7 Sneaky Hollywood Studios Ride Tricks

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has one of the strongest top-tier ride lineups at a U.S. Disney Park in quality, if not quantity. The park is home to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Rise of the Resistance, The Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (soon to be overtake by The Muppets), the original version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

With all of those rides, it can sometimes feel like a challenge to ride them all. However, there are some tips that will improve your day and keep everything running smoothly if you keep them in mind.

Toy Story Mania

This mega-popular attraction is part-ride/part-arcade game and actually takes some stamina if you’re in it to win it! You want to conserve whatever energy you have for the real game, so don’t burn too much during the It’s Pie practice round, as the points don’t count.

In fact, you really wanna conserve your energy for the final round. The faster you hit the targets, the higher the point value goes! Moving targets are worth more, so if you’re looking for a last-minute point increase, aim and fire. If you can hit a target that’s flying through the air or being carried in by a cute character or vehicle, you’ll score bigger points in one shot. Stationary targets will be worth 50-100 points in most cases, while moving ones are almost always worth 500-5,000.

As far as the physical act of using your canon, if you use your entire arm to pull back on your string, you’ll wear yourself out quickly. Instead, hold the string between your index and middle fingers while placing your thumb on the ball. You can then fire with an easier wrist motion. This also allows you to move faster, creating a rapid-fire shootout.

Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster

Changes have already begun as Disney prepares the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster for its upcoming Muppet transformation. However, if you’re still planning on taking a final encore ride, keep these tips in mind.

Let’s begin with getting the perfect on-ride photo. The pic is snapped to the right of the launch, so when you hear Aerosmith countdown from 5, say cheese, or pose, or throw up the rock on symbol!

As far as riding the coaster, your seat will determine what kind of ride you have. If you are sitting towards the front, it is thrilling but moderately smooth (Certainly not Cosmic Rewind-smooth, but smooth). However, it is VERY turbulent in the back. Because of the overhead restraint, it may bob your head just a tad too much, which can cause headaches, and who wants that when walking through Hollywood Studios?

Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is already a high-demand attraction with wait times typically around the 45-60 minute mark, and will likely only get busier as its closure nears.

With that in mind, it can be tempting to try the single rider line. While it may help on occasion, THIS single rider line has been known to be LONGER than the standby line.

Tower of Terror

Moving to the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s next-door neighbor, let’s look at the Tower of Terror.

Let’s begin with the photo-op. This is going to be tough because TOT operates on a drop randomizer. The number of drops changes each time you ride the ride. There is a moment on each ride through, you will sit at the top of the open window, right when you drop, it will snap a photo of your very honest reaction.

Moving on, let’s talk about the ride’s unique wait time. Now, this hardly happens as Tower of Terror is a very popular attraction, but sometimes you get lucky and see the UNlucky number “13” posted as the wait time. This unlucky lucky number actually means it is a walk-on with no wait. So take advantage of it!

While you’re waiting on that line, there’s a “shortcut” in the queue. When you enter the first library for the preshow video, immediately go to the far corner (furthest away from the door you enter the room in). After the TV presentation, the wall opens up there to the rest of the ride. At that point, choose the left line – it’s quicker.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Located in the Chinese Theater replica at the center of the park, Mickey & Minnie’s Runway Railway is filled with so many details and easter eggs, including many themed to the icon it replaced: The Great Movie Ride.  Each time you ride, you may get different experiences and will see different things based on where you sit.  If you ask a cast member to sit in a specific row, they may be able to accommodate you as long as it’s not a busy day.

Smugglers Run

Single rider — or you know, the Han Solo rider line — is VERY helpful on this attraction as far as queue speed, but potentially not as fun as this ride is an overall group effort, as each ride vehicle is assigned a group of 6 with very specific roles and duties. Do keep in mind, single rider most commonly ends up in the engineer role, and single riders can’t request roles either.

Now, let’s talk Chewbacca mode! Anyone who has previously ridden Smugglers Run knows that throughout the ride, Hondo Onaka is directing you and cheering you on. However, there is a way to have Chewie himself lead you through the experience, but it has to be triggered by you!

THIS ALL HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE CAST MEMBER PRESSES THE GREEN BUTTON TO START THE RIDE. Pilots: Push each control to a far extreme, then hit the flashing button. Gunners: Hold one of the white buttons next to the score screen, then hit the flashing orange button. Engineers: Hold one of the white buttons next to the score screen, then hit the flashing orange button.

Slinky Dog

Let’s begin towards the end of the day: Slinky Dog at night is like a whole different attraction.

Lights throughout the track make this fun and different! Especially the second launch featuring flames! If you’re able to time it right, you could get some cool views of the Fantasmic fireworks!

Fantasmic

First up, grab some dinner before this nighttime spectacular. Specifically, grab a dining reservation for Fantasmic. You get a meal at a Hollywood Studios restaurant, with options including Hollywood and Vine or Brown Derby. As for the meal, you’ll get a voucher for guaranteed seating at Fantasmic in a reserved viewing location.

Next time you’re at Hollywood Studios, keep these tips in mind. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World tips.

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Have any tips of your own? Share them in the comments below.

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