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It seems like Walt Disney World is of two very different minds regarding what it wants from Hollywood Studios.
On the one hand, it’s the only park with Disney Junior characters. Also, it also has a heavy presence of Muppets and Toy Story Land and a lot of Frozen and the Lightning McQueen show.
So it seems like Hollywood Studios would be the park – after the Magic Kingdom – designed for families with young children, more so than EPCOT or Animal Kingdom.
However, I would say that Hollywood Studios doesn’t have a single ride that’s built for families with toddlers and small children in mind. Magic Kingdom has about 10.
For example, EPCOT has Finding Nemo and Frozen Ever After. Animal Kingdom has TriceraTop Spin.
What does Hollywood Studios have? It has Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – which is fantastic but doesn’t have anything for little ones. Even Toy Story Land is great and has three good rides, but none of them are specifically for little kids.
It’s just odd to me. I think Disney tries for a balance. Surely, they try to have something for everyone. But Hollywood Studios seems to be the one park that is off-kilter.
Read Also: Is EPCOT Good for Toddlers: What Does the Park Have for Toddlers?
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Is Hollywood Studios good for a 2-year-old?
Yes and no. The shows and the characters? All that stuff is great for a little one. However, the rides? Not so much.
Of course, you could ask why you bring a toddler to the parks. Is it just to ride the rides? I mean, for a toddler, I think the rides are a tangential part of the experience. But you also want a 2 or 3-year-old to be touched by the magic.
In other words, you want them to see the characters from books or television or movies come to life and be awed by wonder and spectacle.
Sure, you want them to ride Dumbo and Peter Pan and Small World, but that doesn’t represent the entirety of the experience.
What rides can kids do at Hollywood Studios?
Rides? Not a lot. Attractions? Quite a few. Let’s rank them on our toddler/small kid friendliness scale.
But first, we should note a couple of kid-friendly favorites have not returned since the 2020 closures, including the Jedi Training Academy and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
Here are a list of attractions at Hollywood Studios:
18. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rating: Not toddler-friendly
Even if you had the tallest toddler in the world this would be a bad idea. Seriously, trying to get your toddler on this ride should probably lead you to a meeting with DCS.
17. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Rating: Not toddler-friendly
Same scenario as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for Tower of Terror. Not only is the ride itself scary and not fit for little ones, but riders must also be 40 inches or taller to ride.
16. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Rating: Not toddler-friendly
This ride is just too intense – in my opinion – for little ones. And also, the height requirement for this ride is 40 inches.
Truthfully, there’s not much for the littlest kids in Galaxy’s Edge overall. Would it be so hard to build a Dumbo the Flying Elephant-like ride with X-wings or speed bikes or something?
15. Star Tours
Rating: Not toddler-friendly
The 40-inch minimum height requirement means most little ones are out. I have taken more than one five-year-old on this ride and they loved it. So not for toddlers but not too far away.
14. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Rating: Might be okay for older toddlers
Smugglers Run is a simulation ride that most kids will enjoy. The minimum height requirement for this ride is 38 inches, so some 2 or 3-year-olds may be able to ride.
13. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Rating: Toddler-friendly, but not because of the theming
I have tried to get my little ones into Indiana Jones. However, it didn’t take.
I can’t imagine Indy has too much name recognition amongst the younger set, plus there are also explosions and such. That said, there is no height requirement for the show.
12. Slinky Dog Dash
Rating: Might be okay for older toddlers
Not everything in Toy Story Land is for little kids. However, I did some research. The height requirement for Slinky Dog Dash is 38 inches. The average height of a three-year-old is 34.5 to 40 inches.
I let my little ones ride the Goofy Barnstormer in the Magic Kingdom – which has a 35-inch height requirement – and I really don’t think the Slinky Dog Dash is worse than that.
So this is in the realm of maybe for me.
11. Alien Swirling Saucers
Rating: Okay for toddlers
With a 32-inch minimum height requirement, Swirling Saucers is probably the third most toddler-friendly ride in the park.
But the swirling flat ride moves fairly quickly and might not be what your toddler thinks of in terms of a Disney ride.
10. Mickey Shorts Theater
Rating: Good for toddlers
Get a break from the heat while watching this animated short with Mickey & Minnie with your little ones.
9. Toy Story Mania!
Rating: Good for toddlers
There is no height requirement on this interactive carnival game ride. But do I think your toddler is going to give it a high score? I do not.
However, you can always act like they did because they’re too young to understand the scoring system.
8. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Rating: Good for toddlers
With no height requirement, this trackless dark ride is probably the most toddler-friendly ride in the park. As a bonus, it’s also a lot of fun and a great ride for adults as well.
7. Muppet*Vision 3D
Rating: Good for toddlers
This is a fun little show featuring the Muppets. The highlight is when Sweetums – the giant Muppet who’s always left behind – comes out and does his schtick.
Read Also: What Can Babies Ride at EPCOT and Disney World? 7 Best Rides
6. Beauty and Beast – Live
Rating: Good for toddlers, less so for adults
Not my favorite of the Disney Park shows, but the little ones eat it up.
5. Fantasmic!
Rating: Good for toddlers
This is the best Disney show in the parks and could be theoretically too much for some young ones.
However, mine was mesmerized. You’re at enough of a distance from the show’s fire and it doesn’t feel threatening. Therefore, I think they’re gonna love it.
4. Character Meet & Greets
Rating: Great for toddlers
Certainly, meet and greets may be the highlight of bringing any toddler to a Walt Disney World Park.
At Hollywood Studios, you can meet Mickey Mouse, Woody, Donald, Daisy, Chip and Dale, the Disney Junior characters and more.
3. Disney Junior Dance Party
Rating: Great for toddlers
Dance Party is a Disney Junior playdate with Doc McStuffins, Vampirina and more.
2. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Rating: Great for toddlers
Located on Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this show is a wrap-around screen simulator that takes guests inside the world of Pixar’s Cars with Lightning McQueen, Tater and more.
1. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-along Celebration
Rating: Great for toddlers
Of course, the Frozen sing-along show is perfect for the Disney-obsessed youngster in your life.
The characters from the movies show up like Anna and Elsa and Olaf. The little ones enjoy singing along. It snows fake snow foam stuff that is more than likely not a carcinogen.
But it’s a lot of fun.
Which ride did your toddler enjoy the most at Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments!
