Disney

My family and I love going to Orlando’s Walt Disney World. But if you’re new to Disney parks, you may be asking what is rope drop at Disney World?

Rope Drop at Walt Disney World refers to the park letting guests have early entry into the park up to 1 hour before opening. While ropes stop guests from going past the front the ropes drop prior to the official park opening time allowing guests to proceed to the ride of their choice.

But there’s a lot more to know than just showing up early, so let’s get into all the details!

And rope drop now is a little different than pre-March 2020. So sometimes Disney employees intentionally slow down busses, boats, and monorails heading to one of the theme parks to lower the number of guests trying to arrive early.

They may also delay cars coming into the parking lots.

So your best option to get there for rope drop is on foot. Now if you’re staying at one of the following Disney resorts, then walking to the Magic Kingdom is easy!

• Contemporary/Bay Lake Towers
• Grand Floridian
• Polynesian hotel

But if you’re feeling international or itching to get on that Millenium Falcon ride, if you’re staying at one of these Disney resorts, you can walk to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios,

• Yacht Club
• Beach Club and Villas
• Boardwalk and Villas
• Swan
• Dolphin

Sadly Animal Kingdom cannot be reached on foot. But it’s the least popular of the Disney parks, so most people aren’t worried about Rope Dropping Animal Kingdom.

Not staying at a Disney resort?

Consider taking an Uber to one of the ones listed above from wherever you’re staying. Eventually, these restrictions will lessen, especially with everything the Florida governor is doing.

So hopefully soon, we’ll be back to normal!

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Just go to shopDisney.com to check out all the amazing deals and cool stuff!

What time is rope drop at Magic Kingdom?

Before you get ready for rope drop when visiting the Magic Kindom at Walt Disney World, make sure to allow time to get there and for security screenings.

Security screenings vary depending on whether you’re coming in by bus, monorail, or boat. But do allow time for bag checks, metal detectors, etc. If you haven’t been to WDW recently, the procedures are probably different than you remember.

The turnstiles at Magic Kingdom open about 1 hour prior to the park opening time.

Remember too, that this is unrelated to Extra Magic Hours. In one of my recent articles, I get deep into what it is and the best ways to take advantage of it. Just click that link to read it on my site.

Extra Magic Hours and Early Morning Magic are also ways you can get into Disney World and ride rides before the official opening time.

After you go through the turnstiles, you just wait in the Main Street USA area as no rides are actually open yet. However, some of the shops like the Main Street Bakery will be open.

At the hub, there will literally be ropes preventing you from going into any of the park lands.

Before rope drop happens, they have a welcome show (currently called Let the Magic Begin). This happens in front of Cinderella’s Castle.

The welcome show is 5 minutes long. When the show is done, a cast member will lower the rope, which is exactly what rope drop refers to.

Then, and only then, can you begin to ride the rides.

But since you’ll be among the first to arrive (still expect a crowd). You can get to your favorite rides and popular attractions when the normally long lines will be the shortest they’re likely to be all day.

Make sure to check out all my personal Disney recommendations (click to go to my page) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Does the Magic Kingdom still do rope drop?

Yes is the short answer.

Rope drop happens daily following the Let the Magic Begin welcome show, at, or shortly before the official park opening time.

Each section of the park (known as lands), will be roped off and guarded by a Disney cast member.

Then after the show finishes, the cast member will drop the rope. NOW you can proceed into the land of your choice. Here are the lands in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World:

• Fantasyland
• Tomorrowland
• Adventureland
• Frontierland
• Liberty Square

Want all the tips, tricks, and what replaced the FastPass+ system?

My most popular Disney post gets upwards of 10,000 readers a month. I update it all the time as new information comes out. But in it, I detail why the FastPass system got retired, what replaced it, and how it can save you hours in line!

Just click that link to read it on my site.

How early should I arrive at Magic Kingdom?

The short answer is if you want to be ahead of the crowds, get there at least 1 hour prior to the official park opening time.

Typically rope drop happens immediately following the welcome show at Cinderella’s castle. Usually, this is right at the official park opening time. But it can be up to 15 minutes early on busier days.

But if you have already done security, gone through the turnstiles, and made your way up Main Street, you’ll be way ahead of people who are just arriving at the official park opening time.

As I mentioned above, first you go through a security screening.

So if you have backpacks, expect a search. They also use metal detectors too. Security screen procedures do vary a little depending on what your arrival method is.

Then you go through the turnstiles. The turnstiles are typically opened about 1 hour prior to the official park opening time (often 9 am, but hours do vary throughout the year, so always check before you go). But on busier days, they may open even earlier.

Once you’re through the turnstiles, grab a Starbucks or pastry from the bakery on Main Street while you wait.

Then be prepared to watch the welcome show which lasts 5 minutes. Then, and only then, will they drop the ropes and let you into the park.

The crowds can still be large.

So if you absolutely want to be first in line for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Peter Pan’s Flight, I would plan to be at the security checkpoint at least 1 1/2 hours prior to the official park opening time.

Maybe even earlier.

What is the best ride to ride first after rope drop at Magic Kingdom?

EVERYONE will be heading towards the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a roller coaster ride that opened in 2014 in the Fantasyland section of WDW. Fantasyland was significantly renovated from 2010 to 2014, and this ride appeared and the original Snow White ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, went away.

While it might be tempting to get in line for this ride along with everyone else after rope drop happens, it’s probably a better strategy to ride another of the popular rides first like Peter Pan’s Flight. After all, even if you’re in the middle of the crowd waiting for the rope drop, you might still experience a 30-minute wait for the Mine Train.

So hit Peter Pan when no one else is riding it, then head to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train after most of the initial rope drop crowd has already ridden it.

Or beat the crowds altogether and just head into Adventureland or Liberty Square and ride the Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, or the Jungle Cruise with virtually no wait at all.

Think you’ll just make an 8 am Genie+ reservation for the Mine Train? 

Think again. In most cases, passes start about an hour (or more) after park opening time, so you cannot just make an 8 am Genie+ pass.

What can I rope drop at Animal Kingdom?

Animal Kingdom often opens at 9 am (but again, make sure and check because hours do vary and change).

They open the turnstiles at Animal Kingdom anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes before the official park opening. The range is based on how busy the day is likely to be, but 60 minutes is more common than 30.

As you enter, you’re mostly going to be contained at Discovery Island with people specifically waiting in 4 specific places based on where they want to go:

• Asia – Held at the bridge
• DinoLand U.S.A. – Held at the bridge
• Pandora Held on the land in front of the bridge
• Africa – Held between Pizzafari & Starbucks before the bridge

Everyone will be wanting to rope drop Pandora, specifically Flights of Passage and Na’Vi River Journey.

If you have Genie passes for those later in the day though, you might consider letting the crowds have those and moving on to other rides such as:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris 
• Expedition Everest 
• DINOSAUR 

Rope Drop at Animal Kingdom can vary a great deal more than at the Magic Kingdom. So expect a range of times anywhere from 15 minutes to up to 45 minutes prior to the official opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

When it happens a Disney cast member will escort the crowds to ride entrances.

Pandora – The World of Avatar is going to be the most popular area, with many guests all wanting to ride Avatar Flight of Passage. So the cast members may escort those guests earlier than others, up to 30 minutes prior to the official park opening time.

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I recently published this article about that phenomenon and uncovered the devastating truth behind what drove Walt’s vision for his films.

Just click that link to read my article on this site.

Can you rope drop at Hollywood Studios?

Yes, is the short answer!

Like all the other parks at Walt Disney World in Orlando, park opening times vary, but often is at 9 am. But check before you go.

Like Animal Kingdom, the turnstiles at Disney’s Hollywood Studios open anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes before the official park opening. The range is based on how busy the day is likely to be, but 60 minutes is more common than 30.

As you enter the park, you’ll be held on Hollywood Boulevard near the Trolley Car Café where you can grab a Starbucks. Rope drop typically happens around 15 to 30 minutes before the official park opening time.

When rope drop happens at Hollywood Studios everyone will head to the most popular rides for those shorter wait times:

• Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Toy Story Land – all of it, especially Slinky Dog Dash
• Rock n’ Roll Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

For some reason that makes no sense to me, Hollywood Studios is the least popular of the 4 parks at Walt Disney World.

That is changing, of course, with the Star Wars rides and attractions such as Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, and Toy Story Land, which opened in 2018 has changed that too.

But there’s a LOT of stuff to do at Hollywood Studios, even aside from Galaxy’s Edge, so if you’re not sure, take a moment and check out all the options in one of my most popular articles.

Just click that link to see my comprehensive guide.

Can you rope drop Slinky Dog?

Yes is the short answer.

In fact, heading right to the Slinky Dog Dash is the best strategy to avoid the 1-2 hour lines that will be there the rest of the day.

Slinky Dog Dash is a rollercoaster in the new(ish) Toy Story Land which is part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It opened in the summer of 2018.

Slinky Dog Dash has quickly become one of the most popular rides in the park, but all of Toy Story Land is popular and that will only increase with the continuation of the Toy Story legacy.

You probably know that Walt Disney World in Orlando is the largest of all Disney parks (click to see my park comparison), but only because of the water parks and all the resorts.

If you’re curious about which park actually has the most space for rides and attractions, and how they all compare, definitely take a look at my article which details the specifics of all the parks worldwide.

Can you rope drop at Epcot?

Yes, is the short answer here too!

Unless you use the new Genie+ system, you might not even get on popular rides such as Soarin’ Around the World, Frozen Ever After, or Test Track.

Epcot often opens at 9 am, but as I’ve mentioned, hours do vary depending on week and month, so always double-check for your trip. Unlike the other parks at WDW, Epcot’s turnstiles don’t open quite as early, so expect to get through between 15-30 minutes prior to the official park opening time.

After getting in, you and a hundred other guests will mill about in front of the Spaceship Earth building (the one that looks like a giant golf ball).

About 10 minutes prior to opening time, Disney cast members will escort guests to the rides.

If you are wanting to head straight to Soarin’ Around the World, you’ll want to be towards the right but for Frozen Ever After or Test Track, be more on the left side of things.

Do be aware that the World Showcase (the area which features restaurants and attractions styled after different countries from around the world) doesn’t usually open before 11 am.

So there will be a different rope drop exclusively for that area.

Final thoughts

In this post, we took a deep dive into Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and what is known as rope drop.

We explored exactly what it is, when it happens, if it happens at all of the Disney parks at WDW and how to best take advantage of it for your next visit.

Ultimately we answered the question what is rope drop at Disney World?

That way you can gain early theme park entry and save a lot of time avoiding the long wait times on your favorite rides! What’s your best tip for Walt Disney World?

Make sure to check out all my personal Disney recommendations (click to read now on this site) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Photos which require attribution:

Toy Story Land – Hollywood Studios – Disney World by Jaimie Michaels is licensed under CC2.0

I love Disney parks and became a master of the FastPass system. Unfortunately, that got phased out in 2020, but they recently announced the Genie Service system which made me wonder will the Disney Genie Service replace the FastPass system?

Here’s what I discovered:

Disney Genie Service does not directly replace the FastPass system, but the paid upgrade Genie+ Service does effectively replace the FastPass system. The cost is $15/day at Walt Disney World and $20/day at Disneyland and it will allow guests to make 2 reservations per day on select rides, made on the same day.

But there’s more to know about it.

So we’ll explore whether this is an app if it replaces the My Disney Experience app if it does the same things as FastPass and if it’s free. But we’ll also explore which Disney parks this will be at. After all, FastPass+ wasn’t used at Disneyland which still had the old system.

But Genie+ is a great way to avoid large crowds at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Let’s get into it!

What is Disney replacing FastPass with?

