How Has Disney’s Hollywood Studios Stood Up Over Time?

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of the most recently transformed parks at Walt Disney World.

Originally, a team of Disney engineers had been given an assignment for two new pavilions in EPCOT’s Future World.  One of the pavilions was to be around The Great Movie Ride and centered on Hollywood’s heyday of the 1930 and 1940. But, when the newly appointed CEO, Michael Eisner saw the plans he requested it to be made into an entirely new park based on entertainment and show business, named MGM Studios. This also coincidentally happened on the heels of Universal Studios announcing its plan for a new Florida park.

The park opened in 1989 with only four attractions (Great Movie Ride, The Backlot Tour, Magic of Disney Animation, and the Monster Sound Show) with the Earful Tower as its icon. A year later Star Tours and Indiana Jones stunt spectacular opened up.

Over the years, several attractions came and went.  In 1994 Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened and in 1999 Rock N Roller Coaster and Toy Story Mania! opened.  These three attractions were the start of the park actually coming to life. The Sorcerer’s Hat replaced the Earffel Tower as its icon, but you could still get a glimpse of the ears from the backlot.

Since 2016 the park has been in the process of undergoing many changes.  The hat has since been removed. The Earful Tower and Light Camera Action Show are now gone. The Backlot Tour and the Great Movie Ride have also closed. 

Disney's Hollywood Studios Rock n Roller Coaster
Go from 0 to 60 in three seconds on this superfast indoor roller coaster. Be prepared to go upside down at times!


Star Wars

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Completely immerse yourself in Black Spire Outpost, Batuu’s largest village. Here you can discover the secrets among scoundrels, smugglers, and rogues. Spot someone who is associated with the resistance.

Help Hondo Ohnaka make a delivery to his famous clientele on the attraction: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Afterward, join the Resistance on a secret mission: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Become a Batuu Bounty Hunter by participating in the interactive game: Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. To find out how to play, click here.

Use your Play Disney Parks app to access your Star Wars: Datapad which allows you to translate languages and interact with droids from across the galaxy.

And of course, stop for some local food and drink at Oga’s Cantina, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, Milk Stand, or Ronto Roasters.


Rise of the resistance entrance

Star Wars Launch Bay 

Star Wars Launch Bay is an area that gives guests a look behind the scenes from the Star Wars films.  Meet and Greets include Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and BB8.


Toy Story Land 

Become the size of Andy’s toys and join Woody and his friends in Andy’s backyard for a fun-filled adventure.

Slinky Dog Dash

Ride on the back of Slinky Dog on this family-friendly roller coaster with tracks built by Andy himself using his Mega Coaster Play Kit.

Flurry of Fun at Toy Story Land

Will you be the one chosen by the claw? Find out when you ride Alien Swirling Saucers featuring the little green aliens in The Claw at Pizza Planet.

Participate in boot camp with Sarge and the Green Army Man Drum Corps. Are you ready to become an official recruit?

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