Is Disney’s Hollywood Studios Currently Worth It?

In a few weeks Disney’s Hollywood Studios will once again be a must do destination on any Walt Disney World vacation. Toy Story Land, set to open on June 30, will bring two new rides, new character experiences, and a counter service restaurant. You’ll shrink down to the size of a toy and have a chance to explore Andy’s backyard. It promises to be amazing.

What if your vacation is planned for before the new land opens? Should you still visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios? In my opinion the answer is yes, but I can also understand why someone might not want to take a day or even half a day out of their vacation to visit a park that only has four rides. Here are some things to consider when trying to decide whether or not you want to spend part of your vacation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars

If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll want to stop by. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is reason enough to hit the park. Currently you will visit Jakku and Crait, plus you’ll get a glimpse at Batuu (the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge planet). You could also encounter Kylo Ren, Stormtroopers, Poe, Maz, BB-8, and others. The ride currently focuses on Episodes VII and VIII, but the older scenes and characters are supposed to return sometime in the next few months. Another must for Star Wars fans is Star Wars Launch Bay. It’s a museum exhibit, dedicated to all things Star Wars. My favorite part of Launch Bay is the queue line outside of the building, which most people walk right by. It features prints of posters and Ralph McQuarrie’s renderings. Inside Launch Bay you can also meet Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and BB-8. There are also other Star Wars offerings in the park. None of it makes up for the cancellation of Star Wars Weekends (I’m still bitter), but there is a lot for Star Wars fans.

Thrill Rides

If you are into thrill rides, you need to spend at least a couple of hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is the only coaster at Walt Disney World that goes upside down. It’s in the dark, so you can’t see it coming. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is unlike most drop rides. You won’t just drop once, it will happen multiple times. The sequence is random, so you won’t be able to figure out what is supposed to happen next. Both rides already have long waits, and once Toy Story Land opens those lines will grow, so if you’re a thrill seeker you will not want to skip Disney’s Hollywood Studios now.

Live Shows

A Walt Disney World vacation is exhausting. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are several live shows where you can sit down and relax for half an hour or so. The fact that the shows are entertaining makes it even better.

Families

It might seem like Disney’s Hollywood Studios isn’t currently a great place for families, but that is not necessarily the case. Toy Story Mania! is great fun for the whole family, and there is no height restriction. I’ve seen plenty of babies on the ride. Muppet*Vision 3D is also perfect for families. It may be a bit dated, but it’s still a lot of fun. Your kids will love the live shows, and there are also characters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that you might not find elsewhere such as Olaf and Sofia the First.

Nighttime

Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers not one, but two not to be missed nighttime shows. Fantasmic! is a Walt Disney World classic that features live actors, water screens, special effects, plenty of characters, and so much more. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is a fireworks and projections display that features clips from all nine films. It’s set to the music of legendary composer John Williams. You don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy it.

So if you’ve been thinking that there isn’t much to do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios these days, I hope that you now see that the park is worth a visit. Yes, there are construction walls, but look past those and instead enjoy the many things that Disney’s Hollywood Studios currently offers. I’m sure that you’ll have a fantastic time.