Exploring Hollywood Studios with a Toddler

Well, I decided to do a big thing!  I took my 17 month-old to Disney World!  I know several of you think I’m crazy, this isn’t a trip that she’ll even remember, so why bring her that early?  I’ll be the first one to admit it: this trip was 100% for me.  The days were long and tiring.  There were times she’d just had enough.  Disney tired is real folks!  But she was a trooper, and we both loved every second of it. 

For those familiar with Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you know this is a park that focuses more on older children and adults; however, it is possible to have fun with the littles. 

Here are our top (Mama and Poppy) ride picks for exploring Hollywood Studios, in no particular order:

1. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Found on Hollywood Boulevard, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has no height requirement, so anyone is able to go on.  With bright colors and a cartoon-like atmosphere, this ride will excite even the youngest riders.  I think Poppy’s favorite part was seeing familiar characters throughout the entire ride.  Being as it’s one of the newest rides in Hollywood Studios, be prepared for a wait or plan on using Genie+ to book a time slot.

2. Toy Story Mania

Head on over to Toy Story Land, and you’ll find another ride with no height requirement, which makes it ideal for littles.  For those who haven’t ridden this one, it’s set up like a classic midway gamer’s paradise that you might see at a state fair.  Did Poppy participate in the games?  No; however, she did enjoy the lights, sounds, and “Toy Story” characters.  The ride also swung around some, so she thought that was entertaining.  Since it’s a 3D ride, she did miss out on some of the fun.  I’m actually a bit surprised that Disney doesn’t provide 3D glasses that will fit younger kiddos.

 If you know of any that work well, please share the link in the comments!

3. Alien Swirling Saucers

Another favorite to share before we leave Toy Story Land!  Now, this ride does have a height requirement of 32”, and Poppy just barely met the cut off.  After watching others in our party ride it, she seemed excited to give it a try, so we did.  This is one you have to watch out for.  Since there’s a lot of twirling (obviously), you need to be very careful.  The Cast Members did allow Poppy to sit on my lap, so that made things a bit less daunting (and I didn’t have to worry about squishing my baby).

Other Toddler Friendly Favorites at Hollywood Studios:

1. Woody’s Lunch Box

Okay, so definitely not a ride; however, it is a delicious place to eat and one that is found in Toy Story Land.  We got a grilled cheese sandwich, tater tots, and an orange, all of which Poppy loved.  My girl does love her food.  This place will have something for even the pickiest of eaters. I’ve linked it here so that you can check out the menu.

2. The Statues!

We loved walking around and looking at the 50^th statues!  They had statues from Star Wars, The Incredibles, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, as well as several others.  I’m not sure if it was the shiny gold color, or that she recognized some of the characters; however, these were a big hit.

3. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Another super cool restaurant, this one found on Commissary Lane.  If you haven’t eaten here, I really recommend it.  The theming is amazing, the staff were great, and the food was delicious.  It’s like you’re sitting in a real drive-in theater!  They had booths in cars, where you sat to eat and watch black-and-white movies.  Now, this is one of the harder to get restaurants, so be prepared to make a reservation as soon as you can (linked here for your convenience).

This was a long day for us, complete with rain showers and a break for naps, so we didn’t get to do everything possible for a toddler to do.  I wasn’t certain Poppy would sit still through the shows, so I didn’t prioritize those.  This also gives us something else to do when we go back! 

What else can I do with a toddler at Hollywood Studios?

Honestly, there isn’t much.  Hollywood Studios isn’t the most toddler friendly Disney Park.  There are some shows that you could view, depending on how long your little one will stay seated and focused.  Those include Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Muppet Vision 3D, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. 

Disney Junior Play & Dance is a dance party that I’ve heard positive reviews about from lots of parents.  It’s a musical celebration featuring Disney Junior characters.  Poppy isn’t yet familiar with the Disney Junior characters, and is in full stranger-danger mode, so I played it safe and didn’t try this one. 

There are several character meet and greets, including Olaf, Mickey, and Minnie.  There’s also a chance you’ll see other characters roaming the park.  For more specifics on park meet and greets, check out that blog post here.

Would I do this park again?

Overall, I loved going to the park and experiencing it with Poppy.  Will I go back and do it again any time soon? Probably not.  While it was fun for the older kiddos and adults, I just don’t think there are enough toddler centered things to do.  It’s not worth the money until Poppy is at least 40” tall and can ride more rides (and sit still for a bit longer in order to enjoy the shows).  I would use this as a Park Hopper, solely for going to see Fantasmic!  It was still under refurbishment when we went; however, it is my all-time favorite Disney show, and I can’t wait for Poppy to see it!

Thoughts about genie+ and ILL

If you’ve never heard of Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane, you should head on over and check out that post.

As for the rides mentioned in this post, Alien Swirling Saucers, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Toy Story Mania are all Genie+ rides, and we booked them all using Genie+.  There is a chance that you’ll see Alien Swirling Saucers with a short line (less than 30 minutes); however, I never saw the other two rides with a shorter wait time.  That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.  If you don’t want to spend the extra money on Genie+, then I’d suggest rope dropping Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, since that ride had the longest wait of the three.

Do you have any, toddler-friendly, Hollywood Studios favorites that I missed?  Let me know in the comments so we can be sure to try them next time!

Interested in seeing how Poppy enjoyed Animal Kingdom? Check out that post here.