10 Hollywood Studios Rides & Attractions, Ranked!

Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios has a plethora of rides and attractions for everyone to enjoy. It’s a difficult task to choose which rides are really worth it, but we managed to do it just for you! Here is our list of the top 10 rides and attractions in Hollywood Studios.

Not only does Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios have seven different themed areas, it also has tons of rides and attractions made for everyone to enjoy. This is a very busy park and there is always something exciting to try. Whether it be parades, rides or shows, Hollywood Studios truly has it all. Since there is so much to do in this park, we’ve made a list of the top 10 things you cannot miss on your trip to Hollywood Studios.

Located at the Sunset Boulevard section, a classic and all-around family favorite in Hollywood Studios is The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The thrill of free falling over 130 feet is difficult to pass up. This is not just any old drop tower ride, this is a story, ride and attraction all in one. It starts in the queue, where you enter an old dusty lobby from what used to be the “Hollywood Tower Hotel.” As you’re about to board the ride, you are welcomed to The Twilight Zone, the world and television show from which this ride is based. You will enter a spooky, creaky elevator and be lifted off into the abandoned hotel. On your journey, you will encounter a family of ghosts, buzzing lights, cobwebs and more. Finally, you’ll propel up and down the abandoned elevator shaft for this park’s most thrilling ride. It is family-friendly for the most part, but some elements may be frightening for young children.

To be completely honest, the only reason this ride isn’t number 1 is because it just isn’t reliable. Rise of the Resistance breaks down almost daily, and we can guarantee it will break down at least once during your Disney vacation. This is because Rise of the Resistance has so many moving parts that must all work in tandem for the ride experience to truly be magical. That said, when the ride is up and running, magic is what you’ll get. Located in Galaxy’s Edge, you’ve already entered a completely different world from the rest of the park. Like Tower of Terror, Rise of the Resistance is not only a ride, but an experience. This is 18 minutes full of adventure. You’ll be welcomed into the Star Wars Galaxy, encounter Storm Troopers, experience slight drops and a multitude of special effects. We don’t want to spoil too much, but on this trackless dark ride you’ll definitely run into lots of familiar Star Wars characters. When it’s open, it is a must-do.

Located near Sunset Boulevard, this ride will rock your world. It’s an indoor rollercoaster that goes from 0 to 57 miles per hour in just under 3 seconds. During the pre-show, the members of Aerosmith are shown in a recording studio, when their manager runs in to tell them they’re late for a show. They offer riders “backstage passes,” to join them in rushing to the concert, hence the speedy ride. After boarding the coaster, you’ll hear a rockin’ voice count down and that’s when you know you’re about to take off. You’ll zoom into a dark tunnel, speeding past multiple Hollywood landmarks and street signs. This coaster has three inversions: two loops and one corkscrew. As you’re on the thrill ride of your life, music by Aerosmith is blasting throughout the scene. This includes songs like “Walk This Way,” “Sweet Emotion,” and “Love in a Rollercoaster,” which is their hit song “Love in an Elevator” re-written for the ride.

If there’s an attraction in this park that encompasses nostalgia, it’s this one. It seems that most adults and young children have fallen in love with the Toy Story franchise at one point or another. Located in Toy Story Land, Toy Story Mania is the perfect ride for the entire family. In the queue, you’ll take an exclusive look into Andy’s room before getting geared up with 3D glasses. Boarding the ride tram, you will discover there are a multitude of games to play as you go along. Then, you’ll use your spring-action shooter to hit different moving targets, carnival style. There are five game rooms to experience in which you will try to hit as many targets as possible, competing against the other people in your cart! It’s a colorful, bright and fun attraction that will be sure to bring out your competitive side.

Staying in Toy Story Land, take a trip through Andy’s backyard on Slinky Dog Dash. This is a rollercoaster that’s a bit more easy-going than most others in the park, but it still has just the right amount of thrill. The cutest part is definitely the fact that the actual coaster is Slinky from Toy Story! You’ll twist and turn through the track which is meant to be a “Mega Coaster Kit” toy that Andy put together himself. Halfway through the ride, Slinky takes a brief pause to then be catapulted up a final lift hill, sending you through a tunnel of arches and to the final destination. When you arrive, Wheezy the penguin can be found singing his heart out. This light-hearted coaster is perfect for the whole family.

