The FastPass+ system is pretty awesome, however, it is pretty complex and difficult to get your head around. It is also easy to get wrong and end up getting FastPass+ Bookings that are less than ideal. The Popularity of the System means you really need to have your stuff together ready for when your 30 or 60 Day Window comes around. Check out our full FastPass+ Guide for how to use the system and how to get the best of it. In this post, we are focussing entirely on the FastPasses available at Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s
Disney’s Hollywood studios use a Tier System for their FastPass+ which is both confusing and annoying as you can’t bag a FastPass on all the BEST rides you will probably have t do the full standby line on the day on at least 1 or 2 rides which could be upward of 2 hours! However, our Guide To Disney’s Hollywood Studios Fastpass+ Tiers 2021 shows you how to et the best out of the FastPass and get on as many top Rides as possible!
How Do the Hollywood Studios FastPass+ Tiers Work?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios FastPasses are grouped into Tiers and you can only book a single FastPass from Tier 1 and then Two from Tier two. This makes your tier 1 choice so vital to get right. The choices have just changed due to the 3 new Rides that have opened at the Park, And really we think for the better, It used to be really hard to choose your Tier 1 Fastpass At DHS
For More information on the FastPass+ System in General:
Rise Of The Resistance – No FastPass
Before we get started let’s just mention that Rise of The Resistance is not part of the FastPass System yet. For now, you need to use the un-necessarily complex Boarding Group System. This is likely to change in the near future and it will be added as a Tier 1 Attraction but as for when, Only Dinsey knows that, and we are not even sure they know.
Tier 1 Attractions – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens March 4, 2020
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Single Rider
Which to Choose?
Once Mickey and Minnie’s Railway opens this is going to be a tough choice. All three are likely to have huge queues and all three will sell out of on-the-day passes. This means three BIG must-do Rides and only one FastPass to choose, so two Big Queues!
But really it’s got to be Mickey And Minnie’s Runaway Railway. When this opens it is going to attract a lot of interest and queues are likely to be 2-3 hours, to begin with. It is also going to draw attention away from the Slinky Dog Dash. Smugglers run is also the best of the rides to actually queue for as well. The theming of the Queue area as you wind around the Millenium Falcon is far more interesting than the other two.
We suggest, booking your Mickey and Minnie Railway FastPass, then getting to the park early to snag your Rise Of The Resistance Boarding Group. The head Straight to Toy Story Land to jump on the Slinky Dog. You will probably not be alone but still, this is your best shot. Then you just have to worry about Smugglers run. A quick dash over there after Slinky may reveal moderate queues and if it has got unbearable, you can always use the Single Rider Line!
Tier 2 Attractions – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – Single Rider
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Toy Story Mania!
- Fantasmic!
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Disney Junior Dance Party!
Yep, there is a lot however some are a waste and some are for rides that usually have pretty low queues. Let remove the ones we don’t recommend and just leave you with the best “value” options. The others you can normally bag on the day, after your initial 3, will only have moderate queues or are just bad choices like Fantasmic*
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – Single Rider
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Toy Story Mania!
Which to Choose?
Ok, From the off let’s lose Rock And Roller Coaster, it’s a great choice but the single rider line can get you on really quick and the Queues are usually less than the others. You can Drop Star Tours too as really With all the other Starwars Attractions if you miss this you would not need to lose sleep, besides it should pop-up on the day.
This leaves Toy Story Mania and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror as your 2 preferred Tier 2 FastPass Choices
*Fantasmic – This is a bad choice as the show is not until very late on in the evening. If you chose Fantasmic, that means you will not use your three choices up until the showtime and will not be able to select ANY on the Day FastPass Choices. The Other shows Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, and Disney Junior Dance Party! are all really easy to get into on the day without massive waits.
Summary
Remember unless you are booking on a really quiet day, competition for the high-end rides is fierce, you can easily log on and find your Desired FastPass Choices gone, even if you log on at exactly 7:00 am EST and have a 60 Day window! See here for how you got beat to it!
