Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Rides, Restaurants, Characters

Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios theme parks are arguably the two most popular theme parks not only in Walt Disney World, but in Florida. Magic Kingdom was the first Disney World park, and has some of the most iconic rides and of course, Cinderella's Castle. However, many guests flock to Hollywood Studios for the more intense rides such as Tower of Terror and to experience Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Our comparison of Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios seeks to answer which is best!

Both parks have so many unique experiences to offer, and it can be very hard to compare the two parks. However, in this article I will look at Magic Kingdom vs. Hollywood Studios in several categories including rides and attractions, dining, character meet and greets, shows and entertainment, location to Disney World resorts, and overall atmosphere. If you are in the unfortunate situation of having to choose between which of these two parks to visit, hopefully this article will help!

I am a Disney World annual passholder, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, and Florida local. I visit each of Disney World's theme parks on a regular basis and often choose between which park to visit depending on my personal interests or the interests of others in my group. Although most of the categories will be based on your own preference, I will also give my own opinion on which park is better in each category overall based on my frequent visits to Disney World.

Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Rides and Attractions

Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are the top choices if you want to experience Disney World's best rides and attractions. Although Hollywood Studios may have more intense rides, Magic Kingdom definitely has way more rides and attractions overall and will likely cater to more guests in your family, especially kids. Let's take a look at the rides and attractions at these iconic parks.

Magic Kingdom – Rides and Attractions

Magic Kingdom has the most rides and attractions of any Disney World theme park. It is home to some of the most iconic rides, such as Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Railroad, and the upcoming Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening in summer 2024. This park is full of nostalgia as well as newer attractions that everyone will be very excited to experience.

The full list of rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom include:

• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstomer
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Casey Jr. Splash ‘N' Soak Station
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• The Hall of Presidents
• Haunted Mansion
• ‘it's a small world”
• Jungle Cruise
• Liberty Square Riverboat
• Mad Tea Party
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Main Street Vehicles
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Tiana's Bayou Adventure (Coming Summer 2024) – formerly Splash Mountain
• Tom Sawyer Island
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• TRON Lightcycle / Run
• Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney Railroad – Stations in Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Main Street, U.S.A.
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
• Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
• Country BearJamboree (Closed for Refurbishment)

Of the over 20 amazing rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom, our favorites include: 

• TRON Lightcycle / Run: Magic Kingdom's newest ride, TRON Lightcycle / Run is a perfect addition to the park, especially for thrill seekers. The roller coaster takes guests on a motorcycle-style bike train which includes a launch of nearly 60 miles per hour. This futuristic ride is perfect for Tomorrowland and is one of our favorite rides at Magic Kingdom. If you want to ride TRON, you must use a virtual queue or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane to ride. Even the experience in the queue itself is worth experiencing this attraction.

• Haunted Mansion: One of our favorite slow, dark rides at Magic Kingdom is the Haunted Mansion. This iconic ride takes guests through a haunted mansion in a “doom buggy” where they encounter Madame Leota, the Hatbox ghost, and 999 happy haunts. Although this may be considered a classic ride, there are still a lot of pretty cool effects that all will likely enjoy. 

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Lastly, one of our favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom is Pirates of the Caribbean. This boat ride through Jack Sparrow's pirate adventures has both nostalgia and thrills. Many also argue the smell of the water inside this attraction is one of the best scents in all of Disney World! This ride is very family-friendly and I am sure everyone in your group will enjoy this classic attraction.

Hollywood Studios – Rides and Attractions

Although Hollywood Studios doesn't have nearly as many attractions at Magic Kingdom, some might argue they are better quality than Magic Kingdom. Most of their attractions, such as Rise of the Resistance, use some of the newest technologies that make you feel immersed in the storytelling of each attraction. 

