Walt Disney World/Hollywood Studios

The genesis of the "Studios" theme park was as a new pavilion for EPCOT Center's Future World that would provide an animatronic ride through cinematic history, much as World of Motion did for transportation and Spaceship Earth did for communication. This spark of an idea was so inspiring, however, that then-CEO Michael Eisner suggested that the new ride instead become the marquee attraction in an all-new theme park.

The original vision for this new park was to combine a traditional theme park atmosphere—rides, shows, restaurants—with a real working production studio. A team of animators began work even before the park opened to the public, working on real Disney animation—Mulan and Lilo & Stitch, among others, were animated entirely at the theme park. Live-action was also filmed here, from movies like Newsies and Ernest Saves Christmas to television shows such as Mickey Mouse Club and Adventures in Wonderland. Most importantly, all of these production facilities were viewable on the park's Backstage Studio Tour—guests could actually see animating and filming as they occurred, if their timing was right; if not, they still got to see the real sets and real studios where their favorite productions were created. A backlot was also created and placed on the tour, with house façades used in actual films and television shows and authentic props from movies like Flight of the Navigator and Star Wars.

Those days are gone; the park's sound stages have been converted to rides and stage shows, the animation facility has closed down, and even the backlot tour is no more. The original ride idea, the one planned for Epcot, survived for a while as the park's centerpiece, The Great Movie Ride, and new thrill rides opened up to become the park's main draws. Despite all the changes, though, the park retains its enthusiasm for the fantasy worlds created on film, and guests can still enjoy being able to "step into" their favorite productions.

Hollywood Studios is just southwest of Epcot; it's on Buena Vista Drive, which is accessible from either World Drive or Epcot Center Drive. Parking is $25 per car, although Disney resort guests can park for free with their Magic Bands. Preferred parking, allowing you to park in the closest spots to the entrance, is available for $50 per car. Parking is per day and is good at all four Disney theme parks — just show your receipt if park hopping!

Parking is free at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, which is on South Victory Way, south of Osceloa Parkway.

From Epcot, the BoardWalk, the Yacht and Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin, you can take the Friendship ferries to Hollywood Studios. There is also a nice wide walking path that follows a similar route. If you are coming from Epcot, you must exit through that park's rear entrance: the International Gateway, located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase. From Epcot's main entrance, there is a bus that goes to the Studios.

Take the monorail or ferry to the Transportation and Ticket Center, then board the Studios bus.

From other areas of the property, simply go to the bus stop and wait for the Studios bus to arrive. You will be dropped off in front of the Hollywood Studios gates.

Disney Springs does not have direct buses to the parks; you will need to make your way to a resort, then go from that resort to Hollywood Studios. The best option here might be to take the bus to the Swan, which is the closest hotel to the Studios, then take the Friendship or the walking path to the Studios. Another option is to walk or take the boat to the Saratoga Springs resort, then the bus to the Studios.

Public transportation to the Wide World of Sports is limited. Buses are available only from the All-Star Resorts, the Caribbean Beach Resort, and the Pop Century Resort, so you'll need to get to one of those hotels before switching buses. The buses regularly run only Thursday through Monday, from 5PM to 11PM. If there's a special event going on outside of those days and times, bus service will start one hour before the event and end no earlier than 11PM.

Hollywood Boulevard is mostly a location for shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, but at its far end is where you'll find the park's centerpiece, the Chinese Theater. While there, be sure to check out the cement plaza in front—just like at the real Chinese Theater in Hollywood, you'll find a number of celebrities have placed their handprints and signatures there. Everyone from Donald Duck and R2-D2 to Carol Burnett and Michael Jackson has left their mark.

• 🌍 Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. Nightly; check Times Guide for specific start times. Every night, the skies above the Chinese Theater (and the Chinese Theater itself) are lit up with projected images, lasers, and fireworks, all choreographed to bring the excitement of the Star Wars saga to eager crowds. The Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party ($79/$45) gets you dessert before the show and access to a preferred viewing area without needing to camp out ahead of time. (updated Jul 2018)

The park's marque attraction, housed within the Chinese Theater, was The Great Movie Ride. It closed in August 2017 in anticipation of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. This dark ride, using state-of-the-art Disney-invented tech that enables you to see 3-D images without the need for glasses, is scheduled to open sometime in 2019. It's also, surprisingly, the first ride-through attraction the company has built that stars Mickey Mouse.

In addition to more shops, restaurants, and Streetmosphere, Sunset Boulevard is home to the Studios' two major stage shows and its two popular mega-thrill rides.

• Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage (Theater of the Stars). A 20-minute condensation of the popular animated film. It's more "cartoony" than the Broadway musical you may have seen, but it's great for kids who may not sit through a longer production. Colorful costumes and the classic songs make for an entertaining time. 
• 🌍 Fantasmic!. Performed nightly after dark; check the Times Guide for details. Watch as Mickey Mouse uses the power of imagination to defeat some of Disney's nastiest villains. Live-action nighttime extravaganza with outstanding film and lighting effects, fireworks, and a 50-foot animatronic dragon. The theater fills up quickly, so get there early if you want a seat. Reserved seating is available if you purchase a dining package. 
• 🌍 Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Hop into your "limousine" and take a wild ride through the streets of Los Angeles to get to Aerosmith's concert. The only roller coaster at Walt Disney World with inversions, this indoor launched coaster accelerates you from zero to 60 miles per hour in three seconds. An exciting but fairly smooth ride, it's accompanied by the (very loud) music of Aerosmith and decorated with bright fluorescent signs that obscure any view of the track, so you never know where you're headed next. (updated Jul 2018)
• Sunset Showcase. The Sunset Showcase is a multi-use space that Disney uses for a variety of attractions and events. It is closed in preparation for Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, an interactive show set to debut in early 2019. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Rod Serling welcomes you into this mystery, involving an elevator on the 13th floor, a late-night lightning strike, and vanished guests. Most people ignore the story, though, and just go on this ride for the 13-story free-fall down the elevator shaft, followed by a random sequence of sudden rising and falling. Not for the faint of stomach, period. The view from the top is quite a sight, if you can open your eyes long enough to look. The pre-ride area of the attraction is filled with references both obscure and subtle to various episodes of the TV show. 

Through the gate is this courtyard, which segues into Mickey Avenue as it heads toward the back of the park. The courtyard was once the gateway to the backstage area, with access to the animation department and the Backlot Tour; the Animation building is now the Star Wars Launch Bay. And there used to be working sound stages along Mickey Avenue, but they've been converted into semi-permanent exhibit space and attractions.

• Disney Junior – Live on Stage!. A cute audience-participation (dancing and singing) stage show featuring characters from the Disney Channel's programs for preschoolers. Don't even bother bringing anyone over the age of 7. Warning to parents with creaky knees: seating is on the floor. 
• Star Wars Launch Bay. The former Animation building has been converted to commemorate the new saga of Star Wars films, and it's now the center of Star Wars-related activity in the park (even though it's on the opposite side of the park from Star Tours). There are several distinct areas inside the building, but you'll start by enjoying a 10-minute preview film in the theater. From there, you can meet characters from the movies, view props and costumes (real and reproduction), play the Disney Infinity video game (with Star Wars figures, of course), or shop for all sorts of Star Wars collectibles. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Go "Under The Sea" with Ariel and friends in this live stage show featuring black-lit puppets and costumes. Very imaginative and colorful, with some intriguing special effects. Fairly popular, it can get crowded at times. 
• 🌍 Walt Disney Presents. A walk-through gallery housing props, artifacts, and diagrams galore; Disney history fans will have a ball. A 15-minute film tribute to Walt Disney, narrated by Julie Andrews, is also presented continuously throughout the day. In the months just before and after a major Disney feature film release, that tribute is replaced by a 10-minute sneak preview of the new movie. (updated Jul 2018)

Opened in July 2018, everything is larger-than-life in this new land built on former backstage space. With light-posts built from tinker toys and Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Rex standing watch over Andy's backyard, the two new rides here add in some much-needed kid-friendly attractions to a park that was sorely lacking in that regard. The entrance to what is probably the park's most popular ride, Toy Story Mania!, has been rerouted to face this land, and the former entryway, Pixar Place, is closed.

• Alien Swirling Saucers. Themed as a playset that Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant, step into these outer space saucers as the famous green Aliens whirl you around. Listen to some electronic intergalactic music play as you watch and see if you get "chosen" by the claw! (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Toy Story Mania!. Possibly the most popular attraction in all of Walt Disney World, this 3-D virtual midway game, complete with moving targets and special effects, is themed around the characters from Toy Story. Great fun for all ages, but visitors with aiming skills honed by years of video game playing will get higher scores. Due to its popularity, Fastpasses go very quickly, especially on weekends. 
• 🌍 Slinky Dog Dash. Andy's wrapped his Slinky Dog toy around the cars of his Mega Coaster Play Kit — and you get to ride it! A tame but exciting family roller coaster that winds through the building blocks and around the Lincoln Logs of the backyard. (updated Jul 2018)

On one side of Echo Lake is a large steamboat, known as Min and Bill's Dockside Diner; on the other is a large dinosaur, with Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction. Around the perimeter of the area are attractions based on Lucasfilm properties, restaurants, and a couple of soundstages. Running north from the lake is Grand Avenue, themed to present-day downtown Los Angeles and home to the Muppets Courtyard and the future main entrance to Star Wars Land.

