It’s not wrong to say that Hollywood Studios became one of the best Disney Parks in the last five years or so. We are talking about a place that is perfect for both kids and adults, with some of the most iconic attractions like Tower of Terror and Fantasmic. You can easily spend a whole day here with your family and still not see everything that this theme park has to offer, from fan favorite rides to several live shows.
Hollywood Studios is certainly a good destination to bring your kids. Sure, it probably doesn’t have as many rides for toddlers and young children like Magic Kingdom, but Hollywood Studios is a very good choice for young teenagers. We are talking about a place that has Galaxy’s Edge, where kids can finally fulfill their dreams of becoming a Jedi as they explore the land of Star Wars. Young kids also have an area designed just for them with Toy Story Land, where Slinky Dog Dash has a good chance of becoming their first ever roller coaster.
What else can kids experience at Hollywood Studios? Well, how about some amazing live shows? We are talking about Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and Fantasmic, which are good for the entire family (and give tired parents a chance to rest their legs, you’re gonna need it).
So, what are some of the best kid-friendly rides at Hollywood Studios? We selected a few for you, based not only on how great they are, but also the perfect age range for each one. We give you quick details if a ride is set in the dark, if it can be scary for younglings and any sort of info that can help you decide if a particular attraction is appropriate for your little ones.
Of course, it can be really hard to pick an exact age range which is adequate for each offering, but we tried our best. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if your kid will love a specific ride or not. Are your children very young, but have the height requirement to go on a specific attraction? Talk to them and see if they want to go!
With that in mind, let us show you a list of kid-friendly rides in Hollywood Studios. After that, we are going to analyze each single ride and why they might be good for your children or not. Let’s check it out.
Good for every Age range
- Mickey & Minnie’s Railway Runaway
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Fantasmic
Good for Ages 2+
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Slinky Dog Dash
Good for Ages 4+
- Star Tours
- Muppet Vision 3D
- Toy Story Mania
Good for Ages 7+
- Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Good for Ages 10+
- Tower of Terror
Ride Height Requirements
No Height Requirement
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Muppet Vision 3D
- Toy Story Mania!
32″ (81 cm) or more
- Alien Swirling Saucers
38″ (97 cm) or more
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Slinky Dog Dash
40″ (102 cm) or more
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Tower of Terror
48″ (122 cm) or more
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
In-Depth Overview
Mickey & Minnie’s Railway Runaway
Details: Good for all ages, dark ride.
Guess what, this is a dark ride featuring classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and even Daisy! Of course, this one is going to be perfect for the whole family! There are no height requirements and everyone is welcome aboard this new ride that opened in 2020.
This is a very chill dark ride that manages to not be super slow like Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean, but also not as thrilling as Islands of Adventure’s The Amazing Spider Man. It’s perfect for young children that want to experience good, colorful visuals and just a tiny bit of adrenaline in an amazing trackless ride. So, basically, it’s perfect for young guests that want to have fun.
This ride takes about five minutes, which is a respectful time for something like this. The visuals are great, as characters show tons of emotions and really come alive. There aren't many animatronics, as most of the visuals are on digital screens showing cartoons, which is good news for all the younglings that are afraid of robot-Mickey.
Speaking of him, Mickey and his friends show a modern visual art style, which is the same one from the most recent Mickey cartoons. Toddlers might get a little scared by so many visuals and colors at once, but there is (probably) a bigger chance that they will just enjoy everything happening around them.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Details: Good for all ages, live show, show lasts 30 minutes.
You already saw the name “Frozen” in the middle of that long title and know that you need to bring your kids here, huh? Let me tell you that this one is very different from Epcot’s Frozen Ever After. While in Epcot you go on a traditional boat ride, this attraction in Hollywood Studios is a small show with actors on stage and a big screen that presents sequences from the movies. The screen acts almost like a karaoke, as Elsa, Anna and friends sing and kids and their families are welcome to sing along. It’s in the name of the ride, after all!
Just don’t expect a huge blockbuster show or something like Fantasmic, or even Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. Frozen Sing-Along is fun, but it’s mostly aimed at kids that really love Frozen and want to listen to the songs one more time. The actors on stage are there to explain what is happening in the movie and throw some jokes from time to time. They are narrators for the most time that push the story forward, but there is a part near the end of the presentation where Anna and Elsa appear in costume to sing the worldwide classic, tha fan favorite, the blockbuster, the Emmy award winner Let it Go.
Parents might get a little bit bored since there is no action and the musical pieces aren’t as spectacular as in other Disney shows. Still, if you have little kids or children that love Frozen, bring them here. They will love to see their favorite characters singing some of their favorite songs.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Details: Good for all ages, live show, show lasts 30 minutes.
