Hollywood Studios is one of Walt Disney World’s most popular parks — and for good reason.
There’s a lot to see and do. But, how well do you really know each section of the park?
Yes, there’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, 2 of the busiest sections of Hollywood Studios, but what about the rest?
There are 9 lands of Hollywood Studios. That’s right, 9!
Each of these areas have their own special attractions, entertainment, dining, characters, and so much more.
So, let’s take a deep dive into each one and explore if you’re missing anything.
Sunset Boulevard is a popular area. As soon as you step on the boulevard you see the park’s icon (and one of the best rides in all of Disney World) — The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
There is also tons of dining and shopping, a show featuring Belle, a beloved nighttime spectacular, and another ride that will have you singing Aerosmith for the rest of the day.
Let’s take a walk down Sunset Boulevard and explore everything this land has to offer!
Overview
- Location: Hollywood Studios
- Restaurants: 10 Quick Service (Ice Cream Stand, Sunshine Day Bar, Anaheim Produce, Rosie’s All-American Café, Catalina Eddie’s, Fairfax Faire, Hollywood Scoops, Joffrey’s, KRNR Rock Station, Pretzel Palooza)
- Shops: Beverly Sunset Boutique, Legends of Hollywood, Once Upon a Time, Sunset Ranch Pins and Souvenirs, Tower Hotel Gifts, Rock Around the Shop
- Entertainment: Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage, Fantasmic!
- Attractions: Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Characters: None
- Popular snacks and drinks: Giant doughnut (Joffrey’s)
- Not-to-miss: Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage, Fantasmic!, Goofy and Max
Sunset Boulevard Map
Dining
Sunset Boulevard doesn’t have any Table Service restaurants, but there are plenty of Quick Service options to choose from — 10, to be exact.
Quick Service Restaurants
Ice Cream Stand
As soon as you step on Sunset Boulevard, you’ll see an ice cream stand across from Trolley Car Café (aka Starbucks).
It’s kind of hidden around the corner, so keep your eyes peeled.
You can also order bottled beverages, beer, wine, cotton candy, and more here.
Sunshine Day Bar
As you make your way down Sunset, you’ll come across the Sunshine Day Bar.
This is a great spot to grab an alcoholic beverage.
There’s usually a variety of beer on tap, along with a range of specialty cocktails.
Anaheim Produce
Next to the Sunshine Day Bar, there is Anaheim Produce.
This is a small outdoor stand serving beer, frozen alcoholic drinks, bottled beverages, frozen lemonade, fresh fruit, and snacks (like Mickey Pretzels).
Rosie’s All-American Café
Rosie’s All-American Café is an outdoor Quick Service location that’s perfect for lunch or dinner — especially if you want something fast.
Rosie’s serves hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, a plant-based lobster roll, desserts, fountain beverages, coffee, and alcoholic drinks.
The dining spot is located next to a giant outdoor seating area, as well.
Mobile Order is available here, which we recommend using. You can check out the menu online or in the My Disney Experience app.
Catalina Eddie’s
Next to Rosie’s All-American Café is Catalina Eddie’s, another Quick Service stand.
Here, the menu is a bit limited, but you can order (even Mobile Order) pizza and a caesar salad with chicken.
There are both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages featured.
Fairfax Faire
Towards the end of Sunset Boulevard there is Fairfax Fare.
Mobile Order is available here, where you can order a variety of hot dogs. There is also a plant-based option on the menu.
Fairfax Fare also serves desserts, non-alcoholic drinks, beer, and cocktails.
Hollywood Scoops
Next door to Fairfax Faire is Hollywood Scoops, an ice cream stand!
Hollywood Scoops is even open for breakfast and serves a Mickey-shaped waffle platter.
As for ice cream, there are sundaes, shakes, and several ice cream flavors, like chocolate, strawberry, cookies ‘n cream, and more.
Mobile Order is not available here.
Joffrey’s
Located near the Tower of Terror gift shop, there is a Joffrey’s stand.
The standard menu is available here.
From a range of coffee drinks, to iced teas (the peach is delicious), to the giant doughnuts (a must!), you can’t beat a purchase at Joffrey’s.
Tip for Annual Passholders: you can get a 20 percent discount on regularly priced food and non-alcoholic beverages at all Joffrey locations across Walt Disney World.
KRNR Rock Station
KRNR Rock Station is near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
This is a Quick Service stand offering frozen snacks, tortilla chips with cheese, specialty beverages with and without alcoholic (some are also frozen), and more.
You cannot Mobile Order here.
Pretzel Palooza
Directly across from Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a pretzel stand called “Pretzel Palooza.”
You can find Mickey Pretzels, other snacks (like ice cream), and beverages.
Seating Areas
There are several seating areas along Sunset Boulevard. The most popular is in the Sunset Ranch Market area, where Rosie’s All-American Café and Catalina Eddie’s are located.
Some of the tables are covered with a roof or umbrellas.
There are also plenty of beverages on Sunset Boulevard for guests.
Another popular spot is a small section of tables with umbrellas between Legends of Hollywood and Trolley Car Café.
Shops
There are a lot of shops on Sunset Boulevard, including stores that have Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster merchandise.
Beverly Sunset Boutique
Beverly Sunset Boutique has a range of merchandise, including all kinds of Pixar-themed items.
From toys, to plushes, to socks, to shirts, you’ll find a variety of goodies here.
Legends of Hollywood
Legends of Hollywood is a big store offering a range of items, including Loungefly bags, hats, Minnie ears, dresses, and so much more.
There are a lot of cute things to buy here.
Plus, there is a Pandora store!
The Pandora section of the store is closest to Trolley Car Café.
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time is another big shop on Sunset Boulevard.
You can find pretty much everything here, including a wall of Minnie ears.
This is also a good shop to visit if you’re a graphic tees person.
The newest collections, along with limited-time items, are also usually sold here.
Sunset Ranch Pins and Souvenirs
Directly next to Anaheim Produce, there is a small souvenir stand called “Sunset Ranch Pins and Souvenirs.”
You can find a variety of items, including, you guessed it, pins!
Tower Hotel Gifts
Tower Hotel Gifts is the store you exit into once you walk off Tower of Terror.
Even if you don’t ride the attraction, you can walk around to the back of the building to shop. The entrance is across from Joffrey’s.
This store sells Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise, along with Tower of Terror items.
You can’t beat the souvenirs, including the perfectly-themed Minnie ears.
There’s also a portable phone charging station (where you can swap and purchase a FuelRods).
Rock Around the Shop
Rock Around the Shop is located at the exit of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
You don’t have to ride the roller coaster to access the store. There is a sign and hallway that leads to the gift store for non-riders.
This is the place to visit if you want music-related items, including Aerosmith merchandise.
There are other items here too, including standard Disney apparel and accessories.
There’s also a portable phone charging station (where you can swap and purchase a FuelRods) inside here.
Attractions
There are 2 very popular attractions located on Sunset Boulevard, along with a cute show that is perfect for families, little ones, and if you simply need a break from the heat.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is not only the icon of Hollywood Studios, but a classic attraction that hovers over the park in all the right ways.
Here, you board a service elevator and drop 13 stories. You never know how many times you’ll drop, too!
It’s a really great and well-themed ride, but, of course, it might scare some kids.
Keep in mind that the wait does grow here, especially if only one side of the attraction is running.
In addition to the Standby Line, there is a Lightning Lane that guests can use with the purchase of Genie+.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a fast and intense roller coaster located next to Tower of Terror.
The ride is themed after Aerosmith, meaning you get to listen to the rock band’s music as you ride. You never know what song you’ll get, either.
This is another ride at Disney World that little ones may not like or even those who are prone to motion sickness.
Why? It’s an indoor roller coaster (aka in the dark) that has twist, turns, and even goes upside down.
There is both a Standby Line and Genie+ Lightning Lane available.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy can be found past Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
This is a cute, albeit very short show, starring Lightning McQueen, Mater, and more Cars characters.
The indoor theater is a good spot for a rest, but know you won’t be sitting long as the show is only about 10 minutes.
If you’re looking for time-to-kill, this is a good choice.
That said, the show has a good message, is fun, and little ones will love it.
Characters
While not an “official” character meet and greet or interaction, these characters from the Cars films are stationed back by Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy for photo ops.
They are also behind ropes, so you can’t touch them. But, you are more than welcome to take a photo with them!
Entertainment
Sunset Boulevard has some great entertainment, including a stage show with Belle, nighttime projections on Tower of Terror, and one of the best nighttime spectaculars at Disney World starring Mickey.
Beauty & the Beast – Live on Stage
Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage tells the story through dialogue, song, and dance of Beauty and the Beast.
This is a great place to see the characters from the movie in action, including Belle, the Beast, Gaston, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere, and Cogsworth.
You can watch the show at the Theater of the Stars amphitheater, which is located between Tower of Terror and Once Upon a Time.
There are showtimes throughout the day, which you can find in the My Disney Experience app.
If you purchase Genie+, you can use a selection here, but we don’t recommend that. It’s not necessary, especially since there is plenty of covered seating.
Fantasmic! (returning November 3)
Fantasmic! is Hollywood Studios’ main nighttime musical spectacular featuring a slew of Disney characters that float by on boats.
Mickey is the star of the show as he dreams about the battle between good and evil.
This really is one of the best nighttime shows on property. Plus, it’s the only one where you can see a 40-foot-tall dragon.
The show takes place in a large outdoor theater and you get great views from pretty much anywhere.
You definitely want to make sure you plan ahead when it comes to seeing the show and grabbing seats. Fantasmic! is very popular.
In the past, Disney reserved a large chunk of the seating in the theater for FastPass+. Fantasmic hasn’t reopened since FastPass+ was retired and Genie+ was added, but we expect there to continue to be a significant number of seats set aside for Genie+.
We do know that Fantasmic! Dining Packages are returning, and those are a great option for anyone looking for a guaranteed good seat for the show.
When it does reopen, however you plan to watch (standby, Genie+, with a dining package), we recommend that you sit toward the middle or back of each sections for the best views (and to avoid getting wet).
Sunset Season Greetings
During the holidays (usually between mid-November through early January), Tower of Terror transforms into the holiday spirit with “Sunset Seasons Greetings.”
Sunset Seasons Greetings uses the same projection technology you can find being used on Cinderella Castle and the Tree of Life, during the holidays.
These are adorable little shows with the Tower of Terror being changed into things like a Muppets’ gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle, and a Dickensian village from Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
Activities
While there really aren’t many activities on Sunset Boulevard, there are plenty of coin press machines to find.
Coin Press Machines
Here are all of the coin presses and their locations:
- Next to ATM (around corner from the Ice Cream Stand)
- By restrooms between Legends of Hollywood and Once Upon a Time
- Between Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge and Beverly Sunset Boutique
- Inside Once Upon a Time
- Near Tower Photo (Tower of Terror exit)
- Next to Joffrey’s by Tower of Terror
- Near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster restrooms
- Inside Rock Around the Shop
- Near Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Disney PhotoPass Photographer
You should be able to find multiple PhotoPass photographers all along Sunset Boulevard.
Just look for the Cast Member with the professional camera — you can’t miss them.
Most likely, the PhotoPass photographer will be right outside Legends of Hollywood.
You might even find one farther down closer to Tower of Terror. Sometimes, a photographer is also in front of the entryway (the ride vehicle that’s upside down) that leads you to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Don’t forget to ask if they have any fun Magic Shots!
Remember: unless you have Memory Maker, Memory Maker Day One, or a PhotoPass entitlement with your Annual Pass, you will have to pay to download or print these photos.
Restrooms
There are several sets of restrooms along Sunset Boulevard.
They include…
Between Legends of Hollywood and Once Upon a Time:
In front of Tower of Terror:
By Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (look for the coin press and the restrooms are in the back somewhat hidden):
Next to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy:
Sunset Boulevard Checklist
*****************
What’s your favorite thing about Sunset Boulevard at Hollywood Studios? Tell us in the comments!