Amazing Park Hopping: All The Best Things At Disney’s Epcot and Hollywood Studios

Hey, Disney enthusiasts and thrill-seekers! Ready to go on a wild adventure through the enchanting wonderlands of Disney’s Epcot and Hollywood Studios? We’ve got a treat in store for you that’s as diverse as the Flower and Garden Festival itself – a guide to experiencing the absolute best of both parks, rain or shine!

Picture this: savoring delectable international cuisine, and experiencing heart-pounding attractions while raindrops add their own rhythm to the excitement.

Join us as we dish out the details on must-see attractions, mouthwatering bites, and unforgettable moments that only Disney’s Epcot and Hollywood Studios can deliver. So, if you’re ready to take your Disney adventure to a whole new level, grab your poncho and let’s jump into this magical journey that starts now!

1) Getting Disney Genie+ ready

Before even setting foot in any of the parks, it is almost imperative nowadays to do some kind of preparation. Besides buying the tickets, and doing the park and restaurant reservations, now, Disney wants us to also have the chance to pick a Lighting Lane for our favorite rides for a fixed price. That’s Disney Genie+, and it allows you to skip the lines for many of the attractions, in the 4 parks. I got to buy the service on the app, before 7 AM, and these were the prices for that day:

Disney Genie+ could only be bought from 12 AM on the day of your visit, but at 7:00 AM I got to join the Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and immediately, meaning right after, I had to secure the first Lighting Lane using the Disney Genie+. I could buy the Individual Selections when the park opened at 9:00 am.

This is a marathonic experience but would make your life 100% especially if you are doing the park hopping in such a short amount of time.

These are some recommendations for getting ready for this stressful process of booking Virtual Queues and Lighting Lanes. Do this 10 min before the required times:

• No Disney Wifi: Do not use the WiFi of Disney Hotels or parks, use your own data, and measure your internet speed if possible.
• No save battery: Turn off Battery Saving, this option makes the internet slower sometimes.
• LTE no 5G: Turn off 5G, since this service is not available everywhere or could be very slow.
• Isolated spot: If possible, go to a spot where no one is around you. Internet in very crowded places like the parks tend to be very slow.
• Turn off wifi / Bluetooth, etc: Again, do not use WiFi, and turn off unneccessary settings on the phone like Bluetooth.
• Battery and device care optimize button: If you have an Android you can optimize your cellphone to run smoothly. You can find similar options in Iphones.
• Memory clean now: Clean the memory and cache of your cellphone, that way it will run smoothly and fast.
• Virtual Queue First, Disney Genie+ Second, and Individual Selections Third: Always follow this order since this is the perfect way to go from the most available to the public to the least available option.

Now that I secured my Lighting Lane for Frozen Ever After (the most difficult one in Epcot), I had to decide how to get to the park in the most efficient way.

2) Getting into Epcot

Epcot was my first park of the day, and for a reason. I wanted to get a Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, but only guests with a valid ticket reservation for the park in the morning, would be able to join at 7 AM, meaning I had to start in this park. My choice for ending my Disney Parks trips was Hollywood Studios, not my favorite park but the one that has my favorite area of all: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Now, to get to Epcot I could enter using the main entrance north of the park, seeing the ball (Spaceship Earth) first, or I could enter through the International Gateway (which I had used before when I stayed in Disney’s Dolphin Hotel). I decided to enter through the second gate since it goes straight to World SHowcase, where I had my first Lighting Lane starting at 9.15 AM, but since there is no way to Uber to this entrance, you gotta go through the hotels in this area. I Ubered to Disney’s Beach Club Resort, the closest hotel to the entrance.

Went through the lobby and started walking towards Epcot while looking at the Disney’s Boardwalk. Also, at 9 AM on the dot I bought the Individual Lighting Lane Selection for the day: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and since I was going to Hollywood Studios later on, I also got Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

I was able to enter and now I had to walk to the Norway Pavilion.

The World Showcase itself is very beautiful to explore, and even though Epcot does not have many attractions, all the festivals and the pavilions make it a very interesting park to spend the day in.

3) Norway Pavilion – Frozen Ever After

I finally got to my first Lighting Lane of the day, and as soon as you touch that second touchpoint, you have to book another Lighting Lane. Right away. Gotta make the service work as much as you can. Since I was going to jump to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I booked Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster for later in the day. I had to because that is the most difficult Lighting Lane in that park, but the problem with selecting something so late in the day is that now I had to wait 2 hours for my next selection.

