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At Disney's Hollywood Studios, you can help Indiana Jones escape from the Nazis, take a wild limousine ride through Los Angeles, get shrunk to the size of a gnat, and immerse yourself in iconic scenes from Hollywood's past and present.

This compact but fun-filled theme park is located at a major crossroads in the Walt Disney World Resort, with plenty of thrill rides and effects-laden shows. The ESPN Wide World of Sports is nearby.

Understand

"The World you have entered was created by The Walt Disney Company and is dedicated to Hollywood—not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was—and always will be." — Michael D. Eisner, May 1, 1989

Walt Disney World's third theme park opened in May 1989 as Disney–MGM Studios, joining the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. The park, billed as "the Hollywood that never was", features live shows and attractions based on movie and television favorites, from classic Golden Age films to modern-day blockbusters. In addition to the well-known Disney-branded productions, several Disney subsidiaries also have inspired rides and shows here; it's the place to go for fans of Lucasfilm properties, Pixar films, ABC television, and Jim Henson's Muppets.

Among the top attractions are two exceptional thrill rides, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (a 13-story vertical drop) and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (a launched coaster, 0-60 in 2.8 seconds), and a ride through a Toy Story-themed shooting gallery.

Just south of Hollywood Studios is the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves and host to countless other sporting events throughout the year.

History

Productions at the Studios

The 1990s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club (or MMC) that was filmed here starred, among others, JC Chasez, Keri Russell, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera. The first movie filmed here was the poorly-received Splash, Too, the 1988 direct-to-TV sequel to 1984's Splash.

The genesis of the "Studios" theme park was as a new pavilion for EPCOT Center's Future World that would provide an animatronic ride through cinematic history, much as World of Motion did for transportation and Spaceship Earth did for communication. This spark of an idea was so inspiring, however, that then-CEO Michael Eisner suggested that the new ride instead become the marquee attraction in an all-new theme park.

The original vision for this new park was to combine a traditional theme park atmosphere—rides, shows, restaurants—with a real working production studio. A team of animators began work even before the park opened to the public, working on real Disney animation—Mulan and Lilo & Stitch, among others, were animated entirely at the theme park. Live-action was also filmed here, from movies like Newsies and Ernest Saves Christmas to television shows such as Mickey Mouse Club and Adventures in Wonderland. Most importantly, all of these production facilities were viewable on the park's Backstage Studio Tour—guests could actually see animating and filming as they occurred, if their timing was right; if not, they still got to see the real sets and real studios where their favorite productions were created. A backlot was also created and placed on the tour, with house façades used in actual films and television shows and authentic props from movies like Flight of the Navigator and Star Wars.

Those days are gone; the park's sound stages have been converted to rides and stage shows, the animation facility has closed down, and even the backlot tour is no more. The original ride idea, the one planned for Epcot, survives as the park's centerpiece, The Great Movie Ride, and new thrill rides have opened up and become the park's main draws. Despite all the changes, though, the park retains its enthusiasm for the fantasy worlds created on film, and guests can still enjoy being able to "step into" their favorite productions.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, or some small fraction thereof.

Get in

By car

Hollywood Studios is just southwest of Epcot; it's on Buena Vista Drive, which is accessible from either World Drive or Epcot Center Drive. Parking is $20 per car, although Disney resort guests can park for free—just show your "Key to the World" card at the toll gate.

Parking is free at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, which is on South Victory Way, south of Osceloa Parkway.

By Disney transportation

From Epcot and nearby resorts

From Epcot, the BoardWalk, the Yacht and Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin, you can take the Friendship ferries to Hollywood Studios. There is also a nice wide walking path that follows a similar route. Note that if you are coming from Epcot, you must exit through that park's rear entrance: the International Gateway, located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase. From Epcot's main entrance, there is a bus that goes to the Studios.

From the Magic Kingdom

Take the monorail or ferry to the Transportation and Ticket Center, then board the Studios bus.