The full list of rides and attractions at Hollywood Studios include:

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Toy Story Mania!
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie

It's very hard to choose our favorite rides at Hollywood Studios, but the below are definitely ones you shouldn't miss:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: If you've ridden this attraction, you know why it's always at the top of everyone's list of favorite rides and attractions at Hollywood Studios. This attraction is amazing whether or not you are a Star Wars fan. From the first pre-show with BB-8 and Rey, to the climatic trackless ride escaping the First Order, this ride showcases Disney's incredible imagineering. This attraction is also very fun to experience as there is a lot of cast member interactions which makes you really feel as if you are part of the story.

• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway: Despite many being upset by the Great Movie Ride's replacement, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway is a very entertaining and cute trackless ride that is fun for the whole family. It was a long time coming for Disney World to add a ride starring Mickey and Minnie, and we think this ride fits very well at Hollywood Studios and is one of our favorites. 

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: For many guests, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the most intense ride at Disney World due to the sudden drops and upwards launches throughout the ride. I agree that it is pretty intense, but the theming, queue, and pre-show for this ride makes it one of the best at Hollywood Studios. It is Hollywood Studio's iconic symbol for a reason, standing tall at 199 feet at the end of Sunset Boulevard, it's hard to miss visually and also hard to miss experience the attraction for yourself.

Overall, this category is the the only one which I will call a draw. Comparing the rides and attractions between Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios is nearly impossible and I would say it truly depends on your preference of rides. I often go back and forth on deciding on the best rides and attractions at Disney World parks. They are all incredible and unique in their own way!

Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Dining

Not only do Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have incredible rides and attractions, but there are equally great restaurants with delicious food and entertaining themes. In addition to the below restaurants, both Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom offer dining packages and dessert parties that you can pair with their nighttime fireworks show, including:

• Magic Kingdom: The Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party event gives guests prime seating to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks show as well as delight in a variety of desserts, cheeses, and refreshing beverages (including beer and wine for guests 21 and older). This is a paid event where guests can choose to enjoy their treats before, during, or after the fireworks show.

• Hollywood Studios: If you plan on dining and watching the Fantasmic! show at Hollywood Studios, consider a Fantasmic! Dining Package. This allows guests to choose an appetizer or dessert and one entrée at participating restaurants along with a non-alcoholic beverage. The package also includes a voucher for guaranteed seating at Fantasmic! in a reserved area.

Magic Kingdom – Dining

The full list of all dining options, including quick service, kiosks, table service, and character meals at Magic Kingdom are listed below. You can also find the best Magic Kingdom restaurants ranked here.

• Quick Service: Casey's Corner, Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café, The Friar's Nook, The Lunching Pad, Peco Bill Tall Tale and Inn Café, Pinocchio Village Haus, and Tortuga Tavern
• Kiosks/Stands: Aloha Isle, Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies, Cheshire Café, Cool Ship, Gaston's Tavern, Golden Oak Outpost, Liberty Square Market, Main Street Bakery, Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Prince Eric's Village Market, Sleepy Hollow, Storybrook Treats, Sunshine Tree Terrace, and Westward Ho
• Table Service: Be Our Guest, The Diamond Horseshoe, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Plaza Restaurant, and Tony's Town Square Restaurant
• Character Meals: Cinderella's Royal Table (dine with various princesses) and The Crystal Palace (dine with friends from Winnie the Pooh)

Hollywood Studios – Dining

• Quick Service: ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Catalina Eddie's, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, Dockside Diner, Kat Saka's Kettle, PizzeRizzo, Ronto Roasters, Rosie's All-American Café, and Woody's Lunch Box
• Kiosks/Stands: Anaheim Produce, Epic Eats, Fairfax Fare, Hollywood Scoops, KRNR The Rock Station, Market, Milk Stand, Neighborhood Bakery, and The Trolley Car Café (with Starbucks)
• Table Service: 50's Prime Time Café, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• Character Meals: Hollywood & Vine (dine with classic Disney characters)
• Bars/Lounges: BaseLine Tap House, The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge, Oga's Cantina, and Tune-In Lounge

