror, holiday merch is fresh, and Thanksgiving-week crowds haven't hit yet. Spring break weekdays (March–April, avoiding the actual break weeks themselves) work too if the weather forecast looks clear.

Avoid unless this is your only window

Late December (week between Christmas and New Year's), Saturdays during Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge anniversaries, and the first two weeks of June (pre-summer-break) all hit the small footprint problem hard. Galaxy's Edge fills to capacity by 11 AM most peak Saturdays, and Hollywood Studios will sometimes close to additional guests entirely. Move your trip if you can.

Plan your day

Hollywood Studios essentials

Practical info for getting in, getting around, and getting the most out of your day. Hours and seasonal advisories update with the visit date you picked above.

Address
351 South Studio Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 — between EPCOT and the Animal Kingdom area.
Park hours (Regular tier)
9 AM – 10 PM
Hours vary by date — confirm on Disney's official park calendar 30 days before your trip.
Early Theme Park Entry
30 minutes before public
Disney resort guests get in 30 minutes before the published opening time, every day. A real perk if you're staying on-property.
Parking
$30 standard · $50 preferred
All-day parking for any Disney park. Disney resort guests park free. Hollywood Studios has its own parking lot directly adjacent to the front entrance — short walk, no shuttle needed.
Getting there
Skyliner · Friendship Boat · Bus · Walk
Hollywood Studios is the easiest park to reach without a car. Skyliner gondola from the Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation, and Riviera resorts. Friendship Boat from BoardWalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, and Dolphin. Walking path from those same five hotels (~10 min). Bus from anywhere else.
Best entry plan
Arrive 45 min before open
Arrive 30–45 min before opening to claim a Rise of the Resistance virtual-queue boarding group at exactly 7 AM. Resort guests with Early Theme Park Entry get the additional advantage of riding Slinky Dog Dash and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway with very short waits.
Where to stay

Hotels near Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has the best transportation geography of any Disney park — five hotels are walkable to the front entrance, plus four more are connected by Skyliner gondola.

Walk-to-park tier

EPCOT-area Disney resorts

Disney's BoardWalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, and the Swan/Dolphin all sit within a 10-minute walk to Hollywood Studios' front entrance. Same hotels are also walkable to EPCOT — best park-hop geography at WDW. From $400/night.

Skyliner tier

Skyliner-connected resorts

Disney's Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation connect to Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner gondola. 10–15 min ride, scenic, no waiting for buses. From $180/night.

Value tier

Off-property nearby

Lake Buena Vista & the Disney Springs hotel area — 10–15 min drive to Hollywood Studios parking. No Disney transportation but real savings vs on-property. From $110/night.