This is a really, really fun show for the entire family, and an old time classic in Hollywood Studios. Indiana Jones is a 30 minute live presentation where Indy goes through different set pieces inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark. The stage is huge, with moving platforms and lots of props, where you see a Harrison Ford look alike escaping from traps, running from a rolling boulder, fighting baddies in a crowded market and more.
I wish the show was all about the set pieces, but it’s interrupted from time to time by other actors, who are there to explain the magic of movies and what happens behind the scenes. This is understandable, honestly. They need time to change the background and put new props in place, since the environments are so different from each other, and that’s when we have the “movie director” come in to share behind-the-scenes secrets.
Kids might want the new action setpieces to come back as soon as possible, since it’s fun to see Indy walking around fighting stunt actors and dodging traps. Kids from all ages tend to love this show, since there is so much going on and the stage is huge as well with lots of things happening at once. Bring everyone here and have fun.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
Details: Good for all ages, live show, show lasts 25 minutes.
This is more of a classic show for people of all ages, a broadway style presentation with several actors that perform the main sequences from the movie and sing several songs like in a (good) musical. Yeah, you will see Belle, Gaston and Beast singing some of your favorite Disney songs like “Be Our Guest” and the title theme “Beauty and the Beast”. Everyone is in costume, and they are incredibly very well made, from the iconic yellow princess outfit to Lumiere, Cogsworth and his friends inside Beast’s castle.
Toddlers, young children and Belle fans love this one. It’s all very colorful and well made, which is good to hold your children’s attention. Young teenagers might get a little bit bored, or think that they have grown past the age of live shows - yeah, you probably know what I am talking about. Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage doesn’t have any thrilling sequences like the Indiana Jones show, since this one here is basically a musical, so keep that in mind.
Fantasmic
Details: Good for all ages, live show, show lasts 30 minutes.
This is Hollywood Studios main show, a nighttime spectacular that usually happens twice per day (check your park map, folks!). It’s a mix of live action featuring actors, characters in costume, a water show and a celebration of everything related to Disney. This is also one of the few shows in all of Disney World that has Mickey as the main character (funny to think of that now, huh?), where he faces big baddies like Maleficent and learns how to use the power of his dream and imagination for the good of everyone… or something like that.
Everyone should come here, honestly. Make sure to arrive at least thirty minutes early or even one hour before the show officially starts, so you can get a good seat and not get stuck in a huge line. This place gets crowded, so make sure to keep your little ones close by, and buy drinks and snacks before heading to Fantasmic since the theater can get rather chaotic.
Other than that, have fun! You will see lots of Disney movies being projected on screens made of pure water, from The Lion King to The Lady and the Tramp. Young kids might get scared when Mickey faces Maleficent in her (big) dragon form, but the dragon doesn’t spit fire anymore, since that incident in California where Maleficent burned down and Fantasmic was closed for months.
Make sure to stay seated until the end and get your camera ready! There is a magical end sequence where a boat appears and you get to see a LOT of Disney characters on board, from Donald Duck to Pinnochio, Cinderella, Ariel, Elsa, Snow White and many more.
Alien Swirling Saucers
Details: Good for ages 2+, spinning ride.
A very chill, traditional ride located in Toy Story Land for those that love to spin around all day. This one is similar to a teacups ride, but it doesn’t spin as much, which might actually be good news for parents. You board a vehicle for about three guests, which is perfect for a family with a young kid, and then it’s all about going in circles while you listen to random beeps and enjoy visual effects with a shower of colors.
Many people don’t know this, but there is actually a height requirement in this ride. This decision makes sense since nobody wants our little ones feeling unwell after spinning around. Still, the height requirement is only 32”, which means that mostly any kid over two years old will be able to enjoy it. As stated above, there are a lot of beeps and colors all over, especially at night, so make sure your children are fine with that.
This isn’t a thrill ride or anything. It’s called a “spinning ride”, sure, but this is a gentle ride that won’t give you a headache. Much like a carousel, it’s a classic theme park attraction that exists to bring a smile to your face. The good news? Compared to Toy Story Mania and Slinky Dog Dash at Toy Story Land, the queue times here are incredibly low, so don’t expect to spend more than 20 minutes in line.
Slinky Dog Dash
Details: Good for ages 2+, family roller coaster.
This is it. This is probably the best ride for kids in all Disney World. Slinky Dog Dash is a family coaster, which means that it’s for… everyone! Adults have a lot of fun here, but kids have a blast. This is a perfect entry point for younglings above two years old, just to see if they will love roller coasters in the future. Slinky Dog isn’t as chill as something like The Barnstormer in Magic Kingdom or Flight of the Hippogriff in Islands of Adventure, but it isn’t as tense as Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom or even Space Mountain.