From Animal Kingdom and other resorts

From other areas of the property, simply go to the bus stop and wait for the Studios bus to arrive. You will be dropped off in front of the Hollywood Studios gates.

From Disney Springs

Disney Springs does not have direct buses to the parks; you will need to make your way to a resort, then go from that resort to Hollywood Studios. The best option here might be to take the bus to the Swan, which is the closest hotel to the Studios, then take the Friendship or the walking path to the Studios. Another option is to walk or take the boat to the Saratoga Springs resort, then the bus to the Studios.

To the Wide World of Sports

Public transportation to the Wide World of Sports is limited. Buses are available only from the All-Star Resorts, the Caribbean Beach Resort, and the Pop Century Resort, so you'll need to get to one of those hotels before switching buses. The buses regularly run only Thursday through Monday, from 5PM to 11PM. If there's a special event going on outside of those days and times, bus service will start one hour before the event and end no earlier than 11PM.

Get around

Map of Disney's Hollywood Studios

Upon entering the park, you'll find yourself on Hollywood Boulevard, the park's equivalent of the Magic Kingdom's Main Street, U.S.A. Shops line both sides of this street, perfect for grabbing a souvenir on your way out at the end of the day. (Feel free to browse on the way in, though; you can always come back later, or you can have it held for you or delivered to your Disney resort.) Here, it's perpetually the 1930s, so keep an eye out for young starlets, ambitious directors, suspicious policemen, eager autograph hounds, and the like—these Streetmosphere actors play out comedic vignettes throughout the day, and they may just pull you into their stories. At the end of Hollywood Boulevard, you can see the beautiful replica of Hollywood's Chinese Theater, the centerpiece of the park.

As you travel down Hollywood Boulevard, you'll find the famous intersection with Vine St., a smaller street that heads off to the left towards Echo Lake. The next intersection is with Sunset Boulevard, another major thoroughfare that branches to the right. Here you'll find more shops and more Streetmosphere, and looming in the distance is the 199-foot-tall Hollywood Tower Hotel, which houses the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. (Why 199 feet? If it were one foot taller, it would require a blinking red light at the top under federal aircraft regulations.)

Past Sunset, as you approach the Chinese Theater, to the right will be a large gateway, through which you'll find the Animation Courtyard. Through the gate and to the left, starting around behind the Chinese Theater, are Mickey Avenue and Pixar Place, where former soundstages have been converted into the Toy Story Mania attraction.

From there, behind the Chinese Theater, you pass the former backlot, and enter the Streets of America, where Lights, Motors, Action and Muppet*Vision 3-D are located. Commissary Lane connects this area to the plaza around the Sorcerer's Hat. Coming back toward the front of the park, you end up at Echo Lake—just look for the giant Dinosaur Gertie. The Lucasfilm attractions are nearby.

See and Do

The unfortunate façade of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. If someone offers you a ride to the thirteenth floor in the elevator, you may be in for a ... let-down.

Disney or Universal?

Disney's Hollywood Studios is sometimes confused with the two parks at the other big Orlando resort, Universal Orlando Resort. Universal Studios Florida, in particular, is very similar in concept, but its licensed properties include Men In Black, Despicable Me, The Simpsons, E.T., and Shrek. Universal's other Florida park is Islands of Adventure, where you'll find Dr. Seuss, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and King Features cartoons.

Even though Marvel Comics is owned by Disney, a pre-existing contract with Universal means that Islands of Adventure is still the place to go to find Spider-Man and his friends—at least for now.

Hollywood Studios' attractions separate into one of two camps: sedate but fun stage shows and up-tempo thrill rides. There's very little in-between; even The Great Movie Ride is more like a theater production than a ride. Toy Story Mania! may be the first attraction that could be said to bridge that gap.

FastPass, the system that allowed you to go to an attraction and get a ticket to come back later and skip the standby queue, is no longer available. All Studios guests will be using FastPass+, where you choose your own return time for each of three attractions. FastPass+ queues are available for virtually every ride in the park, along with some shows and character greetings.