See all hotels near Hollywood Studios →
Plan your trip

Add Hollywood Studios to your itinerary

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Common questions

Hollywood Studios FAQ

How much does a Hollywood Studios ticket cost?
A 1-day adult ticket ranges from about $119 (lowest "value" days, like mid-January Tuesdays) to $189 (peak holiday days like the week between Christmas and New Year's). Children's tickets (ages 3–9) run $7–$15 less per day. Multi-day tickets get cheaper per day. Hollywood Studios prices match the other three Disney World parks exactly.
Should I prioritize Galaxy's Edge or Toy Story Land?
Depends on your party. Galaxy's Edge wins for adults, teens, and Star Wars fans of any age — Rise of the Resistance is the best ride at WDW, and the immersive theming is unmatched. Toy Story Land wins for younger kids (5–10) — Slinky Dog Dash is a perfect first-coaster experience and the land is sized to feel kid-scaled. If you have time, do Toy Story Land first thing in the morning (it gets crowded earliest), then Galaxy's Edge for the rest of the day.
How do I get on Rise of the Resistance?
Three options. Virtual queue: open the My Disney Experience app at exactly 7 AM the day of your visit (a second boarding-group drop happens at 1 PM). Free, but boarding groups fill in seconds — be on the app, signed in, with the right party set up. Lightning Lane Single Pass: $20–$25 per person; bookable starting at 7 AM. Reliable but adds cost. Standby line: sometimes available, runs 90–180 min on busy days. The virtual queue is the right default if you can be on your phone at 7 AM sharp.
Can I really build my own lightsaber?
Yes, at Savi's Workshop in Galaxy's Edge — a 20-minute guided experience where you assemble your own custom lightsaber from real metal hilt parts and a working blade. Costs $250 plus tax. Reservations required (book on My Disney Experience up to 60 days out). One participant per session; companions can watch. There's also Droid Depot for custom-built droids ($120) — same vibe, same need-to-reserve. Both are worth it for committed Star Wars fans.
How long should I plan for a Hollywood Studios day?
5–7 hours is enough on a value-tier day; a full open-to-close day on peak-tier weekends. Hollywood Studios is the smallest of the four Disney parks (135 acres) and the rides are concentrated — you can hit every major attraction in 5–6 hours if waits cooperate. Lots of locals do Hollywood Studios as a half-day, then park-hop to EPCOT for festival eats in the evening — Disney's best single-day combo if you have a Park Hopper.
Is Hollywood Studios good for younger kids?
Yes — but with some calibration. Toy Story Land is built for kids and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway has no height requirement. But the headliner ride lineup leans thrills (Rise of the Resistance has scary First Order droid scenes, Tower of Terror is genuinely intense, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster has inversions). For kids under 7, plan around the gentler attractions (Toy Story Mania, Slinky Dog Dash, Runaway Railway, Star Tours). For kids 8+, almost everything is accessible.
Should I buy Lightning Lane at Hollywood Studios?
Yes on busy days, almost always yes for Slinky Dog Dash and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway specifically. Multi Pass ($15–$45) typically pays for itself by skipping just two of those queues. For Rise of the Resistance, try the free virtual queue first (7 AM exact); only buy Lightning Lane Single Pass if you miss the boarding group drops.
Can I bring food into Hollywood Studios?
Yes. Disney's official policy allows outside food and non-alcoholic drinks, as long as they don't require heating or refrigeration. That said, Hollywood Studios has some of the best in-park dining at WDW — Oga's Cantina (Star Wars-themed bar), Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, 50's Prime Time Cafe, and Docking Bay 7 are worth saving an appetite for.
Are Florida Resident or Military tickets cheaper?
Yes — and significantly. Florida Resident multi-day tickets save 30–40% vs retail (e.g., a 4-Day FL Resident ticket runs ~$359 vs $519 standard). The Armed Forces Salute can save up to 50% on Park Hopper tickets. Both require eligibility verification (Florida ID or military ID) at the park gate. See "Other ways to save" above for details.
Do toddlers and babies need a ticket?
No. Children under age 3 enter Hollywood Studios (and all Disney parks) free with no ticket required. The complimentary admission lasts until their third birthday. Once they turn 3, they need a children's ticket; once they turn 10, they pay the adult price.
Can I leave Hollywood Studios and come back?
Yes. Same-day re-entry is included with any ticket. Have your hand stamped on the way out, keep your MagicBand or ticket, and you can re-enter as many times as you want. Practical use: leave at 1–2 PM for a midday rest at your hotel (especially helpful at this small park where afternoon crowds peak), then return for evening Galaxy's Edge atmosphere and Sunset Seasons Greetings.
What's a Disney "celebration button"?
Free buttons handed out at Guest Relations (just past the entrance) for any milestone — birthday, anniversary, first visit, family reunion, honeymoon, or generic "I'm Celebrating!" Cast Members spot the buttons and frequently provide small surprises throughout the day. Free, takes 2 minutes, well worth doing — particularly meaningful on a Star Wars-themed birthday at Galaxy's Edge.
Does Disney have an accessibility / disability service?
Yes — the Disability Access Service (DAS) is free for guests whose disabilities prevent them from waiting in standard standby lines. Register virtually 2–30 days before your trip via video call with a Cast Member, then request return-time windows through the My Disney Experience app — similar to Lightning Lane but at no extra charge. DAS is for cognitive and behavioral disabilities; physical accessibility is handled differently and most Hollywood Studios queues are wheelchair-accessible.
Can I cancel or refund my Disney ticket?
Disney theme park tickets are technically non-refundable, but in practice you have flexibility: unused tickets remain valid for use on any future eligible date (typically up to 2 years from purchase), and you can sometimes upgrade or modify them at the park's Guest Services. Multi-day tickets must be used within 14 days of first use. Third-party resellers (Undercover Tourist, Get Away Today, etc.) usually allow refunds before first use.
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Need a hotel near Hollywood Studios?

Disney's Hollywood Studios is walkable from BoardWalk-area resorts. Compare on- and off-property Disney World hotels. Live availability and pricing via Expedia.

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