Disneyland and Walt Disney World are replacing the old FastPass system with their Genie+ Service which is a paid upgrade of their new Genie feature inside its app. The cost is $15/day at Walt Disney World and $20/day at Disneyland.

This was introduced in the “fall of 2021”.

For WDW, it will be part of the My Disney Experience app. Disneyland doesn’t use that name for its, app, instead, calling it the Disneyland app.

I have links to both apps further down in the post.

There are some key differences though between the old FastPass system and the new Genie+ Service. I get into those below, but I’ll state it here also:

Unlike the old FastPass system where you could make 3 reservations and then add new ones once you were done, Disney Genie+ Service only allows 2 reservations a day.

Also, reservations are made the same day and not the 30-day advance (or 60 if you were a resort guest) that the old FastPass system allowed.

Is Disney Genie replacing My Disney Experience?

Disney Genie is not replacing the My Disney Experience app. In fact, it is a new feature coming to the My Disney Experience app. It allows users to create a custom itinerary and map, customize it with their favorite ride, and join virtual queues at specific rides.

And the basic Disney Genie is a free service.

But, likely taking a cue from Six Flags and its paid Flash Pass, Disney also offers a paid upgrade version. The cost is currently $15/day at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. And at Disneyland, which just calls their app the Disneyland app, it is $20/day at Disneyland.

Obviously, it’s more expensive in California as they have fewer individual parks compared to WDW.

With the paid version, you’ll be able to go to something called Lightning Lane, which basically is the old FastPass entrance to the rides that offer that.

With the paid version, the name adds a + to the end as the old FastPass+ system did. So the name becomes Disney Genie+ Service.

And as I mentioned above, unlike the old FastPass system where you could make 3 reservations and then add new ones once you were done, Disney Genie+ Service only allows 2 reservations a day.

Also, reservations are made the same day and not the 30-day advance (or 60 if you were a resort guest) that the old FastPass system allowed.

Of course, Hollywood Studios, which is part of WDW in Orlando, used to get a bad rap.

But is it worth visiting now? Is that where Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is located? And how much fun stuff is there to do there? Luckily, I give you a complete breakdown in a recent article.

I cover every ride, all the places to eat and drink, and a complete overview of all the insider tips you need to know. Just click that link to read it on my site.

Is Lightning Lane replacing FastPass?

Lightning Lane, which is part of the paid version of the Disney Genie+ Service is replacing the FastPass system which was retired in 2020. However, Lightning Lane limits users to 2 reservations per day on participating rides.

What rides are available?

Disney hasn’t announced all the details, but we know for sure it will include the following rides:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• The Haunted Mansion
• Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park

And as I mentioned above, unlike the old FastPass system where you could make 3 reservations and then add new ones once you were done, Disney Genie+ Service only allows 2 reservations a day.

Also, reservations are made the same day and not the 30-day advance (or 60 if you were a resort guest) that the old FastPass system allowed.

But how useful is it? Does Disney World ever sell out?

You have questions, and luckily, I have the answers in this recent article. I get into crowds, limits, and the best days, times, and months to visit Walt Disney World. But I also mention the absolute worst days of the year to go.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Lightning Lane Is Coming: Disney FASTPASS Kiosk Removal Continues! – Inside the Magic https://t.co/8RjrR2bYD3#disneyland #disneyparks #fastpass #disneygenie pic.twitter.com/y0WopCmPlp

— Inside the Magic (@InsideTheMagic) September 14, 2021

Why did Disney get rid of FastPass?

Disney parks eliminated the FastPass system to maximize social distancing which was challenging with the FastPass system’s entrances and lines. They did this prior to reopening their parks following the lockdown and restrictions associated with the worldwide pandemic in 2020.

So basically, it’s COVID’s fault.

Now having been to WDW in 2020, I can attest that while they did somewhat limit the number of guests in the park, and they put down markers for the lines to the rides, it was still pretty hard to maintain a 6′ distance from other park guests.

So I imagine it was the Disney lawyers that requested the change to minimize liability.

They did introduce virtual queues in 2020, although I was unsuccessful in trying to use that to get on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

I won’t lie. I miss the old FastPass+ system at Walt Disney World.

But you can bet I’ll be paying for the Disney Genie+ Service the next time we go. But I do want to wait before our next visit as our last visit was pretty limited (no Princess sightings, parades, or fireworks).

And walking around Orlando wearing a mask the whole time wasn’t fun either.

And so it begins… Thanks @Disney for making our holidays with you that much more expensive.

As if we could afford them already????.#DisneylandParis #LightningLane #FastPass #GeniePlus #Disney pic.twitter.com/WmVUBarcVE

— chlo (@_chloclark) September 10, 2021

Can you pay to skip lines at Disney World?

With the new Disney Genie+ Service, Disney guests can pay $15/day at Walt Disney World to make up to 2 reservations per day on select rides. While this will not eliminate wait times, it will make wait times substantially shorter. The cost for this at Disneyland is $20 per day.

So it’s not exactly paying to skip lines. But it’s the closest we’ll get.

But it’s admittedly not quite as cool as the old FastPass+ system WDW had before the pandemic. That system allowed you to reserve 3 rides up to 30-days in advance. And if you were staying at a Disney resort, you could even do it up to 60-days in advance!

Then after you used them, you could book 3 more!

It was great. The new system, which will be way better than what I experienced visiting WDW in the fall of 2020, will allow you to make 2 reservations per day. But you have to make them that morning; no advance booking.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland are changing the way guests experience the parks by getting rid of their FastPass, FastPass+ and MaxPass reservation systems, which have been out of commission throughout the pandemic. This fall, bot https://t.co/IR6zo6snvW pic.twitter.com/Cj88q6cY74

— Phaedrea Watkins, Realty ONE Group Promise (@phaedreawatkins) September 10, 2021

Is Disney Genie only at Walt Disney World?

Disney Genie was introduced in the Fall of 2021 at both Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, and Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. Being the 2 most popular Disney parks, new features tend to be rolled out here first before going global.

So if you plan to visit a Disney park in the US, you’ll be in luck!

Ready to get the app? Here are the app links for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, for both iOS (Apple) and Android.

Walt Disney World Apps

• iOS – https://apps.apple.com/app/id547436543
• Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.wdw.android&

Disneyland Apps

• iOS – https://apps.apple.com/app/id1022164656
• Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.wdpro.dlr

Final thoughts

I loved the old FastPass+ system that had been used at Disney World in Orlando.

And it was sad for my family to visit there recently and find it not in use. We still had fun though, and if you want to see what was “normal” and what wasn’t check out my recent article where I cover everything we experienced.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

But luckily, the new Disney Genie Service, while not free, is fantastic and a way for us to get back to avoid that huge line at the Millenium Falcon Smuggler’s Run ride, to name just one of my favorites.

I can’t wait to test it out again!

Image by ErikAggie from Pixabay and Image by gdakaska from Pixabay

My family and I love all things Disney. But with everyone so excited about the new additions to the park, I’ve wondered, does Disney World ever sell out?

I decided to check it out since we’re overdue for a trip. Here’s what I learned:

Disney World does not ever stop selling tickets. However, there are days when one or more Disney World parks reach visitor capacity. When this happens, park visitors may face restricted access for a period of time until it’s less crowded and a significant number of people have exited. 

It’s reassuring to know that Disney World does not sell out of tickets.

However, this doesn’t automatically guarantee admission into each of the four main Florida theme parks at exactly the moment visitors wish to enter.

Disney World, like any other theme park, is subject to regulations when it comes to crowd capacity. So, it’s helpful to understand the operations of Disney World ticket sales and park capacities.

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Should I buy Disney World tickets in advance?

No. You don’t need to buy Disney World tickets ahead of time out of fear of them being sold out. Disney World does not sell out when it comes to the availability of ticket purchases.

That being said, you can save a little money by buying your tickets ahead of time vs. at the gate.

Though Disney World does not sell out of tickets, there are time periods when one or more of the theme parks will experience a “phased” closure.

This phased closure is based on crowd capacity and maintaining guest safety. Therefore, one or more of the individual theme parks that make up Walt Disney World may have restricted access to guests at certain times of crowded days.

Guests then have the option of visiting a different theme park until access is once again granted.

DISNEY WORLD Forced To Close Gates Due To Massive Crowds – https://t.co/ZfXForcKVS pic.twitter.com/0GfFL39iCb

— ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) January 1, 2019

What are the Different Types of Tickets at Disney World?

There are three primary types of ticket for guests visiting Disney World. Some tickets offer additional options, but the basic ticket categories are as follows:

• Daily tickets: Base tickets are the most basic tickets available, allowing guests to visit just one of the four theme parks for a day. You can select 1 or more days, and it’s cheaper per day the more you do.
• Park hopper tickets: Park hopper tickets allow guests to visit more than one park per day. For families with kids who may need naps or a mid-afternoon pool break, this option is a real life-saver.
• Annual passes: Annual passes allow guests to visit the four parks as much as they want over 12 months.

For my money, being a Dad with 3 kids, a 3 or 4-day pass with the park hopper option is the way to go. Since we don’t live in Florida and don’t have family there, the annual pass doesn’t make sense.

The park hopper allows us to bounce between multiple parks in 1 day as opposed to having to only go to 1 park per day. Then since Walt Disney World is, by far, the largest of the Disney parks, it doesn’t make sense to try and do it in under 3 or 4 days.

You probably already knew that Walt Disney World in Orlando is the largest of all Disney parks (click to see my park comparison), but if you’re curious how they all stack up and how the sizes compare, definitely take a look at my article which details the specifics of all the parks worldwide.

Each Disney World Park and Their Capacities

Technically, Walt Disney World (WDW) features six “parks” altogether.

Magic Kingdom is the park that is most reminiscent of Disneyland. It’s also the only park at Walt Disney World that Walt Disney himself helped design. It opened in 1971. Since Walt passed away in 1966, he sadly never got to see the finished park.

Disney World includes four theme parks and two water parks:

• Magic Kingdom Park
• Epcot
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park

Many visitors to Disney World do enjoy the water parks, but let’s be honest. Most of us don’t go to Disney World for water slides. We go for the fun of the 4 main parks.

Walking between theme parks, or resorts and theme parks, like we do in Disneyland isn’t possible in the Orlando location.

So, plan to drive between the 2 or use Disney busses or even the monorail which mostly goes back and forth to resorts, but also serves Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

As I said above, Disney World is BIG; 25,000 acres. 

Don’t plan to try and do everything in 1 or even 2 days; you’ll wear yourself out. Disneyland is great because you can walk from Disneyland to California Adventure quickly and easily (although I still wouldn’t do it in a day).

However, there are benefits to the fact that Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are huge and spread apart from each other—especially when it comes to crowd capacity and available choices for visitors.

In other words, visitors to WDW have options when it comes to attending the theme parks, which causes crowds to be dispersed somewhat evenly among the four.

This prevents Disney World from selling out of tickets and instead allows for just managing crowd capacity for each individual theme park.

Though Disney parks are designed to accommodate large crowds of thousands, during the busiest times of the year they can experience some levels of closure; especially right now when everyone is in a Star Wars frenzy over the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Disney does not release specific numbers as to park capacities due to several variables.

But, experts base their statistics on educated estimates. Here is a summary of each park and its likelihood for crowds and closure:

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom at WDW is what most visitors recognize as the iconic Disney theme park.

It features Cinderella’s castle as well as several well-known attractions divided into different “lands,” such as Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Adventureland.

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is the theme park that consistently ranks the most crowded of the four. Experts estimate that the park’s capacity is between 60,000-75,000 visitors at one time.

Being the most popular, and most crowded, Magic Kingdom is likely to restrict access to incoming visitors at certain times during the busiest days until a significant number of people leave the park.