FastPass+ kiosks are located at the service counter to the left as you enter the park (the former Sid Cahuenga's shop), at Guest Relations, at the Wait Times Board, at Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and at the Tower of Terror. As FastPass+ is new, cast members are stationed at nearly every major attraction; they have tablets and can help you schedule your FastPass+ reservations if the kiosks are too confusing, or not convenient. If you're staying at a Disney resort, you can also use a smartphone with the My Disney Experience app to schedule your FastPass+ reservations.

For parade and stage show performance times, which change daily, please see the Guide Map and the Times Guide you'll receive when you enter the park. You can also check the Wait Times Board at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, which lists current wait times for rides and show times for shows.

The Ride has safety restrictions denotes rides with safety restrictions. See Stay safe in the main Walt Disney World article for more information.

Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood Boulevard is mostly a location for shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, but at its far end is where you'll find the park's centerpiece attraction, the Great Movie Ride. While you're at the Chinese Theater, be sure to check out the cement plaza in front—just like at the real Chinese Theater in Hollywood, you'll find a number of celebrities have placed their handprints and signatures there. Everyone from Donald Duck and R2-D2 to Carol Burnett and Michael Jackson has left his or her mark.

  • The Great Movie Ride. A slow-moving ride through scenes from some of the greatest movies, recreated using Audio-Animatronics, including Alien, The Wizard of Oz, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Mary Poppins. But remember: in the movies, not everything is as it seems! This is a great choice for your first ride of the day, to really get you in the mood and mindset of the whole park. The incredible attention to detail means you see something new every time you ride it.
  • Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular (fireworks). Every night, the skies above the Chinese Theater are lit up with a fireworks spectacular set to the indelible music of the Star Wars saga.

Sunset Boulevard

You are traveling through another dimension...

In The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror's pre-ride video, Rod Serling speaks the line "Tonight's story on The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This, as you may recognize, is a..." This actually comes from the episode "It's A Good Life", which aired on November 3, 1961. The rest of the dialogue was spoken by a voice actor.

In addition to more shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, Sunset Boulevard is home to the Studios' two major stage shows and its two popular mega-thrill rides.

  • Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage. A 20-minute condensation of the popular animated film. It's more "cartoony" than the Broadway musical you may have seen, but it's great for kids who may not sit through a longer production. Colorful costumes and the classic songs make for an entertaining time.
  • Fantasmic!. Performed nightly after dark; check the Times Guide for details. Watch as Mickey Mouse uses the power of imagination to defeat some of Disney's nastiest villains. Live-action nighttime extravaganza with outstanding film and lighting effects, fireworks, and a 50-foot animatronic dragon. The theater fills up quickly, so get there early if you want a seat. Reserved seating is available if you purchase a dining package.
  • Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Hop into your "limousine" and take a wild ride through the streets of Los Angeles to get to Aerosmith's concert. The only roller coaster at Walt Disney World with inversions, this indoor launched coaster accelerates you from zero to 60 miles per hour in three seconds. An exciting but fairly smooth ride, it's accompanied by the (very loud) music of Aerosmith and decorated with bright fluorescent signs that obscure any view of the track, so you never know where you're headed next. Ride has safety restrictions
  • Sunset Showcase (Club Disney). The Sunset Showcase building is a multi-use space that Disney will be using for a variety of attractions and events. At the moment, it houses "Club Disney", a DJ-led dance party where kids can groove with Mickey and Minnie and friends, while Mom and Dad enjoy the A/C.
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Rod Serling himself welcomes you into this mystery, involving an elevator on the thirteenth floor, a late-night lightning strike, and vanished guests. Most people ignore the story, though, and just go on this ride for the 13-story free-fall down the elevator shaft, followed by a random sequence of sudden rising and falling. Not for the faint of stomach, period. The view from the top is quite a sight, if you can open your eyes long enough to look. The pre-ride area of the attraction is filled with references both obscure and subtle to various episodes of the TV show. Ride has safety restrictions

Animation Courtyard/Pixar Place

Through the iconic gate is this courtyard, which segues into Mickey Avenue and Pixar Place as it heads toward the back of the park. The courtyard was once the gateway to the backstage tour, with access to the animation department and the Backlot Tour; the Animation building is now the Star Wars Launch Bay. And there used to be working sound stages along Mickey Avenue, but they've been converted into semi-permanent exhibit space and, of course, Toy Story Mania!.

