One of four theme parks located in Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is modeled after the Hollywood heydays of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Visitors can catch a glimpse of the glitz and glamour of this era through the art deco, neon, chrome and modern decor, and all of the streets blend together to make the park feel like one big movie set. The park was the third built as part of Walt Disney World Resort, and officially opened on May 1, 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios. The name was changed in 2008 to reflect a more modern Hollywood, while still keeping the retro touches in place as well.
There are various attractions and entertainment throughout the park including high-speed thrill rides, live stunt shows, parades, character meet-and-greets, live performances, Broadway-style musicals, and even a nighttime fireworks spectacular that guests can enjoy. The park also houses several quick service, casual and signature dining establishments as well as a variety of unique shopping opportunities for visitors to pick up a memento to take home.
The park consists of several different themed areas, but unlike other Disney parks, all of these areas are designed to blend together much like a real-life movie set would. The first themed area (and also the park’s main entrance) is Hollywood Boulevard, where the icon of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Sorcerer’s Hat, stands at attention. Here, guests can enjoy live street entertainment and parades and take a ride on The Great Movie Ride, an attraction that takes guests through several scenes from classic films.
Visitors can then walk over to Echo Lake, the second themed area within Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This oval-shaped lagoon features several popular attractions, including The American Idol Experience, the recently-revamped Star Tours as well as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza, an open-air art gallery featuring busts of Hollywood legends past and present.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios also has a special Backlot area, where kids can explore the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movie set adventure, or families can watch a thrilling 30 minute performance of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. The Animation Courtyard section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios also promises plenty of fun for kids and families alike. Children will enjoy seeing Disney Junior – Live On Stage!, where some of their favorite Disney Channel characters perform. Families can enjoy The Magic of Disney Animation show as well, which brings to life some of your favorite Disney characters. Pixar Place, another themed area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, also engages children with Toy Story Mania, a 4D ride that allows families to interact with their favorite Toy Story characters.
Finally, there’s Sunset Boulevard, which opened in 1994 and was the first expansion to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This area is home to one of the park’s most thrilling attractions, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. An indoor roller coaster, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, is nearby. The area also has two outdoor theaters to stage live shows, including Fantasmic! and Beauty and the Beast – Live On Stage.
It’s hard not to be impressed by the magic of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and with plenty of things to see and do, guests can immerse themselves in the magical feel of Hollywood.