Disney,  Disney World,  Family Fun,  Travel

A Beginner’s Guide to Hollywood Studios with Preschoolers

Let’s talk Hollywood Studios with preschoolers, shall we?! I totally get that planning a Walt Disney World vacation can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for those not familiar with all of the ins and outs of the most magical place on earth. There’s a lot to consider when planning your vacation – what to ride, where to eat, where to stay, and the list goes on and on. Add a preschooler (or two) into the mix and the list of questions you may have doubles.

By now you probably know that I love sharing all things Disney and answering your Disney planning related questions; therefore, I thought it would be helpful to start a blog series about each of the four Walt Disney World parks. I’ll share the best rides for young kids at each park, along with some tips & tricks I’ve learned over the years of vacationing at Disney World – basically a Beginner’s Guide to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

I’m kicking off this Disney Park series with the best rides & attractions at Hollywood Studios for preschoolers. Hollywood Studios used to be less about the rides and more about the live shows; however, with the latest addition of Toy Story Land (& the upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge), that has alllll changed.

Toy Story Land with preschoolers

When I chat with friends & family about visiting Walt Disney World, I’m often asked about Hollywood Studios and the common misconception that there’s not a ton to do here for young kids – well, I’m happy to share that it’s actually quite the opposite! There is SO much to do at Hollywood Studios with preschoolers – I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Know Before You Go

Download the MyDisney Experience App on your phone. This will be your lifeline for your park days – trust me. Inside the app you can check wait times, make FastPass+ selections/changes, view maps of the parks, and even order food at quick-service restaurants.

Take a look at the rides & attractions for Hollywood Studios before you go (preferably before you make your FastPass+ selections) and make a list of your top “must-dos”. I even recommend going a step further and creating a flexible schedule for the day. Use your notepad on your smart phone to create your schedule, so it’s handy at the park. Proper planning is key to a successful park day – especially with young children.

Check the park hours for your arrival day and be sure to take advantage of any early morning Magic Hours, if you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Regular park hours begin at 9AM, while Magic Hours begin at 8AM.

Toy Story Land

Disney has truly outdone themselves with the creation of Toy Story Land. The details and bright colors are absolutely incredible! When you arrive to the park in the morning, my best advice is to get there prior to “rope drop” and then head straight to Toy Story Land. Even if you are lucky enough to snag a Slinky Dog FastPass+, I still recommend heading in that direction and jumping on one of the other Toy Story rides before the massive crowds swarm in.

There are a total of 3 rides in Toy Story Land – Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania & Alien Swirling Saucers. And you may be surprised to know that many preschoolers meet the height requirement for Slinky Dog at 38″. My daughter, who just turned 4, was even able to ride!

Alien Swirling Saucers
Character Meet & Greets

After taking in all that Toy Story Land has to offer, we usually try to take advantage of the short(er) wait times at a few of the character meet & greets. Some of our faves to meet are Mickey & Minnie, the lovable Olaf and the dynamic duo of Mike & Sully from Monsters, Inc.! Don’t forget about Buzz & Woody in Toy Story Land, too.

In addition to short wait times, meeting characters during the first part of the day increases the likelihood that your child will be in a good mood when they meet their favorite character. If you’ve been to Disney World before, I’m sure you’ve witnessed the “over-tired, I’ve-had-way-too-much-Disney-magic-for-one-day” meltdown that inevitably happens at one point during the trip. We’ve all been there.

Stage Shows

Once we’re ready for a break from all of the fun in the sun, we usually check out a show or two. The stage shows not only offer some fantastic entertainment, but they’re also the perfect spot to cool off and recharge. Some of our favorites for the preschooler age group are:

Disney Jr. Live on Stage

This live puppet show is a huge hit with the 5 & under crowd. One heads up about the show – you will be sitting on the floor for this one. This allows the kids to see everything with no one blocking their view and gives them the freedom to stand up and dance throughout the show. And I promise you’re going to want to encourage them to dance – it is too, too cute!

Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

If you have ever wanted to sing “Let it Go” at the top of your lungs without worrying about anyone judging you, this show is for you! I won’t spoil the show for you, but I will say that the actors are hilarious and the show is very well done. Definitely a must-see show if you are a Frozen fan!

Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage

This Broadway style musical is held in an outdoor amphitheater, but don’t worry, there are fans to help keep you cool. Grab a popcorn or Mickey shaped ice cream sandwich from one of the nearby snack carts before you head in and get ready to sing along to the catchy soundtrack from Beauty & The Beast.

Tip: Hollywood Studios closes on the earlier side (usually between 8:00 – 9:00 PM, depending upon the day/time of year when you visit), and many of the shows run their last performance between 6:00 – 6:30 PM.  If you are visiting this park with little ones, I recommend catching the shows during the first part of the day.