  • Disney Junior – Live on Stage!. A cute audience-participation (dancing and singing) stage show featuring characters from the Disney Channel's programs for preschoolers. Don't even bother bringing anyone over the age of 7. Warning to parents with creaky knees: seating is on the floor.
  • Star Wars Launch Bay. The former Animation building has been converted to commemorate the opening of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, and it's now the locus of Star Wars-related activity in the park (even though it's on the opposite side of the park from Star Tours). There are several distinct areas inside the building, but you'll start by enjoying a 10-minute preview film in the theater. From there, you can meet characters from the Star Wars saga, view props and costumes (real and reproduction) from the movies, play the Disney Infinity video game (with Star Wars figures, of course), or shop for all sorts of Star Wars collectibles.
  • Toy Story Mania!. Possibly the most popular attraction in all of Walt Disney World, this 3-D virtual midway game, complete with moving targets and special effects, is themed around the characters from Toy Story. Great fun for all ages, but visitors with aiming skills honed by years of video game playing will get higher scores. Due to its popularity, Fastpasses go very quickly, especially on weekends.
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Go "Under The Sea" with Ariel and friends in this live stage show featuring black-lit puppets and costumes. Very imaginative and colorful, with some intriguing special effects. Fairly popular, it can get crowded at times.
  • Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. A walk-through exhibition of Walt's life and career, including how he built the global entertainment empire that bears his name. Artifacts and diagrams galore, so Disney history fans will have a ball. Your average kid or thrill-seeker, on the other hand, is likely to get bored five minutes in. Closed for a preview of The Good Dinosaur through December 4, 2015.

Streets of America

A motorcycle stunt from Lights, Motors, Action!

In the Streets of America, you'll find façades set up to give the illusion of walking down streets in New York City and San Francisco, using the movie-making technique called "forced perspective". A variety of attractions are arrayed around the edges of the area.

Cars fans will find Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater parked at The Winner's Circle, ready to pose for pictures. A musical group called Mulch, Sweat, and Shears roams the area in their gardening truck and performs several times daily.

  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids - Movie Set Adventure. A huge play area that makes you look and feel like you're a quarter of an inch tall. Totally safe for kids to run around and climb on everything, from spider webs to anthills. Older folks can look for giant-sized versions of famous objects like a roll of Kodak film and a can of Play-Doh, but watch out for the dog's nose—he's been known to sneeze!
  • Muppet*Vision 3-D. A hilarious show featuring the Muppet characters, shown in a detailed replica of the Muppet Theater. You have to see it to believe it. The combination of a 3-D film, in-theater animatronics and special effects, and a special live-action appearance makes for an immersive show. The pre-show, held in a staging area while the previous main show runs, is just as good as the main show; if it's not too crowded, ask a cast member if you can stay to see the whole thing. The queue area and the pre-show area are overflowing with sight gags and bad puns. You will never see them all in just one trip.
  • Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. Imported from Disneyland Resort Paris, this live show features high-intensity (and highly dangerous) live action stunt driving. Kids, don't try this at home! A new segment features Lightning McQueen from the Cars films.

Echo Lake

Obscure snack-stand references

"Min and Bill", of Dockside Diner fame, was the name of a 1930 MGM film starring Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery, but the name also serves as a reference to Minnie Mouse and Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse's character in the first cartoon with a synchronized soundtrack. Gertie the Dinosaur, on the other hand, was made famous by cartoonist Winsor McKay as one of the first-ever animated characters.

