Disney's Hollywood Studios — Attraction in Bay Lake

A nightmare experience. We were staying at the All Star Music Resort for one night only. We had two adults and two tween children in our party, staying in one double bed room. This was our chosen accommodation due to our change of travel plans. We were having new tires installed at the car care center, which is advertised on the official Disney website as the car care center for Disney patrons, offering free inner park transportation to customers. We arrived at the Car center dropping off our vehicle anticipating the promised transportation to the All Star resort to drop off our luggage for storage while we attended the Hollywood Studio Park for the day fully anticipating our promised one day installation of four new tires, including balancing. The tires did not get done as promised. They refused to offer transportation to Disney anywhere and told us to Uber. We were offered a ride by an enterprise shuttle instead, Ironically our saving grace of this trip was that enterprise shuttle employee and driver. When we dropped off at Disney we again were passed over for transportation to the park shuttle and were offered Enterprise shuttle instead. Every time we needed transportation we were denied, even though it is supposed to be a part of the package, both for getting your car serviced and for staying at a Disney Resort when you are attending a park. We were denied any transportation for all of this. Somewhere in the confusion of all of this my supplies for a strict liquid diet were misplaced. We could not locate them and decided to forge on as we only had one day and we were already behind because of the transportation issues. I assume that Disney would have something that I could eat because they are supposed to accommodate all preferences, all diets, all everything. This was a crucial mistake. Disney is not conducive to a liquid diet of any kind. The only thing they offered of convenience, is baby food, (their suggestion, expensive option per their employee at the customer care center) Starbucks, fruit smoothies, sugary soda, cocktails and beer, no ensure shakes anywhere. Not at medical, not for purchase anywhere. I was basically not able to get nutrition no matter whom I asked. Finally I decided if we went to a buffet they would have something, anything I could quickly consume to avoid a huge blood sugar drop. I met with the chef and dietary advisor and decided on chicken broth and what appeared to be cranberry jelly. All promised to arrive pureed. I received two bowls of broth, and one bowl of cranberry puree, which was full of seeds and skins. I could not eat this at all because of the seeds and skins and the dietary chef knew this that I could not consume any seeds or skins. So why she chose to offer that to me as an option I do not understand. After consuming the two bowls of broth and using the restroom, I decided to go outside for fresh air because I was feeling ill. I went to buy myself a drink after relaxing on the curb for a moment. Realized I did not have my wallet and I did have my purse. I rushed into the restaurant and asked if somebody had found the wallet. They began their search and I went to search as well in the restroom. I frantically searched places that I thought it could be. When I arrived back my husband informed me that they had found my wallet and I had to walk all the way back to customer service again to retrieve my wallet. I told them that I was feeling ill. Is there any way they could bring it to me? They said no because it was my wallet I had to go get it myself. So I left my family once again and went to get my wallet. At this point I was extremely ill. My family decided we should leave the park because the disaster of a day was not going to get better with any more time spent there. We decided to go back to the resort where we could relax and hopefully salvage the rest of the evening. When we went outside we were told that there is no transportation to the car center to pick up our van so we could leave in the morning as planned. Our van was not ready. Apparently I've...

This park has suffered through the years. Consistently this is my least favorite Disney park, but I'm still excited to go here and it still feels like there's some magic left here. I want it to be better... it has good bones, but the park went from too little to do to too much to do too quickly, and frankly there's not enough space to support the current popularity. That's a good problem for Disney to have.

The good:

Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Strip facades are Disney castle park quality. The soundtrack is spectacular and just gives a feeling of "Well isn't this nice?". The feeling of walking into this park is like the city version of walking into magic kingdom.

The Chinese theater amazing and accurate... so much so that Grauman's famously used Disney's blueprints for its own restoration. The handprints are not a recreation... they are real and differ from those at Grauman's.

Consistently has some of the most unique (Sci-fi, 50s Prime Time) and best (Brown Derby) sit down restaurants on property. Better - all have walk up and/or waitlist lounges (counting Baseline as Sci-Fi's lounge).

Tower of terror remains one of the most impressively themed lines on earth. The ride's pretty good too. Many will say either Rise of the resistance or Battle of the Ministry compete... yeah, no. Tower of Terror has things like hand made wrought iron stanchions, no sight lines to any area of the park, perfectly broken and aged fountains and eerily distorted period music. There's the interior cobwebbed daily, a full boiler room, and a "maintenance elevator" if you chicken out. Oh and it's also a perfectly themed 199 ft tall building, every terrace you can't see, every window and door to nowhere, the back that fits in with the Morocco Pavilion from the other side of world showcase miles away. Are we still talking about scale? Good theming impresses people; great theming seems so natural it goes unnoticed.

