Trip Report Part 4: June 22, 2025 / Hollywood Studios

Question

Lightning Lane pre-arrival selections: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (passed 40 min standby), Tower of Terror (passed 45 min standby), Toy Story Mania (passed 90 min standby)

Lightning Lane additional selections: Alien Swirling Saucers (passed 30 min standby), Rock n Rollercoaster (passed 60 min standby)

Standby queues: Star Tours (waited 15 mins), Voyage of the Little Mermaid (15 mins until show)

Food: Everything Pop, ABC Commissary

Once again tried to “sleep in” on our final day. Took our time getting our stuff together, packed up the car and then went to the food court for breakfast. It was only a 5 minute drive from Pop to Hollywood so we still got a pretty early start! We were able to head straight to the Runaway Railway for our first Lightning Lane, then did some shopping before our second Lightning Lane at Tower of Terror.

Headed to Star Tours for a short standby wait before using a right-away Lightning Lane for Alien Swirling Saucers, then another Lightning Lane at Toy Story Mania. We were heading toward the Frozen sing-along when we realized the new Little Mermaid show had a showing starting in just 15 minutes. In the interest of trying something new, we skipped Frozen for the new show and honestly it was a bad idea. This new show is very weird! A clumsy combo of screens, animatronics, and real people. Luckily the songs are fab and the theater was cool and dark.

We had one more Lightning Lane at Rock n Rollercoaster, and while waiting in line we mobile ordered lunch at ABC Commissary. We chose this for lunch for one reason and one reason only- air conditioning! It worked out as we both enjoyed our tacos. We did a little bit (okay… a lot a bit!) more shopping as we headed toward the car, grabbed Mickey bars, and said goodbye to Disney.

Before we even exited the parking lot, our flight was delayed! Stopped at the gas station, returned the rental car, checked our bags and got through security all easy and breezy… then we sat at our gate for almost 6 hours before boarding and ultimately taking off.

This trip was a great little taste of the magic! We definitely missed Animal Kingdom, and we missed park hopping, but we made the most of it. And even with our unplanned table service lunch at the France pavilion in Epcot, we stayed on budget. I highly recommend taking advantage of the free water park on arrival day perk, we had a lot of fun and it saved a bunch of money. Our rough delay coming home may have sealed the deal that I’m getting too old for these evening flights, I can’t believe how exhausted I was when I finally got back. But other than that, a lovely little long weekend!

Answer

Your June 22 visit to Hollywood Studios seems to have been a fun and relaxed end to your Disney trip. Starting the day with a leisurely breakfast at Everything Pop and a short drive to the park allowed you to arrive early enough to take full advantage of your pre-arrival Lightning Lane selections without the stress of rope drop. Heading straight to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway set a positive tone for the day, followed by some shopping before Tower of Terror kept the pace enjoyable yet unhurried.

Using standby for Star Tours with a short 15-minute wait and immediately grabbing Lightning Lanes for Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania allowed you to hit major attractions efficiently. Your plan to check out the new Little Mermaid show instead of Frozen Sing-Along was a bold choice, and while the show itself felt awkward with the mix of screens, animatronics, and live actors, the songs and the comfortable, cool theater helped make the experience tolerable.

Pre-arrival Lightning Lane attractions: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (40 min saved), Tower of Terror (45 min saved), Toy Story Mania (90 min saved).
Additional Lightning Lane attractions: Alien Swirling Saucers (30 min saved), Rock n Rollercoaster (60 min saved).
Standby experiences with minimal wait: Star Tours (15 min), Voyage of the Little Mermaid (15 min until show).
Food locations visited: Everything Pop for breakfast, ABC Commissary for lunch (air-conditioned, enjoyable tacos).

The afternoon strategy of enjoying Rock n Rollercoaster via Lightning Lane and using mobile ordering for lunch allowed you to stay cool and continue experiencing the park comfortably. Shopping on your way out and grabbing Mickey bars provided small, satisfying treats to finish the park day on a sweet note. The smooth return of your rental car, checking bags, and navigating security made the departure process straightforward, though the six-hour gate delay was an unexpected endurance challenge.

Shopping and small treats: Plenty of shopping throughout the park and Mickey bars as a final snack.
Travel logistics: Easy rental car return, baggage check, and security at the airport.
Trip takeaways: Relaxed pace without rope drop, careful Lightning Lane planning, strategic use of air-conditioned spaces, and maximizing fun even with schedule compromises.

Overall, this day demonstrated that a relaxed, well-paced approach to Hollywood Studios can still be highly rewarding. Despite missing Animal Kingdom and park hopping, you managed to enjoy major attractions, shows, dining, and shopping efficiently. Taking advantage of free perks like the water park on arrival day also contributed to an enjoyable and budget-conscious trip. The experience highlights the value of planning, flexibility, and pacing in creating a memorable Disney weekend.

Trip Report Part 4: June 22, 2025 / Hollywood Studios

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