In this post, I’m sharing with you the 10 best shows & attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios in 2021! You won’t want to miss any of these, especially if you have young kids. I also have some touring advice and a free printable to help you plan your day!

Hollywood Studios is THE park to be in for your 2020-2021 Disney Vacation! With the new attractions such as Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway and Slinky Dog Dash, not to mention Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge latest additions of Smuggler Run, and the incredible Rise of the Resistance – you are definitely going to want to spend at least a day here to experience everything this park has to offer.

If you have young children, elementary school-aged and under, you are probably trying to decide the best shows and attractions that they’d enjoy the most. The year 2021 makes this a little bit harder to navigate as Disney’s FastPass+ has been suspended, and many of the live-action theatre shows are not open at this time. Crowds can also be a little tricky in this park as Hollywood Studios is the smallest of all the parks and the latest attractions draw large crowds.

Let’s get to it! Here’s my best advice on the 10 Best shows & attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios!

1. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Location: Chinese Theatre

Height Requirement: All Heights

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This is Disney’s newest attraction and one that everybody in my family loves! Here you get to jump into a cartoon and take a dark train ride adventure with Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie. You’re off to a “perfect picnic” with Mickey and Minnie, but good ol’ Goofy hits the wrong lever. Your train car sets off on a wacky adventure. While this is a dark ride, it’s anything but scary. Honestly, it’s everything a cartoon should be…looney, adventurous, and a lot of fun! The animation projections and technology are really neat to see and something that kids of all ages will enjoy.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is located at the Chinese Theatre at the central hub, if you will, of Hollywood Studios. This was formally the Great Movie Ride. This attraction can have lengthy lines, especially in the morning right after the park’s opening. My advice is to arrive early and either be the first in line. Or you can wait until later in the day when the lines have thinned out. After 1PM, which is the second chance to get a Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group, you’ll see crowd levels reduce drastically.

2. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Height Requirement: 40″

I know you’re probably wondering why I didn’t list this as the number one attraction in this post. Especially since this is the most coveted attraction in ALL of Walt Disney World right now. It also features the most cutting edge technology. Plus, it’s located in the newest themed land and brings in droves of Star Wars fans from all over. Am I right?!

And that’s for two very good reasons…

• There’s a height requirement of 40 inches, so the littles won’t be able to ride, and…
• With the use of the virtual queue boarding group situation, you aren’t guaranteed to ride. In fact, the chances are that you probably won’t be able to ride. It’s more of a lottery than skill when it comes to trying to snag that early morning boarding group.

Now here’s the deal…Should you at least to try to get on Rise of the Resistance? ABSOLUTELY! There is no question about that! It’s truly amazing and your mind will be blown!! I would make sure to chat with your kids. Emphasize that riding this attraction is a bonus, but not a guarantee in order to ward off any disappointment.

Rise of the Resistance is a dark ride that uses a combination of the trackless car system, plus an interactive walk-through. There are also simulators and a drop ride system similar to Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom. The premise behind the attraction is that you’ve been recruited by the Resistance. You’ve been sent on a mission from Rey and BB-8, and find yourself in a battle against the First Order.

So, if you end up scoring a ROTR boarding group, celebrate and live it up!! The silver lining is that Galaxy’s Edge has another attraction that is an excellent alternative! This just so happens to lead me to my next suggestion on the list.

3. Millennium Falcon – Smuggler’s Run

Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Height Requirement: 38″

Who wouldn’t want to fly the fastest hunk of junk in all the galaxy? Like most things in Galaxy’s Edge, this is an interactive attraction. Everyone has a job your mission from Hondo Ohnaka to smuggle cargo from the First Order’s Tie Fighters. You’ll load onto the attraction with a party of six or less. You will have one of three jobs to pick from; pilot, gunner, or engineer.

Pilots – sit at the front of the cockpit and steer the Falcon. The left pilot steers the ship from left to right. The right pilot steers the ship either up and down.

Gunner – the two gunners are seated in the middle rows. Their job is to gun down enemies or any obstacles that might get in the way.

Engineers – are situated in the rear seats and their mission is to fix anything that needs repair during the mission.

The ride experience will be different every time you ride as the results are based on your performance. My boys always make me a pilot. Without fail, I always crash the Millennium Falcon, causing our end report to be terrible! But they laugh and give me a hard time. It’s always a lot of fun!!

I recommend riding this later in the day. The line does seem to die down past the 2 PM mark. The line queue is entertaining though! You get an up-close look at the life-sized Millennium Falcon, walk through the mechanic show, and check out the pre-show with animatronics of Hondo and R5-P8.

