At around 135 acres, this park is smaller than Epcot or the Animal Kingdom. The central icon of this park is Mickey's sorcerer hat from the movie Fantasmic.
Unlike other Disney parks, Hollywood Studios is a bit more haphazard in layout. You enter down Hollywood Boulevard and from there you can enter 5 areas: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Streets of America, Animation Courtyard, Pixar Place and Sunset Boulevard.
There's also a large part of the park reserved for tours of the backlot, where you may be able to watch a movie or commercial being filmed.
Ride Favorites:
Rockin' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith - Very fast coaster ride, a favorite with coaster junkies, but so popular, you may have to get a Fastpass.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - A 13 story elevator plunge ride - completely random starts and stops. Not for the faint of heart.
Star Tours - Star Wars Thrill Rides - Motion simulator ride - a must see for big kids and Star Wars fans. However not for those with claustrophobia.
Toy Story Mania - New attraction - A 4D interactive car ride where you can play and earn points. Lots of fun - but long long lineups so fast pass if you can.
The Great Movie Ride - A must-see favorite. Take a tour through some of the greatest film classics of our time - plus a few unexpected tour surprises along the way. Great for young and old.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - Live Action show re-enacting stunts from Raiders of the Lost Ark movie
Dining:
Disney Hollywood Studios has several popular, unique themed restaurants.
At the 50s Primetime cafe you're in Mom's 1950's kitchen surrounded by TVs broadcasting favorite 50's shows like 'Father Knows Best'.
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano offers a warm atmosphere and delicious Italian fare like Oven-baked Chicken alla Parmigiana, Spaghetti Fra Diavolo and Eggplant Napoleon.
And the Hollywood Brown Derby is the place to go if you're a fan of the Hollywood golden age.
Modeled after the original Hollywood Brown Derby, where the stars of yesteryear used to dine, the walls are lined with caricatures of famous Hollywood stars. The food here is some of the best at any of the parks.
Other Attractions:
There are some excellent shows to see at Disney Hollywood Studios including Beauty and the Beast stage show, High School Musical 2 and the new Block Party Bash.
If you have Toy Story fans in your group, make sure to visit Al's Toy Barn to meet and greet some of the most popular Toy Story Characters.
For night time entertainment, there's Fantasmic - which is a favorite among Disney goers. It's a nighttime musical (based largely on the movie) with tons of special effects, lights fireworks and character action. Many people will actually park hop back to this park, just to see Fantasmic.
Strengths:
- Some of the best restaurants at any of the Disney parks
- Educational while still being fun and full of the 'Disney Magic'
- Unique characters found here that you won't find in other Disney parks
- Because the park is smaller, it can be done in a day without much rush.
Weaknesses:
- Not as well organized as some of the other Disneyworld parks - harder to navigate
- Because the park is smaller, a lot more prone to heavy crowds.
