Top 10 Ultimate Hollywood Studios Attractions

Each of the parks at Disney World is WELL worth staying at after dark, and for Hollywood Studios, it’s to catch “Wonderful World of Animation” set against the facade of the replica Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Showcasing almost a century of Disney’s most iconic films, moments, and characters, this show celebrates everything from the shorts, to villains, to the ever-present themes of magic and family. It’s a heartwarming look at how far the Mouse House has come - but also never forgetting that little mouse who started it all. And if you feel like sticking around, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” an intergalactic fireworks display, plays just afterwards.

One thing that many visitors tend to skip if they’re taking short trips to Disney World is the multitude of Broadway caliber shows that the parks offer - but seriously, give them a chance! Like several other stage shows at the parks, this rendition of “Beauty and the Beast” follows the storyline of the animated film, but delivers the plot in an abridged form. While this format can be tricky to master, they do it wonderfully here with all of your favorite moments, delivering on your favorite tunes from the original. The actors are consistently impressive, as is the choreography.

You may not associate The Muppets with Disney, and that’s probably because the franchise was only acquired by the company in 2004. This attraction, however, has been around since the early 1990s, a couple of years after the park opened. That’s because this is one park where Disney doesn’t adhere as strictly to only using representations of properties that it owns the rights to. This show, which is actually more 4D than 3D, is full of fun and laughs and is a great way to get out of the heat or rain for a little while - though you might need some ice for the burns delivered by Statler and Waldorf. The pre-show is not to be missed, so be sure to get there on time!

Feel like getting your Luke Skywalker on but Tosche Station just ain’t cutting it? Well, Disney’s got several ways to get your fill: Star Tours, Star Wars Launch Bay and something else… but we’ll get to that. The Star Tours ride had been a popular fixture at Hollywood Studios since the late ‘80s, but in 2011 it was revamped to feature characters and storylines from the newer films in the franchise. It also received an extended name: The Adventure Continues. While the bones of the ride are the same as they’ve always been, there are brand new scenarios to explore, making it feel new all over again. There are different ride scenarios you can experience, so this ride is fresh and new with every go. Now THIS is podracing.

This show has been around since 1989, but even if you’ve seen it before, it doesn’t cease to be impressive. It’s a behind the scenes stunt show that offers truly impressive performances by a cast of stunt actors who reenact popular scenes from the “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Audience members take part as extras, and we won’t spoil things, but PAY ATTENTION. George Lucas is actually an executive producer of the show, and it mixes a thrilling recreation of scenes like Indy running from the boulder, to the grand finale of Marion and Indy in the plane, with interesting tidbits about the stunt and filmmaking business.

One of the fastest and most exciting rides at any Disney park is Aerosmith’s Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. The premise behind this indoor coaster is that you’ve got to get to an Aerosmith concert and there’s no time to lose. At the beginning, your car (a stretch limo) accelerates from zero to 57 miles per hour in just a couple of seconds. There are 3 inversions and a corkscrew, and it’s all over so fast you’ll hardly know what happened. There have been rumors in recent years about this ride being rethemed or repurposed, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it stays just like it is.

Many of us grew up relating to Andy and his love of toys, but as of 2018 we got the chance to relate to the toys themselves at the Hollywood Studios – or should we say Hollywoody? That’s when Toy Story Mania! Got a brand new entrance after being at the park for over a decade, but don’t worry the ride is still the one you know and love. While sporting 3D glasses, passengers are in spinning carts that move along a track while you get to play a variety of carnival games. But now in addition to that is Slinky Dog Dash, a coaster that promises to be fun for every member of the family, golly bob howdy, and Alien Swirling Saucers, a spinning ride that’ll have you saying “oooooOOOOOOH!”

If you presume that the nighttime shows at Disney World are simple fireworks like you’d see at your town’s Fourth of July celebrations, you’d be sorely mistaken. All of Disney’s shows are incredible, but Fantasmic is incomparable even among its peers. The show offers a mix of fireworks, pyrotechnics, live-action performance, large-scale projections, and water effects. The story behind the production is a battle between Disney’s heroes and villains. While there are some portions that may be frightening to young children, the ones who can handle a little darkness are bound to have a blast.

This beloved attraction is a drop tower ride where the atmosphere is almost as good as the ride itself. The Disney Imagineers outdid themselves when working on the theming for Tower of Terror, creating an impressive and immersive experience that can’t be missed. The version at Disney California Adventure has been permanently rethemed to become Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout. So if you’re in the US, the Orlando version is the only way to experience the original ride. Also, if you have the impulse to buy one of the bellhop hats, DO IT!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Walt Disney Presents

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

The folks at Disney worked so hard to bring this galaxy far, far away a little closer to home that we couldn’t POSSIBLY put it anywhere else! Opening first at Disneyland in 2019, this is the park expansion to end them all. At Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, grab a glass of blue or green milk, procure your very own lightsaber, and revel in the original music crafted by John Williams. That’s not even counting the rides! Say it with us now, you can pilot the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and soon engage in a mission against the First Order on Rise of the Resistance. If you want to see grown adults fully weep, set aside at LEAST a day for this place.