Walt Disney World is well known for both its nostalgia and technologically advanced attractions, but what really brings these parks to a different level are the shows, parades, exhibits, and character interactions offered across property. If you or someone in your travel party isn’t a thrill-seeker, doesn’t meet height requirements, or can’t ride for some reason, there is a whole slate of options at the parks.
Out of the four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, you’ll find the most “thrill” rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Thankfully, you’ll also find a ton of entertaining shows and character experiences to keep everyone in your group happy. Here are my top 5 favorite things to do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, besides the rides.
5. May the Force be With You
Though both Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run are both feats of Imagineering, not every Star Wars nerd wants to hop on a motion simulator ride or can handle a ride drop. Luckily, there is plenty to do in Galaxy’s Edge that will let guests live out their Star Wars story (check out my prior blog post, “May the Force be With You: Immersive Star Wars Experiences at Disney World” for an expanded overview.) As you explore Batuu, you’ll see Supreme Leader Kylo Ren arrive and search out the rebels, Rey and Chewbacca patrolling the Resistance Base, and the Mandalorian and Grogu roaming the Marketplace. These organic interactions with the characters give this land a feeling of immersion that is different than other areas of the park. Pop into Oga’s Cantina for a beverage and enjoy some tunes from DJ R-3X (aka DJ Rex). Stormtroopers and First Order Officers will question patrons as they search for rebels and contraband, so stay alert!
Travelers (as guests are known on Batuu) can also use the Play Disney Parks app to complete missions and interact with droids, speeders, and control panels around Galaxy’s Edge. Within the app, select “Disney’s Hollywood Studios” as your location, and select one of the three Galaxy’s Edge games – Star Wars: DataPad, Resistance Encampment, or Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters (MagicBand+ users only). Star Wars: DataPad is an easy way to play around the land – the app will prompt you to complete short puzzles based on the droids, speeders, or control panels near you. Complete a puzzle in front of the location in the picture on the app, and you’ll activate the object of the puzzle — the control panels light up, for example. I have a blast using this when I am waiting for the next arrival of Kylo Ren (just search the Disney World app for “First Order Searches for the Resistance” for show times) or for my reservation time at Oga’s.
#4. Discover Easter Eggs of Old Hollywood and Disney History
If you enjoy the history of the film industry, and the history of the Disney Company, this is a great place to look for Easter Eggs and cultural references. For starters, check out the names and handprints outside of the Chinese Theater – this is an exact replica of the original Grauman’s Chinese Theater in The Hollywood, except for one. From 1989 to 1999, Disney held Hand Printing Ceremonies for celebrities and Disney characters to sign their name in cement and imprint their hands in front of the Chinese Theater, as well as the Sunset Theater. Many of these were done in 1989 and the early 90’s, including Audrey Hepburn’s. What people didn’t realize was that Audrey Hepburn’s handprints aren’t in front of the original Chinese Theater in Hollywood, and she was greatly moved by being asked to have a square in Disney World. When Grauman’s realized their misstep, they contacted Audrey Hepburn to offer her a handrint space, and she declined, making her square in Disney’s Hollywood Studios one-of-a-kind.
Much like Main Street U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom, many windows on Hollywood Boulevard are references to Hollywood history or Disney connections. For example, one of the merchandise stores is called Adrian & Edith’s Head to Toe. This is a reference to Adrian Greenberg – who designed the iconic ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz – and Edith Head, who was a prolific Hollywood costume designer. Edith Head was also the inspiration for Edna Mode, top costume designer to the superheroes in The Incredibles, which added a Disney connection to this Hollywood Easter Egg.
Around Echo Lake, you’ll find two windows referencing Roger Rabbit above Hollywood and Vine restaurant – one advertising for Eddie Valiant’s Private Investigation services, with a cutout of Roger jumping out of his office on the window next to it. At one time, there were plans for three Roger Rabbit-themed rides in the expansion of Sunset Boulevard (one of which was eventually built in Disneyland, Roger Rabbit’s Toon Car Spin) so it’s nice to have this reference to the 1988 film. On the building adjoining these, you can see a window tribute to Bob Weiss, longtime Disney Imagineer and President of Walt Disney Imagineering from 2016 – 2021. Bob Weiss was part of the creative leadership team on such projects as Tokyo DisneySea, the reimagining of Disney’s California Adventure, and of course – Disney’s MGM Studios, now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For a more in-depth look at the history of the Disney Company, check out Walt Disney Presents, small walk-through museum located just behind the Chinese Theater/Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This exhibit has Disney art, artifacts, costumes, and more. At the end, you can also view a 15-minute film about the man himself in Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. This is a lovely, air-conditioned break from the sun and a great place to pass some time if you are taking a break from the rides in the park or skipping them altogether.
