Trying to decide between Epcot or Hollywood Studios? Both of these parks are extremely popular but for very different reasons. Both happen to be really appealing to adults, but Epcot focuses on the delicious food and cultural experiences while Hollywood Studios is great for rides and entertainment. We’re here to compare the best offerings at each one so you can make a decision on which is best for your next trip!
Epcot vs Hollywood Studios: The Short Answer
Epcot is best for guests (especially adults) who love eating, drinking, and experiencing cultures from around the world. Hollywood Studios is best for thrill rides, Star Wars, and other film-centric themes. Both Epcot and Hollywood Studios are theme parks loaded with full-day fun to please everyone in the family.
Epcot vs Hollywood Studios: Rides
Winner: Hollywood Studios
Epcot has gotten some pretty fantastic rides in recent years, but Hollywood Studios still takes the cake in this category. If rides are your top priority, Hollywood Studios is the park for you. Most of the fun will be found in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but they’re best known for their classics like Tower of Terror and Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster.
Hollywood Studios’ Best Rides
Rise of the Resistance (10/10)
Rise of the Resistance is easily one of the most impressive experiences in all of Walt Disney World. You can see it in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where most of the great theme park rides can be found. What makes this one special are all the new and unexpected effects, like free-moving ride vehicles, live actors and 3D screens that don’t require glasses. This is a fully immersive experience, more than a ride, and it’ll really knock your socks off.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (10/10)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of the most iconic drop rides in the world and remains a tried-and-true classic at Disney World. Disney nailed the aesthetic of an old, paranormal Hollywood Hotel, complete with maids and concierge that have some of the best ride-themed outfits, a run-down lobby and musty boiler room.
Some guests will be surprised to learn that the elevator is not actually free falling. You’re being pulled down with each drop to make the feeling more intense and theses drop sequences change every time you go. For more details on the entire ride’s thrill factor, take a look at How Scary is Tower of Terror?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (10/10)
Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster opened in 1999 and is still considered one of the best rides in Hollywood Studios. Guests will wait in line for hours to experience the intense speed – try 0mph to 57mph in less than 3 seconds – and thrilling maneuvers. We love the fact that Aerosmith hosts the ride from start to finish, which means you get to hear some of their smash hits along the way.
Because of the ride’s intensity, some parents wonder if their children will do well on it. We’ve laid out the entire ride experience in our post titled How Scary is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (10/10)
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is another new and exciting addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This ride is also quite immersive, allowing you to board and pilot the real Millennium Falcon on a Rebel mission to retrieve barrels of contraband for the Resistance. Riders are assigned tasks: Pilot, Engineer and Gunner, and placed in flight groups. Each flight will feel completely different from the last, since your ride is determined by how you steer the ship, shoot the enemy and repair the damage.
We like Smuggler’s Run so much, it’s featured on our big guide to 110 Disney World Must-Do’s.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (10/10)
The Runaway Railway is great for all ages, especially families with younger kids. Both kids and adults will love the innovative technology used to bring the animation to life. You’ll start by boarding Goofy’s train, which he says will take you on a slow, scenic tour of the park. Instead, the train busts into individual cars in a “runaway train” style ride. The experience takes you right inside the cartoon world of Mickey Mouse, featuring many different scenes from the new animated shorts.
Toy Story Mania (9/10)
Toy Story Mania is a 3D animated, interactive video game shooter-style ride. Your ride vehicle takes you through a series of shootable screens with all sorts of targets. The goal is to use the cannon mounted on your vehicle to rack up as high a score as possible. This is an awesome option for a highly competitive group, but it also appeals to Toy Story mega-fans. The ride queue is extremely impressive and features loads of games and toys from years gone by.
Slinky Dog Dash (8/10)
Slinky Dog Dash is Hollywood Studios’ most darling ride located in Toy Story Land. It’s naturally perfect for families to enjoy together. Slinky is considered to be a family-friendly coaster, but it has just enough thrill to make it fun for everyone. The kid-ish appeal has made it a very popular ride, so try to find a ride pass if you don’t want to deal with long wait times.
To determine if the ride is good for you and your children, take a look at our full ride description in the post answering How Scary is Slinky Dog Dash?
Star Tours (7/10)
Star Tours is a fun simulator-style ride that takes you on flights to various parts of the Star Wars realm. C3PO is your pilot and flies you through scenes ranging from Tattooine to Endor. This ride is unique in that it feels fairly similar to an airport experience with a Galaxy’s Edge twist. The best thing about Star Tours is that you never know which destination you’re going to, so you can ride it many times without ever seeing the exact setting.
Epcot’s Best Rides
Soarin’ Around the World (10/10)
Soarin’ Around the World is one of the most popular rides at Epcot and one of the best rides at Disney World in general. Soarin’ is a hang glider simulator that takes you to some of the world’s most iconic locations like the Matterhorn, the Great Wall of China and Niagra Falls.
The ride is a simple concept, but the tech behind it is highly ingenuitive. An apparatus lifts whole rows of seats high into the air and puts you in front of a huge, curved IMAX screen. The sights, sounds, and even smells are outstanding and it’s always a great use of a ride pass.
