The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios with Babies & Toddlers

Hollywood Studios is a different kind of Disney experience. It’s less about the rides and more about the shows and experiences. If you’ve got a baby or toddler in tow, and only a limited amount of days to visit the parks, I might suggest giving it a miss, or combining a day with Epcot as it’s nearby and also more of an experiential park. Obviously a visit to Magic Kingdom is a must, and Animal Kingdom is too big and too far out to really do a combo day with another park.

However, this is Disney we’re talking about, so of course Hollywood Studios has plenty to delight your little mouse, and you too. And as with all the Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios is very intuitive when it comes to parents’ needs, so you can cross things like stroller accessibility, high chairs in restaurants, and change tables in restrooms off the worry list.

Hollywood Studios with Babies & Toddlers Basics:

Disney’s third park at Walt Disney World, Hollywood Studios celebrates showbiz on its approximately 135 acres. There are seven themed areas, but those areas are not as clearly defined as the other parks, and I will admit to having been lost in Hollywood Studios more than once. Hollywood Boulevard is the Hollywood Studios equivalent of Magic Kingdom’s Main Street U.S.A. Echo Lake is the small, central lagoon that the rest of the park kind of circles around. The Streets of America used to be the backlot tour… They used to actually film here when the park first opened. Animation Courtyard, Pixar Place, and Sunset Boulevard round out the different areas at Hollywood Studios. Now there’s the Toy Story Land, and the amazing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Stroller Rentals at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

When you first pass through the gates, first aid, information, and the baby care centre are on the left. Stroller and wheelchair rentals, as well as restrooms, are a little further ahead on the right . Daily rentals for strollers (the molded plastic kind like at the other parks – good for toddlers and preschoolers but not suitable for infants or even older babies) are $15.00 USD per day for a single stroller and $31.00 USD per day for a double stroller.

If you want to rent a stroller for multiple days, for a reduced rate Disney World offers a length of stay rental ticket for a one-time payment of as many days of rental you will need. When you enter a Disney park, show your receipt at the stroller rental location. You will be zipped to the front of the line. The multiple-day stroller rental fee is $13.00 USD per day for a single, and $27.00 USD daily for a double stroller.

Planning Your Day at Hollywood Studios with a Baby or Toddler:

Opening hours for Hollywood Studios can vary, but usually it’s 9am until 10pm. If you stay at a Disney Resort you are entitled to “Extra Magic Hours.” The parks open early or stay open late only for resort guests. Extra Magic Hours are great for families with little ones who are early risers or night owls. Pick up the pamphlet with all the week’s hours, as well as showtimes and character greeting times, at kiosks throughout the park, or download the “My Disney Experience” app. And if you’re not from the US, don’t worry about data roaming. The smart folks at Walt Disney World have free WiFi at all their resorts and parks.

Getting Around Hollywood Studios with Babies & Toddlers:

Disney Parks are incredibly accessible, so they are a breeze to navigate with strollers. For Hollywood Studios‘ attractions and shows, there are stroller parking lots where you’ll need to leave your ride. Disney Cast Members frequently move the strollers around to keep the areas neat and tidy. Don’t panic if your stroller is not where you left it. Some families attach a balloon so they can see their stroller from a distance.

Nobody seems terribly concerned about theft… you will see everything from Bugaboos to cheapie umbrella strollers (and you can actually buy a Kolkraft umbrella stroller at most Disney gift shops in the resorts and parks for less than $60). We don’t leave our camera or my wallet in the stroller when we park it, but nothing has ever gone missing. If you’re concerned, a good idea might be to invest in one of those cute locks that you can put through the wheel, but don’t actually lock it to Disney property in case a cast member needs to move it.

The crowd configuration at Hollywood Studios is considerably different from the other parks. We found it to be the most crowded-feeling park when we were there just after Christmas, which is one of the busiest times to visit Disney. I think it’s because, at the other parks, the most are contained in the ride line-ups. Here, most are milling about. And watch out when a show lets out!

Rides at Hollywood Studios for Babies & Toddlers:

You will definitely need to FastPass+ the most popular rides at Hollywood Studios for a hope of getting on. There are not a lot of rides, so the ones that are here are quite busy.

There also isn’t a lot of rides for babies and toddlers at Hollywood Studios. However, with the addition of Toy Story Land, there are a couple of new ride options for little ones. Toy Story Mania is a classic, but a baby or toddler may not fully grasp the 3D aspect. They may also find the speed and noise a bit jarring. Slinky Dog Dash is a really fun roller coaster, but has a height limit of 38″. It’s not intense, but it is fast. Even if your toddler is big enough they might find it a little overwhelming. The new Alien Swirling Saucers is perfect for toddlers. It’s not overly spinny so you won’t get dizzy, and it’s fast enough for grown ups to find fun. A minimum height of 32″ is required, so this is not a ride for lap infants. 

If your kiddos are a bit older (at least four) and want to do the Jedi Training, get there (with your kids in tow) right when the park opens to secure your spot.

The Star Wars’ Star Tours line (minimum height requirement – 40″) really seemed to vary in length. We got pretty good at coordinating our FastPass+ times with the various show times of the ones we really wanted to see. Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is obviously a (great) ride for older kids over 4ft. tall. The Tower of Terror is actually quite terrifying. Even if your child meets the 40″ height requirement, I’d think twice. I was delighted to see a Disney Cast Member insist parents remove a number of visibly scared children from the attraction before the ride even started.

Since most of the rides at Hollywood Studios are not toddler-appropriate, as with the other Disney Parks, you can do a rider switch/child swap when you get to the front of the line.  Ask the cast member at the start of the queue (or FastPass entrance) for a Child Swap pass. This will allow one of you to ride while the other stays back with your child. Then you can switch off so the other can ride. Combine this with FastPass+ and you should be sailing through your grown-up rides.

Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Toy Story Land has added a whole new element to visiting Hollywood Studios with babies and toddlers. The entrance to Toy Story Mania has been moved and, with the new second line added, wait times have gone waaayyyyy down. 

Slinky Dog Dash is a really fun roller coaster that most older toddlers and preschoolers should be able to handle. And for sure Alien Swirling Saucers is great fun for all ages.

Shows at Hollywood Studios for Babies & Toddlers:

Fantasmic is fantastic, but also a bit scary. Disney Cast Member Megan went above and beyond when Bub (then almost-three) was frightened at Fantasmic. With her “light saver” (as Bub called it) he helped her help Mickey defeat the bad guys in the show. I thought we’d need to leave, but she really saved the day (or night!). Our kids absolutely loved the Frozen Sing-a-long, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and the ultimate highlight was Disney Jr. Live on Stage. A tip! Don’t look up when the bubbles come down. It felt as though bubbles of acid fell into my eyes!

The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular is a new family favourite. We have actually yet to see Beauty and the Beast on Stage. It’s a great excuse to return.

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular has given Fantasmic! some competition for your evening entertainment and fireworks. It’s a great show but is likely to go over most little kids’ heads. Unless, of course, they rival their parents for Star Wars fandom.

Dining at Hollywood Studios with Babies & Toddlers:

Disney Parks don’t blink twice about you bringing in your own food and drinks. Which is great with a baby and younger toddlers, obviously, but also for you and your wallet and waistline. There are a lot of dining options at Hollywood Studios, and Disney is usually so awesome with crowd control, but we’ve struggled managing much more than pizza. That’s kind of our fault since we can be pretty disorganized.

Dining is probably the second-biggest draw for Hollywood Studios next to the shows. There are a lot of great theme restaurants but you do need to book those ahead. The Hollywood Brown Derby looks YUM. The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant is the awesome one where you sit in an old fashioned car and watch old B-rated sci-fi movies. However! Those movies can be scary for toddlers (don’t ask me how I know that). If your kids can handle the dark, a quiet meal at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is a great break.

We also loved the ’50’s Prime-Time Cafe. It’s especially great to have your server scold your kid for not finishing their lunch, instead of you 🙂

Quick Service Dining Options at Hollywood Studios:

Quick service options at Hollywood Studios include Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner, Pizza Planet Arcade (where we always seem to end up), Studio Catering Co., ABC Commissary, and, of course Toluca Legs Turkey Co. – don’t judge! Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land is another fun quick service addition to your meal options.

On very busy days you may not save a table in the restaurant if you haven’t already purchased food. So even though the restaurants were super-busy, we got a table no problem. The cast members will direct you. There are plenty of high chairs (the larger, open wood kind), and strollers are not allowed inside most restaurants.

The kids’ meals automatically come with carrots or grapes and milk. If you would prefer a different (read: less healthy) side or drink you must specifically request that substitution.  The restaurants do not have the means to heat bottles, but that brings us to the Baby Care Center…

Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Baby Care Center:

Each Disney Park has a baby care center, and the one in Hollywood Studios is located on the left as you enter the park via the main entrance.  The Baby Care Centre at Hollywood Studios is probably the smallest one of the four theme parks, but inside there’s a nursing room, a changing room, and a restroom with a small toilet for potty trainers! The washrooms in Hollywood Studios are kept clean with change tables inside. But, a visit to the Baby Care Centre gives everyone a bit of cool and quiet from a bustling and stimulating experience.

