The Best Disney World Hollywood Studios One Day Itinerary
Hollywood Studios is one of my favorite parks in Walt Disney World resort. I recently visited Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom at the end of my weeklong east coast USA road trip. This Hollywood Studios one day itinerary will help you plan your day in the park and see all the best attractions in a short period of time.
Hollywood Studios is one of the best parks in Walt Disney World because of the new lands, thrill rides and great theming. Disney has recently added Star Wars Galaxy Edge and Toy Story Land which are at the cutting edge of Disney design and imagination.
For these reasons, Hollywood Studios is my favorite park. Keep reading to learn how to plan your one day itinerary for Hollywood Studios.
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The best hollywood studios itinerary for One Day
While there are many different ways to plan a one-day Hollywood Studios park itinerary, the below itinerary is my ideal day.
The key to this one day itinerary is starting early, riding a bunch of rides before it gets busy, then maximizing Genie+.
Early Morning: Arrive at park 45 minutes before rope drop to get through security and entrance. Shop until 10 minutes before rope drop.
Rope Drop: Wait at rope 10 minutes before opening to be first to the attractions. Head to Galaxy’s Edge and ride Smugglers run. If you have not had breakfast yet, pick up a Ronto Wrap.
Mid-Morning: Hit lightning lane rides as you gather reservations, following the above strategy.
Lunch: Mobile Order from a quick service restaurant and find a shady table for a break.
Afternoon: Enjoy some air-conditioned attractions such as the shows listed above. I’d choose Muppets 3D vision. Get any available lightning lane reservations, then ride those attractions.
Dinner: Use reservation for dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby.
Evening: Take advantage of shorter lines to hit favorite attractions again, then enjoy Fantasmic.
Best Rides to Rope Drop in Hollywood Studios
Rope drop is the opening procedure for Disney parks each morning. Guests are allowed into the park before official opening. Cast members will line up with rope barriers at the entrance to each land then will “drop” the rope at park opening time.
To make rope drop, plan to arrive at the park around 45 minutes before opening.
Rope dropping your favorite rides is the best way to hit a few attractions with little to no line. The best rides to rope drop are either your favorites or your priority lightning lane attractions with late return times.
In Hollywood Studios, I recommend rope dropping Galaxy’s Edge as this popular area of the park park will be busy later in the day.
Some of the best rides to rope drop in Galaxy’s edge are the Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance.
Other good Hollywood Studios attractions to hit first are Toy Story Mania or Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is another one that gets busy and cannot be missed.
Since ride lines will be shorter first thing in the day, choose from the lightning lane eligible rides as these are notorious for long lines during peak hours.
Other Great Attractions in Hollywood Studios
In addition to great rides, Hollywood Studios has many shows that are great to cool down and enjoy a different type of entertainment.
For young kids, the Disney Junior Dance Party is the ultimate show. Kids will be greeted by their favorite characters and guided through an interactive show.
Plus, the air conditioning is always on and can help delay any afternoon meltdowns.
For adults, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular or Muppet shows are my absolute favorites. The cast members go above and beyond to put on a fantastic show.
What to Eat in Hollywood Studios
If you are anything like me, any one-day Hollywood Studios itinerary needs to include as many snacks as possible. The below sweet and savory snacks are my favorite treats in Hollywood Studios. Share with a friend of family member so you have room to try a bit of everything.
- Ronto Wrap– This savory pita wrap is a great shareable snack. Ronto wraps come in a breakfast and lunch version, both are great.
- Blue/Green Milk– While visually a bit odd, the blue and green milks are a must try in galaxy edge. Share both with your group to decide which flavor you prefer.
- Jack Jack Cookie Num Num– If you have seen the second Incredibles movie, you will be familiar with this treat. You cannot go wrong with this gooey cookie found in Toy Story land.
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Dining Reservations for Hollywood Studios
It is important to book dining reservations ahead of your one day in Hollywood Studios. Disney dining reservations can currently be booked 60 days in advance for all guests.
Check the Disney website for the updated dining reservation window.
Popular restaurants will fully book up within the first couple hours of reservation availability. Since you have to squeeze many great spots into this one-day Hollywood Studios Itinerary, it is important to book early.
The two best dining reservations to book in Hollywood Studios are:
- Oga’s Cantina: This is one of the hardest and most coveted reservations to get. This Star War’s cantina features inventive drinks, immersive theming, and fun bites.
- Hollywood Brown Derby: An old Hollywood classic, the Brown Derby is one of the best table service restaurants in Hollywood Studios. Be sure to try the famous cobb salad and martini flight.
