Review: 5 top attractions for young children in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

After having traveled to Disney Parks four times with children aged 1 to 6, I’ve found that the entertainment and character greetings are sometimes the most magical parts of the holiday for the very youngest and ride preferences can vary widely depending on personalities, but I wanted to put together a guide with some of the preschooler favourites from this year’s holiday:

* Alien Swirling Saucers
Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 2018 and saw the introduction of two new rides to the park–Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash. The first could seem a bit like a spinning cup ride, but it wasn’t too fast for the 3-year-old in our party. In fact, it became the holiday favourite for him, and whirling around in a colourful saucer was fun for the whole family (although the rest of us would have prioritised Slinky Dog Dash for a FP+ selection in Toy Story Land).

If your child likes this, you might also want to try: Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom , which is a classic spinning-cup ride where you sit in giant tea cups that you can spin around.

* Disney Junior Dance Party
Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Disney Junior Dance Party was updated in early 2019, and it is now a fun show that made us feel like we were part of a children’s TV production. The show was led by two presenters, and different characters turned up on stage when everyone in the audience helped ‘spin them in’ through the screen by holding on to one ear and pretend spinning a plate like a DJ. Although the attraction is not a meet-and-greet, I think it’s a good way to get pretty close to characters–Vampirina, DocMcStuffins and Mickey Mouse Roadster Racer. They all danced and children in the audience could copy their simple dance routines, making it an interactive experience. At the end, there were paper leaves falling from the ceiling, and we collected a few to take home as a souvenir. This attraction did not include any seating, so there was no rush to get in, and children seemed to have a good view from the front floor area. After returning from holiday, we’ve still been talking about the show and regularly been using the spinning technique if we miss someone and we all go: “Let’s spin them in!” (albeit without much success!)

If your child likes this, you might also want to try: going to one of the street parties, where the children can dance around with characters. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, visitors can celebrate with The Incredibles in Pixar Place until 30 September 2019, and in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party sees characters from Lion King creating a lively atmosphere. In Magic Kingdom, there’s also the Move It! Shake It! Mousekedance It! Street Party where floats with characters stop in front of Cinderella’s Castle, and families can join characters dancing in the street.

* Toy Story Mania!
In Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Mania! in Toy Story Land, families can put on 3D glasses, board a slow-moving carnival tram and be prepared for a Toy Story-themed shooting game in a bright-coloured set. The carriers spin through five different games, and throughout, you shoot on moving targets to earn points and compete against friends and family. (I would recommend this attraction to children who are fine wearing 3D glasses.)

If your child likes this, you might also want to try: Magic Kingdom’s Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin feels similar to Toy Story Mania! This is also Toy Story-themed and visitors sit in moving carriers and fire laser cannons to earn points.

* Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a number of shows to go to, and the biggest production is Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. This is a 25-minute long musical with creative costumes and a beautiful set. Audiences can enjoy hearing some of the classic Beauty and the Beast songs from the Disney animation, and it feels like a mini West End-style musical that fast forwards through the film.

If your child likes this, you might also want to try: Finding Nemo in Animal Kingdom, which runs in a 1500-seat theatre in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and transports audiences to a colourful undersea world with beautiful puppetry and projections.

* Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Another attraction that opened in early 2019 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. This 10-minute experience is a type of show where audiences sit on benches in front of a talking Lightning McQueen and his simulator. The action plays out on the wrap-around screen after McQueen talks through his racing training simulator. He then enters a virtual race against Chick Hicks while friends Tow Mater and Cruz Ramirez cheers him on. The attraction is located near Rock n’ Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror, making it a good option for families who are planning to split up to let some members of the group ride the thrill rides.

If your child likes this, you might also want to try: having photos taken with Cruz Ramirez outside the Racing Academy. Since we visited, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has also announced DJ’s Ready! Set! Party Time! for Cars inspired dance and games. Cars fans who want to see even more models of characters can visit the Radiator Springs area at Disney’s Art of Animation hotel.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a number of shows, which are suitable for young children, and in addition to the experiences I’ve included here, there’s also: For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration (a 30-minute long show) and Voyages of The Little Mermaid (a 17-minute long show).

Tags: Cars, Disney Jr, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Review, Toy Story, Toy Story Land, Walt Disney World