Overall, both parks have great dining options for visiting guests. I would have to say the biggest perk that Hollywood Studios has over Magic Kingdom is their bars and lounges and slightly better quick service and table services restaurants. Although for most it is not a deal breaker, it is very hard to find alcohol in Magic Kingdom as they only serve it to guests dining at table service restaurants. Hollywood Studios has several lounges serving delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at BaseLine Tap House and Oga's Cantina, which are two of my favorite lounges in all of Disney World. Additionally, Hollywood Studio's quick service and table service restaurants have better overall food and theming in my opinion. 

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Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Character Meet and Greets

Both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have tons of great opportunities to meet various characters. Magic Kingdom has more characters from classic Disney movies including various princesses, Mickey Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh. Hollywood Studios mainly offers meet and greets with Pixar characters and Star Wars characters. Again, it is likely based on preference of characters, but there will definitely be several worth meeting during your trip to either park.

Magic Kingdom – Character Meet and Greets

Below the full list of character meet and greets at Magic Kingdom:

• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
• Meet Characters from Aladdin in Adventureland
• Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Daring Disney Pals at Circus Stars at Pete's Silly Slideshow
• Meet Dashing Disney Pals at Circus Stars at Pete's Silly Sideshow
• Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
• Meet Mirabel at Fairytale Garden
• Meet Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at The Thotful Spot

Hollywood Studios – Character Meet and Greets

The list below lists all characters guests can meet at Hollywood Studios:

• Meet Ariel at Walt Disney Presents
• Meet Disney Junior Pals in Animation Courtyard
• Meet Disney Stars (Mickey and Minnie) at Red Carpet Dreams
• Meet Edna Mode at the Edna Mode Experiences
• Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
• Meet Pixar Pals at Pixar Plaza
• Meet the Toys in Toy Story Land
• Meet BB-8, Darth Vader, and Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay

Overall, Magic Kingdom will likely have more characters that you and your family would want to meet as they have more of the classic and well known characters. However, for Pixar and Star Wars fans, you will likely disagree and say Hollywood Studios has better meet and greets. I think it definitely depends on guests' preference, but either way there are some great characters to take photos and interact with at both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Shows and Entertainment

Both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have amazing day and night time shows with incredibly talented performers. I would go as far to say that these two theme parks have the best shows and entertainment of any theme park at Disney World or in Florida. This makes it extremely hard to compare the two side by side, however, I think one slightly stands above the other. 

Magic Kingdom – Shows and Entertainment

Magic Kingdom has entertainment at almost all times of day. One of my favorite overlooked entertainers is the Casey's Corner pianist who plays all types of popular songs, and often takes requests from guests. Magic Kingdom also has the popular Festival of Fantasy Parade and castle shows that occur throughout the day. If you are interested in these shows and parade, make sure to check the MyDisneyExperience app or park map to find all showtimes. Lastly, Magic Kingdom's Happily Ever fireworks show should always be considered with a trip to Magic Kingdom. Not only are there amazing fireworks, but they are synced with Disney music and projections which tell an incredible story. 

All shows and entertainment at Magic Kingdom include:

• Happily Ever After Fireworks
• Casey's Corner Pianist
• The Dapper Dans
• Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade
• Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
• Let the Magic Begin Castle Show
• Mickey's Magical Friendship Fare
• A Pirate's Adventure – Treasures of the Seven Seas

Hollywood Studios – Shows and Entertainment

Hollywood Studios is also home to many incredible shows and entertainment throughout your entire day at the park. The shows at Hollywood Studios are especially great because it is likely one of them will star one of your favorite Disney characters. You can see performances involving Pixar characters, Indiana Jones, Star Wars characters, and several classic Disney characters including Belle.