Slinky Dog lasts for about 2 minutes, which is perfectly acceptable for a family coaster. It’s also super charming, since it features Toys Story’s best character (we all know that). It has a fun first drop and even a section that makes you go up and down several times, giving kids a bit of air time. It’s great, pure and simple.
The bad part about Slinky Dog Dash? This is a very popular attraction, probably the most popular in all Hollywood Studios. Yeah, even above Rise of the Resistance, since every family wants to come here. Queues usually hover around the 100 minute mark, but it’s normal to wait about two hours on crowded days. You should definitely buy Disney Genie+ only to come here, and make sure to select Slinky Dog Dash as the first attraction for your Genie+, since it’s not uncommon for it to get sold out.
Star Tours
Details: Good for ages 4+, motion simulator.
Star Tours has been a Hollywood Studios symbol for ages. It was one of the first ever motion simulators in all of Disney World, and the only Star Wars based ride for a long time before Galaxy’s Edge debuted in 2019. It also went through many changes throughout the years. The audio got changed, 3D technology was implemented and the most important addition was the inclusion of new movies inspired by the new trilogy of films: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and Rise of the Skywalker.
This is a very simple motion simulator - it’s been there for a long time, after all, but it is still fun. I mean, it’s Star Wars, so there is a good chance that everybody will enjoy it, from young kids to adults. You take a seat, fasten your seatbelt, and then your chair moves sideways in sync with the action unfolding on the large screen in front of you. It's mostly like a small cinema where your chair twitches and you get to listen to John William's epic soundtrack.
Kids might get a kick of seeing iconic planets and locations like Tatooine, Coruscant and Dagobah, or characters like Poe and Rey. Fortunately, I don't think I've ever seen Jar Jar Binks there, but maybe he is hidden in a special movie that only plays once every decade. This is also a motion simulator without sudden bounces or movements that can give you a sudden headache. It’s not as chill as something like Epcot’s Soarin, but it isn’t as thrilling as Islands of Adventure’s Spider Man.
The most fun part of this attraction is that you never know what movie you are going to get, since it’s all random, and there are dozens and dozens of combinations with scenes from all nine movies. I am pretty sure that you go through three different video sequences during the entire ride, and all three are random, which makes re-riding sound like a pretty fun idea.
Star Tours usually don't get too crowded, so expect lines to take about twenty minutes or so during a regular day, which is perfect to at least check it out once.
Muppet Vision 3D
Details: Good for ages 4+, 3D theater, runs for 15 minutes.
Ah, the good old Muppets. They certainly are a classic. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of kids nowadays have no idea of who they are, but they remain as charming as ever. Muppets 3D is, in fact, one of the first ever 3D movies in all Disney World. It’s a very fun, charming distraction, where Kermit, Gonzo and the rest of the Muppets guide guests through a 15 minute presentation where they talk about how wonderful 3D technology can be.
Kids have a lot of fun here. The Muppets are all colorful and they have that look that makes them slightly weird, but not scary at all. It’s also fun to see them interacting with real life actors and real environments, like the backstage of a theme park. There are even a few animatronics next to the stage that, even if they don’t move a lot, they do talk to the Muppets on screen and push the narrative forward.
The story is also pretty simple, and you shouldn’t expect anything crazy from the 3D technology used here. It’s an older attraction that dates back from 1991, after all. Still, kids will probably get a laugh out of characters like Miss Piggy and Fozzie that try their best to entertain their audience. Just remember that you need to sit down and use your 3D glasses to enjoy the show, so make sure your kids are alright with that.
Toy Story Mania
Details: Good for ages 4+, 3D interactive shooting gallery.
This is a good one that people really love. Toy Story Mania is an interactive shooting gallery, which means that you board a vehicle, grab a fake gun and shoot at targets to reach a high score. Men In Black: Alien Attack in Universal Studios and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom are also shooting galleries where you aim at animatronics. Toy Story Mania has the same idea, but you use 3D glasses and aim at a screen in front of you to shoot at targets and collect those delicious points. Everything is digital here, so don’t expect any animatronics of Jessie or Woody, which is good if your children are easily scared by them.
Toy Story Mania is great, especially for young kids. It’s also very simple, like a videogame that you can sit down, relax and everyone can play without being too complex. Young kids can just fire randomly and be mesmerized by the visuals and screen in front of them, while teenagers (and adults, honestly) give in to their competitive side as they try to hit everything they can like their lives depend on it.
This ride is divided into several minigames, but the idea remains the same: aim at targets, hit them and collect points. Sometimes your gun will be firing darts at the screen and you need to pop up balloons, and sometimes you will be throwing rings and aiming at those small Toy Story aliens. There are no sudden movements or scary moments here. Your vehicle just moves across a track a little, stops in front of a screen and lets you play a minigame for a few minutes.