Want all the tips, tricks, and what replaced the FastPass system?

My most popular Disney post gets upwards of 10,000 readers a month and I update it all the time. So definitely check it out and bookmark it so you have all the tips you need for your next visit. Just click the link to see it now on my site.

Epcot

Epcot is the largest of the four theme parks at WDW when it comes to attractions.

Most people liken Epcot to a World’s Fair. It features “pavilions” that showcase several different countries with attractions, cuisine, and shopping. Epcot also features a “Future World” area with attractions that explore innovations in science and technology.

Due to its size, Epcot is the least likely to experience any closure or restricted access as a result of crowd capacity.

Hollywood Studios

Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge officially opens to huge crowds https://t.co/oB0EYihEAU pic.twitter.com/d2ewdEAR0R

— FOX6 News (@fox6now) August 29, 2019

Hollywood Studios theme part at WDW is designed to allow visitors to experience attractions reminiscent of Hollywood films and animation, as well as a Southern California vibe.

It’s estimated that Hollywood Studios has a park capacity of about 65,000 visitors at one time.

However, Hollywood Studios is still less likely than Magic Kingdom to restrict access to incoming visitors and would only be subject to capacity closures during the very busiest of days.

For some reason, Hollywood Studios is the least popular of the 4 parks at Walt Disney World. That’s changing, of course, with the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land.

But there’s a TON of stuff to do at Hollywood Studios (click to see my comprehensive guide), not even counting the Star Wars stuff, so if you’re not sure, take a moment and check out all there is to do in one of my most popular articles.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom theme park is the largest of the WDW four when it comes to acreage, but the smallest when it comes to available attractions for visitors.

The theme of Animal Kingdom is a natural environment and animal conservation. Guests can enjoy animal exhibits, shows, and other zoological attractions.

Disney World’s Animal Kingdom’s park capacity is estimated at 55,000 visitors.

It is less likely to close than Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, but may still be subject to restricted access during the busiest of days.

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How Likely are the 4 Disney World Parks to Reach Capacity?

All 4 of the Walt Disney World theme parks have reached capacity at different points in their history.

It’s worth noting, however, that this isn’t common.

Since it is, in fact, the most visited theme park in the entire world, Magic Kingdom sees the most frequent temporary closures due to crowd size. On average, Magic Kingdom reaches capacity and doesn’t let new visitors in until the crowds diminish, about 6 days each year.

New Year’s Eve tends to be the day most likely to see that at Magic Kingdom.

Since it’s huge and has plenty of room for guests to spread out, Epcot is the least likely of any Disney World park to close or reach capacity. It’s been years since the last time that happened.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom rarely close (once every few years on average). But of course, right now, with the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Hollywood Studios, it’s a safe bet that ISN’T the case.

The good news is that, at least for right now, with everyone flocking to Star Wars Land, the other parks have been reported to be way under capacity.

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What are the Disney World Closure Phases?

Disney World has different closure phases to help manage crowds on busy days. In most cases, it isn’t a hard yes or no as to whether you can enter. It’s more of a gradual restriction.

Their closure system has 4 levels, 1 through 4, with 1 being the least restrictive and 4 being the most.

It’s also worth noting that if you encounter one of the 4 phases, that doesn’t mean you’re done for the day. So it pays to check back periodically but while enjoying one of the other parks in the meantime.

Phase 1 

Those who did not purchase tickets ahead of time may not enter the park until capacity reduces.

It’s worth noting that there has only been a handful of phase 1 closures over the past decade, so it’s very unlikely you’ll encounter this.

Phase 2 

You may only enter the park if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are an annual passholder
• You’re staying at one of the Disney Resorts
• You have a park hopper ticket
• You’re re-entering the park having previously left that same day
• You previously made a reservation inside that park

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is putting park capacity to the test, but generally speaking, it’s been years since any Disney World park has experienced a phase 2 closure.

Phase 3 

Even more limited access, only for people who:

• Are staying at one of the Disney Resorts
• You previously made a reservation inside that park
• You are an annual passholder

Again, while Star Wars Land is pushing the limits, it’s been over 5 years since the last time a phase 3 closure happened.

Phase 4 

A complete closure including the parking lot. No access to anyone whatsoever until crowds subside.  In all honesty, I wouldn’t want to be in Disney World packed in like sardines anyway.

This has only happened once in the past decade.

Did I cover all you wanted to know about whether Disney World ever sells out?

Though Walt Disney World does not sell out when it comes to tickets, the four themed parks may experience phases of closure or restricted access for guests at certain times during the busiest days.

The busiest time periods for Disney World are as follows:

• Weeks before and after Christmas, including Christmas Day
• New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
• Spring break (usually the 2nd or 3rd week in March for most schools)
• Easter weekend
• Fourth of July

It makes sense that the holidays would be the busiest time periods for the WDW parks.

People are on vacation and taking the opportunity to travel and celebrate. Also, Disney World offers experiences during these holiday weeks that are unavailable at other times of the year.

Knowing the busiest time periods for visiting Disney World as well as the ticket sales options and theme park operations can help families plan their trips.

Having this understanding will prepare visitors for potential crowds and park closures, so their expectations don’t result in disappointment, and they can make the most of the magic.

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Some people criticize Disney’s Hollywood Studios for not having enough to do compared to the other parks. So I wondered is it worth going to Disney’s Hollywood studios?:

Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World is well worth going to! There is Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the Frozen Sing-a-long, Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror (still open), Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster & restaurants like the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater!

But that’s only the beginning of what you’ll find here! So let’s keep going to see everything this park has to offer.

Walt Disney World in Orlando is an amazing place!

My family has been to Disney parks 4 times (not counting my many trips before I had a family). It is truly the “happiest place on Earth”!

So in this post, we’re diving deep into Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.

We’ll explore all the rides, talk about Toy Story Land which debuted in 2018 and get a sneak peek into the Star Wars Land (officially called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge) which opened August 29, 2019.

But specifically, we’re answering the question is it worth going to Disney’s Hollywood studios? That way you know for your next visit how much time to allocate.

What is Hollywood Studios?

Hollywood studios, for those that don’t know, is one of the parks in Florida’s Walt Disney World. Unlike Disneyland, where the park is segmented into different segments you can walk to, Disney World is different.

In Walt Disney World, you drive or use Disney transportation between The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Hollywood Studios.

Hollywood Studios captures the glamour of old Hollywood and most of the rides are centered around films and the film industry (as opposed to characters).

Since having a car is helpful at WDW, if you’re flying to Orlando, a car rental makes family travel MUCH easier; especially going between parks at Walt Disney World. 

Make sure to check out all my personal recommendations (click to see on my site) on rental cars and all your travel expenses!

That way you can be assured of getting the best deals possible!

What can you do at Disney Hollywood Studios?

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is designed to be an immersive experience.

You are surrounded by the sights, sounds, and sensations of classic 1940s & 50’s era Hollywood. Walk across movie backlot sets, take in parades, and meet and greet famous Disney characters throughout the park.

Of course, there are some amazing and classic rides in Orlando’s Walt Disney World, and Hollywood Studios is no exception.

Check out my complete list of rides and attractions below for exactly what to do at Hollywood Studios.

But as Hollywood Studios gains popularity, one of the tricks you need to know about when planning your trip is called rope drop.

Rope Drop at Disney World (click to read my article) can literally get you on the rides before the park even opens in many cases, and can save you hours of waiting in lines.

Check out one of my latest articles that shows you all you need to know about rope drop at all four of the parks at Walt Disney World.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

How many rides are at Hollywood Studios?

Bear in mind that Toy Story Land just opened in 2018 at the back of Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened August 29, 2019 (both at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and at Disneyland in California).

So, more and more rides and attractions have come and will continue to come. Also, bear in mind Hollywood Studios features backlot sets, parades and lots of movie-themed shops and restaurants.

That being said, here is the current list of attractions and rides and what to do at Hollywood Studios:

TOY STORY LAND

Fun day with B. at Hollywood Studios. (Last time I was here, it was still called MGM!) pic.twitter.com/TCjIsE0YEO

— ?️‍? GulfCoastJake (@GulfCoastJake) January 15, 2019

• Alien Swirling Saucers – Board a toy rocket and hang tight as the Pizza Planet Aliens take you to outer space. You might just get picked by “the claw”! A variation on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree from Cars Land in Disneyland. All ages, height requirement 32″. 
• Slinky Dog Dash – A family-friendly roller coaster where you ride in cars inside of Slinky Dog’s coils. It twists and turns and features mild drops. Height requirement 38″. 
• Toy Story Mania! – The original Toy Story attraction prior to Toy Story Land opening. Ride and shoot moving targets at 4D, yet old-school-style midway carnival game featuring all your favorite Toy Story characters. All ages, any height. 

Also, don’t forget if you opt for the Disney Early Morning Magic hours at Toy Story Land, not only will you be among the first guests to play with Woody and Buzz, but you also get a fantastic breakfast!

STAR WARS ATTRACTIONS 

Ready to dive into what’s everything there is to do at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Here is what’s currently open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Never tell me the odds! Climb aboard a life-sized Millenium Falcon and take the controls as you fly on a thrilling and interactive smuggling run! Height requirement 38″.
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – This ride debuted in 1987 and is the original Star Wars ride. In 2011, the ride (at both Disneyland and WDW) was converted to its current incarnation. Essentially this ride is a motion-simulator where you board a spaceship and take off across the galaxy and view the large viewport through 3D glasses. Unlike the original ride which just had 1 journey, the ride now has 384 possible variations and also features the voices of many of the actual cast members including James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. Height requirement 40″. 
• Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers – Build your own custom lightsaber and learn the ways of the force.
• Droid Depot – Who doesn’t love R2D2, C3PO, or BB8? Now you can build your own droid from scratch. Just make sure it speaks Bocce which can be extra useful if you live on a moisture farm.
• Star Wars Launch Bay – Check out some amazing props & models from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Then play Star Wars games, take pics, watch videos, and meet n’ greet with Star Wars characters. No age/height restrictions.
• Star Wars Launch Bay Theater – View a behind-the-scenes look at the Star Wars saga and check out how a new generation of moviemakers are crafting the future of Star Wars. No age/height restrictions.
• Star Wars Photo Opportunities – Take pics in Star Wars settings and using replica movie props such as standing under an AT-AT walker, riding an Imperial speeder or hanging out inside an exotic interstellar cantina in a land far, far away. No age/height restrictions.
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple – One of the most popular attractions for many years now, and originally called the Jedi Training Academy, your younglings will train to be Jedi masters. Then, in the ultimate test, the young Jedis will do battle against Darth Vader or Kylo Ren. Darth Maul had been a character as well but was replaced by Kylo Ren in 2016 after Ren rose to popularity in The Force Awakens.No age/height restrictions, but they need to be able to hold a lightsaber on their own.
• Star Wars: Path of the Jedi – Watch a brief film walking us through the Star Wars saga, all the way up through Star Wars: The Last Jedi. No age/height restrictions.
• Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away – Rey, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, BB-8, Darth Maul and other classic characters recreate classic moments, right in front of you! All ages, any height.
• Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – End your day in a galaxy far, far away with this brand new nighttime spectacular. The show features state-of-the-art projection effects, dynamic lighting, lasers and explosions to light up the night like no other performance!

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened on December 5th, 2019.

Here, you’ll join the resistance (you rebel scum!) and do battle against the dreaded First Order which rose from the ashes of the Empire.

You board a craft that moves on a track. So while this is not a rollercoaster, it is a thrill ride with small drops, loud sounds, and can be a little on the dark side (pun intended).

Height requirement 40″.

Also, don’t forget to check out Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You’ll enjoy a delicious Star Wars-themed dessert buffet and souvenir stein, surrounded by Kylo Ren, Chewie, and BB-8.