I got to the loading area for the boats on this ride, and oh surprise, the ride broke down. The cast members evacuated the people in the lines, and gave us a Multiple Experiences pass that looks like this:

I could use it in other selected experiences within Epcot, but I thought that would be a waste of a Lighting Lane, so I just waited to use it in Frozen Ever After, once the attraction went back online. After doing some other things in this park that you will see later, I finally rode this attraction.

Even though I am not a fan of these Princesses rides, I enjoy Frozen Ever After, just because it is the best ride among them, and I enjoyed Frozen back in the day. After my encounter with Elsa, I went to Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, also in the Norway Pavilion, to get some Kristoff Kaffe (Frozen Coffee with Coffee-Chocolate Sauce and garnished with Coffee-Chocolate Crunch). Very recommended, and if you want some alcohol they can add it too.

Epcot was busy but not too busy, which is always good. Probably the weather deterred people to come, as you will see later in this post.

4) Germany Pavilion

One of the most picturesque pavilions is the Germany Pavilion. It is just so beautiful, even if it does not have any rides in it. I have been to Karamell-Küche so many times that I cannot recommend it enough.

There is also a Snow White meet and greet in this area

And the always faboulous to see Miniature Train Village, which is decorated with banners of the current festivals in Epcot.

5) France Pavilion – La Crêperie de Paris

But after my cancellation of Frozen Ever After, I ran into a dilemma. I had booked a breakfast in La Crêperie de Paris in France Pavilion, but also the Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and its Individual Lighting Lane Selection were coming up all at the same time. My recommendation for you: Always go to the restaurant reservation first. Why? Because they would cancel the reservation if you do not arrive on time and still charge you. The rides usually let you pass after some time, especially if you have the excuse of the dining reservation.

La Crêperie de Paris is a new restaurant on the back of the France Pavilion, close to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. I got to practice my french, and also explained the cast member my dilemma of the rides. They told me that I should be fine with the rides, and I could take my time here at the restaurant.

I decided to order the Crepe de Poulet or Chicken Crepe, and I was not expecting it to be so good. This restaurant has a fixed price menu, but you can order anything in it regardless.

6) Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

I quickly finished my breakfast, and went all the way to the World Discovery section of the park to do my Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue, and the Individual Lighting Lane Selection, so I was about to ride it twice. What should you pick first? I would recommend to do the virtual queue first since they can deny you access after some time, and since you paid the Individual Lighting Lane Selection, I think the cast members would be more understanding of the situation.

My favorite ride in Walt Disney World by far, and it is not even close. Too bad Tron was such a flop!

This ride includes a nice indoor rollercoaster that twists and turns, with visual of the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, on a cute story and always changing song as background.

7) Flower and Garden Festival

Back in March I had a great time in Flower and Garden Festival, and it was almost ending so I had to try again my favorite dish, and since I had 2 hours to kill before my Lighting Lane was up, I just walked around the still decorated park and ate some food.

The first meal was Shrimp and Grits from Brunchcot for $7.25. I had to try it again, it was so good, and still tasted great. I was so glad I ate it again.

The next Lighting Lane was ready to be booked and I was trying to pile some for later in the day in Hollywood Studios, so I went for Tower of Terror.

Right before I left Epcot through the International Gateway, I got to finally try the Croissant au fromage de chèvre from Fleur de Lys in France Pavilion. It tasted like I expected.

8) Canada Pavilion – Canada Far & Wide

Incredibly, I had only done 2 rides in this park in the entire morning before heading out for Park Hopping at 2:00 PM. Well, I repeated Guardians, so that would be 3, but still Epcot is always fun for all the other things you can do. I had never been to the Canada Far & Wide show, so decided to come here at the back of the Canada Pavilion to see it.

It was a nice AC relaxing time, and got to see a nice video of all the nice places in Canada. You can also check more of this country here on my blog.

9) Thunderstorm and Laving Epcot

After the Canada Pavilion and the Croissant au fromage de chèvre I needed to leave Epcot to go Park Hopping to Hollywood Studios. But my original plan of taking the Skyliner (the gondolas) was sabotaged by the heavy rain that started exactly at this time. Just like in most afternoons in summer in central Florida, you will find rain, so be prepared.

The skyliner was out of service…

… and even the Frienship boat, my second option, was also down for the moment.