#3. Meet Your Favorite Characters
In addition to the immersive character experiences with Star Wars characters in Galaxy’s Edge, you can go to an actual meet Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and even BB-8 over in Star Wars Launch Bay at the Animation Courtyard. This area will close later in 2025 to build an Alice in Wonderland-themed indoor playground and new animation experiences, and hopefully these awesome meet-and-greets will be moved over to Galaxy’s Edge, or near Star Tours – The Adventure Continues. The Darth Vader meet-and-greet is really among the best on property, and even after many visits, I’m still intimidated by the Sith Lord. Disney Chase Visa card holders can skip the line for Darth Vader but utilizing the separate entrance for card holders – just show your card to the Cast Member attendant.
Over in Pixar Plaza near the entrance to Toy Story Land, you can meet Pixar favorites like James P. Sullivan, Edna Mode, Frozone, and Mr. & Mrs. Incredible. This is a great way to meet a bunch of characters in a relatively short amount of time, and you can grab a Jack Jack Num-Num Cookie while you’re there. Within Toy Story Land proper, you’ll find Andy’s favorite toys – Woody, Jesse, and Buzz – meeting friends at times throughout the day. The lines for these characters in particular can get very long, and it is worth checking the app for their next set and arriving early to ensure you get a chance to say howdy. At the top of the hour (most of the time) you can catch the Green Army Drum Corps performing near Alien Swirling Saucers. This is a fun show, and these soldiers are super talented. (Check out the Disney World app and MyDisneyExperience website for specific times.)
#2. Fantasmic!
Once the sun goes down, make your way over the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater off Sunset Boulevard to catch Fantasmic! – a fan favorite nighttime production. It’s a classic battle of good vs. evil as guests are immersed in Mickey’s dream (or nightmare) and marvel at water projections, fire effects, musical acts, and special guests. The amphitheater will fill up, so if you are with a big group of people, plan on arriving at least 30 minutes prior to the show, and potentially earlier during peak seasons. If you are flying solo or have just one other person with you, you can likely sneak in closer to showtime. There are also Fantasmic! Dining Packages available, which provide reserved seating for the show. This is an outdoor show, and there are snacks and drinks available inside (including a small selection alcoholic beverages). This is the perfect way to wrap up a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
#1. Live Theater Entertainment
Without a doubt, the best thing to do besides the rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are the live theater shows. Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage premiered on November 22, 1991 – the same day the movie premiered in theaters. Disney really bet big on this animated feature film being a hit, and their gamble paid off. Withstanding the test of time, this show has packed the theater for nearly 34 years, retelling a Tale as Old as Time through the music and costumes of the classic animated film. This is also an outdoor theater with overhead fans, so you can enjoy the show with an ice cream from Hollywood Scoops or a beer from Fairfax Fare out on Sunset Blvd.
Another long-running live show is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – an explosive look at the production behind the big stunts in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. This show is entertaining for guests of all ages, whether you’ve seen the movies or not. Grab a beverage or a snack and enjoy the fight scenes, massive movable sets, explosions, and of course – the classic giant rolling ball scene – and find out how they work!
If you’re in need of some air conditioning, head to the indoor theaters around the park. Whether you’re in the mood to sing or not, everyone can enjoy Frozen at For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration. I saw this show for the first time earlier in 2025 and realized that I have seriously been missing out. The hosts of the show are absolutely hilarious, and I was laughing the entire time between sing along songs. New to the theater show lineup is Unfairly Ever After, a funny and fiendish celebration of villains. This show opened in May 2025, taking over the theater near Rock’N’Roller Coaster that previously housed the Lightning MacQueen show. And last but not least, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure finally returned to the park in May 2025 for the first time since the COVID-19 closure. Located in Animation Courtyard, this theatrical production of the classic Little Mermaid story is great for the whole family, and a solid choice when you’re looking to rest your feet and soak in some air conditioning on a hot Disney day.
I have spent half a day at Hollywood Studios and only saw shows (including MuppetVision 3D, R.I.P.), and I had a wonderful time. Whether you are avoiding more intense rides, can’t stand motion simulators, or just want to luxuriate at the park instead of zipping from line to line, the live entertainment is top notch, and well worth seeing.
A Hollywood that Never was, and Always will be…
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a love letter to the Hollywood of yesterday, and though there are so many fun, thrilling, technologically advanced attractions at this park, the original heart of this place will always lie in the actual making of the movies. The historical “Easter Eggs,” character interactions, and perhaps most importantly, the live productions offered here tie this park to its roots as Disney’s MGM Studios. In the dedication of this park on May 1, 1989, then-CEO Michael Eisner sums it up perfectly, “[Disney’s MGM/Hollywood Studios] is dedicated to Hollywood – not a place on the map, but a state of mind that exists where illusion and reality are fused with technological magic.”
Do you have a “theater kid” in your group headed to Walt Disney World? Are you a grandparent who will be watching littles, or do you experience motion sickness? Let me be your guide to the magic, and we’ll plan the perfect trip for everyone in your travel party!
Related Blogs:
May the Force Be with You: Immersive Star Wars Experiences at Disney World – Magical Quests Blog
Maximize Your Rope Drop Morning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Magical Quests Blog
Resources:
Magical Quests Blog 