It is important to have a few back-up options then, so while we give you our top tips, make sure you have some backup choices in case you get the dreaded “unavailable”
Priority Choices And Strategy
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Tier 1
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Tier 2
- Toy Story Mania! – Tier 2
Hit the Park early, very early as you have to contend with the awful Boarding group System if you want any chance of riding the Rise Of The resistance. As you are at Rope Drop, head straight for the Slinky Dog Dash, Ride with the lowest queue time of the day, now if possible, make the 300m charge to Smugglers run. The Queues will already be growing, but still, it’s not going to get any better than now.
Now you can start picking off the other rides and attractions and using you initial 3 FastPasses
Back Up’s
Hollywood Studios is a hot property right now and probably the most popular theme park at Disney World at the minute, with Galaxies Edge and the New Mikey and Minnie Railway it has really transformed itself, as such getting your preferred Fast Passes may be difficult. Fast Passes for Mickey and Minnie are highly likely to be sold unavailable before you get your chance to pick them!
It is in that case prudent to have some back-up options on the go, ready so you can quickly switch to these should your preferred choices not be available.
Tier 1
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Single Rider
Tier 2
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – Single Rider
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Any other
Always Remember to try and get the FastPass as early as possible as once you have used all three you can begin booking any on the day passes.
Alternatives
Our Plan works really well but it only works if you hit rope drop and actually want to go on the biggest, scariest rides in the park. If this doesn’t fit your plan try these alternatives
Arriving late
If you are arriving late, then you have already probably missed out on the Rise of the Resistance. You need to be in the park early to grab that Boarding Group. Really our picks do not change here only the strategy, still do your best to get the Mickey and Minnie Railway FastPass (slinky dog if you can’t), you are just going to have to queue for the Slinky Dog (unless an on the day pops up). If Smugglers run is over 90mins then seriously consider the Single rider queue. We have to assume you are not that into StarWars stuff as really, you would have got here earlier!
The same applies to the tier 2, Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania are the BIG ques and the one you want to skip, everything else has shorter queues and might well have on the day fast passes.
Young Kids
Hollywood Studios has always been considered a “half-day” park, with not much for the kids, but we never really agreed with that, and now with Galaxies Edge, Toy Story Land and the Mickey and Minnie Railway it is packed with things to do for kids of all ages, although as far as rides go it’s slim pickings!.
Star Wars is always a big draw, but the very young may be less interested, but there is also strong Frozen Presence, the amazing Sing-A-Long and the Chance to meet Olaf, Kids of all ages love Toy Story World and the Alien Swirling Saucers are fun for young kids, although the 32″(81cm) height restriction is unfortunate.
The Shows are the big draw for young kids here, Disney Jr Dance Party, Indiana Jones, Jedi Training, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Frozen Sing-A-Long, and Beauty and the Beast live on stage. Most of these do not require Fast Passes and are available on the day anyway so stick to the rides as long as they are suitable for your little ones
Scared of the Big Stuff
If you are not interested in the two big thrill rides, fear not there is still LOADS to do at the park, Slinky Dog and Mickey and Minne’s Mine Train are both very tame fun-based rollercoasters and the Starwars rides are no in the least bit scary, so it’s just the Tower of Terror and the Rock And Roller Coaster to avoid.
So simply swap out the Tower of Terror Tier 2 FastPass for any other Tier two that you fancy, there are no really bad choices, apart from Fantasmic (not because it is a bad show! but because it puts your fast pass late in the day), just choose something that interests you the most. You are probably better with a ride rather than a show, however.
Have Your Say
What are your favorite Tactics for getting the best out of Disney’s Hollywood Studios FastPass+ Tiers? Have you tried our plan of attack or do you do something completely different? Let us know all your successes and failures? If you have any questions then please let us know below.
You May Also Like:
- FastPass+ Basics
- FastPass+ Tip and Tricks
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ride Guide
- How To Get Difficult FastPass+ Reservations