But you’ll also get reserved seating to the amazing Disney Movie Magic and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular.

CHARACTER SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

• Muppet*Vision 3D – Take in the timeless and classic Muppets in this hilarious, 3D film combined with live-action. All ages, any height. 
• Frozen Sing-Along – Join Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and of course, Elsa in this family-friendly sing along to all the songs you love to hate from the Disney classic Frozen. More details on this one below. No age/height restrictions. 
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid – A show that mixes live-action, 4D effects, puppets & laser projections. All ages, any height. 
  
• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage – A Broadway-style musical held at the Theater of the Stars, on the recreated Sunset Boulevard.
• Disney Junior Dance Party! – This replaced the Disney Junior – Live on Stage! show and features characters from Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and The Lion Guard.
• Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular! – You’ll thrill as Indiana Jones and his sidekick Marion as they do amazing stunts with amazing special effects and showcase movie-making magic. All ages, any height. 
• Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away – Rey, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, BB-8, Darth Maul and other classic characters recreate classic moments, right in front of you! All ages, any height.
• Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – End your day in a galaxy far, far away with this brand new nighttime spectacular. The show features state-of-the-art projection effects, dynamic lighting, lasers and explosions to light up the night like no other performance!
• Fantasmic! – Join Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as he leads the longest-running nighttime, outdoor extravagant musical. Not your standard Disney parade, this features plenty of your favorite characters, lasers, fireworks, water projections and so much more!

OTHER ATTRACTIONS AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

The Tower of Terror ??? #WaltDisneyWorld #HollywoodStudios #towerofterror @WDWToday #DisneyMagic pic.twitter.com/8wlsuocmRI

— Ears To The Magic (@EarsToTheMagic) January 7, 2019

• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant – Half restaurant, half attraction, I couldn’t keep this off the list. While it’s indoors, you’ll feel like you’re in a 1950’s drive-in movie theater, featuring classic American food and sci-fi movie clips showing on the big movie screen.
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – See my more detailed description below, but this is Disney’s rockinest roller coaster. Like Space Mountain, it’s an indoor coaster with wild drops, twists and turns set in the Hollywood Hills and hosted by rock legends Aerosmith. Height requirement 48″. 
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ – A WDW classic which opened in 1994. While this ride was previously available at Disneyland in California, that ride has since been converted into a Marvel ride leaving Hollywood Studios as the only US location for the Tower of Terror. It is also available in Paris and Tokyo. Enter the world of Rod Serling’s classic Twilight Zone TV show and movie as guests check into a haunted hotel. The ride is elevator-based and hurtles riders up and down in this spooky classic. Height requirement 40″. 
• Walt Disney Presents – Take a journey through Walt Disney’s imagination and explore his history courtesy of a multimedia extravaganza. The attraction includes rare artifacts, never-before-seen props, models, sketches, and more. Self-guided. No age/height restrictions.

Can you do Hollywood studios in a day?

The short answer is yes if you had to,

You would just need to be very strategic about what rides you wanted to do and know where those were located. If you are a Disney resort guest, you’ll definitely want to use Extra Magic Hours (click to read my article which explains more).

I would also be very aware of what rides to get a FastPass for 30-60 days in advance (just click that link to see my article which explains why it’s only 30 days for some people).

Some rides won’t need a Genie+ pass if you get there early enough or stay late enough. Also, know that during fireworks and parades is a great time to ride a lot of the otherwise busy rides.

But while Disney’s Hollywood Studios easily used to be a 1-day affair, with Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, I would set aside at least 2 days.

What are the best rides to Use the Genie+ Service at Hollywood studios?

Genie+ is designed to save you time.

It replaced the old FastPass system in the Fall of 2021 at both WDW and Disneyland.

Here are the best rides to use your Genie+ reservations on:

• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Slinky Dog Dash

Check out the complete list of rides and attractions that use Genie+ at all of the other Walt Disney World parks here:

• The Magic Kingdom
• Animal Kingdom
• Epcot Center

Every Disney park is different in terms of the size and how long it takes to enjoy.

Want to know Which Disney Park is the Biggest? I break down every Disney park on the planet in that post, so just click the link to read it on my site.

While everyone knows Disney World is the largest park, I was surprised to see just how much bigger Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was at Disney World compared to Disneyland.

What are the best shows at Hollywood studios?

Disney announces premiere date for Wonderful World of Animation show coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. https://t.co/XxUUdqIajx pic.twitter.com/8vejrQzOo7

— Inside the Magic (@InsideTheMagic) January 6, 2019

More than an attraction or a ride, Disney parks are also known for their extravagant shows.

Whether it’s parades, firework displays or seated performances, Disney parks have some amazing shows and Hollywood Studios is no exception.

Make sure to take in all of your favorites!

• Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular! – You’ll thrill as Indiana Jones and his sidekick Marion as they do amazing stunts with amazing special effects and showcase movie-making magic. All ages, any height. 
• Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away – Rey, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, BB-8, Darth Maul and other classic characters recreate classic moments, right in front of you! All ages, any height.
• Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – End your day in a galaxy far, far away with this brand new nighttime spectacular. The show features state-of-the-art projection effects, dynamic lighting, lasers and explosions to light up the night like no other performance!
• Muppet*Vision 3D – Take in the timeless and classic Muppets in this hilarious, 3D film combined with live-action. All ages, any height. 
• Frozen Sing-Along – Join Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and of course, Elsa in this family-friendly sing along to all the songs you love to hate from the Disney classic Frozen. More details on this one below. No age/height restrictions. 
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid – A show that mixes live-action, 4D effects, puppets & laser projections. All ages, any height. 
  
• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage – A Broadway-style musical held at the Theater of the Stars, on the recreated Sunset Boulevard.
• Disney Junior Dance Party! – This replaced the Disney Junior – Live on Stage! show and features characters from Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and The Lion Guard.
• Fantasmic! – Join Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as he leads the longest-running nighttime, outdoor extravagant musical. Not your standard Disney parade, this features plenty of your favorite characters, lasers, fireworks, water projections and so much more!

If you’re a Disney film lover, have you ever wondered why parents always seem to die in Disney films?

I recently published this article about that phenomenon and uncovered the devastating truth behind what drove Walt’s vision for his films.

Just click that link to read my article on this site.

Is Disney Hollywood Studios fun?

How could it not be??

Not a Star Wars fan? No problem! They have you covered with Toy Story Land. Not a Toy Story fan? That’s OK, they have you covered with rides and attractions for:

• Frozen fans (Frozen Sing-a-Long)
• Thrill-seekers (Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith)
• Live-action shows (Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, Little Mermaid)

In short, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a blast and if you can’t find anything fun to do here, you just might not be a fun person!

How early can you get into Hollywood studios?

Like all Disney parks, the hours do vary seasonally and each park may have different hours from each other.

Currently, though, the hours are 9 am to 9 pm. Holiday weeks they often bump the opening time to 8 am and the closing time to 10 pm.

Also, be aware of Extra Magic Hours (click to read my article) which can get you into the park 1 hour early on select days, and only if you are staying at a Disney resort property.

While Hollywood Studios only does morning hours, Magic Kingdom and Epcot do both morning and evening Extra Magic Hours.

Don’t confuse that with Early Morning Magic Hours.

Early Morning Magic is a ticket option you purchase as a ticket-upgrade. And you can buy Early Morning Magic without having to stay at a Disney Resort property. As the name implies, this is morning hours only.

Before you go, make sure to check the official Disney Calendar so you know what the hours will be on your visit.

Is the Great Movie Ride still at Hollywood studios?

No is the short answer.

The Great Movie Ride took park visitors on a backlot tour of Hollywood. It was located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, inside the WDW’s replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, an iconic movie theatre in Los Angeles.

The ride opened in 1989 and ran through August 2017.

So, unfortunately, it can no longer make your list of what to do at Hollywood Studios.

The ride has been replaced by Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a 2 and ¹⁄₂ D ride (3D without glasses) that opened in 2020.

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Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Disney calls this new ride “a zany adventure through a cartoon universe crammed with surprises.”.

It was originally opened in Spring 2020 but just for a short time. Of course, all Disney parks closed in March 2020, until summer 2020 due to the worldwide shutdown. But the ride was back in action when Walt Disney World reopened in July 2020.

This ride features Mickey and all his friends:

• Minnie Mouse
• Donald Duck
• Daisy Duck
• Goofy
• Pluto

Believe it or not, this is actually Mickey’s first official ride. He makes plenty of appearances in Disney parks, but he’s never had a ride before.

The ride itself is done in trackless vehicles that hold 6-8 people in 2 rows. And at one point Daisy Duck gets the vehicle to dance in a choreographed dance party!

You move from scene to scene as if you are completely living in an animated universe, not unlike the Mickey Mouse short films.

You’ll experience the following:

• Blacklights
• Projected holographic-style images everywhere
• Full 3D effects (no glasses needed)
• Fully automated animatronics

But that doesn’t really do the job justice of describing this ride. It’s great fun along the lines of Toy Story Mania but set in Mickey’s world instead of Woody’s.

Where is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway located?

The ride is located on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

Specifically, it’s inside the WDW’s replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. This is located at the end of Commissary Lane where it dead-ends into the Center Stage, not far from Echo Lake. If you are facing the Voyage of the Little Mermaid ride, this ride is to your left.

Here’s a look at it on the map.

What are the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway height requirements?

No height requirements!

This ride is perfect for all ages from pre-K to adults. There’s nothing scary about the ride, although it is dark in places. It’s also pretty fast-moving, and maybe a tad loud.

But I think it’s perfect for my toddler. But you might use caution with kids between ages 1 and 2.

What are the best places for food in Hollywood Studios?

Love a bit of sci-fi dine in ? pic.twitter.com/kegeXOw4xt

— Pauly✨????✨ (@Toronto2Orlando) September 22, 2018

There are a TON of great restaurant options in WDW’s Hollywood Studios.

Hollywood Studios features everything from food carts to the fine dining experience in the full-scale replica of Hollywood’s legendary Brown Derby.

You have almost every kind of food experience, including character dining, you could wish for.

Also know that while alcohol had been pretty limited at the “happiest place on Earth”, it began to be served in more places as of 2016.

But if you’re wondering “does Disneyland serves alcohol“, just know that Disneyland in California remains dry.

However, that will change when the Star Wars cantina opens later in 2019.

Desperately wanting to go to a Disney park but aren’t sure how you’ll pay for it? Check out my Vacation on a Budget tips! Just click to link to see my best tips including one way to

Here is the complete list for 2019 of food, beverage, and dessert options in Hollywood Studios:

lunch & dinner only unless specified

FAST FOOD

• ABC Commissary
• Backlot Express
• Catalina Eddie’s
• Dockside Diner
• Fairfax Fare
• PizzeRizzo
• Rosie’s All-American Café
  
• The Trolley Car Cafe (Starbucks coffee & snacks)
• Anaheim Produce (snack cart)
• Hollywood Scoops (ice cream shop)
• KRNR The Rock Station (hot dog food truck)
• Oasis Canteen (funnel cake snack cart)

PUBS & LOUNGES

• BaseLine Tap House
• The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
• Tune-In Lounge

FINE DINING

• Hollywood Brown Derby
• Dine with an Imagineer at The Hollywood Brown Derby – Ages 14 and up
• Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

CHARACTER THEMED

• Woody’s Lunch Box (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  
• Hollywood and Vine Restaurant (breakfast & lunch buffet only)

EVENT THEMED

• Sci-Fi Dine-In (indoor drive-in movie theatre showing classic sci-fi movies)
  
• 50’s Prime Time Cafe
• Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience – Enjoy some tasty desserts & cocktails while lounging in VIP seating for the fantastic outdoor musical Fantasmic! (evening only)

Make sure to check out all my personal recommendations (click to see on my site) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Where is the Frozen sing-along at Hollywood Studios?

