“Lights, Camera, Action!” Disney’s Hollywood Studios has hidden gems throughout the park. Some hidden gems are easier to spot than others, but they are all fun to discover.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Hidden Gems
There are many hidden gems are the Walt Disney World theme parks. The details in the parks really set Disney apart. Be sure to take your time and search out these great extras. Here are a few gems that we know about in Hollywood Studios. See if you can find these and more around the park.
Animation Courtyard
- Check out Star Wars Launch Bay. Here you can see props from the Star Wars movies and even meet Star Wars characters!
- Some of the light fixtures in Star Wars Launch Bay are made from parts of medical droids.
- Animation Courtyard is a great place to meet all of your Disney Junior pals.
Echo Lake
- Pull the rope in the well outside of Indiana Jones and listen. After the show as you are exiting try to take the FAR RIGHT stairway (as you are facing the stage). On the landings, look for a Cast Member’s hand holding the golden Idol from the movie and pat the idol on your way by.
- Explore the Backlot Express Restaurant. Here you can find all kinds of props along with some great hidden references. Especially read some of the postings on the bulletin boards scattered throughout the restaurant.
Hollywood Boulevard
- Check out Sid Cahuenga’s to the left as you enter the park. Here you may encounter a character or two.
- When walking down Hollywood Blvd., take time to notice the offices above the shops and their occupations.
- At the end of the street is Grauman’s Chinese Theater. It is the home of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. This theater is a replica of the theater in Hollywood which hosted many Disney movie premieres including Mary Poppins. In front of the theater you can find handprints in the concrete of many famous actors. See who you can recognize!
Sunset Boulevard
- Inside the Tower of Terror queue, as you leave the lobby but before you enter the TV Room, there is a bulletin board in a glass case. Some of the letters have fallen out; get right up against the glass to see what the letters have spelled out.
- In the library area of Tower of Terror look for some broken glasses. They signify an episode of The Twilight Zone with Burgess Meredith, a man who loved to read. After an atomic blast, he is the only person left alive. He happens across a library and is all set to read and read and read when he breaks his glasses. SIGH.
- When entering Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, listen at the doors to Studio A and Studio B to see if you can hear a recording session going on inside. In addition to this, you will hear the PA paging various people while you are waiting. These are the Imagineers that designed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Well, except for the Hey Jude reference (I think!). Look closely at the electrical boxes, the initials and birthdays of the Imagineers are carved in there. Keep an eye on the music posters in the rotunda, they will change out. And lastly, keep your eyes open for the alley behind the studio by the launch area for more hidden gems.
- One of the stores on the street is themed to Carthay Circle Theater. This is the theater where the first full-length animated feature film debuted. That film just so happens to be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which premiered in 1937.
Grand Avenue
- Keep your eye on the sign for PizzeRizzo. The flashing neon spells out a hidden message.
- Also at PizzeRizzo, a sign mentions that they serve the best pizza on the planet. This is a reference to Pizza Planet which is featured in many Pixar films in the form of a pizza delivery truck. Prior to PizzeRizzo occupying this space, Toy Story’s Pizza Planet was the restaurant at this location. Also, don’t forget to check out the well themed trash cans, too! They are another hidden gem.
- In the waiting area for Muppet Vision 3D check out some of the props around the room. Miss Piggy is certainly prepared for the show!
- Look for a snowman in Muppet Courtyard. He must have visited with Elsa to keep from melting in the Florida sun!
- At the entrance to Muppet Vision 3D look to the right at the box office window. There is a sign that says “Back in 5 minutes. The key is under the mat.” Look under the welcome mat that is on the floor beneath the window and check for the key!
Commissary Lane
- This is the only place you can meet Sorcerer Mickey. Mickey played the role of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the classic movie, Fantasia. You can meet him, as well as Minnie Mouse, at Red Carpet Dreams.
- Sci-Fi Dine-in is an amazingly themed restaurant. Check out the tables, they are themed to look like cars visiting a Drive-In movie.
Toy Story Land
- Look down to see Andy’s massive footprint in the pavement. Being the size of a toy makes even a child’s shoe absolutely huge!
- Don’t miss a picture with the Luxo ball. The giant yellow ball has been included in every Pixar movie.
- Keep your eyes out for Green Army Men. They may recruit you!
- In the queue for Slinky Dog Dash, look at the diagrams of the coaster that Andy has built. You can see the modifications he made so that his roller coaster set gained a Slinky Dog theme.
- Look for a giant box for Tyrannosaurus Rex. There is a price tag with the numbers 11/22 and the price $19.95. This is the original release date for Toy Story.
- Don’t miss the details! Nearly everything in this land is in the form of a toy. The lights are TinkerToys, the chairs are Babybell cheese wheels, and the bathrooms have toy designs on the walls. The Imagineers made sure that the Toy Story theme was spread throughout the land.
- Speaking of restrooms, note that Andy put the Cooties box near the girl’s area!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- This number appears on all the trash cans. It was the number Mark Hamill recited during the movie. Rumor says it was his phone number at the time because he had to keep reciting a number during the scene that he would remember.
This big foot was a prop from the former Great Movie Ride. It’s located near Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiques.
- Keep your eyes peeled on the Millennium Falcon to see a tie fighter formation here.
This big foot was a prop from the former Great Movie Ride. It’s located near Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiques.
