Let’s get back to our series on minimal wait attractions at Walt Disney World, this time focusing on Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Hollywood Studios features many big ticket attractions, which can mean some pretty extensive wait times to contend with at this particular park. As a result, sprinkling a few wait-free activities and attractions into one’s day becomes especially helpful here. So without further ado, let’s highlight some things to do at Hollywood Studios when you just can’t stand another 120 minute wait time (Rise of the Resistance, I’m looking at you!)
Exploring Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: This is the largest themed land in Hollywood Studios, and it is truly not to be missed. Yes, there are some pretty amazing rides in Galaxy’s Edge (Rise of the Resistance and Millenium Falcon Smuggler’s Run), but both of these attractions typically have significant wait times. Yet even if the wait times for both of these rides seem unreasonable, it’s absolutely worth checking out the land without riding the rides. Take the time to simply explore the land and immerse yourself in the details. Everyone from the Star Wars mega-fans to those who aren’t even sure what a “Chewbacca” is will appreciate the incredible immersive storytelling that defines this part of the park. Grab a blue or green milk at the Milk Stand and hang out near Kylo Ren’s ship. You just might run into some Stormtroopers, a Resistance fighter, or even the First Order leader himself. Head over to Ronto Roasters for a delicious pita-wrapped “Ronto Wrap” or grab some flavored popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle, and just wander the land. Open the Play Disney Parks app on your phone to use the Star Wars Datapad to translate written messages, complete missions, and unlock hidden effects (like making droids move and “talk”). The possibilities in Galaxy’s Edge are almost endless, and you can easily spend hours in this part of the park without waiting in a single queue.
Surprise character sightings: These can be found throughout Hollywood Studios and really add that sense of unexpected Disney magic to your day. From Chewbacca and Rey wandering through Galaxy’s Edge to the Green Army Drum Corps giving pop up shows in Toy Story Land, unexpected character sightings can be found throughout the park all day long. Hang out near the grass between The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and you might just spot Donald and Daisy having a picnic! Take the time to slow down just a bit, and you never know who you might see.
Skyliner ride: Had enough of the crowds for a while? Looking for a break from the theme parks altogether? Just outside the entrance to Hollywood Studios is another typically wait-free attraction disguised as a mode of transportation (Note: At the beginning and end of the day, there will likely be a wait to board due to the number of guests trying to get to and from the theme parks). You can also actually use it as transportation, but it’s so fun that you’ll probably want to ride it just for the experience! Hop on board your own personal gondola and take in some of the most spectacular views of Walt Disney World you can find. Note: you may have another party with you at peak times of day, but in the middle of the day your party will typically have your own gondola to yourself. This is a great way to find some calm, peace, and quiet in the midst of the otherwise loud, exciting, and sometimes over-stimulating experience of being at Walt Disney World. The gondolas provide a wonderful breeze that feels refreshing and relaxing after hours in the Florida sun, and occasional overhead announcements give fun facts and details about the surrounding scenery. The Skyliner line runs from Hollywood Studios to the main station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort with continuing service to the International Gateway entrance at Epcot, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation resort. You can also exit the Skyliner at Disney’s Riviera Resort or stay on to continue to the next station. Whether you’re looking to “park hop” over to Epcot, grab some lunch at Riviera Resort, or just unwind for a bit, the Skyliner is the perfect way to escape the crowds and noise and just relax.
That’s it for today! As always, let me know in the comments what I forgot on this list or which of these options was your favorite. I’ll be back for one final post in this series next week as we tackle the wait-free attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and there are lots!
See ya real soon!