How to Spend Your Time - The Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015 - page 174

Touring at Disney's Hollywood Studios
GENERAL TOURING PHILOSOPHY Toy Story Midway Mania is the highest priority and should
be most guests' first stop. It's also the top FastPass+ priority. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and
Tower of Terror are the other two ride priorities. Star Tours and Great Movie Ride are the
only other rides that often have posted waits longer than 15 minutes. A typical problem is
trying to see all the scheduled shows, which take 40-60 minutes to experience. With one
day, you may need to prioritize several of the lengthy attractions that appeal to your group
while skipping others—there just isn't enough time.
CHARACTERS The Toy Story characters across from Toy Story Midway Mania are the
highest priority and see 30-50 minute afternoon waits. Sorcerer Mickey and Sofia the First
see 20-40 minute waits. Classic characters like Goofy, Donald, Minnie, Daisy, Stitch, and
Pluto greet in front of the Great Movie Ride building at the end of Hollywood Boulevard
from open through the early afternoon. Visit before 10am to minimize waits.
JEDI TRAINING ACADEMY Kids between the ages of 4 and 12 can participate in this show
held next to Star Tours. You must bring the participating child to the old Sounds Dangerous
building across from Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular immediately after the park
opens to guarantee a slot. There are usually 12-15 shows scheduled throughout the day.
Ask for a show in the afternoon so it doesn't interfere with morning touring. If they can't
accommodate, let others sign up first and then sign up for a show after 12pm.
ROPE DROP Hollywood Studios may be the most essential rope drop due to how fast Toy
Story Midway Mania wait times skyrocket. If you're not among the first 200-300 people
inside the Park, you can expect to wait 25-40 minutes at Toy Story Midway Mania even if
you hurry straight there. Disney usually begins letting guests into the Studios 10 minutes
before official Park open, but it may be earlier (30-40 minutes) if crowds are expected to
be well above average. In order to be among the first to enter the Park, plan to be at the en-
trance no later than 45 minutes prior to open. Once the Park opens, guests are free to head
to the attraction of their choice with no internal ropes, though Toy Story Midway Mania is
often the only attraction actually operating until official open.

FastPass+ Priority
Guests may initially select only one tier one attraction, which makes it a struggle for those
arriving late to ride both Toy Story Midway Mania and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Most
guests want to select Toy Story Midway Mania and ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster standby
early in the morning. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster offers a single rider line, though waits are
usually in the 15-30 minute range due to the way the vehicles are loaded and it's impos-
sible to gauge how many people are in line until the final loading area. Select Great Movie
Ride as a 4th FP+ or ride after 6pm to minimize waits.
Tier 1 (choose one)
1. Toy Story Midway Mania

2. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

3. Fantasmic!