Fastpass+ Is Your Friend:

For a single theme park per day, you can make up to three FastPass+ selections in advance either online or using the My Disney Experience app, and you may change or cancel your selections any time. Get assistance from the Lobby Concierge at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel, or at a FastPass+ kiosk in any of the parks.

Note that kiosks allow FastPass+ selections only for the park where the kiosk is located. However, you can view and cancel any of your FastPass+ selections, regardless of location.

Once you redeem your initial set of FastPass+ selections (or the last arrival window has passed), you can make another FastPass+ selection for the same day at an in-park kiosk or on your mobile device, up to park closing. After you redeem the additional FastPass+ pick, you can make more selections (one at a time), subject to availability.

If your ticket includes a Park Hopper option, after you use your initial FastPass+ selections at the first park, you’ll be able to make additional FastPass+ selections (one at a time) at a kiosk or using the mobile app at the second park you visit that day, up to park closing.

More Tips for Hollywood Studios with a Baby or Toddler:

Tip #1:

Plan your day ahead of time and plot out a few can’t-miss attractions and do those first. If you are going for the Jedi Training, get there as soon as the park opens. Have your kids with you. The minimum age for Jedi Training is four. Don’t expect to cram everything into one day. You will feel cranky and rushed and will likely be disappointed. Walt Disney World and Hollywood Studios will always be there, so any missed rides or attractions are a good excuse to return 😉

Tip #2:

If you’ll be visiting Walt Disney World for more than two days, try to stay on resort at one of Disney’s properties, and get a Park Hopper option attached to your park tickets. The convenience of Disney’s transportation system, combined with the freedom to pop into a different park for the afternoon, for dinner, or just for the fireworks or a show can certainly make the expenditure worthwhile, and usually ends up saving you money.

Tip #3:

Take a picture of your kids in the morning of your visit. Make it clear to them (if they are old enough to understand) exactly what they are to do should they become separated from you. You can establish a meeting spot with older kids, and for little ones, finding a Cast Member who works at one of the shops or rides is the best course of action.

The Cast Member will first contact Lost Children and register any information that they have, including the child’s name, age, location and a parent’s name. Then they will try to retrace the child’s steps and see if a meeting spot was established. Lost children at Hollywood Studios are taken to Guest Relations.  

Attach a tag or sticker your child’s clothing with your name and cel phone number on it. These silicone wristbands from Mabel’s Labels or their safety ID bracelets are great solutions as well.

Tip #4:

Know when it’s time to take a break. Don’t be afraid to head back to your hotel for a nap or even to just go for a walk. The path to Disney’s Boardwalk properties is a nice one from Hollywood Studios. Even hop on for a ride on the boat and back. The most resilient and laid-back kids can become overstimulated and/or overwhelmed. Taking a break to recharge and reset the mood can mean a better day for all of you.

Tip #5:

Character meet & greet times are available on the handouts, via Guest Services, and also on the My Disney Experience app. Before waiting in line for a character meet & greet though, make sure your baby or toddler will actually be excited to meet the character, and not freaked out. Kids react differently and at different times. My son was delighted to meet Chip & Dale and the princesses when he was only 20mos., but at two-and-a-half was completely freaked out and would not go near any of them.

Shortly before his third birthday he loved the characters again. But, I’m glad I didn’t wait for an hour in line for him to drop motionless on the floor to find out! You’ll see lots of kids with autograph books for the characters. Mine were too little to care about that, and drew in the books instead.

The many parades offer a great chance to see everyone without line-ups or hassles.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Disney’s Hollywood Studios at TripAdvisor

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See Also:

• Guide to Walt Disney World Theme Parks with Babies and Toddlers
• Here’s a link to pretty much everything Disney on Have Baby Will Travel
• Best Walt Disney World Rides for Babies & Toddlers
• Magic Kingdom with a Baby or Toddler
• Animal Kingdom with a Baby or Toddler
• Epcot with a Baby or Toddler
• How to Enjoy Doing Disney with Toddlers
• Disney Tips & Tricks for Visiting with Three Kids
• What is the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World?
• A Complete Guide to Canada’s Wonderland with a Baby or Toddler