Disney Theme Parks > Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios

“Welcome to the glamour and glitz of show business.” Although Disney’s version of the heyday of Hollywood is certainly a rose-colored one, its entertainment value can’t be beat. On the boulevards of Hollywood and Sunset, legendary Los Angeles buildings, re-created in romanticized and appealing art-deco forms, literally scream excitement. It’s as if the whole park is on the brink of breaking into a zany show at any minute.

The park is actually a working film and television studio with three production soundstages and a Backlot. Visitors are allowed a sample of the mystery at the Backlot Tour attraction where they’re invited to watch the artistic and technical processes involved in the creation of movies and television.
This is a small park, one that can be seen in a full day. Since many of the shows are scheduled, check your guide map on arrival for show times and plan your day accordingly.

The Lay of the Land

Disney Hollywood Studio's main street, Hollywood Boulevard, leads directly to the main plaza, where you'll find a 122-foot Sorcerer Mickey hat, the park's focal point. If you are facing the hat from Hollywood Boulevard, to the right are two walkways: one branching to Sunset Boulevard and the other to Animation Courtyard. On the left is the Echo Lake area of the park that leads to the New York Street section. Mickey Avenue, the park's working area, sits behind the Chinese theater and may be accessed via Animation Courtyard or New York Street. A bit more confusing than the Magic Kingdom, but fairly easy to maneuver.

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard sets the mood of the park, just as Main Street does in the Magic Kingdom, but here it’s a step back in time to Tinseltown in its glory days. The strain of old movie tunes fill the air along the palm-lined avenue of pastel art-deco-style buildings where nutty “streetmosphere” characters (actually actors) arrayed in 1930s and 40s attire hilariously interact with visitors. Sitting at the end of Hollywood Boulevard is the park’s icon, a sparkling, 12-story sorcerer Mickey hat.           THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE**

Sunset Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard intersects with Sunset where the fun continues. Stop here for a look at the Tip Board offering up-to-the-minute wait times for all attractions. Make priority seating for any of the park’s full-service restaurants at the Guest Relations booth before embarking down the palm-filled street lined with sleek 1940s cars and a farmer’s market–style eatery. Lying in wait at the far end is the imminent and looming Tower of Terror.

          BEAUTY AND THE BEAST LIVE ON STAGE***

          ROCK 'N' ROLL COASTER****    

          THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR****  
 

Echo Lake The attractions at Echo Lake nestle around a small lagoon encircled with art-deco restaurants, fast-food spots, and Gertie the Dinosaur in the guise of an ice cream stand. Here you’ll find the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular as well as Star Tours and Drew Carey’s Sounds Dangerous.

          INDIANA JONES EPIC STUNT SPECTACULAR***  

          SOUNDS DANGEROUS**

          STAR TOURS***
 

Streets of America The newly expanded Streets of America area now has a “forced perspective” cityscape scene of the hills of San Francisco and a faux backdrop of skyscrapers fronted with brownstone stoops, fire hydrants, and—what else, but traffic noise of New York City. In front of the MuppetVision attraction is the glorious Miss Piggy dressed as the Statue of Liberty twirling and spewing water above lesser Muppets at her feet. And don’t forget to schedule in the park’s newest attraction, the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.

          HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS MOVIE SET ADVENTURE**

          JIM HENSON'S MUPPETVISION 3-D***

Mickey Avenue Head down Mickey Avenue to reach the Backlot Tour where guests are allowed a peek behind-the-scenes at the working area of the studio. Here you’ll also find Sorcerer Mickey autographing and posing for pictures as well as the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire—Play It! game show.

          DISNEY HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS BACKLOT TOUR***

          WALT DISNEY: ONE'S MAN DREAM**
 

Animation Courtyard Through the Archway to the Right of the Giant Mickey Sorcerer Hat you’ll find Animation Courtyard, a small area holding quite a few popular attractions. Guests can get a taste of Disney animation or make their children happy with shows geared for just for them.

          MAGIC OF DISNEY ANIMATION**

          PLAYHOUSE DISNEY