On one side of Echo Lake is a large steamboat, known as Min and Bill's Dockside Diner; on the other is a large dinosaur, with Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction. Around the perimeter of the area are attractions based on Lucasfilm properties, restaurants, and a couple of soundstages.

  • ABC Sound Studio. Formerly the home of the "Sounds Dangerous" attraction, the Sound Studio is now used for previews of upcoming Disney films and events. Currently showing "Star Wars: Path of the Jedi".
  • The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza. Not much of an attraction or even an exhibit, this plaza between the ABC Sound Studio and the Hyperion Theater showcases a gigantic Emmy statue and busts of famous television personalities from Milton Berle to Oprah Winfrey. It's nothing exciting, but might be worth five minutes to look at while you're waiting for your Fastpass time.
  • Hyperion Theater. Formerly the home of the "American Idol Experience" (and before that, "Superstar Television"), the Hyperion Theater is currently showing "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration".
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. An exciting 35-minute live-action stunt show recreating some of the best scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark. A few lucky audience members might even get to appear on stage as extras.
  • Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple (Right next to Star Tours). Kids between ages 4 and 12 can become Jedi Trainees, where they learn how to wield the Force and use a lightsaber. The training session is capped by an epic confrontation with a major Star Wars villain or two. This experience is extremely popular, so pre-registration is required for prospective Jedi; go to the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost early in the day to reserve a spot. Of course, if you just want to watch, you can do that too, no registration required.
  • Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. The much-loved (but 23-year-old) Star Tours ride closed in 2010, but this "prequel" to the original takes Star Wars fans to new locations in that galaxy far, far away. An upgraded motion-simulation system, a 3D screen, and over fifty combinations of scene sequences mean that this ride will remain crowded for years to come. A new scene based on Episode VII is now in the rotation.

Annual events

Star Wars Weekends

Disney's popular Star Wars Weekends annual event is no more; the 2015 edition was the last.

  • Disney STEP Classic (Premiere Theater, Streets of America). Early Sep. Youth step teams from around the country come to Hollywood Studios to enjoy workshops and a big competition on the last day.

ESPN Wide World of Sports

South of Hollywood Studios is the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex (formerly Disney's Wide World of Sports), a state-of-the-art sports complex with fields, stadiums, and arenas for a variety of sporting events.

The complex is the flagship facility of the Amateur Athletic Union, which has its headquarters on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Disney Springs area. Regularly-scheduled AAU-sanctioned events are held at the complex from January to August. Outside of that time-frame, whether you'll find something going on is hit-or-miss. If there is something happening, it's probably a high school game with just a handful of spectators.

Admission to the complex counts as one of your "Fun Visits" if you've added the Water Park Fun & More option to your Magic Your Way tickets, however, considering the low cost of admission it could be said that it's better to save your "Fun Visits" for one of the more expensive options. Admission is $15.50 for adults and $10.50 for children ages 3–9.

  • Champion Stadium, 700 S Victory Way (World Dr to Osceola Pkwy, east to Victory Way). A 9,500-seat baseball stadium. The Atlanta Braves play their spring training games here, and the Rookie-league GCL Braves play here all summer. Other events occur throughout the year. $0–32.
  • ESPN RISE Games. Mid- to late-Jul. Two weeks of competition featuring some of the best young athletes in the country. High school athletes compete in basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and football; youth teams will show what they can do in baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, and track & field.
  • Disney Fit Challenge. Late Sep. Athletes (and couch potatoes) of all ages and abilities can participate in this three-day fitness contest. Test yourself against your peers; participants will be divided by age and skill level so everyone has a chance to win.
  • Florida Cup. Jan 9-21, 2016. Professional soccer clubs from around the world come to Florida to participate in the Florida Cup, which started in 2015.
  • Orlando Classic (college basketball). Late Nov. Since 2006, college basketball fans have been able to catch eight top Division I teams playing a total of twelve games in this early-season tournament.
  • Pop Warner Super Bowl & National Cheer and Dance Championships. Early December (4-12 Dec 2015). Since 1999, the national organization for youth football has brought their championship week to Walt Disney World.
  • Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic (Hess Sports Field). throughout February. In what's shaping up to be an annual event, six Major League Soccer teams and two local minor-league teams take part in a spring training tournament. $15.50 per session (2 games per session, 2 sessions per day), $99 for entire event; discounts for supporters of participating teams.

