Are you trying to figure out which rides are the best at Hollywood Studios for Genie Plus?
Don’t worry, I’m here to help!
Disney’s Genie+ service can be confusing.
If you haven’t visited the Disney parks in a few years, or if it’s your first time, this new FastPass replacement system can be tricky to manage.
However, if your family wants to make the most out of your day at Hollywood Studios, using Genie+ effectively is a must!
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Why is the Disney Genie+ Service Important for Your Trip?
Each morning if you want the “skip-the-line service,” simply log in to your My Disney Experience App and purchase the Genie+ feature.
This gives you access to select rides for “Lightning Lanes” so you can save time by avoiding waiting in the regular line!
The price for the service varies depending on the day but is typically around $25-$30 per person.
How does the Disney Genie Plus Service at Hollywood Studios work?
You select a one hour window of time to arrive at the attraction, then hop in the Lightning Lane line to skip most of the wait!
Just pick a ride, pick a window of time to visit, and voila! You get to skip the standby line!
Now that you know the basics, here are the best rides to use your Genie+ selections on at Hollywood Studios!
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1. Slinky Dog Dash
The fast, smooth, and fun roller coaster located near the back of the park in Toy Story Lane should be your top Genie+ reservation priority.
Why? Because the lines get ridiculously long!
Why This is One of the Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+
Since the ride is thrilling enough to excite most guests, yet tame enough to warrant most kids and families riding, practically everyone in the park will want to ride this coaster!
With higher popularity comes higher wait times!
Snagging a Genie Plus reservation for the ride will help you skip the line and save a lot of time during your day!
As you ride, be sure to enjoy the amazing views of Toy Story Land!
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2. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Not for the faint-of-heart, this intense coaster launches you from 0 to 60 mph (miles per hour) in just 2.8 seconds.
It follows that with 3 inversions, making it Disney’s most thrilling roller coaster.
Why This is One of the Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+
Though not everyone in the park will be riding it, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster doesn’t have the highest capacity.
That means the line moves slower!
Wait times usually stay over an hour for the ride, and often creep close to or surpass 2 hours during busier times of the year.
If your whole family plans on facing the thrill, it’s a must-do for Genie+.
If you have members of your party not riding, the next door Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is a perfect substitute!
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3. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
As one of the park’s only true “everyone can ride” family attractions, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway soaks in a lot of visitors – and therefore garners fairly long wait times.
The trackless ride takes you straight into a Mickey Mouse cartoon short and, of course, all sorts of shenanigans ensue.
Why This is One of the Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+
Though the waits aren’t as bad as some of the other rides in the park, it’s a good idea to grab a Genie+ for the ride.
Skipping the line on something your whole family will enjoy will also help keep everyone happy during the day!
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4. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
As the park’s main icon, the Tower of Terror is more than just a traditional drop tower.
It sends you up and down over and over, creating a thrilling (but fun) sensation of falling.
The ride has an incredible story and queue experience which takes you straight into an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Why This is One of the Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+
It is another great choice to use your Genie+ on since it maintains a relatively long wait all day.
Even though it isn’t the park’s newest and fanciest ride, it is still considered one of the best attractions at the whole Disney World Resort – and has the long wait times to back it up.
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5. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Smuggler’s Run is an engaging flight simulator which takes your family on a mission while piloting Han Solo’s famous Millennium Falcon ship.
Since the ride has three different roles for riders to play, it can be a different experience each time you ride!
Why This is One of the Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+
If you have extra time in your day, try to grab a Genie+ reservation for it so that you can try out the pilot, gunner, and/or engineer positions!
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6 Easy Tips and Tricks to Get the Most out of Your Genie+ Reservations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you are able to snag most of the rides listed above, you’ll be getting the 5 best rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+.
However, there are some additional factors to consider while making your reservations.
Here are a few ways to ensure you get the best picks and maximize your time in the park:
- Make your first Genie+ selection at 7 a.m.
- You can add a new selection immediately after using your previous one, or two hours after making it. Be sure to use this timing to your advantage!
- If you are arriving at park opening, you should head straight to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Why? Because it comes at an additional cost beyond Genie+, and therefore should be done using the standby line first thing in the morning!
- Slinky Dog Dash is the first on the list, and therefore the priority to reserve. If you select a time starting about an hour after park opening, you’ll have plenty of time to make it over to the ride after enjoying low-wait times on other attractions!
- It’s better to reserve the rides you want than to plan everything in a perfect order. Hollywood Studios is the smallest park, and it isn’t too difficult to walk from ride to ride.
- If you can make a new Genie+ reservation where you plan on heading next, that’s just a bonus!
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My Final Thoughts on the Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Genie+
I hope these tips and tricks are helpful for your next trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Please note that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was not included in this list as it is only available for Lightning Lane.
This is important because Lightning Lane attractions ARE NOT included with Disney Genie+.
You can learn more about the difference between Genie+ and Lightning Lane here!
Let us know which Hollywood Studios ride is your favorite in the comments section below!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
(Original Article Date: June 21, 2023/Updated on January 18, 2024)