Disney’s Hollywood Studios has become a lot more “little kid friendly” in recent years. Especially with the addition of Toy Story Land, there's a lot more appeal to Hollywood Studios for toddlers and preschoolers. I mean, could you get more fun and colorful than that place?
It’s no wonder Hollywood Studios always seems to be the busiest of the parks (aside from maybe Magic Kingdom). It has attractions that appeal to adults like Rock N’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Rise of the Resistance. And it has attractions that are perfect for the toddlers and preschoolers in your group.
So what IS there to do in Hollywood Studios for toddlers and preschoolers?
- Frozen Sing-A-Long
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Muppet Vision 3D
- Alien Swirling Saucer
- Disney Junior Play and Dance
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Toy Story Mania
What Hollywood Studios attractions are better left for the older kids and adults?
- Star Tours
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Rock N’ Roller Coaster
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Best Hollywood Studios Attractions for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Frozen Sing-A-Long
- Height Restriction: None
- Attraction Type: Live Action Show
- Best for: All ages - Anyone that loves Frozen
- Worst for: Anyone who can’t stand “Let it Go” or who detests corny jokes
The Frozen Sing-A-Long is a live action show mixed with scenes from the first Frozen movie. The “Historians of Arendelle” recount the history of Arendelle and tell the story of Anna and Elsa. Scenes with your favorite Frozen songs are played (with words, don’t worry!) and everyone is meant to belt it out together.
It’s fun. It’s air conditioned. There are some corny jokes for the adults. There’s nothing scary about it. And Anna and Elsa may just make some appearances during the show!
It’s a 30 minute show in air conditioning. Shows run regularly throughout the day, so be sure to check the times on your My Disney Experience app, or on a Showtimes pamphlet you can get at the front of the park.
Right now, there is socially distanced seating, so less capacity. When we were there in May 2021, it was recommended that we arrive 30 minutes prior to our desired show time. And shows did fill up!
So if it’s a priority for you, like it was for us… multiple times… then plan ahead and get there early! This could be your family's favorite attraction at Hollywood Studios for your toddler or preschooler.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Height Restriction: None
- Attraction Type: Trackless Car
- Best for: All ages that love a fast-paced, energetic ride
- Worst for: Kids that may be easily overstimulated
This trackless ride takes you on a wild adventure through different scenes featuring your favorite Mickey Mouse characters. The premise is that Goofy was your train’s conductor and he lost control of the cars.
Your train car dances the Conga with Daisy, goes careening down a waterfall, and may even get caught up in a tornado. Plus, there's a catchy song that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head for the rest of the day!
It’s unpredictable. It’s energetic. It’s a lot of fun.
For really young ones, it could get a bit overstimulating. But in my opinion, it’s worth a try for all ages!
Muppet Vision 3D
- Height Restriction: None
- Attraction Type: 3D Movie
- Best for: All ages who love the Muppets and some corny jokes
- Worst for: Kids that don’t like loud noises
An oldie but a goodie. This show is great for kids and adults alike. It has all the classic Muppet characters like Kermit, Miss Piggie, and Fozzie. Throughout the show, you have Statler and Waldorf cracking cranky jokes on the sidelines.
If you don’t think your kiddo would be okay with some of these characters getting up close and personal, they can watch the movie without the 3D glasses. It is also pretty loud. If that’s too much for anyone in your family, you may want to skip this one.
Other than that, it’s a really fun one for the whole family. And a nice air conditioned space. And doesn’t usually have a long line.
Alien Swirling Saucer
- Height Restriction: 32”
- Attraction Type: Spinning Ride
- Best for: Young riders seeking their first “thrill” on a ride
- Worst for: Anyone who may get sick from spinning
From the outside, Alien Swirling Saucer looks a bit like a carnival ride. But when you’re on it, there’s something that’s just so fun that gets everyone giggling!
The ride features the Aliens from Toy Story, and you’re on a rocket ship that swings back and forth while rolling around in circles. It’s unintimidating for the little ones. It’s fun for the older ones. And it’s usually a pretty short line.
As an option in Hollywood Studios for toddlers and preschoolers, it's a winner in my books!
Disney Junior Play and Dance
- Height Restriction: None
- Attraction Type: Live Action Show
- Best for: Toddlers and Preschoolers who love to dance and watch some Disney Junior
- Worst for: Older kids may find this boring or too “baby-ish”
If your toddler is into any Disney Junior shows, this is a really fun attraction for them to visit. Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Timon typically make an appearance. Each character leads a song and a dance for everyone to do together. It’s energetic, it’s fun, and it’s short enough for toddler attention spans.