One-time events

Coming in 2016:

  • Invictus Games. May 8–12, 2016. Prince Harry of Wales in 2014 organized an international sporting event in London for soldiers and sailors who have permanent injuries. This, the second such event, will feature ten different sports and hundreds of competitors from as many as 14 countries.

Buy

Shops line Hollywood Boulevard on both sides, while tourists fill the space in between.

Shoppers will find plenty of generic souvenirs and apparel, of course, making up the lion's share of merchandise found along the main shopping areas (Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard). One of the less generic establishments on these two streets is Sunset Boulevard Shops, with menswear, timepieces, housewares, and collectibles.

But Disney's Hollywood Studios is an especially rich location for themed merchandise that's hard to find elsewhere. Most of these locations are found at the exits from associated attractions. Fans of the Muppets, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones should be particularly pleased.

  • Animation Gallery (at the end of the Magic of Disney Animation tour). Here you'll find this combination display gallery/high-end art store, with displays featuring some of Disney's Academy Awards as well as some very expensive animation cels, prints, and collectibles. Wonderful to look at, even if you can't afford to buy anything.
  • Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost (near the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular). Indy fans can find authentic, licensed fedoras and bullwhips here, along with more traditional Indy-branded souvenir fare. Currently the shop opens late and closes early, coinciding with the nearby stunt show's performance times.
  • It's a Wonderful Shop (between Mama Melrose's and Pizza Planet). A Christmas store, open all year, complete with snow on the ground outside. It's a great place to buy Disney ornaments and decorations, even if it's not December.
  • Rock Around The Shop (at the exit from Rock 'n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith). A rock music-themed store.
  • Stage One Company Store (just outside Muppet*Vision 3D). This store boasts Muppet merchandise that's hard (or impossible) to find elsewhere.
  • Tatooine Traders (at the exit of Star Tours). This shop offers a wide variety of Star Wars-themed merchandise, in a variety of price ranges. Most Star Wars merchandise is sold online; being able to shop here in person is a rare treat, and there are several exclusive items found only here.
  • Tower Gifts (at the exit from The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror). The fashion boutique of the Hollywood Tower Hotel has everything for Twilight Zone fans.

Eat

Disney's Hollywood Studios probably has the most unique restaurants on the property, with most themed around movies and television.

See Eat in the main Walt Disney World article for information on the Disney restaurant pricing system, character dining, dietary restrictions, and advance dining reservations. The telephone numbers below are for extraordinary circumstances only; for reservations and most health or diet issues, call the main Disney Dining number at +1 407 WDW-DINE (939-3463).

Please note that exact opening and closing times may vary with the park hours; check your Times Guide for official restaurant hours. Breakfast is usually served until 10:30AM, and dinner usually starts between 3:30PM and 4:30PM.