Like most rides at Toy Story Land, this is a very popular one, so get your Disney Genie+ ready. It’s common to spend 40 to 50 minutes in line here.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Details: Good for ages 7+, motion simulator.
Children can now finally fulfill their fantasies of piloting the Millenium Falcon! That’s right, this is a motion simulator where a crew of six guests boards the iconic ship and flies around for about four minutes. Much like Epcot’s Mission Space, each crew member has their very role to play inside the ship: you have the pilots, gunners and engineers. Unlike Mission Space, there are no sudden movements here and nothing that will give you a headache, so you can come in without any fear in the world.
Kids love these rides where they feel part of a crew and get the chance to fulfill their fantasies. I’d probably let them be the pilots, since this is the role with the biggest amount of interactivity. You can actually guide the Falcon around a 3D space, always moving forward in a First Person View. It doesn’t give you as much freedom as a modern flight simulator videogame, but you can definitely see the ship obeying your commands if you want to go up, down or move left and right. You can even hit obstacles, and any damage will make the lights blink with visual effects that tell you to be more careful.
This is a fun ride to bring all your children. Younglings can have fun hitting all the buttons randomly, while older children will be more competitive and try to guide the Falcon through the safest route. This is a popular ride, so expect waiting time to be around 30 to 50 minutes.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Details: Good for ages 7+, motion simulator, has a very short drop, ride lasts around 15 minutes overall.
This is the main Star Wars attraction in Galaxy’s Edge, and it’s way more than just a motion simulator. If you got impressed by the 15 minute ride duration described above, there’s an explanation for that: Disney starts counting Rise of the Resistance from the moment you enter the pre-show, and I can see why. The pre-show is a ride in itself, featuring characters from the trilogy like Rey and Poe, and an awesome scene where you board a Resistance ship and end up being captured by the New Order. Get your cameras ready, folks, this is the best queue experience in all Disney World, where you even get to see a “real” X-Wing.
Kids will love this ride, even more so the ones that enjoy Star Wars, X-Wings and the new characters like Kylo Ren, BB-8 and Finn. The motion simulator part of the ride is the star of the show, where you board a vehicle with your family and cross a massive open space filled with stormtroopers, AT-ATs and even Kylo Ren going after you with his lightsaber. If your kids love rides like Islands of Adventure’s Spider Man and Universal Studios’ Transformers 3D, they will surely enjoy this one. Everything here is huge in scale, giving it a really epic feel.
There are also no sudden movements that will make you bounce around. Just one thing, there is a very short drop near the end of the ride. It’s nothing like Tower of Terror, but it might give your kid a good scare if they’re not waiting for it and get easily impressed. Other than that, get ready to wait in line for a good while. Alongside Slinky Dog Dash, this is the most popular ride in Hollywood Studios, and it’s common to wait 100-120 minutes in line. Also heads up: this attraction tends to break down a lot, so check if it’s working before going there.
Tower of Terror
Details: Good for ages 10+, drop tower, very scary.
You have probably heard about Tower of Terror in the past, right? This is one of the most iconic rides in the world, inspired by the Twilight Zone, which is one of the best TV series of all time. You also probably know that this is a drop tower, which means that you board a vehicle, go through a few set pieces and then drop down. What you might not have known is that Tower of Terror features multiple drops, and they are random. Sometimes you even go up before going down, and this can happen about four to five times before the ride finally comes to an end.
So, is Tower of Terror fine for our little ones? Well, I will say it depends. Young kids get easily scared here, which is understandable. Even the queue can be scary, since it's set up in the backyard of a haunted mansion, with several spider webs and distant classic music. The inside of the mansion is also really well done, with old chairs and paintings that give you an idea that something is not right there.
Oh, the pre-show is also scary. You get to watch Rod Serling being voiced by a talented voice actor, and also a mini-movie where an entire family gets zapped by a lightning bolt as they are riding a service elevator. All of that with an unsettling song in the background, and then the entire room goes dark. This might be too much even for young teenagers, so talk to them before coming here.
The ride itself is also scary for our little ones. There are a few setpieces here. The first one is right after you board the elevator and go up a bit. The doors open, and you see the ghosts of the deceased family calling you. They are very well made, which can be a problem for our little ones. The second set piece isn’t as scary as the first one: your elevator goes up a little bit more and enters an area with weird eyes and Chtullu-like objects facing you. It’s all crazy, dystopian and unsettling, but super cool too, and completely in tone with the Twilight Zone. The main drops happen a little bit after that, when you are completely in the dark.
So, as you can see, it can get pretty scary. Young children usually do not like this ride, but teenagers have a blast. The height requirement isn’t too high at 40”, but the main challenge here is making sure your children are okay with a ride of this nature.
