Touring Hollywood Studios In the Summer After the Toy Story Land Opening

By Dave Shute

After Toy Story Land opens on June 30, 2018, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be profoundly shifting its FastPass+ tiering, and, at least through August 25, its operating calendar as well.

Image (c) Disney

• Each of the Toy Story Land rides–the new Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, and the old Toy Story Midway Mania–will be in Tier One, and will be the only rides in Tier One. This means you can only pre-book one of these rides per day.
• Regular park hours at the Studios from 6/30 through 8/25 will be from 8a to 10.30p, with daily morning Extra Magic Hours offered from 7a-8a. This means that for those not using or not eligible for Extra Magic Hours, the new rides will be crowded at regular park open. So, too, might be the next level of priorities, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Star Tours, as guests who arrived for Extra Magic Hours make their way to these rides after some time in Toy Story Land. So don’t count on low waits at “rope drop”–that is, at regular park open.
• During this June 30 to August 25 period, Fantasmic will be showing twice every night.  Most of the period it’s on at 9 and 10.30p, but after August 18 it shifts to 8.30 and 10.30p. The evening Star Wars show is on at 10p every night. This suggests that you might find good luck in Toy Story Land after the first Fantasmic, as others in the park either leave, make their way to Star Wars, or make their way to the second Fantasmic. You might find even better luck if you can get into the land right after the Star Wars show–you’ll have about ten minutes to walk less than a quarter of a mile.

Based on these factors, I’ve developed a second draft (the first one won’t work so I’ve redirected it to here) of touring plans to replace those in my current itineraries to see Hollywood Studios between June 30 and August 25 (I’ll build another version for visits after then). The main challenge in creating these are the start times and show schedules of the various shows, which does lead to a bit of dead time after some of the steps.

TOURING HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS THE SUMMER AFTER TOY STORY LAND OPENS, SECOND DRAFT PLAN, DAY ONE

Pre-book FastPass+ for Toy Story Mania (8-9a), Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (9-10a) and Tower of Terror (10-11a)

• Arrive at the park by opening time
• Ride Toy Story Mania (FP+)
• See Muppet Vision 3D
• Ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (FP+)
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid (9.30a show)
• Ride Tower of Terror (FP+). As soon as you tap in for this FastPass+, look for additional FastPass+ later this morning or early this afternoon, especially for the noon Indiana Jones. After those, or if none are available, look for an additional set of FastPass+ for tonight’s first Fantasmic.
• See Beauty and the Beast (11a show)
• See the noon Indiana Jones if you got a FastPass+ for it. If you did get FastPass+, check as soon as you tap in for FastPass+ for Fantasmic tonight
• See Disney Junior Live on Stage
• Head back to your hotel
• Return it the park, arriving at the Fantasmic queue no later than 60 minutes before showtime (if you don’t have FastPass+ for it) or 30 minutes if you have FastPass+
• See Fantasmic
• Head to Toy Story Land and see Alien Swirling Saucers; after, see another Toy Story ride if the lines are acceptable

TOURING HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS THE SUMMER AFTER TOY STORY LAND OPENS, SECOND DRAFT PLAN, DAY TWO

Pre-book FastPass+ for Slinky Dog Dash (8-9a), Star Tours (9-10a) and the 10.30a show of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along

• Arrive at the park by half an hour after regular opening time (i.e. by 8.30a for an 8a open)
• Ride Slinky Dog Dash (FastPass+)
• Ride Star Tours (FastPass+)
• See the 10.30a For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along (FastPass+). As soon as you tap in for this FastPass+, look for additional FastPass+ for later this morning or early this afternoon, to return to favorites or to see the noon Indiana Jones if you did not see it yesterday
• See Walt Disney Presents
• If you did not see it yesterday, see the noon Indiana Jones
• See Star Wars Launch Bay
• See March of the First Order
• See Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away
• Head back to your hotel, but before leaving look for additional FastPass+ to use before the evening Star Wars show
• Return it the park, arriving in time for your FastPass+ if you got an additional set, and be in the center area no later than 45 minutes before Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
• See Disney Movie Magic
• See Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
• If you can move quickly (you’ll have about ten minutes), as soon as the Star Wars show ends head to Toy Story Land and get in line for a favorite

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