Counter service

  • ABC Commissary (Commissary Ln). Park open-park close. An unusually international menu for a counter-service location. The menu varies, but there is usually at least one Asian entree and some sort of Latin American dish. $6-$9.
  • Backlot Express (Echo Lake between Star Tours and Indy). 11:30AM-park close. The menu is nothing special, but the decor is. The restaurant is themed to look like a huge studio warehouse. There is plenty of wide-open seating here, and because of its location, it's rarely very crowded. $6-$9.
  • Starring Rolls Cafe (Sunset Blvd near Hollywood Blvd). Park open-4PM. Pastries, sandwiches, coffee. $3-$10.
  • Studio Catering Company (Between Streets of America and Pixar Place). 11:30AM-5:30PM. Possibly the most nondescript restaurant in the park, with a variety of sandwiches on the menu. A good option if you just need to eat quickly on your way from Pixar Place to Streets of America. Crowded at lunchtime due to its location; people who came to the park in the morning are usually hitting this area right around noon. $6-$9.
  • Sunset Ranch Market (Catalina Eddie's, Fairfax Fare, Rosie's All-American Cafe, Toluca Legs Turkey Co.) (Sunset Blvd near Rock 'n' Roller Coaster). 11AM-park close. These four locations (plus a fruit stand and an ice cream stand) share an outdoor seating area. Salads, pizza, burgers, BBQ, etc. $6-$9.
  • Toy Story Pizza Planet (Streets of America near Muppet*Vision). 11AM-park close. A combined pizza parlor/video arcade, just like in the movie. Absolutely a must for kids. $5-$9.

Table service

Don't bring your own car; the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater has one already parked and waiting for you!
  • 50's Prime Time Cafe (Vine St near Echo Lake), +1 407 560-4365. 11AM-park close. Very good homestyle "comfort food" served in a classic 1950's sitcom kitchen, complete with Formica tabletops and black-and-white televisions. Word to the wise: you had better eat all your vegetables if you want to order dessert. Your server, in character as an ersatz family member, will have no qualms about putting you on the spot about this or any number of things; it's all in good fun, but do not eat here if you're not in the mood to play along. $13-$21.
  • The Hollywood Brown Derby (Sunset Blvd at Hollywood Blvd), +1 407 560-4835. 11:30AM-park close. Dine like the stars in this East Coast version of Hollywood's most famous restaurant. The Cobb salad, a Brown Derby original, is just as good as you would expect. $22-$36; Dining Plan requires two credits.
  • Hollywood & Vine (Vine St near Hollywood Blvd). Park open-park close. A buffet set in the glitter and glamour of Hollywood in the 1930's. Breakfast and lunch are called "Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine", featuring the Disney Junior characters for young kids, while the dinner meal is "Minnie's Seasonal Dine", where Minnie and her pals put on a rotating schedule of seasonal music, food, and fun. $25.
  • Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano (Streets of America near Muppet*Vision). Noon-park close. There aren't a lot of Italian restaurants at Walt Disney World, but this one fills the casual end of that niche admirably, even if it really has nothing to do with Hollywood. The decor is like stepping into an Italian neighborhood in New York City. $12-$22.
  • Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Commissary Ln). 11AM-park close. Dine under the stars and watch classic B-movie clips from your custom convertible in a re-created 1950s drive-in movie theater. The menu includes a variety of entrees. Excellent milkshakes. This one might be the most popular restaurant in the park, so plan accordingly. $12-$23.

Resort dining

At the Caribbean Beach resort, you'll be heading to Old Port Royale for meals; it's the central location of the resort and where all the shopping and dining is.

  • Market Street Food Court. 6AM-midnight. This is a fun, casual food court that's designed to look like an outdoor Caribbean street. $7-$10.
  • Shutters, +1 407 934-2830. 5PM-10PM. A variety of Caribbean entrees. $16-$28.

At the Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, you'll dine at a food court:

  • Everything Pop (Pop Century). 6AM-midnight. Typical Disney food court, decorated in the same style as the rest of the Pop Century Resort. $6-$9.
  • Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation). Opening late May; hours TBA. Disney refers to the options at this food court as "better-for-you"; the stations include a soup/salad/sandwich shop, a "world flavors" shop, plus burgers, pizza, and baked goods. Beverage options are a bit more extensive than other food courts as well, with smoothies, organic tea, specialty coffees, and even wine. Price TBA.

