Why Hollywood Studios is Best
Every Park has its unique strengths that make it great. Hollywood Studios has many. Out of the four Disney World parks Hollywood Studios is usually competing with Magic Kingdom for most selected park to visit on the park reservation system. Why is this park so beloved among fans? Here are some reasons why, and reasons we think you should fall in love with this park too.
#1 - “A” list rides. That’s right, even more than Magic Kingdom. Every new ride lately has been a tremendous hit for Disney. Every new ride brings in a new wave of people who want to try it out too. Right now we are seeing this very thing in Magic Kingdom with the release of TRON. Don’t despair over this though, because this is a good thing for Disney fans by any metric. Sure, the crowds may swell, but every new ride also adds capacity to the parks. From Rise of the Resistance, which may be the best ride Disney has created in years, to the fun and family oriented Slinky Dog Dash, Hollywood Studios offers a lot in way of variety. Want to a thrill? Then there is Tower of Terror or Rock n Roller Coaster. Want fun? Then there is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad. These fantastic “A” list rides keep the people packing in. Disney could actually stand to introduce some “B” list rides that would offer guests something extra without adding more long lines and waits.
#2 - Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. There is no doubt that this was one of the most immersive undertakings that Disney has ever undertaken. It is fairing much better than the Galactic Cruise ship in terms of popularity and attendance also. As noted, this is home to the most popular attraction in the park, Rise of the Resistance. Every effort has been made to ensure that the other parts of the part don’t bleed over to keep guests feeling like they are on another planet. The shopping and merchandise marketplace is excellent, although expensive, and Disney’s home run take on “other worldly” foods is nothing short of outstanding. Star Wars is a huge franchise and it goes without saying that it also a massive draw for Hollywood Studios.
#3 - Toy Story Land. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is probably being sung by Disney executives to the tune of “You’ve got a financial success in me." Honestly, it’s a win / win for everybody. Disney does well, and visitors get immersed in a land where they become the size of a toy. That’s the idea to remember when you go here, you are roughly the size of a plastic green army man. The theming is second to none and the designs of toys and games take me back to my nostalgic child hood years. Toy Story is a popular franchise but Disney did not just bank on that fact, they actually got this right. The proof of this is found by just walking through the Toy Story section of Hollywood Studios - it... is... crowded. Take the time to look away from your phone and absorb the details that the imagineers put into the design of this land. It won’t disappoint and makes this a must see for Disney, Toy Story, or toy fans everywhere. So saddle up partner and go visit Woody and friends.
#4 - A Blast to the Past. Everyone loves old Hollywood. it was just better than what we have today. Having been to Hollywood several times in my life, I can say outside of the moderate and awesome weather… you're not missing much. What it has become is not what it was. Disney offers a way back to a better time. The main thrust of Hollywood Studios when it first opened was taking guests back in time to “old Hollywood.” This is still my favorite part of the park even though with additions of other themes (Star Wars, Toy Story, etc.) Hollywood Studios has lost its identity a little bit. It is charming, energetic, and well thought out by imagineers. From the Hollywood Tower Hotel to the walk up main street you see the thrust of what was happening in design. Two of my all-time favorite restaurants are here too, Sci-fi Diner and the 50’s Prime Time Cafe. The Sci-Fi Diner is themed after a drive in movie theatre in 50’s Hollywood. The movie shorts being shown on the screen are a combination of outrageous ideas of how the “future” was imagined in the 50’s and "C” grade monster / alien flics. Nothing scary, but plenty that is laughable, and that by design. I have already used the word charming, and that is a word I only use for Disney when describing the original Disneyland, but it definitely fits this area of the park also. This is why so many come back over and over again recommending this park to friends and family. Take a moment to notice the names of all the shops as you walk down the streets and you will see Disney’s due diligence in replicating old Hollywood.
#5 - Unique Experiences. There are simply some things here you don’t get in the other parks. Everyone owes it to themselves to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular once, and honestly you probably should see it multiple times if you visit often. The indoor Frozen play is also a great experience for any Frozen fan, show fan, or fan of getting into the air conditioning on a summer day. Chip & Dale’s Rescue Rangers are given attention, usually in the form of character meet and greets, and even Cars fans get a show starring ka-chow himself, Lightning McQueen. Rock n Roller Coaster is completely unique from anything in the parks and the best milkshake on Disney property is hidden here, tucked away in The 50’s Prime Time Cafe - THE “Peanut Butter & Jelly Shake.” I have tried to get a version of this in other places, even having a server make one special in the back using actual peanut butter and jelly, only to have it not be the same. Get that unique item here and thank me later.
Ultimately every park has a reason it is “better” than the others in some way. These are simply the ways that Hollywood Studios is winning in the" “best park battles” right now. Want to see Hollywood Studios for yourself? Get a free non-obligatory quote here. Disney will not offer you better pricing and we can help you manage the pitfalls, wait times and crowds that have simply become a reality of doing Disney right now. Even with at the crowds and learning curve, you may ask, “Is it still worth going to Hollywood Studios right now?” To that we answer, “Does Indiana Jones speak latin?” For those people who don’t know, the answer is yes.
