3 Mistakes Disney World Rookies Make in Hollywood Studios

It’s our job to go to Disney World every day. We know the ins and outs of the Disney theme parks in a way that would probably alarm the average person. Yeah, we’re a tad obsessed. But that’s actually good news for you! We’ve seen the common problems. We’ve made the mistakes. We know what can go wrong if you don’t plan ahead!

Let’s go to Disney World!

After YEARS of experience, it’s time to pass our knowledge down to you. Disney vacations are expensive, and we hate to see people waste their money! Come with us to find out how you can avoid the three most common mistakes rookies make at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

1. Dining

Listen up! This is important. While some Disney World parks (like Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT) have plenty of great places to eat and loads of amazing quick-service snacks, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is different. This park has an…interesting mix of sit-down restaurants and quick-service locations, and the popular spots tend to book up quickly.

50’s Prime Time Cafe

If you don’t make an advance dining reservation, you could be stuck eating a mediocre meal — NOOO!

Don’t get stuck eating a BLAND meal!

Dining reservations at Disney World can be made up to 60 days in advance. We HIGHLY recommend making a note on your calendar and trying to secure your dining reservations the day your booking window opens — you’d be AMAZED at how quickly those popular reservations disappear.

Sci Fi Dine-In

Check the menus at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before your visit, and make a plan about what you want to eat. Otherwise, you might be stuck with a lousy meal.

Everything You Need to Know About Dining Reservations in Disney World in 2025

2. Don’t be fooled by Star Tours

If you’re a Hollywood Studios rookie, it might be hard to tell what’s a “good” wait time and what’s a “bad” wait time. What do we mean? Well, some rides, like Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Rise of the Resistance, tend to report high wait times throughout the day. If you spot a wait time under 45 minutes at any of these rides, GET IN LINE ASAP!

Hollywood Studios

Other rides, on the other hand, are much easier to visit. Star Tours tends to report low wait times throughout the day, but if you happen to visit at the wrong time of day, you might end up waiting a little longer than necessary.

Star Tours

We track the Disney World wait times every day, so trust us when we say: do NOT get in line for Star Tours if the wait time is over 35 minutes long. Come back later — that wait time will likely decrease! You can even check the My Disney Experience app to see the forecasted wait times. Just type in the name of a ride, then check the “Forecasted Wait Today.”

Skyliner

In Disney World, timing is everything. If you want to get on the Skyliner after a busy day in the parks, make sure to time it right. If you leave at the same time as everyone else, you will end up waiting in a LONG line.

Long Skyliner line

Instead, if you want to avoid a long line, we recommend heading out a little earlier. If the park closes at 9 PM, for example, start heading out around 8:15 PM. It makes a big difference!