Disney Hollywood Studios Tips: What to do When You First Arrive

Disney Hollywood Studios is in some ways the most complex park at Walt Disney World. Here is What to do When You First Arrive.

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The Disney Hollywood Studios is in some ways the most complex park at Walt Disney World. The attractions span the spectrum of shows for small children to thrills for teens and up. There is a mishmash of theming that ranges from studio lot theme to immersive worlds from Star Wars and Pixar/ Toy Story Franchises. Although relatively small, even with the new Star Wars expansion, Disney Hollywood Studios’ dining and attractions can take up a lot of your time. So there is no shortage of things to do and very little time to make up your mind. So it’s crucial to start off on the right foot as soon as you arrive. Here are five tips to do start your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Here are the first things you should do upon entering the Disney Hollywood Studios Park at Walt Disney World.

Join the Virtual Queue for Rise of the Resistance

If you are planning to ride the new Rise of the Resistance, the first thing I recommend is to get to the park at least an hour before opening. Disney has been letting guests in early to wait, but you can’t even attempt to secure a boarding pass through the My Disney Experience app until the park officially opens. Once you are inside and the park officially opens, have your phone ready to open the My Disney Experience App QUICKLY to join Rise of the Resistance virtual queue.

The Virtual Queue places you on the list, but there is no guarantee your boarding group will be called. That’s the kicker! You will be given a boarding group number. When your boarding group is ready, you will receive an alert on your phone. You have a two-hour window to return to the Rise of the Resistance. That’s all the more reason to get your place in the virtual queue as early as possible.

I highly recommend visiting Hollywood Studios early in your vacation timeframe just in case you don’t get a boarding group. This way you can go back another day and try again.

Pro Tip: Make sure you are closed out of your My Disney Experience App before trying to secure a boarding pass.

Pick up a Show Guide

Don’t wander through the Disney Hollywood Studios park without a map and a show guide. It’s true that you have access to a map on your My Disney Experience App, but a full size map is best for quick navigation through the park. Disney Hollywood Studios is a uniquely designed park with a twisted hub and spoke model that would confuse anybody. Showtimes are good to have handy as well because there are several types of shows that take place at different times throughout the park. Knowing the showtimes not only helps you be in the right place at the right time, but it also helps you prepare for when and where to expect crowds to form.

Sign Up For Jedi Training

Speaking of shows, one of the many Star Wars-inspired shows in the Disney Hollywood Studios park is Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. Your kids can sign up to train as Jedis for shows that occur throughout the day. The show includes lessons on using a lightsaber and Jedi teaching and the class is followed up by an encounter with a formidable Sith Lord. Sign-ups require the presence of an adult and are on a first come first serve basis, so do this right away.

Go to Toy Story Land

There are so many choices on where to go first. Toy Story Land is best for a few reasons:

Get some attractions in before the crowds form in the area
Grab Breakfast at Woody’s Lunchbox
Save Sunset BLVD for later and use Fastpass for Tower of Terror and Rock N’ Roller Coaster
Toy Story Entrance into Galaxy’s Edge

I like the Toy Story route to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge because I feel like the Star Wars-themed land is built like a giant playset and it informs my perspective on the experience there.

Use the Play Disney Parks App

The Play Disney Parks app is another level in how to experience Disney Hollywood Studios and other Disney parks. The app includes all sorts of interactive features, but most importantly, you can set up the app and use it as your datapad in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It’s like a hidden third attraction and it’s the best way to explore the newest area in Disney Hollywood Studios.