Hollywood & Vine – Character Meal

If you’re looking for a great spot to sit down to eat while meeting your preschooler’s fave Disney Jr. characters, you’ll definitely want to check out Hollywood & Vine. Here you can enjoy a breakfast or lunch buffet with Disney Jr. characters – Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, and now, Vampirina. Characters do change from time to time, so check before you go to avoid any disappointments. If you’re looking for a dinner spot, Minnie Mouse hosts dinner parties here with Mickey & pals.

Both of my kids were huge fans of this character meal! My husband and I enjoyed the food choices on the lunch buffet and the kids buffet here was one of Noah’s favorites (he gave it extra bonus points for the mini corn dogs)!

Tip: Always make a reservation ahead of time – for any character meal. Dining reservations are accepted up to 180 days prior to your visit, so book early!

Pixar Place

Right now (and through the end of summer) Pixar Place has been transformed into all things Incredibles. And if you have a little Incredibles fan at home like I do, they’re going to love it here! Catch the street dance party, Meet Edna Mode, and if you’re lucky enough, you may even get the chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Incredible! And don’t forget to check out all of the super fun photo walls here – some even have photo props you can use!

Incredibles Photo Wall
Star Wars

And of course I can’t write a post about Hollywood Studios without mentioning Star Wars. As you have probably heard, Hollywood Studios is currently in the middle of a huge expansion project making way for the highly anticipated, Galaxy’s Edge. While the new Star Wars themed land isn’t set to open until August, Hollywood Studios still has plenty to offer to the Star Wars fan, including the popular Jedi Training (participants must be between 4-12 years of age), Star Wars Launch Bay, and Star Tours (children must be 40″ or taller to ride). To see everything Star Wars that Hollywood Studios has to offer, click here.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy – Now Open

Calling all racing fans! Earlier this year we missed the opening of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy by just two weeks. Needless to say this Cars obsessed kiddo was pretty bummed. Fast forward to last week and that frown was turned upside down when he got the chance to finally see his racing hero in action! Aspiring racers will love being in the middle of the action in this interactive show. Afterwards, bust a few dance moves at DJ’s Dance Party and snap a photo with Cruz Ramirez. To read more about Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, click here.

Hollywood Studios with Preschoolers
Nighttime Shows & Fireworks

If you decide to visit the park at night, you will definitely want to stay for the Fantasmic Show! Fantasmic is an outdoor show that takes place in an amphitheater, so you will want to arrive early to get a seat.

And if you’re looking for an epic firework show to end your day, you’ll want to stay for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. A must for Star Wars fans!

Okay, so right now you might be asking yourself…

How long should I plan to visit Hollywood Studios?

Well, if you are visiting Walt Disney World for more than a few days, I’d recommend 1 full day at Hollywood Studios; however, if you have a shorter visit, you can still accomplish quite a bit in a 1/2 day. Epcot is close by, so if you’re only looking at a 1/2 day at Hollywood Studios, I recommend spending the other 1/2 at Epcot in order to get the most out of your trip.

And just a friendly reminder – there is much more to Hollywood Studios than I can fit into a single blog post. I’m mostly touching on the highlights of the park here, as well as including our personal family favorites.

Soon I’ll be sharing my fave rides & attractions at Magic Kingdom. In the meantime, if you’re looking for more Disney planning tips you can check out my previous Disney blog series, How to Do Disney World with a 3 Year Old!

Have you visited Hollywood Studios with preschoolers? What is YOUR fave ride or attraction at Hollywood Studios?

xo,

Sumer

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A-Beginners-Guide-to-Hollywood-Studios

12 Comments

  • Kate

    We live less than 30 minutes from Walt Disney World, so we’re there about once a week – and I totally agree with your recommendations! The Disney Jr show is one of my favorite shows for younger kids, and I love the fact that you sit on the floor so they can move around a little. We really like the Hollywood & Vine character meal too, especially that they play the Hot Dog Song!

  • Dara

    Great ideas on what to do at Hollywood Studios! The last time I was there the Frozen sing a long wasn’t opened yet, so that’s something I want to check out!

  • Carla Natali

    We haven´t been to Disney for a few years but we´re planning to go back this year and I didn´t know about the app!
    It sounds like it could help us save a lot of time by giving us a chance to know ahead which rides have the biggest lines.
    Loved the tip!
    Thanks!

  • Amy Smith

    So Disney World is definitely one of the places I really want to take my kids someday. I love reading all the inside info from people that have visited. I save it all and will have to dig it out to review when we get something planned! I didn’t know anything about Hollywood studios…so thanks for all the great tips!

  • karen

    it looks like tons of fun! I want to be able to take the kids soon too! I am hoping in a few years we make our way to Disney World

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