However, the star performance at Hollywood Studios is Fantasmic! This is a show everyone should definitely experience at least once. Not only are there dozens of characters, but the story of Mickey battling villains in his dreams is very inspiring and cool to witness. Without giving too much away, the show has everything: special effects such as fire and water, fireworks, and more. We highly recommend arriving early or booking a Genie+ reservation for this show as it is extremely popular.

The shows and entertainment at Hollywood Studios include:

• Fantasmic!
• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
• Disney Junior Play and Dance!
• Disney Movie Magic
• First Order Searches for the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Green Army Drum Corps
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
• Lightning McQueen Racing Academy
• Walt Disney Presents
• Wonderful World of Animation

Although both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have top tier shows and entertainment, I think Hollywood Studios has the slight edge. This is mainly due to the amount and quality of the entertainment seen throughout the park at all hours of the day. There are several unique daytime shows, such as Beauty and the Beast, Lightning McQueen Racing Academy, and the Frozen sing-along. However, there are several different nighttime shows, including my personal favorite, Fantasmic!. These shows take Hollywood Studios to the next level.

Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Location to Disney World Resorts

Both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are pretty easily accessible by buses from all Disney World resorts. Additionally, guests staying at resorts located along the monorail have an extremely easy and cool mode of transportation to the park. Guests at resorts located along the Skyliner can also easily visit both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

However, Hollywood Studios is must easier to drive for guests who have a car and wish to drive themselves to theme parks. It is much more difficult to enter the Magic Kingdom if guests drive because they must first part at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Then, guests must choose between taking the monorail or ferry to the park, and will likely wait for one of these modes of transportation to arrive. Although both are enjoyable modes of transportation, it can take up to 30 minutes for guests to park, walk to the TTC, wait for a ferry or monorail, and then enter the park. Therefore, Hollywood Studios is more easily accessible to travel from most Disney World resorts.

Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Overall Atmosphere

Many visit Magic Kingdom solely to enjoy the park's history and overall atmosphere. Magic Kingdom is quintessential Disney, with Cinderella's castle and the dozens of rides and attractions that guests of all ages can enjoy. As many others do, I have many fond memories of just entering the Magic Kingdom and seeing the castle, a parade passing by, or cast members making magic throughout the park. Although each park has it's own unique atmosphere, Magic Kingdom is unmatched when it comes to atmosphere and theming.

With that said, Hollywood Studios also has a very unique atmosphere and theming since it was opened in 1989. It has gone through some major changes, with the addition of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. It has gone from a slightly outdated park to one of the most impressive. One of my favorite nighttime activities at Disney is walking around Galaxy's Edge at night. Seeing guests with light sabers, and seeing the Millennium Falcon light up makes you feel as if you are actually in a Stars Wars movie. 

Again, I probably couldn't argue a better overall atmosphere than Magic Kingdom, however, all of the four theme parks at Disney World have a great atmosphere and can bring joy to any guest. 

Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios – Overall Thoughts

Overall, it is no surprise that Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios frequently top the list of many favorite theme park lists. Although all Disney World theme parks have something to offer, it seems fitting that these two parks are often the most popular.

Magic Kingdom is the obvious choice for most families due to the castle, fireworks, character meet and greets, dining options, and overall atmosphere that surrounds being at the Magic Kingdom. The size and layout of the park is so impressive and showcases Walt and Roy Disney's amazing ideas and the continuation of Disney World's imagineers in new attractions such as TRON and soon to be Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

Hollywood Studios has also become the premier theme park for many guests, including myself, that want to feel a sense of nostalgia and also more intense rides. With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, along with it's two attractions, Hollywood Studios has become a hard park to beat. 

If we had to pick, the best park in each category for Magic Kingdom vs Hollywood Studios includes:

• Rides and Attractions: Tie
• Dining: Hollywood Studios
• Character Meet and Greets: Magic Kingdom
• Shows and Entertainment: Hollywood Studios
• Overall Atmosphere: Magic Kingdom
• Location to Disney World Resorts: Hollywood Studios

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