The best part about it, though? Mickey Mouse always makes an appearance at the end! This is a great guaranteed way to have a Mickey sighting… without standing in a long line, needing a fast pass, or waiting around for the next parade.
This may not be a favorite attraction for everyone in your family, but it's certainly a great option in Hollywood Studios for toddlers and preschoolers.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Height Restriction: None
- Attraction Type: Animatronics and Screen Show
- Best for: Cars lovers - Young kids waiting on their family members to ride Rock N’ Roller Coaster
- Worst for: Anyone that has limited time in the park
This show is located right next to Rock N’ Roller Coaster, which makes it the perfect destination when you’re doing rider swap for the adults.
You get to see Lightning McQueen “IRL”, and you’ll see some of your other favorite Cars characters, like Mater, on the screen. Lightning McQueen ends up virtually racing Chick Hicks with help from his friends from Radiator Springs.
It’s a ten minute show, and a nice air conditioned break. Would I go out of my way to see it? Probably not. But if you’re in the area, it beats sitting outside waiting for family members to be done riding the “big kids” rides.
Slinky Dog Dash
- Height Restriction: 38”
- Attraction Type: Roller Coaster
- Best for: Kids wanting to ride their first “real” roller coaster
- Worst for: Adults seeking a true “thrill” roller coaster
Slinky Dog Dash is an outside roller coaster that is just plain fun. The line is surrounded by giant toys and kids drawings. The roller coaster takes you up and down some bumps and around some curves. There are no big drops, and absolutely nothing “scary” about it.
You can see the entire ride from the sidewalk, so the kids can preview what it’s like before deciding if they're up for it or not. The line can get long, but it's worth it for the little ones that want to go on a fun “real” roller coaster.
As a new 4-year-old, this was by far Elsie’s favorite ride of our most recent trip!
For a ride that the whole family will love in Hollywood Studios, including your toddler or preschooler, I'd definitely make Slinky Dog Dash a priority!
Toy Story Mania
- Height Restriction: None
- Attraction Type: 3D Interactive Game
- Best for: Anyone with a competitive spirit in them
- Worst for: Kids that may be overstimulated
In Toy Story Mania, you’re taken through different virtual carnival games. You wear 3D glasses and play games like ring toss, balloon popping, and pie throwing. You operate a pull-string shooter, gain points with each game, and compete against those in the car with you.
To me, it’s easier to operate and have immediate success with than Buzz Lightyear over in Magic Kingdom. It’s fast paced, colorful, and loud… much like a carnival. If your kiddo gets overstimulated by these kinds of sensory inputs, it may be a bit much. But otherwise, it’s just fun!
Everyone can enjoy the game in their own way. The older kids can try to beat their highest score, the competitive ones can beat other players in the car, and the younger ones can just master the art of pulling the string and watching the fun and colorful scenes.
It's another great option at Hollywood Studios for toddlers, preschoolers, older kids, and adults to enjoy together!
Best Hollywood Studios Attractions for Older Kids and Adults
Star Tours
- Height Restriction: 40”
- Attraction Type: 3D Simulation Experience
- Best for: All lovers of Star Wars
- Worst for: Anyone who is prone to motion sickness on simulated rides
Star Tours could be fun for the younger crowd as well, as long as they meet the height requirement! I don’t think it would be Elsie’s thing, but for any little one that’s into Star Wars, spaceships, and a lot of action, they could really enjoy this ride.
You wear 3D glasses and don’t actually go anywhere. It’s a simulated ride, and your seats do move as well as the screen in front of you. Like a lot of Disney attractions, you’re on a regular mission and something goes wrong. Be prepared for high action, corny jokes, and a crazy ride through space.
There are multiple ride scenarios that you may encounter, which means it could be a different adventure every time you go! You'll come across some of your favorite Star Wars characters… as well as some infamous villains.
This attraction could be a problem for anyone who’s prone to motion sickness. So keep this in mind when deciding to ride. The line is usually pretty manageable, so could be a good option if you’re looking to fill in some space in your day.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Height Restriction: 40”
- Attraction Type: Vertical Drop
- Best for: Older kids and adults seeking a thrill
- Worst for: Kids that may get scared from the dark, lightning, or intentionally “scary” scenarios
Even though the Tower of Terror has a height requirement of only 40”, this may be the “scariest” ride in Disney World. Kids may not love it at first. So it may be a good one to check out ahead of time before encouraging kids to ride.
