Top Thrill Rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Hooray for Hollywood. The focus at Disney's Hollywood Studios may be movies, movie stars, and Hollywood glitz, but with the side-by-side thrillers, the Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, the Studios offer plenty of thrills as well. With the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there are some exciting and (mildly) thrilling attractions to get guests' adrenaline pumping as well.

If you are seeking thrills beyond the Studios park, check out the top Walt Disney World thrill rides. If thrills are NOT your thing (or the thing of someone you know who is Disney World-bound), consider heading over to our useful (and somewhat cheeky) Disney's Hollywood Studios for wimps.

Let’s run down the attractions, from wild to mild.

01 of 08

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Address

351 S Studio Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

It features a great story based on the classic "The Twilight Zone" television anthology series. But the thrills, including repeated freefalls down and blasts up the haunted elevator shafts, make the Tower of Terror ride one of the most intense rides at Disney World. The freaky "fifth dimension" sequence, in which the elevator cars move horizontally, are especially effective in building anticipation (and generating sweaty palms).

Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 7
Multiple freefall drops and launches, sensations of weightlessness, psychological thrills.
Height Requirement: 40 inches
Location: Sunset Boulevard

02 of 08

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney World — Disney

Address

351 S Studio Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

While there are no huge butterflies-in-your-belly drops or soaring heights, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster does feature an attention-grabbing 0-to-57-mph launch in 2.8 seconds. The "limousine" trains immediately enter an inversion, but it's hard to tell upside down from right-side-up in the darkened ride building. The Aerosmith themeing, including pulsating onboard audio tracks from the bad boys of Boston, adds to the thrills.

Thrill Scale: 6.5
Fast launch, inversions, darkness.
Height Requirement: 40 inches
Location: Sunset Boulevard

03 of 08

Slinky Dog Dash

Address

Disney's Hollywood Studios, 351 S Studio Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

Opened as part of the new Toy Story Land in 2018, Slinky Dog Dash is the featured attraction. As a "family" coaster, however, it doesn’t deliver too much in the way of thrills. It is similar in height, speed, and G-forces as the relatively mild Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at the Magic Kingdom. Still, it is a coaster, and a launched one at that (with two launches), so there are some wild (but, you know, mild wild) moments.

Thrill Scale: 5
Two magnetic launches, some mild airtime hills
Height requirement: 38 inches
Location: Toy Story land

04 of 08

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Address

351 S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

Introduced in 2020 at the park’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Rise of the Resistance is a wildly ambitious and compelling attraction. In fact, it lands at the top of our list for the country’s best theme park attraction. It is not designed primarily for thrills, and most of the attraction is accessible to guests of varying thrill tolerance levels. But there is one (relatively brief) moment that can be challenging for those who are thrill-averse. You can learn more and determine whether you could handle Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in our comprehensive overview of the attraction.

Thrill Scale: 4.5
Motion simulator and drop ride thrills
Height Requirement: 40 inches
Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Continue to 5 of 8 below.

05 of 08

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

Interior view of Milllennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run at Disneyland showing seating and controls — Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Address

351 S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

Another Galaxy’s Edge attraction, Smuggler’s Run puts guests into the cockpit of the famed Millennium Falcon. They get to participate in a mission in the highly interactive experience. Each ride is different, but regardless of the actions of the crew, it never gets excessively thrilling.

Thrill Scale: 4.5
Motion simulator thrills
Height Requirement: 38 inches
Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

06 of 08

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

Address

351 S Studio Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

One of the first motion simulator theme park attractions, Star Tours got a makeover in 2011 and is now even better. It capitalizes on George Lucas' popular mythology to blast riders into a galaxy far, far away. Thrill-seekers may be less than thrilled with the relatively mild ride, but the immersive themeing is quite compelling. And the randomly generated scenes makes Star Tours eminently re-rideable.

Thrill Scale: 4.5
Typical motion simulator thrills
Height Requirement: 40 inches
Location: Backlot

07 of 08

Toy Story Mania

If you are seeking thrills beyond the Studios park, check out the top Walt Disney World thrill rides. If thrills are NOT your thing (or the thing of someone you know who is Disney World-bound), consider heading over to Disney's Hollywood Studios for wimps. — Disney

Address

351 S Studio Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

The only thing remotely thrilling about Toy Story Mania is the fairly gentle spinning that the vehicles engage in as they transition from scene to scene. The focus of the interactive attraction is on the game play experience. Riders are issued plunger-like shooting devices and try to rack up points by hitting 3-D targets. It's more cute, fun, and competitive—especially competitive—than thrilling.

Thrill Scale: 2
Mild spinning
Height Requirement: None
Location: Toy Story Land

08 of 08

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Address

351 S S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 407-939-5277

Web Visit website

From the name of the attraction, you might assume that Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a thrill-filled ride, perhaps something along the lines of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom. But it’s not a roller coaster. It is an innovative dark ride that cleverly uses projection mapping technology to transport guests into the manic cartoon world of Mickey Mouse and his friends. Instead of screaming, you’ll be laughing at the antics. And you’ll be wowed by the Imagineering achievement.

Thrill Scale: 1.5
Mild simulated effects
Height Requirement: None
Location: Hollywood Boulevard