Hollywood Studios, Disney World, Orlando

Hollywood Studios in 2026 Is a Substantially Different Park Than It Was Two Years Ago

The Aerosmith coaster is gone. Muppet*Vision 3D closed permanently in June 2025. A new land has opened where Animation Courtyard used to be. If you are working from a 2023 or 2024 guide, some of what you have read about Hollywood Studios is already out of date.

The most significant change: Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith closed on 2 March 2026 after a 27-year run. The reimagined Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opened in its place on 26 May 2026. The ride hardware (a high-speed launch, two inversions, an indoor dark coaster format) is unchanged. The theming is now built around Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem racing to make it to their Hollywood concert on time. Statler and Waldorf appear as animatronics inside the attraction, repurposed from the now-closed Muppet*Vision 3D. If you liked the original coaster’s physical experience, the new version delivers the same. If you came specifically for Aerosmith, it is gone.

The Walt Disney Studios courtyard, which replaced Animation Courtyard, opened alongside the coaster in late May 2026. It includes a new Magic of Disney Animation interactive experience, Drawn to Wonderland (an Alice in Wonderland playground for younger visitors), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, and the return of the large Sorcerer’s Hat structure as a landmark.

The Rides That Matter Most

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge remains the park’s centrepiece investment and the best-designed themed land Disney has built at Walt Disney World. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an interactive ride where visitors pilot the ship in one of three roles (pilots, gunners, engineers). The experience changes meaningfully depending on which role you play and how well the group performs, which is a genuinely clever design choice. Rise of the Resistance is the park’s most technically ambitious attraction: a multi-vehicle experience that moves guests through a sequence of rooms before they board a ride vehicle. On busy days the Lightning Lane for this fills within minutes of park opening.

Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land is a family coaster consistently rated as a top crowd-pleasing attraction. It is not a thrill ride but produces good views and genuine fun. Lightning Lane reservations for this one also go fast.

Tower of Terror (the Hollywood Tower Hotel elevator drop ride) remains one of the best Disney attractions in any of the four parks. It has genuine production values and genuine height. The randomised drop sequence means repeat rides do not feel identical.

Lightning Lane in 2026

Disney replaced the FastPass system with Lightning Lane, a paid queue-skipping system with two components. Lightning Lane Multi Pass covers most attractions at a variable daily rate (roughly USD 22 to 39 per person per day depending on date and demand). Lightning Lane Single Pass covers the highest-demand individual attractions like Rise of the Resistance at USD 20 to 25 per person per use.

The practical strategy for Hollywood Studios: book Rise of the Resistance via Lightning Lane Single Pass as early as possible (it can sell out within minutes of becoming bookable). For Multi Pass, your first Tier 1 selection should be Slinky Dog Dash. After scanning into your first Lightning Lane reservation, the tier system no longer applies for same-day additional bookings.

Disney hotel guests can purchase Lightning Lane from 7 days before their visit. Off-property guests can book from 3 days prior.

Crowds and Timing

Hollywood Studios draws heavy crowds from mid-morning through early afternoon on most days. The worst congestion runs from around 10 am to 1 pm. Unlike some Disney parks where late-afternoon crowds thin significantly, Hollywood Studios maintains consistent pressure throughout the day because it has a high concentration of popular rides in a relatively compact space.

The most effective strategy: arrive 45 to 60 minutes before Early Entry (30 minutes before official park opening, available to Disney hotel guests) or 45 to 60 minutes before standard park opening. Walk directly to Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash before Lightning Lane fills.

Standard park hours are typically 9 am to 9 pm, with some variation by season. Check the Disney World calendar within a week of your visit as hours shift.

Where to Eat

The Hollywood Brown Derby is the park’s table-service flagship, a recreation of the famous Hollywood restaurant known for originating the Cobb salad. It serves American classics in a sit-down format with proper service. The signature Cobb salad and grapefruit cake are both worth ordering. Reservations are essential and book out 60 days in advance; make them as soon as your booking window opens through the My Disney Experience app.

Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land is a counter-service option with toasted sandwiches, “totchos” (tater tot nachos), and good non-alcoholic versions of adult drinks. It is one of the better quick-service spots in any Disney park and worth the queue.

Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge serves themed drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in an atmosphere that genuinely delivers on the Star Wars setting. It has a capacity limit and often requires same-day reservations or a walkup wait. Drinks run USD 15 to 20. It is better for the experience than the drinks themselves, but the experience is legitimately good.

Where to Stay

Disney’s Beach Club Resort and BoardWalk Inn are the two options within walking distance of Epcot (about 15 minutes on foot) and an easy Skyliner gondola ride to Hollywood Studios. Both are in the deluxe price bracket (USD 400 to 700+ per night depending on season). The BoardWalk Inn’s Art Deco style and the entertainment district outside it make it the more distinctive stay of the two. Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts are accessible via the Skyliner and offer significantly lower prices (USD 150 to 250 per night), making them the practical choice for families managing costs.

The My Disney Experience App

Booking Lightning Lane, mobile food ordering, checking real-time wait times, and making dining reservations all happen through the My Disney Experience app. Download it and set it up before you arrive, not in the car park. Mobile food ordering from the app at counter-service restaurants saves meaningful time on busy days.

Practical Notes

Hollywood Studios covers about 135 acres, substantially smaller than Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom. This means less walking but also fewer places to spread crowds, which contributes to the persistent queue pressure. The park is more focused (fewer attractions, each with high demand) than the other Disney parks, which makes planning more important.

The sun in Orlando in summer (June to August) is extremely intense. Water, sunscreen, and a hat are non-negotiable for full-day visits. September and early October bring lower crowds and more manageable weather. School holiday periods (US spring break in March, summer June through August, Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks) produce the highest crowd levels and the highest Lightning Lane prices.

The coaster is now Muppets. Rise of the Resistance is still the most impressive technical achievement in the park. Book your Lightning Lane for it before anything else.