Hollywood Studios Review: Galaxy’s Edge, Thrill Rides, and Family Fun
Hollywood Studios Itinerary: A Laid-Back Start for a Big Day
Our Thursday (third park day) at Walt Disney World started slow on purpose. After two packed days of park-hopping, rope-dropping, and squeezing in every last attraction at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, we decided to take it easy in the morning. Sleep in, grab a leisurely breakfast, and conserve our energy—because we knew we were heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the back half of the day was going to be big. Very big.
Hollywood Studios is a must for thrill-seekers and movie lovers, but for our family, it was all about: Star Wars and thrill rides. Kid 1 is a full-on Star Wars superfan. Lightsabers, trivia, costumes—he lives and breathes it. So naturally, the centerpiece of his day was Galaxy’s Edge.
We were traveling with Dad and Aunty, who are both first-time Disney World visitors. Dad is a Star Wars fan, while Kid 2 and Aunty were all about the thrill rides.
Kicking Off the Day with Star Tours and Rise of the Resistance
Star Tours: A Classic Ride That Still Delivers
We arrived around noon and kicked things off with Star Tours. This 3D motion simulator is sometimes overshadowed by the newer Star Wars experiences, but it’s still a must-do every time we visit. Each ride is randomized, so it’s a slightly different story every time, with recently added experiences. It’s a great warm-up before diving into the full Star Wars universe.
Rise of the Resistance: A Must-Do Disney Experience
Next up was Rise of the Resistance. Rise of the Resistance is more than just a ride, it is a whole experience. From being captured by the First Order to the escape sequence, every detail is wonderfully thought out. If you’re planning a trip, book a Lightning Lane or be ready to wait—this ride always has a line!
Lunch Break: Refueling at Backlot Express
After our galactic adventures, we were ready for lunch. We headed to Backlot Express, a solid quick-service option with indoor seating (critical for surviving Florida heat). Burgers, chicken strips, salads—it hits the basics. Nothing fancy, but dependable.
Exploring Galaxy’s Edge: The Heart of Star Wars at Hollywood Studios
Smugglers Run: Flying the Millennium Falcon
After lunch it was time to explore Galaxy’s Edge. I’m not a Star Wars fan myself, but I love Galaxy’s Edge. Walking through Galaxy’s Edge is like stepping into another world. The scale of it is massive. Stormtroopers patrol. Droids beep and whir. The Millennium Falcon sits right there in the middle of it all. We’ve seen Chewbacca on every visit to Galaxy’s Edge.
Naturally, our next stop was Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. It is Kid 1’s favorite ride at Hollywood Studios. You climb into the cockpit of the Falcon and take on roles—pilot, gunner, or engineer. Depending on how well you work together, the outcome of the mission changes. Kid 1’s goal every trip is to be each role… hence riding several times throughout the day. Note: we only ride Smugglers Run once during the peak of the day to make sure we get on it at least once, but often towards the end of the day, the wait time drops significantly.
We spent time wandering through the shops, taking in all the Star Wars theming, and soaking in the details—from blue milk to Resistance gear. After a while, the heat caught up with us, so we made a tactical retreat to ABC Commissary.
Cooling Off at ABC Commissary
We took a break at ABC Commissary, one of our go-to spots for cooling off. Fries, sodas, grilled cheese sandwiches for the kids. My husband, in need of downtime, stayed behind in the AC while the rest of us split up.
Afternoon Thrills: Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and More
Kid 1 and I went back for another round on Smugglers Run (why not?), while Kid 2 and Aunty headed for the thrill rides. They knocked out Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (which my daughter declared her absolute favorite), and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Galaxy’s Edge at Night
Once it got dark, we all met back up in Galaxy’s Edge. If you think Galaxy’s Edge during the day, wait until you see it at night. The lighting transforms everything—it glows, it feels magical. The vibe shifts from theme park to something cinematic and almost surreal. Galaxy’s Edge is a must see after dark!
We made use of the PhotoPass photographers scattered around to snap a few family pictures with the Falcon lit up behind us. These were some of our favorite photos from the whole trip.
And yes, we rode Smugglers Run one last time. Third time’s the charm. Galaxy’s Edge at nighttime is a must-see at Hollywood Studios, even just to walk around.
Skipping the Nighttime Shows (But Don’t Skip Them If You Haven’t Seen Them!)
We decided to skip the nighttime shows this time around. We’ve seen Fantasmic! on previous visits, and while we love it, we opted to spend the evening soaking in the atmosphere of Galaxy’s Edge instead. If you haven’t seen Fantasmic! before, it’s definitely worth making time for its a fun night time show with lots of characters you don’t see often in the parks (May Poppins, the Beast and many more.)
How We Planned An Affordable Hollywood Studios Visit
A quick note on how we planned this day affordably: This Hollywood Studios visit was part of our trip using the Incredi-Pass, which we’ve used for four separate trips to keep each one under $400 per person. Since we already had our tickets covered with the pass, it made it easy to hop into the park without the pressure of “getting our money’s worth” every minute.
We also stayed nearby at TownePlace Suites at Flamingo Crossings, which we booked entirely with Marriott Bonvoy points. It’s pet-friendly, had free breakfast, and gave us enough space to recharge between busy park days—plus, no resort fees.
We drove down with our 2 dogs using a car rental we booked on Hopper.com using cash back rewards from Pepper. So our only costs going into the trip were gas, tolls and spending money in the parks.
Final Thoughts: Why Hollywood Studios is a Must
Our Hollywood Studios day wasn’t about doing everything the park offers. It was about zeroing in on what our family really wanted: Star Wars and thrills. Galaxy’s Edge is something special. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan or just curious, it’s hard not to be impressed. The level of detail, the commitment to theme, it’s Disney Magic.
And the best part? We made memories that will stick. Kid 1 getting to fly the Falcon with his dad. Kid 2 conquering Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Laughing over fries. Cooling off in a quiet corner of the park while the afternoon sun blazed outside.
That’s what these parks are about. Not just rides and shows, but shared moments. And Hollywood Studios gave us plenty of those.
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I’m a CPA, mom of two, and the creator of Points to Magic. I help people use points to save thousands of dollars on Disney vacations.
