The Best Rides at Hollywood Studios are Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Toy Story Mania, Star Tours, and Alien Swirling Saucers. If I were choosing what to ride first, I would start with Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash because those two rides can affect the rest of your day more than anything else in the park.
Hollywood Studios is a park where ride order matters. There are not as many rides here as Magic Kingdom, so the most popular attractions can build long waits quickly, especially in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land.
That is why I am ranking these rides by what I would actually prioritize first, not just by personal favorites. The best plan depends on your group, but the big idea is simple: use your best morning time on the rides that are hardest to fit in later.
If you are planning the whole day around this ride order, my broader guide to Disney Hollywood Studios can help you keep the park layout and overall strategy in mind.
Best Rides at Hollywood Studios Ranked by What to Ride First
Here is the order I would use for most first-time visitors who want the strongest mix of ride quality, wait-time strategy, and overall Hollywood Studios experience.
| Rank | Ride | Best For | Ride It First If… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance | Big immersive experience | You want the park’s most complete ride |
| 2 | Slinky Dog Dash | Families and first-time visitors | You are starting in Toy Story Land |
| 3 | The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Thrill seekers | You want the best classic Hollywood Studios ride |
| 4 | Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway | Most groups | You want a fun ride with no height requirement |
| 5 | Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run | Star Wars fans | You want to ride inside the Falcon |
| 6 | Toy Story Mania | Families and competitive groups | You want an easy crowd-pleaser |
| 7 | Star Tours | Star Wars fans and shorter waits | You want a good backup ride |
| 8 | Alien Swirling Saucers | Younger kids | You are already in Toy Story Land |
1. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Rise of the Resistance is my top Hollywood Studios ride because it feels like the park’s biggest complete experience. It is part ride, part show, part walk-through, and part Star Wars set piece. Even if someone is not a huge Star Wars fan, this is usually the ride that makes the biggest impression.
The first time I rode it, what stood out most was the scale. It keeps changing environments, and the attraction feels larger than a normal queue-and-ride setup. There are several moments where you can feel the room react because the experience keeps getting bigger.
If you are not using paid Lightning Lane access, this is one of the first rides I would consider. The wait can climb quickly, and because the attraction is technically complex, downtime can affect the day. I do not like leaving it until the last minute unless I have already accepted the risk.
That said, I would not stand around waiting if it is down at park opening. I would pivot to Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, or Tower of Terror and check back later. A good Hollywood Studios rope drop plan should always have a backup.
2. Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is the other ride I would strongly consider riding first. It is not the biggest or most intense attraction at Hollywood Studios, but it is one of the hardest to ignore because so many people want to ride it.
It is smooth, colorful, and family-friendly without feeling boring. Kids love it, adults usually enjoy it, and the outdoor queue can feel rough later in the day when Toy Story Land gets hot and crowded.
The main reason I rank Slinky Dog Dash this high is demand. It appeals to a wide range of guests, which means the wait can get long and stay long. If your group includes kids, this may be the smartest first ride in the park.
I personally find Rise of the Resistance more impressive, but Slinky Dog Dash may be the better first ride for families. If your main goal is making the day easier with kids, I would not casually save Slinky for later.
3. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror is the Hollywood Studios ride that still has the strongest old-school park identity to me. The lobby, the cast members, the music, the dusty details, and the eerie hotel atmosphere all make the attraction feel special before the ride vehicle even moves.
This is also one of the best thrill rides at Disney World because the suspense matters as much as the drops. It is not just a drop ride with a Disney label on it. It has mood, pacing, and a real sense of place.
I would ride Tower of Terror early if your group is thrill-focused or if you are not prioritizing Toy Story Land. For most mixed groups, I would still put Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash first, then work Tower of Terror into the next ride block.
Before you lock in your plan, it is worth checking for Hollywood Studios ride closures so your first ride choice is not built around something unavailable.
4. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is one of the easiest Hollywood Studios rides to recommend because it works for almost everyone. There is no height requirement, the location is central, and the ride has a playful cartoon energy that fits both kids and adults.
I like it most when I treat it as a fun, fast-moving cartoon ride rather than expecting it to be the most thrilling attraction in the park. It is colorful, clever, and full of visual gags.
Runaway Railway can build a wait because it sits right near the front of the park inside the Chinese Theatre. I do not usually put it ahead of Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash, but I do think it belongs in the first half of your day.
This is one of the best rides for mixed groups. If you have kids, grandparents, non-thrill riders, and Disney fans together, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is one of the safest choices in the park.
5. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is worth riding because it lets you step inside the Falcon and take a role in the cockpit. For Star Wars fans, that alone can make it a memorable part of the day.
The ride is interactive, which is both its strength and weakness. Your experience can change depending on your role and who is riding with you. Being a pilot is much more exciting than sitting in the back pressing buttons.
I like Smugglers Run, but I do not think it is as essential as Rise of the Resistance. Rise feels like a full attraction with a bigger story and more impressive staging. Smugglers Run is more dependent on the cockpit experience and your assigned role.
For Star Wars fans, this is a clear yes. For everyone else, I would watch the wait time and avoid letting it eat up the best part of the morning if Rise, Slinky, Tower, or Runaway Railway still need to be done.
If you are trying to save time around Galaxy’s Edge, my guide to Rise of the Resistance single rider can help you think through whether that approach fits your group.
6. Toy Story Mania
Toy Story Mania is still one of the most reliably fun rides at Hollywood Studios. It is a 3D carnival-style shooting game where you compete for points through Toy Story-themed scenes.
It is not the newest or most technically impressive ride in the park, but it works because it is simple, competitive, and easy for most people to enjoy. I rarely see people come off this ride unhappy.
I would not ride it before Slinky Dog Dash if both waits were reasonable, but I do like pairing the two together while I am already in Toy Story Land. It is also indoors, which makes it a useful break from heat or rain.
Toy Story Mania is not the top priority, but it is a very good second-tier ride. If the wait is moderate, I think it is worth doing. If the wait is huge, I would save it for later or skip it before sacrificing a true headliner.
For a wider look at what is actually available in the park, my list of all the rides at Disney Hollywood Studios can help you compare the full ride lineup.
7. Star Tours
Star Tours is easy to overlook now that Galaxy’s Edge exists, but I still think it deserves a place in a Hollywood Studios ride plan. It is a motion simulator with randomized scenes, which gives it more re-ride value than people sometimes remember.
I like Star Tours because it is efficient, nostalgic, and usually less stressful than the top-tier rides. It is not something I would rush to first anymore, but I am almost always happy to ride it when the wait is reasonable.
The main caution is motion sickness. If simulators bother you, this may not be the best choice. Otherwise, I would use Star Tours as a flexible later-day ride, not as the anchor of my Hollywood Studios plan.
8. Alien Swirling Saucers
Alien Swirling Saucers is a small spinning ride in Toy Story Land. It is cute, bright, and more appealing to younger kids than to adults looking for the park’s best attractions.
I would ride it if I were already in Toy Story Land and the wait was short. It can also be a nice win for younger kids who are not ready for bigger attractions.
But I would not choose it over Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror, or Runaway Railway. This is a bonus ride, not a must-do.
What to Ride First at Hollywood Studios
If you are trying to decide what to ride first, I would narrow the choice to Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash. Those are the two rides where an early decision can make the biggest difference.
For Star Wars fans, ride Rise of the Resistance first. It is the most complete and impressive attraction in the park, and it is the one I would least want to miss.
For families, Slinky Dog Dash is often the smarter first ride. It is popular, outdoors, and appealing to a wide range of ages. Getting it done early can make the rest of Toy Story Land feel less stressful.
For thrill seekers, Tower of Terror is the best pure thrill priority. I still might ride Rise or Slinky first for strategy, but Tower is the ride I would protect time for if drops and atmosphere are important to your group.
My Practical Ride Order for a One-Day Visit
If I were spending one full day at Hollywood Studios and wanted to ride the best attractions without overcomplicating the plan, this is the priority order I would keep in mind:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Slinky Dog Dash
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Toy Story Mania
- Star Tours
- Alien Swirling Saucers
That order gives you the strongest mix of immersion, family appeal, thrills, and time-saving strategy. I would still adjust based on posted waits, downtime, Lightning Lane return times, and where I physically am in the park.
If I only had a half day, I would focus on the top four: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Those rides give you the clearest picture of what Hollywood Studios does best.
How Lightning Lane Changes the Ride Order
Lightning Lane can change the physical order of your day, but it should not change which rides matter most. The same rides are still the priority. You are just using reservations to avoid spending too much of the day in standby lines.
If I were using Lightning Lane, I would pay the most attention to Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Those are the rides where saved time can make the biggest difference.
My full Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane strategy goes deeper into that, but the key point is that Lightning Lane should support your ride priorities instead of replacing them.
What I Would Skip If I Could Not Ride Everything
If crowds are heavy or your day is short, I would cut from the bottom of the list first. Alien Swirling Saucers is the easiest skip for me unless I am with younger kids. Star Tours is also skippable if the wait is longer than expected or if motion simulators are not your thing.
Toy Story Mania is harder for me to skip because it is genuinely fun, but I still would not sacrifice one of the top four rides for it. The rides I would most protect are Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
For a full-day structure built around rides, shows, and walking flow, my Hollywood Studios itinerary is a helpful next step. You can also check the official Disney’s Hollywood Studios page near the end of your planning to confirm current hours, entertainment, and park details.