Inside Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios is an area called Echo Lake.

There you will find a 30-minute Frozen sing along with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and yes Olaf. Shows start at 10:30 am and run until 7:30 pm.

Echo Lake is almost in the center of Hollywood Studios. 

As you enter the park, just continue straight until you get to the Animation Courtyard and then turn to the left. If you can’t find it, you may have to Let it Go.

Is Rock N Roller Coaster scary?

Let’s see how many likes or retweets we can get for Rock N Roller Coaster @WDWToday #HollywoodStudios! Who’s a fan of this attraction? pic.twitter.com/tgo0cvSxKs

— Theme Park Review (@ThemeParkReview) May 29, 2017

Rock N Roller Coaster is a rollercoaster featuring rock legends Aerosmith which opened at Walt Disney World in 1999.

They opened the 2nd version at Disneyland Paris in 2002, but it is not available at Disneyland in Anaheim.

In Feb 2018, Disney started work on the Paris version to convert it a Marvel-themed roller coaster, but the ride remains in Florida.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is also the fastest and most intense of any Disney park’s roller coaster.

It has crazy half-corkscrews, 3 spots where you are inverted, and a sea serpent roll. The ride launches from 0 to 57 mph in an astounding 2.8 seconds.

If you or your kids love roller coasters (and it doesn’t hurt to also love Aerosmith since they are the soundtrack to the ride), then you will love Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

But yes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a little scary.

Like Space Mountain (now called Hyperspace Mountain in some Disney park locations, the ride is an indoor roller coaster.

So riders are in the dark for much of the ride but whizzing past The Hollywood sign, neon billboards, highway signs, and other Hollywood landmarks.

The height requirement on this ride is 48 inches, so slightly taller than Space Mountain and should definitely be on your list of what to do at Hollywood Studios if you are a thrill-seeker.

What do we know about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Magic Shot Photos At Galaxy’s Edge #starwars #hollywoodstudios https://t.co/zvMz6tODF3 pic.twitter.com/xZLGIblOir

— Chip and Company (@chipandcompany) August 31, 2019

Disney’s website claims that with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge you’ll “Live Your Adventure in a Galaxy Far, Far Away As You Land on Planet Batuu…”

What is Planet Batuu?

Batuu is a remote outpost at the edge of the galaxy and was once a bustling center for traders.

On Batuu, park visitors will get into the thick of things with two attractions that go way beyond anything Disney and Star Wars have ever done before.

First, you’ll helm the controls of Millennium Falcon and take off on a secret mission.

Next, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the action in an epic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

Of course, all the classic Star Wars attractions remain too, and you’ll find yourself completely immersed into the world of George Lucas’ Star Wars at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Without a doubt, this is on my list of what to do at Hollywood Studios for my next visit!

How many actual rides are in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Currently not many.

Remember, this, like Cars Land in California, is designed to simply make you feel like your part of the Star Wars world.

So the streets, shops, restaurants, and surroundings are all 100% Star Wars. 

Currently, there are really only 2 rides, with 1 more coming December 2019.

Here are the actual Star Wars rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Never tell me the odds! Climb aboard a life-sized Millenium Falcon and take the controls as you fly on a thrilling and interactive smuggling run! Height requirement 38″.
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – This ride debuted in 1987 and is the original Star Wars ride. In 2011, the ride (at both Disneyland and WDW) was converted to its current incarnation. Essentially this ride is a motion-simulator where you board a spaceship and take off across the galaxy and view the large viewport through 3D glasses. Unlike the original ride which just had 1 journey, the ride now has 384 possible variations and also features the voices of many of the actual cast members including James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. Height requirement 40″. 

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened on December 5th, 2019.

Here, you’ll join the resistance (you rebel scum!) and do battle against the dreaded First Order which rose from the ashes of the Empire.

You board a craft that moves on a track, so while not a rollercoaster, it is a thrill ride with small drops, loud sounds, and can be a little on the dark side (pun intended).

Height requirement 40″.

Make sure to check out all my personal recommendations (just click to see it on this site) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Final Thoughts

In this, we took an in-depth look at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios; their nod to Universal Studios.

We explored all the rides available, listed all shows, attractions, and restaurants. We also answered all the top questions about Hollywood Studios, and yes, also about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. That way your next visit will be stellar.

So you now know EXACTLY what to do at Hollywood Studios so you won’t miss any of the action!

Ultimately, we answered the question of is it worth going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a resounding yes!

If you liked this post, you won’t want to miss one of my most-read posts that details the new Genie+ system that replaced the FastPass system (click to read on my site)!

Trust me! You won’t want to go to Disney World without checking that out first!

Make sure to check out all my personal recommendations (click to see it on this website) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Pictures which require attribution:

At A Crossroads by  CL Photographs is licensed under CC2.0

What kind of sky is that? by  CL Photographs is licensed under CC2.0

Disney parks are all over the world, and with many expanding and adding rides and attractions, many have wondered which Disney park is biggest.

Here’s what I learned:

Walt Disney World is technically the largest of any Disney Park at 25,000 total acres. But, that’s not all rides & attractions as over a 3rd is conservation land. But at 1096 acres at the 4 main parks, it is still the largest Disney park, followed by Shanghai Disneyland at 963 acres.

But there’s a lot more to the story of Disney parks and size, including what makes up the majority of Walt Disney World’s 25,000 acres, so let’s keep going.

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All Disney parks ranked from largest to smallest

Here are all 6 Disney parks by (current) size:

• Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, FL) – 1096 acres (4 main parks only)
• Shanghai Disneyland – 963 acres
• Disneyland Paris – 365 acres (Disneyland 85 acres, Europa-Park 235 acres, Astérix Park 45 acres)
• Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, CA) – 157 acres (85 acres for Disneyland and 72 for Disney’s California Adventure)
• Tokyo Disney – 115 acres
• Hong Kong Disneyland – 68 acres

Bear in mind many of these parks have additional acres not shown here for resorts, transportation, and scenery. So these numbers are for the parks themselves.

Which Disney World park is the biggest?

Within Orlando’s Disney World lies 4 individual parks (plus 2 water parks).

Those 4 parks that make up Disney World are:

• The Magic Kingdom
• Epcot Center (technically the “center” was dropped in 1996)
• Animal Kindom
• Hollywood Studios

The biggest of the 4 parks is Animal Kingdom coming in at 580 acres. Next, we have Epcot at 300 acres.

Hollywood Studios, home to the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge section, comes in at 135 acres.

Rounding out the 4 parks, the Magic Kingdom is 107 acres. This is the classic park that most closely resembles the main park at Disneyland.

So Animal Kingdom is, by far, the largest park at Disney World.

Where are all the Disney parks located?

Of course, Walt Disney started with Disneyland in Anaheim California, which opened on July 17, 1955.

But while that was the only park Walt got to see open to the public, they’ve gone on to create 5 other main parks, most of which typically has 2 or more parks within them.

The main Disney parks are:

• Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL) – Contains the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
• Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, CA) – Contains Disneyland and California Adventure
• Disneyland Paris – Contains Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park
• Tokyo Disney – Contains Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea)
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Shanghai Disney

If you’re a Disney film lover, have you ever wondered why parents always seem to die in Disney films?

I recently published this article about that phenomenon and uncovered the devastating truth behind what drove Walt’s vision for his films.

Just click that link to read my article on this site.

How big is the Magic Kingdom?

The Magic Kingdom is 142 acres. And yes, it’s larger than Disneyland which is only 85 acres.

Within the Magic Kingdom are 6 lands, or sections. Those are as follows:

• Main Street, U.S.A. (the entrance)
• Adventureland (home to the Pirates of the Caribbean)
• Frontierland (home of Splash Mountain and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad)
• Liberty Square (home of the Haunted Mansion)
• Fantasyland (home to Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s a Small World)
• Tomorrowland (home of Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin)

At the center of the park is Cinderella’s Castle and then each land or section branches off from that. The Walt Disney World Railroad encircles the whole park and is a great way to get a look at the park as a whole.

Which Disney park is the smallest?

At 68 acres, Hong Kong Disneyland definitely comes in as the smallest of all Disney parks.

After all, with Walt Disney World coming in at 1096 acres, that makes it almost 20 times larger than Hong Kong.

So what’s missing at the Hong Kong Disneyland?

Well right off the bat, they don’t have Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

But here are some other well-known Disney rides or attractions that are NOT in Hong Kong:

• Turtle Talk with Crush
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Star Tours
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean

Like all other Disney parks, Hong Kong Disneyland has themed lands or sections. In this case, they have 7:

• Main Street, U.S.A.
• Fantasyland
• Adventureland
• Tomorrowland
• Grizzly Gulch (like Frontierland)
• Mystic Point
• Toy Story Land

But they are expanding in 2021 with the addition of Arendelle: World of Frozen and the Avengers Campus in 2023, which, as the name implies, is a Marvel-themed area coming to several Disney parks including Hong Kong.

Is Disney World bigger than Disneyland?

Yes, is the short answer.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Flordia is CONSIDERABLY larger than Disneyland in Anaheim, California. To be specific, Walt Disney World is about 1096acres.

Disneyland, by comparison, is only 157 acres including the newly opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge which added an additional 15 acres.

So all the parks combined, Walt Disney World is almost 4 times larger than Disneyland.

Which is the best Disney park in Orlando?

Best is a pretty subjective term.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is the 2nd Disney park built. While Walt Disney was very much involved in the design of the park, he sadly passed away in December 1966 about 5 years before the grand opening of Walt Disney World in 1971.

Walt Disney World contains 4 main parks (plus 2 waterparks)

• The Magic Kingdom
• Epcot Center (technically the “center” was dropped in 1996)
• Animal Kindom
• Hollywood Studios

Many people love The Magic Kingdom because it’s the most “classic” of the Disney parks with its iconic Cinderella’s Castle (Disneyland in California has Sleeping Beauty’s castle).

It’s also VERY similar to the original Disneyland in California.

Of course, Walt Disney World didn’t open with all 4 parks. 

Epcot came 2nd in 1982, Hollywood Studios, then called Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park opened in 1989, and Animal Kingdom opened in 1998.

I like Animal Kingdom the least and the other 3 are a tie, but with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge inside Hollywood Studios, that may soon become the best Disney park in Orlando.

But you don’t have to wait if you’re planning a trip. Check out all the Cool Stuff to Do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (click to read my post).

My ultimate guide includes lists of all the restaurants, attractions, and even where to find your morning Starbucks!

Which park is bigger Disneyland or Magic Kingdom?

Disneyland refers to the original park in Anaheim, California.

Not counting California Adventure located next to Disneyland and collectively known as Disneyland Resort, Disneyland itself comes in at 85 acres.

The Magic Kingdom is a very similar park located as one of the 4 parks at Orlando’s Walt Disney World. The Magic Kingdom is 107 acres. So, The Magic Kingdom at WDW is a little larger than Disneyland.

Is Magic Kingdom bigger than Epcot?

As I mentioned above, The Magic Kingdom is 142 acres.

By comparison, Epcot (once known as Epcot Center) is 300 acres. Thus, Epcot is almost 3 times larger than The Magic Kingdom.

When visiting WDW, which as we’ve said, is the largest of all Disney parks, learning about something called rope drop can literally save you hours of waiting in lines.

So if you’ve wondered What is Rope Drop at Disney World (click to read my post), check out one of my latest articles that walk you through exactly what it is and what to do to beat the crowds on your favorite rides.

What is the biggest Disney Resort?

