Hollywood Studios has four headliners, two bottlenecks, and one ride that will break down *at least* once before lunch. So, without a Lightning Lane plan, you’re basically paying to stand in the sun.
We’re here to help you crush the rides and still have time for a margarita at Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge (and maybe even a beer at BaseLine, too!).
For other park-specific strategies, check out our guides for EPCOT Lightning Lane, Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane, and Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane. If you want the all-parks version, check out our Lightning Lane at Disney World guide. But if Hollywood Studios is your park, let’s get to work.
TL;DR – Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy in 2025
- Tier 1 rides: Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Pick ONE in advance.
- Tier 2 rides: Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania are your big two.
- Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance. Buy it unless you have Early Entry and a solid rope drop plan.
- Use earliest LL times possible so you can reload (aka “churn”) as much as possible.
- Worth it for: busy days, thrill-focused trips, short visits.
- Skip it if: you have Extended Evening Theme Park Hours/After Hours or you’re mostly here for Oga’s, BaseLine Tap House, and shows.
How Lightning Lane Works at Hollywood Studios in 2025
Hollywood Studios is the trickiest park for Lightning Lane strategy. Why? It’s got fewer rides than Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, but almost every headliner here draws long waits, Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, and Tower of Terror. That means knowing how the system works at this park isn’t just helpful, it’s the difference between standing in line all day or actually getting to enjoy the cocktails at Oga’s Cantina.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is your main HS skip-the-line tool. You’ll pay $20–$30 (varies by day) and pre-book 3 rides in advance: 1 from Tier 1 and 2 from Tier 2 (or all 3 from Tier 2).
On the day you are in the park, once you tap into your first LL, the tier rules vanish, and you can book anything available, including more Tier 1 rides.
Lightning Lane Single Pass is a separate purchase, and at Hollywood Studios you can only use it at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
And Premier Pass is the bougie option for people who don’t want to plan and don’t mind spending half a mortgage payment to prove it. It lets you ride every attraction with a Lightning Lane (both Multi Pass and Single Pass rides) once without any reservations. Super expensive and usually not worth it unless you’re on a “ride everything twice” mission.
Guests of Disney Resort hotels (and other select hotels) can buy passes up to 7 days in advance of their stay. All other Guests (offsite, Annual Passholders without a Disney Resort reservation, etc.) can purchase passes up to 3 days in advance of their park visit.
Quick DATW Notes:
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Smugglers Run (and sometimes Rise of the Resistance!) have Single Rider. That is your budget-friendly back-up plan.
- There are no LLs during Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, or After Hours.
- Only 1 LL per ride per day.
Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Tiers & Ride List
Before we get into the rankings, here’s the key thing to understand about Hollywood Studios: the ride roster is top-heavy.
The vast majority of people want the same four or five attractions, and everything else becomes filler. That makes your first three Multi Pass picks absolutely crucial. Below, we’ve ranked every ride available in the system, along with notes on when (and if) you should bother booking them.
Tier 1 – Pick One Of the Following Attractions in Advance:
Attraction | Why It’s Popular | Priority for Adults |
|---|---|---|
Slinky Dog Dash | Family coaster with constant demand. | High – The LL unicorn. Book it if you can. |
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway | Whimsical, trackless ride with great re-ride value. | High – Easy crowd-pleaser. |
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run | Fly the Falcon in an interactive mission. | Medium – More fun if you’re pilot. SRL available. |
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster | High-speed indoor launch coaster. | Medium – Thrill lovers, SRL available. |
Tier 2 – Your Other Two Picks
Attraction | Why It’s Popular | Priority for Adults |
|---|---|---|
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Iconic drop ride with atmosphere for days. | High – Long afternoon lines. |
Toy Story Mania! | Competitive shooting gallery ride. | High – Fun factor + decent waits. |
Alien Swirling Saucers | Spinning family ride. | Low – Fun but short. |
Star Tours | Classic Star Wars simulator. | Low – Usually short waits. |
Shows (Beauty & the Beast, Frozen Sing-Along, Indy Stunt Show, Little Mermaid) | Stage entertainment. | Low – LL only guarantees entry. |
DATW Tip: Don’t waste early LLs on shows. Standby is usually fine.
How to Pick Your Tier 1 Ride
If You Have Early Entry
- Rope drop Slinky Dog Dash or Rise of the Resistance.
- Book Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway or Smugglers Run for your Tier 1.
If You Don’t Have Early Entry
- Book Slinky Dog Dash
Thrill Seeker Strategy
- Rope drop Rise of the Resistance.
- LL for Slinky or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Best Tier 2 Lightning Lane Choices
- Tower of Terror – Peak waits from late morning to early evening. LL is worth it unless you enjoy marinating in the Florida sun.
- Toy Story Mania! – Midday waits easily hit 60 minutes. LL gets you in and out fast.
- Everything else = fit in via standby or SRL.
Location-Based Booking Tip: HS is compact, but LLs work best in clusters:
- Toy Story Land: Slinky, Toy Story Mania, Alien Saucers.
- Echo Lake/Sunset: Tower, RnRC, Beauty & the Beast.
- Galaxy’s Edge: Rise, Smugglers Run, Oga’s Cantina.
Rise of the Resistance: Lightning Lane Single Pass
- Cost: $15–$25.
- Worth it: If you hate 90-minute waits or have a tight schedule.
- Skip it: If you have Early Entry and can rope drop.
DATW Tip: Don’t plan Rise right before Oga’s unless you want to risk missing your drink window; this ride is notorious for breaking down at the worst possible times.
Is Lightning Lane Worth It at Hollywood Studios?
Short answer: Yes, unless you have EEH or After Hours.
- Worth it: Short trips, thrill-heavy plans, hot weather.
- Skip it: Multiple HS days, heavy focus on shows and dining.
Sample Adult-Friendly Strategies
Rope Drop Ride-Heavy Morning
- Lightning Lane Pre-Selections: Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania.
- Lightning Lane Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance.
- Rope Drop: Rope drop Mickey & Minnie’s. This keeps you out of the Toy Story bottleneck while everyone else is stampeding toward Slinky Dog Dash.
- Single Rider Line: Smugglers Run and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
- Midday break: Brown Derby Lounge for drinks + apps.
Late Start + Drinks & Shows
- Sleep in (and skip Rope Drop).
- Lightning Lane Pre-Selections: Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania (for late morning or early afternoon).
- Lightning Lane Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance (mid-afternoon).
- Fit in rides between Oga’s, BaseLine, and Fantasmic.
Pro Tips for HS Lightning Lane Success
- Book earliest LL times in the morning to keep refreshing.
- Use Single Rider for RnRC & Smugglers Run to save LLs for other rides.
- Avoid booking outdoor thrill rides in late afternoon during summer storms.
- Stack LLs near your drink stops: Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge, BaseLine, Oga’s.
Conclusion
If you only remember one thing: Hollywood Studios is where Lightning Lane is most worth it. Prioritize Slinky, Runaway Railway, and Tower with your first three Multi Passes, buy a Single Pass for Rise if it’s in your budget, and fill in with shows or low-wait rides later.
Do that, and you’ll save hours in line. Skip it, and you’ll be staring at a 120-minute wait for Slinky while muttering about how much you spent on park tickets. Don’t let that be you.
For the full breakdown of how Lightning Lane works across all of Disney World, check out our Lightning Lane at Disney World guide. Heading to a different park next? We have Lightning Lane strategies for those, too: