Hollywood Studios: Mixed Ages

Who this is for: A family or small group with kids spanning different ages, maybe a 4 year old and a 10 year old, or a toddler and a teenager. You've got people who want thrill rides and people who can't ride them. Your group has conflicting needs under one roof.

The core tension: Hollywood Studios has the most height requirements of any Disney park. Tower of Terror (40"), Rise of the Resistance (40"), Slinky Dog Dash (38"), Millennium Falcon (38"), Rock 'n' Roller Coaster on Sunset Boulevard (being rebuilt as a Muppets themed coaster, check Disney's site for status), your group is going to split by height at some point during the day. The question isn't whether you'll separate, it's how you manage it so everyone gets what they want and nobody spends the whole day waiting for someone else.

The tool that saves you: Rider Swap. Learn it, use it, build your day around it.

The Height Requirement Reality Check

Before your trip, measure your kids. Not "about 38 inches," actually measure them. In shoes. The shoes they'll be wearing at the park.

Under 38": Toy Story Mania, Alien Swirling Saucers, Runaway Railway, shows, characters.
38": adds Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
40": adds Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror, Star Tours.
48": adds Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (when it reopens as a Muppets themed coaster, check Disney's site for status).

The borderline kid: If your child is right at 38" or 40", they will be measured at the ride entrance. Cast Members are precise. Don't argue, it's a safety requirement. If they're a quarter inch short, they're a quarter inch short. Have a backup plan so the disappointment doesn't ruin the day.

Rider Swap

Rider Swap (also called Rider Switch) is how mixed age families survive Hollywood Studios. If you're not using it, you're doing this park wrong.

How it works: Your whole party goes to the ride entrance. Tell the Cast Member you want Rider Swap. Group A (parent + kids who meet height) rides the ride. When Group A finishes, Group B (other parent + up to 2 guests) rides using the Rider Swap pass, essentially a Lightning Lane entry. The too short kids never wait in the big ride line.

The key advantage: The second group gets a near Lightning Lane experience without buying Lightning Lane. On a ride like Rise of the Resistance where standby waits can be among the longest at Disney World, this is huge.

Rider Swap plan for your day: Rise of the Resistance, Parent A and tall kids ride first, Parent B rides second, too short kids do Toy Story Mania or Alien Swirling Saucers nearby. Tower of Terror, Parent A and tall kids ride first, Parent B rides second, too short kids catch the Disney Villains show on Sunset Blvd or Runaway Railway. Slinky Dog Dash, Parent A and kids at 38"+ ride first, Parent B rides second, too short kids do Alien Swirling Saucers right next door. Millennium Falcon, Parent A and kids at 38"+ ride first, Parent B rides second, too short kids explore Galaxy's Edge, get blue milk.

Plan what the non riding group does during each Rider Swap in advance. "We'll figure it out" leads to standing around in the heat. Have a specific ride, show, or character meet designated for each swap.

What Everyone Can Do Together

These are the rides and experiences where your whole group stays together regardless of height. Build the skeleton of your day around these.

Toy Story Mania, 3D shooting gallery, no height requirement, fun for all ages, competitive older kids vs. younger kids is entertaining. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, trackless dark ride, no height requirement, colorful, funny, works for toddlers and teenagers. Alien Swirling Saucers, gentle spinner, no height requirement, little kids love it, older kids and teens may find it boring, manage expectations. Star Tours, flight simulator, 40" requirement, if your youngest meets it this is a great all ages ride, randomized scenarios mean older kids can ride it twice and get different experiences. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, live show, no age restriction, explosions and stunts entertain all ages, warn very young kids about loud noises. Disney Junior Play and Dance!, interactive show, aimed at preschoolers, your teen will survive, your 4 year old will be ecstatic. Fantasmic!, nighttime show, all ages but evaluate whether your youngest can handle a late, loud, dark show after a full day.

Getting There

Check park hours first: Go to disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars and find Hollywood Studios' opening time for your specific date. Early Entry for Disney resort guests begins 30 minutes before the official park opening time.

Hollywood Studios is simpler to reach than Magic Kingdom, you can drive directly to the parking lot and walk to the entrance. No ferries, no monorails, no secondary transportation. The lot is a single large surface lot, no trams. You walk from your car to the entrance. Take a photo of your row sign.

If driving: Check current pricing on the Disney website or app, parking rates change periodically. Preferred Parking costs more but puts you closer to the entrance. Annual Passholders get free standard parking. Disney Resort guests also park free.

If you're at a Disney resort: BoardWalk, Yacht & Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin can walk or take the boat, walking distance gives you control of timing. Skyliner resorts (Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation, Riviera) take the Skyliner gondola, kids love the gondola, can have lines at rope drop, strollers must be folded. All other resorts use the bus. Allow extra buffer for mixed age groups.

Be at the park gates before official opening. Mixed age groups move at the speed of the youngest member. Build in more buffer than you think.

Lightning Lane Priorities for Mixed Ages

Book at 7 a.m. Slinky Dog Dash first, longest wait for a ride the whole family (or most of it) can do. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run second (if kids meet 38"), long outdoor queue, Lightning Lane saves everyone. Toy Story Mania third, saves time for your everyone can ride anchor. Tower of Terror fourth, for the tall kids and adults, use with Rider Swap for maximum efficiency.

Rise of the Resistance is Lightning Lane Single Pass only. If you're doing Rider Swap, one Lightning Lane pass means both parents get to ride quickly. Worth the money for mixed age families. Lightning Lane pricing varies by date. Check the My Disney Experience app for current prices.

Rope Drop

If you're staying at a Disney resort (Early Entry): You have 30 minutes. The question is whether you keep the group together or split immediately.

Strategy A, keep everyone together (recommended for first timers): Slinky Dog Dash first (if everyone meets 38"), longest family friendly wait, do it now. Toy Story Mania second, no height requirement, quick, fun, keeps everyone happy. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway third, no height requirement, whole group together.

Strategy B, split at rope drop (experienced families): Thrill group (older kids + one parent) does Rise of the Resistance then Tower of Terror. Little kids group (younger kids + other parent) does Toy Story Mania then Alien Swirling Saucers then Runaway Railway. Meet back at a specific time and place (Toy Story Land entrance works well). Strategy B gets more done but requires coordination. Set a specific reunion time and place before you split.

If you're staying off property (no Early Entry): The headliner lines are already building from Early Entry guests.

If your youngest can ride Slinky Dog (38"+): Slinky Dog Dash first, everyone can ride together, gets the longest family friendly wait out of the way. Toy Story Mania second, next door, no height requirement, whole family together. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway third, no height requirement, fun for all ages.

If your youngest is under 38": Toy Story Mania first, no height requirement, the whole group rides together. Alien Swirling Saucers second, right next door, the little ones love it. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway third, no height requirement, then split for Rider Swap on Slinky Dog.

Morning (Park Open to 11:00 a.m.)

This is when you get the most done as a group. Crowds are building but manageable.

Phase 1, together (first 60 to 90 minutes): Slinky Dog Dash (if everyone meets 38") or Toy Story Mania (if not). Then the other Toy Story Land rides. Then Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.

Phase 2, split for Rider Swap (next 60 to 90 minutes): Rise of the Resistance, Rider Swap, non riding group does a character meet or show. Tower of Terror, Rider Swap, non riding group catches Disney Junior or another character.

Phase 3, regroup: Meet at a specific spot for a snack or early lunch.

Afternoon (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Option A, hotel break (strongly recommended if you have kids under 6): Leave by noon. The young kids need a break even if the older ones don't. This is not negotiable if your youngest is under 4. Pool time (works for all ages). Lunch. Naps for the little ones, screen time or pool for the older ones. Return between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

The older kid protest: "I don't need a nap!" They're right. But they do need their younger sibling to nap so the evening isn't a disaster. Frame it as pool time, not rest time.

Option B, stay in the park: If you can't leave, split the group by interest.

Little kids group: Disney Junior Play and Dance!, character meets (indoor: Olaf, Mickey & Minnie), re ride Toy Story Mania or Alien Swirling Saucers, table service lunch at Sci Fi Dine In (the fake cars keep all ages entertained).

Older kids and teens group (with a parent): Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Tours (multiple rides for different scenarios), Galaxy's Edge exploration (shops, blue milk, atmosphere), Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.

Set a reunion time and place for mid afternoon. Toy Story Land entrance, a specific restaurant, or the Indiana Jones theater are all good landmarks.

Evening

Return around 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. if you took a hotel break. Millennium Falcon (Rider Swap if needed). Galaxy's Edge exploration as a group. Dinner (Sci Fi Dine In or Woody's Lunch Box). Fantasmic! if the youngest can handle it. Or head out after dinner on a high note.

Dining for Mixed Ages

Quick service: Woody's Lunch Box in Toy Story Land, kids love the theming, totchos, grilled cheese, lunch box tarts, something for everyone. Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy's Edge, indoor AC, themed environment keeps older kids interested, decent food. Backlot Express near Star Tours, indoor seating, standard options, less crowded, good fallback. Ronto Roasters in Galaxy's Edge, quick wraps, older kids and adults like it, younger kids may be pickier.

Table service (reservation recommended): Sci Fi Dine In Theater, eating in fake cars entertains all ages, the 4 year old loves the car, the 12 year old loves the B movie clips, reservation strongly recommended. 50's Prime Time Cafe, the "mom" scolding schtick works better with older kids who get the joke, younger kids may be confused. Hollywood & Vine, check for character dining availability, if Disney Junior characters are appearing this is gold for the young ones while the older kids get a decent meal.

When the Plan Breaks

"The older kids want to do Rise of the Resistance and the little one is melting down." Split. One parent takes the older kids to Rise. The other parent takes the little one to a quiet spot, character meet, Disney Junior show, or just a bench with a snack and a favorite toy. Don't drag a melting down child into a long queue. Rider Swap exists for exactly this reason.

"My kids are fighting over what to do next." Alternate. One kid picks, then the other kid picks. Write it down if needed. This is basic but it works because it sets expectations: "This ride is your sister's pick. The next one is yours."

"We're spending more time walking between Rider Swaps than riding." Cluster your Rider Swap rides. Do Rise of the Resistance and then Tower of Terror back to back (both require Rider Swap for the same kids). Do Slinky Dog and Millennium Falcon back to back. Minimize the walking between splits.

"It's raining and half my group wants to leave." Indoor options for the whole group: Toy Story Mania, Runaway Railway, Star Tours (if height allows), Disney Junior show, a table service restaurant for a long sit down meal. Rain usually passes within an hour, don't panic.

"The teenager is bored." Send them to Galaxy's Edge. Seriously. The shops, the atmosphere, blue milk, Oga's Cantina (non alcoholic drinks available for minors), Galaxy's Edge is the one area of the park that teenagers consistently find cool. Let them explore with a phone and a meeting time.

End of Night

If you drove: Walk to your car. No trams, no ferries. The simplest exit of any Disney park. If you're leaving after Fantasmic!, expect a crowd surge, either leave a few minutes before the show ends or wait a bit and browse the shops to let the rush thin.

If you're at a Disney resort: BoardWalk, Yacht & Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin, walk back, close, no lines. Skyliner resorts, Skyliner, can have a line after Fantasmic! but moves fast. Bus resorts, bus, lines can be long at park close, wait a bit for the rush to clear if you can.