By Disney resorts, we’re talking hotels and other Disney lodging.

Amazingly, there are 42 Disney Resorts worldwide. In terms of which is largest, here are the top 10:

1. Disney’s Pop Century Resort – 2880 rooms – Orlando
2. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – 2384 rooms – Orlando
3. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside – 2048 rooms – Orlando
4. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – 1984 rooms – Orlando
5. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – 1920 rooms – Orlando
6. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort – 1920 rooms – Orlando
7. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort – 1604 rooms – Orlando
8. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – 1920 rooms – Orlando
9. Dolphin at Walt Disney World – 1509 rooms – Orlando
10. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – 1260 rooms – Orlando

Not surprisingly, since the total acres come in at 25,000, all of these resorts are at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

How big is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is often referred to as Star Wars Land.

It opened in Anaheim’s Disneyland in the summer of 2019. And it was followed at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on August 29, 2019.

Both parks are about 14 acres.

In Anaheim, Star Wars; Galaxy’s Edge is located just north of Frontierland on the site previously occupied by Big Thunder Ranch.

While several rides were temporarily closed for construction (Tom Sawyer Island, Mark Twain Riverboat, etc), all but Big Thunder Ranch have reopened.

In WDW, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has become a big part of Hollywood Studios.

Much of that park’s Streets of America areas were closed including the Honey I Shrunk the Kids attraction to make way for the new Star Wars adventures.

Get ready for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in WDW with my ultimate tips, tricks, and hacks for the Disney Genie System which replaced FastPass (click to read my #1 article)!

The Genie System is great, and once you understand how it works, it can save you hours of waiting in line, so make sure and check out what has become my most popular blog post!

How Big is Toy Story Land?

Toy Story Land is a park obviously based on the Toy Story movies.

Currently, Toy Story Land is part of the following Disney parks:

• Disney’s Hollywood Studios (part of Walt Disney World in Orlando)
• Walt Disney Studios Park (part of Disneyland Resort Paris)
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Shanghai Disneyland

Thus, currently, Toy Story Land is NOT in Anaheim California’s Disneyland Resort.

But then Disneyland does have Cars Land located in California Adventure, which is unique to that park (and is awesome!)

Toy Story Land is about 11 acres in Florida’s WDW and is the largest of all the versions of Toy Story Land that currently exist.

Which Disney World park is the most popular?

Crowds are an important factor in deciding which Disney park to visit and when to go.

The most visited parks, in order from most to least visited, are:

• The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida
• Disneyland at Disneyland Resort in California
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Toyko DisneySea
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World
• Epcot at Walt Disney World
• Shanghai Disneyland
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World
• Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris
• Disney California Adventure
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris

The Magic Kindom gets that number one spot by having over 20 million visitors a year.

By comparison, Hollywood Studios typically gets half that many. But of course, that will change with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019.

Want the best tips on Walt Disney World?

I have the ultimate guide to Walt Disney World and it can be yours FREE.

I cover ALL you need to know:

• The best and worst times to go in terms of weather
• The best ways to buy tickets and not get ripped off
• The best and worst times to go in terms of crowds
• FastPass+ tips and tricks
• The best places to stay that won’t break the bank

Final Thoughts

In this post, we started with a simple question: which Disney park is the biggest?

But then we went a little further and examined the sizes of all the Disney parks and some of the differences within the different parks all over the world.

Which Disney park is your favorite?

Ready to get the best deals on Disney World Deals and Packages?

CLICK HERE to see all the best options and best prices over at Expedia

I love going to Walt Disney World and have been known to spend up to 15 hours at the park. But I’ve sometimes wondered about Extra Magic Hours and how does Disney enforce extra magic hours?

So I decided to investigate a little bit. Here’s what I learned:

To enter the park for morning Extra Magic Hours, you’ll need to show both a park ticket for admission plus a resort ID or Magic Band proving you are registered at one of the participating Disney World hotels or resorts. For evening Extra Magic Hours, once in the park, you’ll show your resort ID or scan your Magic Band.

But there’s more to know about Extra Magic Hours! So we’ll get into who gets them when you can use them, and if you can use them right when you check into a Disney resort.

We’ll also explain the difference between Extra Magic Hours and Early Morning Magic.

But I also map out exactly which rides are available for both morning and or evening. After all, it’s not every ride and attraction, so know before you go!

So let’s dive in!

What are Extra Magic Hours?

First off, know that Extra Magic Hours (plural) are available in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. These get you into the park either before opening or after closing for “select” rides and attractions.

Disneyland in Anaheim, CA offers an Extra Magic Hour (singular), giving you 1 extra hour in the mornings before the park opens.

In both cases, the magic is only available to Disney resort guests staying at participating Disney hotels and resorts. For Disney World, guests can select either morning or evening magic hours, but not both.

What Disney hotels give you Extra Magic Hours?

• All Disney Resort hotels
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Shades of Green Resort
• Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando

As they say, not all rides and attractions will be open for these Extra Magic Hours, only “select” ones. So which ones are “select”? 

Click on your favorite of the 4 parks in Walt Disney World to see the complete list of Extra Magic Hours attractions and rides compiled on my site:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Animal Kingdom
• Hollywood Studios

Also, as you see on those pages, only Magic Kingdom and Epcot do both morning and evening magic hours. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are currently mornings only.

While Hollywood Studios is a little less popular than The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or Animal Kingdom, all of them still got MILLIONS of visitors.

Honestly, it’s crazy that Hollywood Studios gets fewer people than the other parks, so if you want to see some shorter lines, check out What to do at Hollywood Studios (click to see my article now).

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home, of course, to Toy Story Land and the soon-to-open Star Wars Land (called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). 

How does Disney know if you have Extra Magic Hours?

In order to get into Walt Disney World before or after hours for the Extra Magic Hours, you have to be a guest at one of the participating Disney hotels and resorts I mentioned above.

You also, of course, have to have a valid park ticket.

But you’ll also have to show proof you are staying at one of the participating Disney World hotels or resorts. You can do that either with a resort ID or your Magic Band.

While you don’t have to use a Magic Band, they are super fun and convenient, letting you enter your room, charge food or drinks to your account all without the hassle of carrying cash or cards.

I was amazed at the awesome selection of these Magic Bands on Amazon, most of which you CANNOT get at the park.

They also unlock special surprises throughout the park which are customized for you. Those surprises get uploaded as pictures to your Disney PhotoPass account and can be pulled up later for saving or printing.

They are waterproof as well in case you’re going to one of the Walt Disney World Waterparks.

If you’re already in the park and planning to take advantage of the evening Extra Magic Hours, you’ll just need to show your resort ID or let them scan your Magic Band to ensure you’re staying at a participating Disney hotel.

If your park tickets DO NOT have the park hopper option, just know that whichever of the 4 Disney World parks you enter for those morning Extra Magic Hours, that’s where you’ll need to stay that day (which is why my family ALWAYS gets the Park Hopper option).

So to get into the park, you’ll have to show both your park ticket and either a resort ID or your Magic Band.

When visiting WDW, if you aren’t staying at a Disney hotel, learning about something called rope drop might just be the next best thing!

So if you’ve wonder What is Rope Drop at Disney World (click to read my post) check out one of my latest articles that walk you through exactly what it is and what to do to beat the crowds on your favorite rides.

How does Disney enforce the Extra Magic Hours at night?

Mornings are pretty obvious. You walk up, show your park ticket and either a resort ID or your Magic Band and in you go.

But nights are different.

After all, the park is full of people. So do they make everyone leave and re-enter and show proper ID?  Luckily, no. 

You do have to scan your Magic Band at each ride and attraction you want to do. 

In fact, no one has to leave the park. But if you aren’t staying at a participating Disney resort or hotel, you won’t be able to ride any rides or attractions.

If you’ve left the park before closing and are coming back, just show your park ticket and Magic Band or resort ID to get back in. Just remember that you can only visit 1 park per day unless you have the Park Hopper option.

Epcot is a great park to do evening Extra Magic Hours since they generally get smaller crowds than Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Epcot normally closes at 9 pm.

So for families, those evening Extra Magic Hours only keep the kids out until 11 pm. Vastly preferable to Magic Kingdom where the evening Extra Magic Hours go until 1 am since the park doesn’t close until 11 pm.

When you visit Disney World (and you will!), do yourself a favor and don’t just buy your tickets at the gate!

Are Extra Magic Hours for resort guests only?

Yes is the short answer; Disney resort and select participating hotels.

But don’t confuse Extra Magic Hours with Early Morning Magic (which is easy to do). Both get you into the park early, but Early Morning Magic is a ticket option you buy.

And you can buy Early Morning Magic no matter what hotel you are staying at.

The biggest difference between the two is that Extra Magic Hours can (sometimes) be morning or evening, whereas Early Morning Magic, as the name implies, is morning only.

As I mentioned above, Extra Magic Hours are for guests of Disney resorts and participating hotels.

Here’s the complete list of Extra Magic Hours hotels:

• All Disney Resort hotels
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Shades of Green Resort
• Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Lastly, know that the days they offer Early Morning Magic and Extra Magic Hours are different. So guests doing one option aren’t at the park before opening with guests doing the other option.

That helps Disney avoid confusion between guests and helps enforce who gets in for Extra Magic Hours.

Are Extra Magic Hours available for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Yes is the short answer!

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is, of course, the newest addition to the Disney parks.

It’s already open in Disneyland and opens in Walt Disney World on August 29, 2019. To prepare for the onslaught of crowds that we know are coming, Disney has added extra Extra Magic Hours to help deal with the crowds.

Here are all the details you need to know:

• These extra Extra Magic Hours are only offered September 1 to November 2, 2019
• Unlike normal Extra Magic Hours, these will be offered every day
• Epcot is not offering extra Extra Magic Hours
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios – including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land and beyond – 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM each day
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom  – including Pandora – The World of Avatar and other attractions throughout the park – 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM each day
• Magic Kingdom – including select rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland – 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM each day

Of course, you’ll still need to show your park ticket and resort ID or Magic Band as Disney will still be enforcing the restrictions for Extra Magic Hours.

Also, be aware that all the parks have strict size limits and your access could be restricted depending on how many people show up.

Plan early and be prepared to be patient!

Do Disney Passholders get Extra Magic Hours?

The short answer is no, not by default at least.

Disney annual passes can be a great thing! At their current prices, excluding the waterparks, each member of your family will pay $1,119 for a 1-year pass that gets you into all 4 parks with no blockout dates, plus perks like 20% off select dining and merchandise.

1 visit would typically be at least 3 days plus a park hopper option. That would run you approximately $416.88 (prices vary slightly depending on when you visit).

So the annual pass would pay for itself in 2.6 visits!

But UNLESS you are staying at one of the Disney World participating hotels, you will not automatically get Extra Magic Hours just by being an Annual Passholder.

Are Disney World Extra Magic Hours worth it?

In short, it depends.

If you have kids as I do, we’re talking about either a very early start to the day or a pretty late night. After all, if you plan to enter the park at 7 am, that means getting to the park closer to 6 am since there will be a crowd.

Getting there by 6:15, for example, would have my family needing to wake up no later than 5:30 am. I get up that early almost every day, but my family not so much; especially on vacation!

If you don’t have a park hopper, that also means being limited to that 1 park for the entire day.

Here are some other good things to know when deciding whether or not to use your Extra Magic Hours:

• Magic Kingdom has more rides and attractions open during Extra Magic Hours
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the least amount of rides open
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom, not surprisingly, is usually the least crowded during Extra Magic Hours
• Magic Kingdom is surprisingly less crowded during Extra Magic Hours
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically has larger than average crowds during Extra Magic Hours and the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is only going to make that significantly worse
• Epcot sees just slightly higher than average crowds during Extra Magic Hours.

Can you use Extra Magic Hours on the day you check-in?

Yes is the short answer.

Of course, if you’re doing the Extra Magic Morning hours, you’d have to be arriving pretty early. After all, depending on which park and what time of year it is, those morning hours start at either 7am or 8am.

Also be aware that in some cases while you can check into the hotel, you may not be able to put your stuff in your room yet unless they happen to not be sold out.

But once you have your park ticket and your participating hotel resort ID or have the room assigned to your Magic Band, you can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours.

Does Disney change Extra Magic Hours?

Yes is the short answer!

Disney doesn’t offer Extra Magic Hours every day at every park. They change the days (but not typically the times) based on time of year and how busy they anticipate being.

So you’ll want to check the Disney calendar to know exactly what days Extra Magic Hours are being offered.

Currently, I see the following for both evening and morning Extra Magic Hours at each of the 4 parks:

Want the best tips on Walt Disney World?

I have the ultimate guide to Walt Disney World and it can be yours FREE. I cover ALL you need to know:

• Best and worst times to go in terms of weather
• The best ways to buy tickets and not get ripped off
• Best and worst times to go in terms of crowds
• FastPass+ tips and tricks
• The best places to stay that won’t break the bank

Final Thoughts

In this article, we took an in-depth look into the world of Walt Disney World’s Extra Magic Hours.

We explored what they are and how they differ from early morning magic. Then we looked at exactly how you can get them, and listed the specific days they are available and at which parks, and what rides and attractions.

Specifically, though, we answered the question how does Disney enforce extra magic hours?

The answer to that question is that you have to show both a valid park ticket and either a resort ID from one of the participating Disney hotels and resorts or your linked Magic Band proving you are staying in an approved property.

What’s your favorite Disney World hotel or resort?

Make sure to check out all my personal Disney recommendations on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Middle Class Dad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you click to Amazon from my site and choose to make a purchase. This is no way increases the cost to you.

I LOVE all things Disney. And while my family and I have sometimes joked about the parents often dying in Disney films, I began to wonder, in all seriousness, why do parents die in Disney movies?

Walt Disney either created or was drawn to stories where 1 or both parents die due to the death of Disney’s mother when Walt was 36. Walt felt personally responsible for his mother’s death, and that impacted the direction the Walt Disney Company has taken with its films ever since.

But there’s a lot more to know about which Disney movies have tragic deaths for parents, and what some of the exceptions are, including the tragic circumstances of Walt’s mother’s death, which we get into below.

So let’s keep reading!

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How many Disney movies have parents who died?

There are at least 16 well-known Disney movies where 1 or both parents die either during the movie or prior to the story’s beginning.

But to be fair to Disney, not all the Disney movies are created solely by Disney. In fact, many are based on fables, fairy tales, or classic stories.

Here are just a few examples of films made by Disney where a parent dies where the actual stories were written by someone else (long before the Disney films):

• The Little Mermaid – Hans Christian Andersen killed off her mom in the original book
• Beauty and the Beast – The Disney film is based on the book “a Belle et la Bete”, by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. It was published in France in 1740, and indeed, Belle’s mom is not living in the book either (but she has 3 brothers in the book)
• Cinderella – To be fair, Disney did kill off Cinderella’s dad who lives in the original book. But her mom dying and her dad marrying the evil step-mother is all in the original novel “Cindrillon” by French author Charles Perrault
• Bambi – Sadly, Bambi’s mom is also killed by a hunter in the original novel “Bambi, A Life in the Woods”, by Felix Salten
• Snow White – Snow White, Walt Disney’s first animated film made in 1937, is based on a Grimm Fairy Tale where, living up to their name, the Brother’s Grimm did indeed have her mom die after giving birth to Snow White

But those films aside, here are the best known Disney films where one or both parents die or are dead at the start of the film:

• Frozen – Both parents die at sea early in the film
• The Lion King – Simba loses his dad, Mufasa, more or less at the hands of his Uncle Scar shortly into the film
• Aladdin – Jasmine’s Dad is around, but Aladdin seemingly has no parents in the first 2 films (but his Dad shows up in film 3) and Jasmine’s mother is dead by the time the film starts
• Pinocchio – I know. Technically he’s a puppet. But he does have Geppetto as his dad with no mom in the picture
• Dumbo – No real mention of Dumbo’s dad (but then he was delivered by a stork) and mom is imprisoned for most of the film
• Sword in the Stone – Arthur (before he was King Arthur) is shown to be an orphan. But then to be fair, this one too is based on a book, The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White
• The Aristocats – Berlioz, Marie, and Toulouse live with their mom Dutchess with no mention of dad
• Pocahontas – Her mom is dead by the start of the film
• Lilo & Stitch – Lilo is being raised by her big sister Nani after both parents die in a car wreck
• Princess and the Frog – Another Disney film based on a Brother’s Grimm fairy tale. Tiana’s dad James is seen briefly in the film but is killed in battle during World War 1
• Big Hero 6 – Hiro and his brother Tadashi (who dies mid-film) are raised by their Aunt Cass following the death of their parents when Hiro was 3

Honestly, there’s probably more, but those are certainly the best-known Disney films with one or both parents dead.

If you ever head to Walt Disney World, don’t be thrown off by Hollywood Studio’s reputation for being the least fun of the 4 parks.

Honestly, it’s crazy that Hollywood Studios gets fewer people than the other parks, so if you want to see some shorter lines, check out What to do at Hollywood Studios (click to see my article now), home of Toy Story Land and the soon-to-open Star Wars Land (called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge).

236. Belle & Maurice {Beauty & The Beast}

– Maurice is one of the few Disney parents who doesn’t die and he would do anything for his daughter
– He was determined to rescue her from the Beast in any way
– Absolutely love the live action version bringing more depth to the bond pic.twitter.com/nwiBRENa3Y

— Lauren McQuilty – ?Butterflies & Star Wars ? (@naydenlover) August 30, 2020

Do any Disney movies have both parents?

Yes. There are at least 7 Disney movies where both parents of the main character are alive.

Tangled, the story of Rapunzel features both her mother and father. Where the parental tragedy happens in this story, however, is with the would-be adoptive Mom, Mother Gothel.

Mother Gothel, who stole Rapunzel from her parents as a baby, you guessed it (spoiler alert) dies in the end.

But Tangled is far from the only Disney film featuring both parents. 

The following Disney films also feature both parents:

• Sleeping Beauty
• Peter Pan (Wendy and the kid’s parents, not Peter’s. The status of Peter’s parents is unknown although we do know he ran away from home when he was a baby)
• Brave
• 101 Dalmations
• Lady and the Tramp
• Mulan

Make sure to check out all my personal Disney recommendations (click to go to my page) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!

Dumbo’s Mom died of dementia according to nhs reports…may bad karam fall all who use the LCP #tmommfilm pic.twitter.com/wLH9aZBQlL

— drjonesaa (@drjonesaa) July 11, 2018

Do they kill Dumbo’s mom?

Dumbo’s mom is not killed in the Disney film Dumbo. She is, however, imprisoned early on in the film, and rarely seen until the end of the film.

She’s caged after fighting back when other circus animals are picking on Dumbo because of his giant ears.

Dumbo gets to visit her in the film. But they can only touch trunks and she isn’t fully visible due to the confines of her cage.

She remains in the circus jail for much of the film but reappears at the end of the film.

Eventually, the circus master figures out Dumbo can fly. And no doubt he figures he can make a lot of money off Dumbo’s unique talent. So he lets mom out of her cage and she gets reunited with Dumbo.

In fact, they even get their own private train car on the circus train.

If you plan to visit Walt Disney World in Orlando, you definitely will want to know all the tips, tricks, and Disney World FastPass+ secrets (click to read my article and bookmark)

My most popular Disney post gets upwards of 10,000 readers a month. I also update it all the time as new information comes out (hello Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!).

So definitely take a moment and check it out, bookmark it or pin it so you have all the tips for your next visit.

Um… Did we ever find out what happened to Mowgli’s parents in #TheJungleBook? http://t.co/t3TYbZJ3it pic.twitter.com/PBcl3Dx8RF

— M Magazine (@m_magazine) December 1, 2014

Who killed Mowgli’s parents?

Mowgli’s parents were separated from Mowgli during a tiger attack, and are presumed dead in the original Rudyard Kipling novel. But their fate is unclear in the 1967 Disney film. In the 2016 film, however, the story was changed to where Shere Khan, the main tiger in the story, killed Mowgli’s father.

Bear in mind that this story too is NOT an original Disney story.

The Jungle Book film is based on the book of the same name by author Rudyard Kipling (who also wrote a sequel novel in 1894). And the original book itself was actually a collection of Kipling’s short stories which were first published in magazines.

In the film, as in the book, Mowgli is found orphaned in the jungle in a basket, presumably abandoned intentionally. He is then raised by wolves, although in the best-known version, Disney’s 1967’s animated classic, he spends the majority of the film with his pal Baloo the bear.

The original Kipling stories flesh out his origin a bit more by saying that he was lost in the jungles in India during a tiger attack.

So presumably Mowgli’s parents were killed by tigers.

Every Disney park is different in terms of the size and how long it takes to enjoy.

Want to know Which Disney Park is the Biggest? I break down every Disney park on the planet in that post, so just click the link to read it on my site.

While everyone knows Disney World is the largest park, I was surprised to see just how much bigger Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was at Disney World compared to Disneyland.

#OnThisDay in 1901, Walt Disney was born in Chicago. Disney’s father was a carpenter, and his parents moved to Chicago for the construction of the World’s Columbian Exposition. His father built their home in the Hermosa neighborhood in 1893, and it is still there today. pic.twitter.com/uA1Fb01tSq

— Illinois History and Lincoln Collections (@illinoisIHLC) December 5, 2020

How did Walt Disney’s parents die?

Walt Disney’s mother Flora died from a gas leak in a home Walt and his brother Roy recently purchased for their parents. Walt’s father Elias died approximately 3 years later of natural causes.

Walt’s parents died separately, but early in Walt’s life. Walt was just shy of 37 when his mother passed away in 1938. And he was 39 when his dad passed away in 1941.

Walt was born in 1901 in Chicago where he lived with his parents and 3 brothers and 1 sister. Disney’s parents were Elias and Flora Disney. 

How his mother died really is the key to why parental death plays such a large role in most Disney movies.

After Walt’s success with Snow White in 1937, Walt, along with his brother Roy, bought his parents a home in Hollywood. The home was close to the Disney studios in Burbank.

Within a month of moving in, Flora complained to Walt she was having issues with the gas furnace.  Repair people came out, but apparently did not adequately fix the issue as a few days later a housekeeper found both Flora and Elias unconscious inside the house.

The housekeeper managed to pull them to the front lawn of the house, but while Elias did recover in the hospital, Walt’s mother Flora was pronounced dead.

Flora died of asphyxiation from the gas leak.

Because Walt had bought her the home and it was Disney repair people who had poorly attempted to fix the problem, Walt felt complete responsibility for his mother’s death.

Disney never spoke of the incident or his mother’s death, but there’s no denying its lasting impact on his films and his directives for the studio after his passing.

Walt’s father passed away from natural causes, but no doubt impacted by his wife’s death almost 3 years earlier. Elias was 82 when he died.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we took a quick look at something that people have snickered about for years; Disney movies and parents dying.

After all, whether we’re talking Frozen, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladin, Beauty, and the Beast, or a host of others, there’s no denying that Disney loves a good tragedy to set up their films.

So here, we examined that trend and explored some of the reasons behind the death, including the real tragedy that befell Walt Disney’s own parents.

My family and I love to visit Disneyland in Anaheim, California. But since it’s in California, we’ve wondered is Disneyland earthquake-proof?