• 🌍 ABC Sound Studio. Formerly the home of the "Sounds Dangerous" attraction, this theater is now showing "Star Wars: Path of the Jedi", a retelling of the Star Wars saga, from A New Hope straight through the prequels to the newest film, The Last Jedi. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Hyperion Theater. Formerly the home of the "American Idol Experience" (and before that, "Superstar Television"), the Hyperion Theater is showing "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration". (updated Feb 2016)
• 🌍 Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. An exciting 35-minute live-action stunt show recreating some of the best scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark (and explaining how the stunts work). A few lucky audience members might even get to appear on stage as extras. (updated Jul 2018)
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple (Right next to Star Tours). Kids between ages 4 and 12 can become Jedi Trainees, where they learn how to wield the Force and use a lightsaber. The training session is capped by an epic confrontation with a major Star Wars villain or two. This experience is extremely popular, so pre-registration is required for prospective Jedi; go to the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost early in the day to reserve a spot. Of course, if you just want to watch, you can do that too, no registration required. Must be 4-12 years old. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Muppet*Vision 3-D. A hilarious show featuring the Muppet characters, shown in a detailed replica of the Muppet Theater. You have to see it to believe it. The combination of a 3-D film, in-theater animatronics and special effects, and a special live-action appearance makes for an immersive show. The pre-show, held in a staging area while the previous main show runs, is just as good as the main show; if it's not too crowded, ask a cast member if you can stay to see the whole thing. The queue area and the pre-show area are overflowing with sight gags and bad puns. You will never see them all in just one trip. 
• 🌍 Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. The much-loved (but 23-year-old) Star Tours ride closed in 2010, but this "prequel" to the original takes Star Wars fans to new locations in that galaxy far, far away. An upgraded motion-simulation system, a 3D screen, and over fifty combinations of scene sequences mean that this ride will remain crowded for years to come. A new scene based on The Last Jedi is now in the rotation. (updated Jul 2018)

South of Hollywood Studios is the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex (formerly Disney's Wide World of Sports), a state-of-the-art sports complex with fields, stadiums, and arenas for a variety of sporting events.

The complex is the flagship facility of the Amateur Athletic Union, which has its headquarters on Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Disney Springs area. Regularly-scheduled AAU-sanctioned events are held at the complex from January to August. Outside of that time-frame, whether you'll find something going on is hit-or-miss. If there is something happening, it's probably a high school game with just a handful of spectators, though several national cheerleading competitions take place here.

Admission to the complex counts as one of your "Fun Visits" if you've added the Water Park Fun & More or the Park Hopper Plus option to your tickets, however, considering the low cost of admission it could be said that it's better to save your "Fun Visits" for one of the more expensive options. Admission is $18.50 for adults and $13.50 for children ages 3–9.

• 🌍 Champion Stadium, 700 S Victory Way (World Dr to Osceola Pkwy, east to Victory Way). A 9,500-seat baseball stadium. The Atlanta Braves play their spring training games here, and the Rookie-league GCL Braves play here all summer. Other events occur throughout the year. $0–32. 
• NFL Pro Bowl activities. Last week of Jan. With the move of the NFL's annual Pro Bowl game to Orlando's Camping World Stadium, the ESPN Wide World of Sports will be used to host a number of associated events in the days before and after the game, including the teams' practices. (updated Jul 2018)
• AdvoCare Invitational. Late Nov. Since 2006, college basketball fans have been able to catch eight top Division I teams playing a total of twelve games in this early-season tournament (formerly called the Orlando Classic and the Old Spice Classic). (updated Jul 2018)
• Pop Warner Super Bowl & National Cheer and Dance Championships. Early Dec. Since 1999, the national organization for youth football has brought their championship week to Walt Disney World. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 ABC Commissary (Commissary Ln). Park open-park close. An unusually international menu for a counter-service location. The menu varies, but there is usually at least one Asian entree and some sort of Latin American dish. $6-$9. 
• Backlot Express (Echo Lake between Star Tours and Indy). 11:30AM-park close. The menu is nothing special, but the decor is. The restaurant is themed to look like a huge studio warehouse. There is plenty of wide-open seating here, and because of its location, it's rarely very crowded. $6-$9. 
• PizzeRizzo (formerly Toy Story Pizza Planet) (Muppet Courtyard). Casual Italian dining from the original Pizza Rat and his Brooklynite relatives. It's not an extensive menu, but there's pizza, salads, meatball subs, tiramisu, and cannoli. (updated Jul 2016)
• Starring Rolls Cafe (Sunset Blvd near Hollywood Blvd). Park open-4PM. Pastries, sandwiches, coffee... but famous for its cupcakes. This is a great out-of-the-way place to snag breakfast if you get to the park early, but it's got a surprisingly extensive menu so lunch and dessert can be excellent options as well. $3-$10. 
• Sunset Ranch Market (Catalina Eddie's, Fairfax Fare, Rosie's All-American Cafe, Sunshine Day Cafe) (Sunset Blvd near Rock 'n' Roller Coaster). 11AM-park close. These four locations (plus a fruit stand and an ice cream stand) share an outdoor seating area. Salads, pizza, burgers, BBQ, etc. $6-$9. 