Ride of the Resistance, Tower of terror, Smuggler's Run, and Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway are world class attractions. While I don't care for StarWars in general, Ride of Resistance is deserving to be on a very short list of best rides of all time.

The bad:

Park has more top tiered attractions than it has room for. While tons of smaller capacity rides fit in non Disney parks this size, the capacity of these rides and the prevalence of whatever they're calling the paid multi lightning fast lane pass these days leaves the lines long and the walkways crowded.

The lack of features past the Chinese theater, with the exception of Star Wars land (Toy story land absolutely doesn't get a pass here) are bland, sparsely shaded, and bustling.

HS has the worst selection of quick service restaurants of any park. Of the two indoor quick service locations, one has 4 odd-as-a-theme items most people won't like, and the other is themed after... I guess the cafeteria that IATSE members who work for ABC take their union break?

Worse: this park mandates mobile order and usually won't allow you to walk up, look at a menu, and order from a human. Disney actually hires cast members as gatekeepers that could otherwise be operating registers (hint: just walk past them at the commissary, it is always possible to order at the register and is always quicker and fresher than mobile ordering).

There's a lot of mid attractions and restaurants that are oddly super popular or overpriced. Silver lining - all of these are in Toy Story land, and it is the entire land... absolutely every attraction and restaurant in Toy Story Land will trigger FOMO and everything is honestly sub Disney level to bad. Just avoid Toy Story Land unless you have kids that need to experience it.

I do like this park, but I arrive excited and leave disappointed more often here than any other Orlando park.... well any park before Epic Universe. If you happen to catch a lighter day here, it could easily be the second best... Epcot will always be better even with half the park torn up and half the rides closed. Those lighter days are getting more and more...

A Magical Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – A Dream Come True!

From the moment we walked through the gates of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we were swept away into a world of movie magic, thrilling adventures, and heartwarming nostalgia. This park beautifully captures the glitz and glamour of Hollywood while mixing in the timeless charm of Disney storytelling. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan, a Toy Story lover, or just someone who appreciates immersive attractions and incredible shows, Hollywood Studios is an experience like no other.

Attractions & Lands Let’s start with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – a masterpiece in theme park design. Walking into Batuu feels like you’ve stepped straight into the Star Wars universe. The detail is mind-blowing. We rode Rise of the Resistance, and it’s not just a ride – it’s an adventure. The combination of storytelling, technology, and surprise elements makes it one of the best rides Disney has ever created. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was a blast too, especially if you’re lucky enough to be the pilot!

Toy Story Land is an explosion of color and fun. My family loved Slinky Dog Dash – it’s thrilling without being too intense, perfect for both kids and adults. Toy Story Mania is a fun and competitive 4D shooting game that never gets old. The theming in this area makes you feel like you’re toy-sized, surrounded by giant game pieces, lights, and classic toys from the past.

Over at Sunset Boulevard, we tackled the Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Both are adrenaline-pumping, thrilling, and perfectly themed. Tower of Terror still gives me goosebumps every time I ride it – that drop never gets old!

Shows & Entertainment The shows are just as magical as the rides. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage is Broadway-quality, filled with gorgeous costumes and top-notch performers. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is exciting and fun, showcasing real stunt work and pyrotechnics that wow the crowd.

A must-see is Fantasmic!, the nighttime spectacular. It’s the perfect end to the day – Mickey Mouse as the sorcerer battling villains in a show full of fireworks, water effects, music, and magic. It’s truly unforgettable and left us with chills.

Dining & Food There’s a great mix of dining options. We had lunch at Woody’s Lunch Box, where the grilled cheese and tater tots were amazing! Ronto Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge served up some of the best quick-service meals we had – definitely try the Ronto Wrap. There are snacks all over the park, from churros to blue milk – which was surprisingly tasty!

Atmosphere & Service The cast members were all incredible – friendly, helpful, and full of Disney spirit. The park is well-maintained and clean, even with the large crowds. The atmosphere is vibrant and exciting, yet there are plenty of shaded areas and seating to take breaks when needed.

Tips for Visiting • Arrive early to make the most of the day. • Use Genie+ for popular rides like Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, and Tower of Terror. • Mobile order your food to save time during busy hours. • Don’t miss Fantasmic! – grab a seat early for the best view.

Final Thoughts Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a park full of heart, adventure, and memories waiting to be made. Whether you’re exploring a galaxy far, far away, playing with Andy’s toys, or braving the haunted elevator shaft, there’s something magical around every corner. It’s perfect for families, couples, or solo travelers. We left with tired feet and full hearts, already dreaming of our next visit!

Rating: 10/10 – A must-do for anyone visiting Walt...