We seriously could not recommend this ride more to families with small children. It’s fun and entertaining for Disney-lovers of all ages. Not to mention, it’s the first ride of its kind in any Disney park as it features Mickey Mouse and his pals! You will find it inside the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, at the end of Hollywood Boulevard. The pre-show is simply phenomenal, showing a projection of Mickey and Minnie going on an adventure in their car, alongside Goofy who is operating a train. Goofy’s train crashes into the station causing an explosion which opens up a hole in the wall, where guests will walk through to wait in line for the upcoming trackless ride. We’d say it’s one of the most creative and interactive pre-shows in the park! Next, you’ll board Goofy’s train and be taken through beautiful scenery, when suddenly the track switches, and each train car is all on its own! This is a mission for Mickey and Minnie to stop the runaway train and return riders safely. The animatronics and projections on this attraction are stellar, and the wait is always worth it.

Making our way back to Galaxy’s Edge, we’re talking about Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This attraction is not for those with weak stomachs, as you’ll jolt, shake and jump through hyperspace. Smugglers Run is an interactive activity in which all riders are given a job in the cockpit of the famous Millennium Falcon. These jobs include pilot, gunner and engineer, each playing a different role in the simulation. Yes, your actions in these jobs actually do affect your experience! It’s not pre-programmed to go a certain way. The success of your mission depends on the communication skills of your party, so if you want a smoother ride experience, definitely plan to be a good listener. The sound and visual effects on this attraction are amazing and you’ll really feel like you’re flying through space.

Now this is not a ride, but a show! We’re taking a break from the thrilling coasters and intriguing animatronics to take a trip to Echo Lake and talk about this entertaining attraction. Indiana Jones is definitely something you’ll have to plan for, as it has a set show schedule that you can check through the My Disney Experience App. The showing is about half an hour long, which will inevitably take a pretty big chunk out of your day in the park, accounting for the time it takes for the show to begin, and the time it takes to exit the premises. If you’re not so much of a live entertainment person, maybe this is the attraction you should skip out on. On the contrary, we totally think it’s worth the time! You’ll watch Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood perform breath-taking stunts amidst an array of magnificent special effects. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is the perfect opportunity to give your legs a break while still enjoying your time in the park.

Located in Echo Lake, on Star Tours you’ll explore space, similar to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. In this case, however, each ride experience will be completely different! There are multiple random story twists, which is what keeps you wanting to come back for more. You never know which adventure you’ll set out on at that ride time. Riders will board the “Starspeeder 1000” to prepare for takeoff, when suddenly, the ship takes off early and unexpectedly! You’ll encounter many unpredictable hinderances on your flight, sending you spiraling through space, where you’ll just have to hope your Starspeeder makes it back to the base. While for some this ride is exciting, experiencing 3D video, audio animatronics, and a flight simulation all at once can be overwhelming for some park guests, so definitely keep that in mind.

Taking our number 10 spot is the Alien Swirling Saucers ride back in Toy Story Land. This ride is thrilling…for a 4-year-old. Keep in mind that is exactly who this ride is meant for, children! It’s the perfect spinning ride with a great theme to keep kids entertained. You’ll board your little rocket ship along with the cute and well-known aliens from Toy Story. Set to upbeat remixes of music from Toy Story movies, you can dance along as you spin around, enjoying the view of galactic stars and planets. Think tilt-a-whirl but with an awesome theme!

Now that you have a list of the top 10 rides and attractions in Hollywood Studios, you’ll know exactly how to spend your day in the park. Each themed land is so diverse, which makes it extremely family friendly. As we know, EPCOT is catered to older Disney-lovers, and Magic Kingdom is more for the kids. We think Hollywood Studios is the perfect happy medium! Full ride videos can be found on YouTube with the click of a button, so if you’re ever unsure about an attraction, you can view the entire thing from start to finish. We hope you will use this list as a guide on your next magical trip to Hollywood Studios.