It’s meant to be scary. The line snakes through the cob-webbed, abandoned Hollywood Hotel. You are then taken through a recreated episode of The Twilight Zone.
The scenario is that guests of the hotel boarded an elevator on a dark and stormy night. That elevator was struck by lightning, and the elevator fell to the demise of its passengers.
Disney does a really great job of instilling fear in riders of this attraction. That fear creates anticipation and excitement in adults and some kids. In other kids (and adults), that fear only creates some serious fear… and tears.
Don’t get me wrong, I love this ride! But as a child, I remained undecided about it for years and really only rode it due to peer pressure from my siblings.
Another family member, who is tall for her age, blindly trusted her parents and rode it before she was ready. After that, her trust in her parents about what rides she would enjoy was kind of demolished for the rest of that trip.
By all means, I’m not saying not to ride it. But just know your child and if it’s right for them! And know that it may not be the best option at Hollywood Studios for toddlers and preschoolers that make the height requirement.
Rock N’ Roller Coaster
- Height Restriction: 48”
- Attraction Type: Roller Coaster
- Best for: Lovers of loud music, fast cars, and riding bottoms up
- Worst for: Anyone who doesn’t want to go upside down
For anyone who doesn’t mind turning upside down three times on a ride, this one may just end up being your favorite. It’s fast. It’s smooth. It’s a whole lot of fun. In fact, it goes so fast (in the dark), that my grandmother came off the ride once and asked, “Wait, I went upside down?”
The premise is that you are speeding through town in a super-stretch limo. You have backstage passes to the Aerosmith concert but you’re in a hurry and need to get there fast.
The ride starts off with a bang, taking off at 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. And the fun never stops. The whole time, energetic Aerosmith music is blasting. Your car goes up, down, and all around. If this ride doesn’t get the endorphins flowing, I don’t know what will!
Pro tip: Sit in the front for this ride! It’ll make your experience seem faster and more unpredictable.
Most kids like this ride as well… once they’re tall enough that is. It has the tallest height restriction of all the Disney World attractions, and that’s purely for safety reasons seeing as you are inverted three times. They don’t want to risk anyone falling out! Don’t worry… I barely feel like I need my safety harness on the ride. Gravity and G-Forces do their job well 🙂
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Height Restriction: 40”
- Attraction Type: Simulation and Trackless Car
- Best for: Star Wars lovers of all kinds
- Worst for: Kids that would get too scared from “bad guy” actors
This attraction can’t even be called a ride… it’s an entire experience.
It’s important to note that at the moment you can’t just hop in line and wait your turn! You do need to get a spot in the virtual queue… and it can be competitive.
Check your My Disney Experience App for the times that you can try to join the queue on the days that you’ll be in Hollywood Studios. If this attraction is a high priority for you, you’ll want to allow for a few days in the Studios to ensure you get in.
There are simulated sections, a trackless ride, and cast members playing the parts of both Resistance and First Order characters. Be prepared to feel like you’re fully immersed into the movies and for some high-action fun.
There are no “thrill” experiences as far as the ride goes. You don’t go upside down, there is only one small sudden drop, and there’s barely a need for your seat belt. But the entire experience is meant to be a thrill of escaping the First Order.
If this intensity and the presence of “bad guys” would be too much for the kiddos, they may want to wait until your next visit for this one. Don’t worry, you’re still able to ride! Rider swap is a beautiful thing 🙂
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
- Height Restriction: 38”
- Attraction Type: Simulated Ride
- Best for: Anyone who has always wanted to pilot the Millennium Falcon
- Worst for: Those prone to motion sickness on simulated rides
In this simulated ride, you and five other guests team up to fly the Millennium Falcon. Each guest will be assigned a role to help you complete your smuggling mission. You’ll either be a pilot, a gunner, or an engineer. And yes, unlike Mission Space, you do actually have to perform your duties!
Some people say that Smuggler’s Run is kind of like an interactive Star Tours. It’s a high action attraction. But if your kiddos are okay with that, and if they’re okay with maybe not performing their “duties” as well as the adults, then they will probably enjoy it!
That's it! What are your kids’ favorite attractions in Hollywood Studios? Let me know in the comments below!
And now that we have Hollywood Studios covered, you can start planning your visit to Epcot! Check out Epcot for Kids and Preschoolers… What Is There To Do?