Tip – Use Mouse Watcher to help notify you when reservations become available
Overview of Genie+ and Lightning Lanes
If you are planning a Disney World vacation, chances are you have come across mention of Genie+ and lightning lanes. For a first timer, this system can be super overwhelming.
If you are familiar with Disney’s fastpass system, Genie+ is essentially the newest version of it.
First, here are some definitions that may help:
Disney Genie – The Disney Genie is an AI tool on the Disney app that helps you plan your day in a Disney park. The tool starts by collecting your interests, then suggests a daily itinerary that will help you visit those interests throughout the day. This tool is great in concept, but I think planning on your own will be the best use of time.
Genie+ – Genie+ is a paid service, around $15 per person, per day that allows you to access lightning lanes throughout the day.
Lightning Lane – A lightning lane is a priority lane that can be accessed in two ways. 1) Booking a timeslot using Genie+ and 2) purchasing an individual lightning lane. Individual lightning lane are offered for a few attractions per park and cost additional money.
1 Day Hollywood Studios Itinerary With Genie Plus
If you only have one day in Hollywood Studios, I highly recommend purchasing Genie+. The lightning lane wait times are typically 10 minutes or less, compared to 40+ minutes in the standby line.
If you purchase Genie+, there are some restrictions to consider:
- You can begin reserving lightning lanes when the park opens the day you plan to visit
- You can only hold one lightning lane reservation at a time. Choose reservations that are early in the day so you have time to redeem multiple.
- Individual lightning lane reservations do not count toward your one reservation at a time quota.
To use Genie+ in Hollywood Studios, I recommend the following strategy. The goal is to redeem as many lightning lanes as possible, on the rides you most want to hit.
Hollywood Studios Genie+ Steps:
- If you are interested in the individual lightning lane attractions, purchase them at the start of the day
- Make a list of the top 3 genie+ lightning lane attractions you want to hit
- Once reservations open for the day, book whichever ride in your top 3 has the earliest return time
- Once you hit this ride, get another lightning reservation that has the soonest return time. This may or may not be a ride in your top 3, depending how the time slots are filling up.
- Continue reserving additional lightning lanes as soon as you can, until you ride them all.
- If you are unable to catch a time slot for your priority 3 rides, plan to visit them at the end of the day when the standby lines are shorter.
Currently, the individual lightning lane attractions for Hollywood Studios are:
- Rise of the Resistance
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
My top three choices for the genie+ lightning lanes are:
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Tower of Terror
Check out Disney’s website for the latest lightning lane attractions and to create your own priority list.
Packing for One Day Hollywood Studios
Preparation is the key to success when it comes to a Disney vacation. I suggest packing the below items to help maintain your comfort the entire day in the park. That way, you will not have to head back to your hotel for anything during the day.
- Portable charger– Your phone will be your guide around the park. You will likely use the Disney app for your Disney World tickets, Genie+, mobile food orders and to check wait times. To keep your phone from dying, bring a portable charger.
- Portable fan– Disney World can be extremely hot and humid. Pack a portable fan to help stay cool during the day.
- Reusable water bottle– Another way to stay cool and hydrated is by packing a reusable water bottle. There are water fountains for refills throughout the park and all quick service restaurants will provide ice water for free.
- Fanny pack– A fanny pack is the easiest way to hold your Disney World resort essentials. It can be worn on some rides and easily fits in the baggage area on others.
In addition to the essentials listed above, the above outfits and accessories are great for Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.
Shop these Disney Hollywood Studios outfit ideas
FAQ – Disney Hollywood Studios 1 Day Itinerary
Visiting Disney Hollywood Studios in one day is absolutely possible. However, if you want to maximize your time and experience, it’s best to plan out the attractions and shows that you want to see, and try to get them all done during your day at the park.
It’s highly recommended that you purchase a Genie+ ticket for the more popular rides such as the Tower of Terror or Rockin’ Rollercoaster since those typically have long lines throughout the day.
The best day to go to Hollywood Studios is usually the least crowded day. Try visiting during weekdays in non-peak season times like January or September for fewer crowds and shorter lines.
Genie+ is very worth it for a Disney Hollywood Studios one day itinerary. It will allow you to save time by skipping lines for the most popular attractions.
Get the best deal on Disney World tickets and save on vacation packages with the code: TRAVELINGMOORE
Summary of this Hollywood Studios One Day Itinerary
Overall, if you follow this Hollywood Studios one day itinerary, you are sure to have a fantastic time.
For the most enjoyable time, spend your prep time reserving restaurants and making your list of priority attractions. This way, you can enjoy a stress-free time in the park.
Once you are in the park, focus on soaking in the Disney Magic and prepare to be flexible. It is more important to enjoy your vacation than stress over all the logistics.
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