Disneyland is not earthquake-proof. However, due to strict California building codes and the earthquake preparedness procedures Disneyland follows, no significant damage or injuries have ever been reported at Disneyland due to an earthquake.

Since Disneyland opened in 1955, there have been 13 earthquakes of 5.0 or higher in magnitude.

But there’s more to know about earthquake safety tips, the 2 latest quakes in 2019, the best places to be at Disneyland in the event of a quake, and when the last time Disneyland actually was damaged in a quake.

So let’s keep reading!

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What is Anaheim’s earthquake risk?

Got Stuck on the Matterhorn During the Earthquake!!! Scary? #disneyland #earthquake @thehaygay @Cailey180 pic.twitter.com/ANtFzGXeca

— Molly♥ (@Miss_Molly01) March 29, 2014

Anaheim California, where Disneyland is located, has an earthquake measuring 5.0 or greater almost every 5 years statistically.

Anaheim is basically a suburb of Los Angeles, so it’s right in the epicenter of earthquake country. According to the California Earthquake Authority, there are:

• 500 active faults in California
• 15,700 faults total in all of California
• There is a greater than 99% chance of an earthquake of 6.7 or greater in this area within the next 30 years
• Most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault

Now to be fair to Anaheim, the risk of a major quake is actually a little bit less than California as a whole. Anaheim has a 75% chance of an earthquake measuring a 7 or greater, compared to 99% of the rest of the state.

There are about 100 active faults in the Orange County area which is the county where Anaheim and Disneyland are located.

The San Andreas fault is the largest running through the area and has caused earthquakes of up to an 8 on the Richter scale. Unfortunately, earthquakes in this area can also lead both to landslides and increased tsunami risk in areas closer to the coast. Disneyland is only 157 feet above sea level and 20 miles from the ocean.

Speaking of both Disney and possible tragedy, have you ever wondered why parents always seem to die in Disney films?

I recently published this article about that phenomenon and uncovered the devastating truth behind what drove Walt’s vision for his films.

Just click that link to read my article on this site.

⚠️[INFORMATION] • Several attractions of Disneyland Resort closed due to a second 7.1-magnitude earthquake in California. Nobody knows if a third earthquake is coming but keep calm and avoid going out for now.⚠️#California #Disneyland #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/3509DKs16N

— Disney Link (@disney_link) July 6, 2019

Was Disneyland damaged by the 2 earthquakes in July 2019?

Disneyland did not sustain any significant damage from the 2 earthquakes that took place in 2019. No serious injuries were reported due to Disneyland’s standard earthquake procedures the almost immediately stop all rides in the event of an earthquake.

Shortly after I posted this article originally in June 2019, we had 2 big quakes in Southern California.

There was a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on July 4th, 2019. That was the strongest quake in Southern California since 1999. Luckily, for Disneyland, the quake was centered in the Mojave Desert about 150 miles northeast from the Los Angeles area.

The town that was hardest hit by that quake was the town of Ridgecrest which declared a state of emergency after a number of fires sparked multiple evacuations, including the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital.

Then just 1 day later, on July 5th, 2019, a 7.1 earthquake rocked the Southern California area centered around the same fault line that runs through Ridgecrest.

Governor Gavin Newsom also declared a state of emergency for San Bernadino and Kern Counties.

To date, no fatalities have been reported, although there have been multiple minor injuries and fires due to ruptured gas lines. Many roads experienced cracks in the pavement as well.

Many retailers experienced broken bottles due to shaking shelves and many Ridgecrest residents went without power.

In terms of how the quakes affected Disneyland, their standard operating procedure for earthquakes is to temporarily stop all rides until safety crews can personally evaluate each one.

That meant thousands were safely escorted off the newly opened Millenium Falcon at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park, along with the monorail system and countless other rides and rollercoasters.

Again, there were no serious injuries reported, and no serious damage to any of the rides or attractions.

VIDEO: Disneyland’s Space Mountain ride stopped after 7.1 earthquake rattles Southern California https://t.co/NwHW8JU91i pic.twitter.com/lPJ1pJMFvQ

— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) July 7, 2019

Was there an earthquake at Disneyland in 2018?

Yes, is the short answer.

Thursday, April 5th of 2018 at 12:30 pm saw an earthquake of 5.3 on the Richter scale hit Southern California. It was actually the largest quake to hit Southern California since a 4.4 magnitude quake in 2014.

The good news for Disneyland is that the quake’s epicenter was actually about 90 miles west of Los Angeles, off the coast of California near Santa Cruz Island.

It was, however, felt at Disneyland and as far inland as Bakersfield.

It’s worth noting, however, that LA gets an earthquake of this size about once a year, according to the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC.

So it’s not unusual, nor is it really of major concern. There were also no injuries or damage reported.

Still not convinced? No problem! Just head over to sunny Florida and check out Walt Disney World; no earthquakes!

If you do head to Disney World, they use a completely different Fast Pass system than Disneyland, so you’ll want to check out my Ultimate Guide to Disney World’s FastPass+ System (click to read now on my site).

Disneyland was rockin last night.#disney #disneyland #quake #earthquake pic.twitter.com/SJQRlrAWDS

— Sam B (@Sam_Batalon) March 29, 2014

How many earthquakes have hit Anaheim since Disneyland first opened?

The most recent quake, aside from the ones in July 2019, was actually earlier in 2019.

That quake occurred Wednesday, April 3rd of 2019 and measured 3.6 on the Richter scale. No injuries were reported and the quake’s epicenter was the Anaheim Hills which is about 10 miles from Disneyland.

But over the years, there have actually been thousands of small quakes.

To give you an example, Disneyland actually sees over 500 quakes a year that register at least 1.5 on the Richter scale.

Here are a few years of noteworthy quakes in the Disneyland area:

• 4.0 quakes – 2 quakes since 2018
• 5.0 quakes – 2 quakes since 2014
• 6.0 quakes – 6 quakes since 1992
• 7.0 quakes – 5 quakes since 1952 (Disneyland opened in 1955)
• 8.0+ quakes – none

So, there have been 13 quakes 5.0 or higher since Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955.

Source 1 and Source 2

Disneyland attractions close temporarily due to SoCal’s magnitude 6.4 earthquake #LosAngelesearthquake #Disneyland https://t.co/r123w3bi7k pic.twitter.com/rkEmsZacbu

— Inside the Magic (@InsideTheMagic) July 5, 2019

When was the last time an earthquake damaged Disneyland?

The largest earthquake to affect Disneyland was on June 28th, 1992 which measured a magnitude of 7.3. However, Disneyland did not experience any significant damage from that or any of the 13 earthquakes that have happened since the park opened in 1955.

By no means does that mean it will never be, but as they say; there’s no better predictor of future behavior than past behavior.

In other words, Disneyland is incredibly safe, and in the unlikely event you are there when a larger quake happens, the chances are quite good that you will not be injured in any way.

California has very strict building codes designed with earthquakes in mind since they are so prevalent.

Even though the original Disneyland was built in 1955, virtually all of the rides and attractions have been updated significantly since then and with each update come safety revisions.

The worst quakes Disneyland has had since opening in 1955, aside from the 2 recent July 2019 quakes, were:

• April 4th, 2010 – 7.2 magnitude
• Oct 16th, 1999 – 7.1 magnitude
• Jan 17th, 1994 – 6.7 magnitude
• June 28th, 1992 – 7.3 magnitude
• Feb 9th, 1971 – 6.6 magnitude

If you love all things Disney, you might be wondering Which Disney Park is Biggest? (click to read my post).

After all, while all 6 Disney parks are similar, they vary in size considerably and the one that’s biggest might not be the one you think it is!

Rides have just started to open up again including Smugglers run! #Disneyland #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/PtZMlAQklw

— Streaming The Magic (@StreamingMagic) July 6, 2019

Where is the best place to go in Disneyland in the event of an earthquake?

The best places to be in Disneyland in the event of an earthquake are open areas outside away from buildings and rides. Disneyland will shutdown all rides in the event an earthquake happens. Those on a ride should remain in place until instructed by a cast member at Disneyland to do otherwise.

Remember that the average earthquake only lasts between 10-30 seconds.

In most cases, and I lived in Northern California for almost a decade, you don’t even realize an earthquake is happening until it’s done.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I felt a quake but thought maybe a large truck was driving by or that something else was causing the minor vibration I was feeling or hearing.

In most cases, cast members, who are all trained by Disney in earthquake preparedness, will direct you to an interior location nearby. That may be a shop, but it could also be a backstage area normally reserved for employees only.

They will advise you to remain there even after the initial quake is done.

Remember that sometimes dozens of smaller aftershocks can happen sometimes minutes following the initial earthquake. Those are, however, typically much smaller in magnitude than the original quake.

Once given the all clear, unless instructed by a cast member, don’t plan to leave the park by car. The parking lot will be a zoo and could potentially take you hours to get out of.

Walk to Downtown Disney, or if your hotel is walking distance, you can always return there too.

But unless it was a really major quake, chances are the rides and attractions will resume within 30 minutes to 1 hour and restaurants and snack areas will re-open much faster if they even close at all.

Several Attractions Temporarily Closed at Disneyland Resort After 6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Southern Californiahttps://t.co/Vou5Kbm3m1 pic.twitter.com/IER6JHas7K

— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) July 4, 2019

What happens if an earthquake happens when you’re on a ride at Disneyland?

Rides will automatically stop at Disneyland in the event of an earthquake. Riders will be advised to wait in place until instructed by a cast member as to the safest way to exit the ride.

In the fairly unlikely event that you are on a ride at Disneyland when an earthquake hits, don’t panic.

Most likely if it’s a large enough and long enough quake the ride will stop.

Many of the rides at Disneyland these days, while they have a manual operator, are largely run by computers.  There are sensors to detect problems, such as if someone gets off a ride during the ride, and yes; if excess motion occurs due to an earthquake.

So in the event of a major-ish quake, most likely those sensors will shut the ride down automatically. Then safety lights will come on (they should work even in the event of a power outage).

When a ride shuts down, Disneyland’s next step is to send their employees to help assist those riders in safely getting off the ride. So stay put!

Don’t ever try and get off a ride that has stopped unless instructed by a Disney cast member or employee. Unless it was a really large quake, most likely the ride will simply resume after a few minutes and you’ll receive updates over the speakers.

Once everyone is safely off the ride, Disneyland will close all attractions temporarily following an earthquake so their crews can personally inspect each one for possible damage.

You will not, however, have to leave the park unless the quake was so big and damaged so many buildings that it became a safety concern. But that is extremely unlikely.

If you are simply waiting in line, most likely you will be allowed to remain in line, but there’s no guarantee how long it will take for a worker to inspect the ride and certify it ready to re-open.

While Disneyland does have 23,000 cast members and workers in addition to about 3,500 contracted workers, there are still a lot of rides to look at and a lot of ground to cover.

In all likelihood, they won’t go to the most popular rides first, but the ones with the biggest potential safety concerns like roller coasters.

Ready to get the best deals on Disneyland Hotels?

CLICK HERE to see all the best options and best prices over at Expedia

Final Thoughts

In this article, we took a quick look at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and whether or not it’s prone to earthquakes.

After all, California is one of the most active places in the world for earthquakes, and millions of people visit Disneyland every year. So it’s a pretty valid question.

We looked at the history of earthquake damage at the park, the 2 recent July 2019 quakes, the best places to be at the park in the event of a quake, and the overall risk of the Anaheim area in general.

Have you ever been in an earthquake?

Make sure to check out all my personal Disney recommendations (click to go to my page) on saving money on hotel, rental cars, airfare, park tickets, and even saving money on costumes and toys!