4. Slinky Dog Dash

Location: Toy Story Land

Height Requirement: 38″

If you have younger kids, you absolutely have to visit Toy Story Land. This section of the park is set up to make you feel like you’ve shrunk down to the size of a toy and are in Andy’s backyard. The theming and details are really incredible. Each time I’m there, I always see something that I haven’t noticed before.

Slinky Dog Dash is a roller coaster, with you riding on the back of Slinky Dog. The attraction is one of the smoothest rides as far as roller coasters go. It does pack a bit of a punch, especially that first drop. My family adores this attraction and we giggle our heads off the entire time. My two boys would ride this over and over again if I’d let them.

The line for this can get long! With the socially spaced out queue, you can find yourself waiting out in the hot sun. I’d try to get in line for this attraction first thing in the morning, or later in the afternoon. If you’re sticking around through the evening, this is a fun one to ride at night, too!

5. Toy Story Mania!

Location: Toy Story Land

Height Requirement: None

This is an absolute must-do while you’re in Hollywood Studios. What makes this attraction even more fun is if you’ve got some family and friends who like a little competition! Toy Story Mania is a 4-D carnival game ride, where you’ll wear 3-D goggles and ride along in spinning vehicles. The object is to use your toy cannon to shoot or hit moving carnival-type games as you’re being moved throughout the ride. There are five different games that you’ll move through with Woody, Hamm, Buzz, Rex, and Trixie all making an appearance. Scores are shown on your vehicle’s scoreboard and displayed so everyone can view who achieved the top score.

A few years ago, this attraction continuously had super long wait times. Now with the newer rides taking popularity, this is an easier attraction to get to. The wait times for this vary throughout the day. I’d keep an eye on the Wait Times on the My Disney Experience app. If the wait drops to 30 minutes or less, that’s the time to head over to get in the queue.

6. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Location: Echo Lake

Height Requirement: 40″

If you’ve got any Star Wars fans in the family, then you’ve gotta make sure to add this to your list. This is one of my husband’s and son’s favorite attractions. This attraction never seems to have hefty wait times, so they are able to ride it multiple times in succession.

Star Tours is a simulator ride where you’re sent off on the “ultimate Star Tours Adventure” to the planet Endor. The line queue features animatronics of C-3P0, R2-D2, and other droids. They are preparing for your trip at the flight terminal. During your ride, you quickly become aware that you’ve been caught in a squabble between the New Republic and Imperial Forces. This is a 3-D attraction. You’ll be given 3-D glasses to pop on once you’ve taken your seat aboard the ship.

This attraction is exciting with C-3P0 as your pilot and lot of plot twists along the way. If you do end up riding more than once, you probably won’t experience the same ride twice. Star Tours has about 54 different scenes that are put together in different combinations. You’ll almost always get a new experience on each trip.

7. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

Location: Echo Lake

Height Requirement: None

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Located in the Hyperion Theatre, you’ll experience a 30 minutes show with all of the Characters from Arendelle. Here, you’ll be invited to sing along to your favorite songs from the animated movie, Frozen. The real treat is the finale of the show, where you’ll sing along to “Let it Go,” complete with snowfall!

Now, this show isn’t just for the girls! The actors in this show are really funny. My boys always end up having a good time, even if I have to drag them along at first!

8. Alien Swirling Saucers

Location: Toy Story Land

Height Requirement: 38″

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Love Toy Story? My kids seem to have these movies on repeat at our house! At this attraction, you’ll get to ride along in a toy rocket ship and swirl with the green aliens to avoid getting grabbed by the claw! While this isn’t as thrilling as Slinky Dog Dash, it’s still worth trying out especially if the wait time is relatively low. The best time to ride this is right before closing or early in the day.

The line queue for this attraction is colorful with a few interactive elements. There are also some Easter egg gems and other fun things to look for such as Buzz Lightyear’s gun or his original toy box.

9. Muppet*Vision 3D

Location: Grand Avenue

Height Requirement: None

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A trip to Hollywood Studios isn’t complete without a visit to the Muppets 3D Vision Theatre. This show usually never has a very long wait, as you’re usually just waiting for the last show to finish.

Here you’ll watch an adorable show with your favorite muppets such as Kermit, Fozzy Bear, Miss Piggy, Beaker, and more! The show has 3D elements that seem to pop out in front of you at every turn. You’ll also get a laugh at the Statler and Waldorf animatronics belting out dry jokes throughout the performance. The penguin orchestra and the giant Sweetums also make a special appearance.

This show is just so sweet (it’s super nostalgic for me) and everyone in my family loves it!

10. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy OR Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie

Location:

Lightning McQueen – Sunset Boulevard

Vacation Fun- Echo Lake

Height Requirement: None for both

Both of these shows are really cute and something that younger children will enjoy! Depending on what you think your kids will like, you could choose to see one or both of these shows. Lightning McQueen is a little more high energy than Vacation Fun. Both are entertaining and a great way to take a rest and cool down in the air conditioning. Vacation Fun would also be a great location for nursing moms. I could see some younger children nodding off for a nap during the show.

Touring Plan: 10 Best Shows & Attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios

There are a couple of different touring scenarios that you could roll with here. Disney just recently changed the way they are offering boarding groups for Rise of the Resistance (again). You no longer have to get to the park before opening. Since this post is geared towards the little Mouseketeers, I think it’s worth arriving at the park before it opens. Here’s my best advice for an awesome touring day…

Morning

7AM: Be ready to try and get that Rise of the Resistance boarding pass! Have your app open and ready to go. As soon as it turns 7AM, hit “Join Boarding Group” as quickly as you can. This is done on your phone through the My Disney Experience app. You can do this from anywhere; you no longer need to be in the park. This can be done from your resort, hotel room, house…wherever. You have to act fast though, as these typically are gone within seconds.

If you get a boarding pass, CONGRATULATIONS!! Make a note of your boarding group number and check your app often. They will be calling these throughout the day. You have an hour return window once your boarding group has been called.

If you didn’t get one…don’t worry. You’ll have another opportunity at 1PM to try again once you’re in the park.

I then suggest being in the park before the official opening time. Get in line for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway right away. The key is to arrive before the park opens, and be one of the first in the line queue.

Next up would be Slinky Dog Dash! If the line is already too long of a wait, I’d hit up Toy Story Mania! and Alien Swirling Saucers. These two attractions haven’t had more than a 30-40 minute wait as of recently.

After you’ve knocked out most of the attractions in Toy Story Land, make your way back out to Hollywood Boulevard. Grab a snack from one of the snack carts on the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard and watch a couple of the Character Cavalcades. You could hang out here and see most of the cavalcades as you wait for the next showing of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.

Afternoon

Before you head to lunch, go ahead and hop on Star Tours and then straight over to the Muppet*Vision 3D Show.

Once you’re done watching the muppets, you’re just a quick jaunt away from Galaxy’s Edge. If it’s lunchtime, you’ve scored a perfect opportunity to get in line for Smuggler’s Run as Wait Times will be a tad shorter with families eating during this time. After you’re done navigating the Millennium Falcon, place your mobile food order for lunch at either Ronto Roasters or Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo.

While you’re waiting for your mobile order, take the time to explore Batuu. Look out for members of the Resistance across from Ronto Roasters, or head back to the First Order area and see if you can spy any Stormtroopers or Kylo Ren standing watch. Pop into some of the merchandise locations and score some galactic gear as well!

After hanging out in Batuu for a bit, I suggest heading back to Echo Lake and catching the cute showing of “Vacation Fun” in the Mickey Short theatre or Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, whichever show you think your kids would enjoy the best. This will give you a nice break to cool down, catch your breath, and rest your feet. Some of the littles might even take a nap during this time. 😀

1 PM: Get ready! This is when you can try again to get a Rise of the Resistance Boarding Pass.

Late Afternoon/Evening

Hooray! You accomplished all the 10 best shows & attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios! From this point on, anything else you do is really a bonus! If you didn’t get a chance to get on Slinky Dog, you could head over at 2 PM as the line begins to shorten after the second boarding group opportunity.

If your kids are thrill-seekers, you could try the Hollywood Tower of Terror or Rock’n’Roller Coaster. Also, don’t forget to check the Wait Times before you head out of the park. You might find an attraction with a super low wait time that you could catch real quick before you go.

10 Best Shows & Attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios

Whew!! That was a lot to cover!! But this is a solid touring plan to use if you want to hit the 10 Best Shows & Attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios

I created a PDF that you can download and either print and bring with you to the park, or save it to your phone. Now you’ll have a handy digital guide while you’re there!

As a person who loves to plan, I love having something organized like this to tell me where to go and when to do it!!

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Follow Along!

If you’d like to keep up with all of our zany adventures and see how we hit all the 10 best shows & attractions for kids at Hollywood Studios, don’t forget to follow me on all my social media channels. You can also check my stories and highlights on Instagram for a good idea of how we tour the parks! I’d love to see you there!

You might also like our post on our top five all-time favorite snacks in Hollywood Studios!

Have a magical trip, friends!!