Wide World of Sports

  • ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill. Lunch, dinner; exact times vary depending on events and season. If you're at the Wide World of Sports and need refreshments, this is where you'll go. Soups and sandwiches. The stadiums have typical stadium fare during events, though it turns out Disney prices actually aren't as steep as you'll find at most major league ballparks. $7-$10.

Drink

The Hollywood stars of the 30s might have enjoyed a libation or two in their day (at least once Prohibition was repealed), but the nightlife around Hollywood Studios is virtually nonexistent. The Tune-In Lounge is attached to the 50's Prime Time Cafe and themed the same; it's often crowded with "family members" waiting for their table in the restaurant, but if you need a drink, Dad's liquor cabinet is open. The Hollywood Brown Derby also has a lounge, just opened in 2013, with drinks and tapas-style appetizers. In fact, all of the table-service restaurants have drinks of some sort available; Mama Melrose's has some particularly interesting cocktails. Each resort has a poolside bar as well: Banana Cabana at the Caribbean Beach resort and Petals Pool Bar at Pop Century.

If you're looking for something more, just take a leisurely walk or ferry ride from the Studios to Disney's Boardwalk, or take a bus from one of the resorts to Disney Springs.

  • Trolley Car Café (Starbucks) (Sunset Blvd at Hollywood Blvd). Starbucks sells their coffee beverages and "La Boulange" pastries, along with a selection of Disney baked goods.

Sleep

There's more to do at the Caribbean Beach Resort than just eat and sleep.

If you really want a hotel close to Hollywood Studios, you'll want to stay in one of the Epcot-area resorts. The Yacht and Beach Clubs, the Boardwalk, and the Swan and Dolphin are all within easy walking distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and the Friendship ferries connect the two parks and five resorts.

The three resorts listed here are not very far from Hollywood Studios, but there are no provisions for walking. You'll be taking a car or bus no matter which park you want to visit.

  • Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Century Dr (off Osceloa Pkwy). The Art of Animation Resort sits across Hourglass Lake from the Pop Century Resort. Like its sibling, Art of Animation features giant iconic sculptures, but instead of commemorating pop culture, the resort's themes involve four Disney/Pixar films. The Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King sections together comprise 1,120 family suites, while The Little Mermaid section features 864 standard rooms. Family suites $240+, std rooms $92+.
  • Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, 900 Cayman Wy (off E Buena Vista Dr), +1 407 934-3400, fax: +1 407 934-3288. This was Disney's first attempt at creating a more affordable resort, and for a while had the cheapest rooms at Walt Disney World. With the advent of the Pop Century and All-Star Resorts, however, Caribbean Beach is now considered a Moderate resort. This is a visually exciting resort, very open and very colorful. The exterior-entrance rooms are grouped into one of six villages arrayed around a beautiful lake, each with its own exterior color scheme: Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Aruba, Trinidad North, and Trinidad South. Old Port Royale, with recreation, food, and shops, is centrally located. Each village has its own pool, beach area, and bus stop. Very special pirate-themed rooms are now available, but they are ridiculously popular. $149–$249; pirate rooms $174–$274.
  • Disney's Pop Century Resort, 1050 Century Dr (off Osceola Pkwy), +1 407 938-4000, fax: +1 407 938-4040. Walk down memory lane through the best and the worst of 20th-century pop culture. The exterior-entrance rooms are grouped into five "decade" themes—50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, each one featuring larger-than-life icons of the appropriate years from hula hoops to 8-tracks to cell phones. The gigantic decor is great fun for kids but may be sensory overload for adults. Aside from the whimsically-shaped pools, there's not much to do here besides catch a bus to the parks. If you're really bored, walk over to Hourglass Lake and look across at Disney's Art of Animation Resort; that resort's site was formerly intended for the "Legendary Years" 1900s–1940s expansion of Pop Century. $80–$160.

Note that according to Disney's official classifications, Caribbean Beach is in the "Epcot resort area", while Art of Animation and Pop Century are in the "Wide World of Sports resort area".


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