Under the heavy rain, and without other free options, I decided to got back to Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and took an Uber to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, even though this park is super close.

10) Toy Story Land – Slinky Dog Dash – Toy Story Mania!

I gotta be honest, I did not go to this land first. I had a Lighting Lane for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and used it first, but since I did come back to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge multiple times during this day, I am going to leave it for the end. In the meantime I went to other areas, like Toy Story Land, and got to ride a couple of Lighting Lanes…

… like Slinky Dog Dash, the fun rollercoaster with the longest wait. Grab a Lighting Lane for this ride as soon as you see it. It is the most popular of this park.

And after that, and almost at the end of the day, I got to ride Toy Story Mania! for the first time. It was more fun that I expected, I do not know why I did not ride it before.

11) Sunset Boulevard – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

One of the Lighting Lanes that I got earlier in the day in Epcot was The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and I was gonna be able to use it now. That is the good thing about piling Lighting Lanes for later in the day.

After the always thrilling and scary ride, I had a Lighting Lane for the neighbor ride: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The problem? I could not ride it yet, it was too soon. And I did not want to wait so I got into the Single Riders line. Yep, I did not use one of the Lighting Lanes for once, and also could not modify it to another one.

12) Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Another kinda new attraction in this park is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. I got a Lighting Lane earlier in the day for this attraction, and it is just cute. The version in Anaheim is cute too but I like the Chinese Theater setting on this one.

13) Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost

One of the limited offerings due to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny coming up, was the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost with some exhibitions from the movie, and drinks.

14) Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Star Tours – Ronto Roasters – Kat Saka’s Kettle – Star War’s Rise of the Resistance – Milk Stand – Oga’s Cantina

I started and ended my Hollywood Studios visit in my favorite land of the Walt Disney World: Star War’s Galaxy’s Edge. I just like all the rides here, the scenery is beautiful and the food is amazing.

The first thing I did was the Lighting Lane for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, although I could have just gone into the Single Riders lane.

The ride was always thrilling. The next one I did was the Star Tours. With the new scenes from the new saga, it becomes a must-do everytime I come to this park.

Enough of rides, and I had to come to eat the always famous Ronto Wrap from Ronto Roasters, which I got using Mobile Order. Easy and convenient, and was able to stay and sit to eat my meal while I was waiting for my Lighting Lane for Rise of The Resistance.

I also Mobile Ordered the yummy Galaxy’s Edge Cold Brew Black Caf from Kat Saka’s Kettle. A very sweet cold brew but balanced with the bitterness of the coffee. 100% recommend.

Chewbacca and Rey were out saying hi to all the visitors. This is another think I like from this park, all the characters just walking around.

And the time had come to finally ride my last Individual Lighting Lane Selection: Rise of The Resistance. The best attraction/experience in Walt Disney World. I still think that Guardians is the best ride, but Rise is just the best anything.

The ride is superimmersive and will put you in the middle of the action.

Before the day was over, and my dining reservation was up, I had to try the blue milk from the milk stand. This vegan drink hits just right in the hot weather of Florida in June.

The day was almost over, and I had a dining reservation for Oga’s Cantina, the never missed spot in this park. After a long wait (even with the dining reservation), I got to get in and enjoy the fun bar.

This is part of the drinks menu with drinks inspired in the Star Wars saga.

The ambiance is just too good to be true, everyone is having a great time.

My drink of choice is the Fuzzy Taun Taun (Ketel One Botanical Peach & Orange Vodka, Bols Peach Schnapps Liqueur, Orange Juice with Tangerine, Pure Cane Sugar, and ‘Buzz Button Tingling’ Foam)

And the Batuu Bits (Crispy Galaxy Snack Bits with Spiced Dip) was the food I chose for this cantina day.

15) Leaving Hollywood Studios in the rain

When I got out Oga’s Cantina, the reality hit: a huge Thunderstorm was starting, and I needed to evacuate. I could have just wait until the rain was over, but I just needed to be back at the hotel.

I ran to the main entrance, but the rain got worse and worse. I found some cover when the lighting started to get closer. One lighting hit so close to where I was that everything got bright for a quick second. People yelled and panicked, but I stayed under cover until I could hear the lighting going away. I ran with my soaked shoes on and took the closest Uber back to my hotel.

Back in my hotel, I had a delicious Mickey Bar just to celebrate I survived lol. But you can read more of my adventure here.