• 🌍 50s Prime Time Cafe (Vine St near Echo Lake), ☏ +1 407 560-4365. 11AM-park close. Very good homestyle "comfort food" served in a classic 1950s sitcom kitchen, complete with Formica tabletops and black-and-white televisions. Word to the wise: you had better eat all your vegetables if you want to order dessert. Your server, in character as an ersatz family member, will have no qualms about putting you on the spot about this or any number of things; it's all in good fun, but do not eat here if you're not in the mood to play along. $13-$21. 
• The Hollywood Brown Derby (Sunset Blvd at Hollywood Blvd), ☏ +1 407 560-4835. 11:30AM-park close. Dine like the stars in this East Coast version of Hollywood's most famous restaurant. The Cobb salad, a Brown Derby original, is just as good as you would expect. $22-$36; Dining Plan requires two credits. 
• 🌍 Hollywood & Vine (Vine St near Hollywood Blvd). Park open-park close. A buffet set in the glitter and glamour of Hollywood in the 1930s. Breakfast and lunch are called "Disney Junior Play 'n Dine", featuring the Disney Junior characters for young kids, while the dinner meal is "Minnie's Seasonal Dine", where Minnie and her pals put on a rotating schedule of seasonal music, food, and fun. $25. 
• 🌍 Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano (Muppet Courtyard). Noon-park close. There aren't a lot of Italian restaurants at Walt Disney World, but this one fills the casual end of that niche admirably, even if it really has nothing to do with Hollywood. The decor is like stepping into an Italian neighborhood in New York City. $12-$22. 
• 🌍 Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Commissary Ln). 11AM-park close. Dine under the stars and watch classic B-movie clips from your custom convertible in a re-created 1950s drive-in movie theater. The menu includes a variety of entrees. Excellent milkshakes. This one might be the most popular restaurant in the park, so plan accordingly. $12-$23. 

The Caribbean Beach resort's Centertown marketplace is undergoing renovations and expansion: the food court, restaurant, and merchandise locations are all closed until 2019 or 2020. To compensate, Disney has opened temporary locations for merchandise and dining. Centertown Buffet is the main temporary dining location; it offers breakfast and dinner buffets, and there's usually a food truck nearby. There are other food stands scattered through the resort's villages during Centertown renovations.

• Old Port Royale Food Court. 6AM-midnight. This is a fun, casual food court that's designed to look like an outdoor Caribbean street. Closed for Centertown refurbishment. $7-10. 
• Shutters, ☏ +1 407 934-2830. 5PM-10PM. A variety of Caribbean entrees. Closed for Centertown refurbishment. $16-$28. 

At the Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort, you'll dine at a food court:

• Everything Pop (Pop Century). 6AM-midnight. Typical Disney food court, decorated in the same style as the rest of the Pop Century Resort. $6-9. 
• Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation). 6AM-midnight. Disney refers to the options at this food court as "better-for-you"; the stations include a soup/salad/sandwich shop, a "world flavors" shop, plus burgers, pizza, and baked goods. Beverage options are a bit more extensive than other food courts as well, with smoothies, organic tea, specialty coffees, and wine. $6-14. (updated Jul 2018)

• ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill. Lunch, dinner; exact times vary depending on events and season. If you're at the Wide World of Sports and need refreshments, this is where you'll go. Soups and sandwiches. The stadiums have typical stadium fare during events, though it turns out Disney prices actually aren't as steep as you'll find at most major league ballparks. $7-10.