Soarin’ is always listed at the top of our list of best Epcot Rides for Adults.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (9/10)
This thrilling Cosmic Rewind can be compared to Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but on an updated level. You’ll first come to a room where the Guardians urge you to board a ship that will get you safely back to earth while they fight the bad guys. Guests climb aboard the ship and zoom through space to random songs from ‘Awesome Mix 1’. The innovative ride vehicles move almost independently, allowing you to get a full view of each planet you race around.
The whole experience is smooth and fun, but we wish it lasted longer!
Spaceship Earth (9/10)
Spaceship Earth is one of the best ways to cool down after a hot day in Epcot. It’s a long, air-conditioned ride that’s filled with history, interactive fun and intricate scenery on a slow journey through time and space.
Spaceship Earth is probably the most classic, iconic Epcot ride located inside Epcot’s famous giant sphere. The ride track goes through a wide variety of sets that depict mankind’s journey and development throughout history. It’s also one of the longest rides at Disney, lasting over 15 minutes from start to finish.
Test Track (8/10)
Test Track is one of Epcot’s most popular rides and often has extremely long wait times. Each group starts by designing their own car which they’ll take on a series of road tests. The tests include sharp turns, obstacles, and break checks. The coolest part of the ride is the large outdoor track where you’ll hit top speeds of over 60mph. Even though we feel the wait times can be a little too high for the ride quality, it’s still an altogether good ride.
Mission Space (8/10)
Mission: SPACE is a space shuttle simulator that sends you on a mission to Mars from Earth. The extreme g-forces on this ride make it the most intense ride in all of Disney World. Because of this, Mission: SPACE offers a secondary ride experience labeled “Green Mission” if you’re scared, get motion sickness or have claustrophobia. Those who choose the “Orange Mission” will enjoy the all-too-real feeling of being launched into space.
Frozen Ever After (8/10)
Frozen Ever After is based on the first Frozen movie, taking you on a boat tour of different scenes around Arandelle. You’ll see popular characters like Olaf, Sven, Anna and Elsa in animatronic form. It is a water ride, but it’s actually rare that you’ll get wet. Wait times are long, but worth it for those who want a good family-friendly ride that features some inspirational scenes and animatronic technology.
Epcot vs Hollywood Studios: Restaurants
Winner: Epcot
Hollywood Studios wins on thrills, but Epcot is the undeniable leader in great food. Epcot is unrivaled in the sheer number of eclectic eats and multi-cultural cuisine all in one place. Those who take their food seriously will definitely find that Epcot has better restaurants, snacks, and drinks than Hollywood Studios.
If you’re unconvinced, just take a look at our Insider’s Guide to Epcot Dining. It’s a HUGE resource with tips on every restaurant, snack, dessert, and drink in the park.
Epcot’s Best Restaurants
Monsieur Paul (10/10)
Monsieur Paul is a French fine-dining restaurant with oustanding cuisine; one of Disney’s signature dining locations. It ranks #1 over and over again on our list of Best Restaurants in Epcot, Best Disney Restaurants for Adults and Best Restaurants for Dinner in Epcot.
The atmosphere is quiet and romantic, making it a great spot for adult couples to enjoy an evening. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for the ultimate multi-course experience inside Epcot.
Le Cellier Steakhouse (10/10)
Le Cellier is one of Disney World’s best steakhouses and considered by many as the #1 restaurant in Epcot. The experience is surprisingly approachable and relaxed and the steakhouse meals are sure to bring a hint of refined comfort for all ages.
Le Cellier is designed to mimic a Canadian chateau cellar, with a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere. The steaks are some of Disney’s best and the restaurant’s sides (lobster mac & cheese or loaded mashed potatoes!) are amazing.
TAKUMI-TEI (10/10)
Takumi-Tei is a relatively new addition to the Epcot restaurant lineup, but it has quickly made a name for itself. It was built to stun with it’s moving architecture and carefully decorated natural elements rooms inspired by earth, wood, stone, water and washi paper. Guests can choose from two main menus that include omnivorous and plant-based options.
The menu consists of Japanese specialties like Wagyu beef, sushi, tempura, fried tofu and a wide range of Sake.
Via Napoli (9/10)
Via Napoli is an Italian restaurant located in the Italy Pavilion that serves the best pizza at Disney World. There’s really no comparison between Via Napoli and any other Disney pizzeria. The ingredients are high quality from the dough to the meats and veggies. We’ve been to Via Napoli countless times and we’re never disappointed. If you like good pizza, you don’t want to miss this authentic Italian version.
Chefs de France (9/10)
Chefs de France is the France Pavilion’s largest restaurant. It’s a moderately-priced, casual table-service restaurant that has a large menu full of French specialties. The food is always good and there’s enough variety to keep everyone happy.
It’s definitely one of our personal favorites, although the restaurant can get louder than others inside the World Showcase. If you’re in the mood for delicious European fare and wine, Chefs de France will not disappoint.
Biergarten (9/10)
Biergarten is a German buffet that is just as much about the experience as it is the food. The food is excellent, with a lots of German classics like schnitzel, bratwurst, spaetzle, and more. It’s one of Epcot’s best restaurants for good beer and good fun.
But the real draw is the atmosphere. It’s designed to look like an outdoor town center in a charming Bavarian village, complete with a live Polka band on stage. Seating is also unique at Biergarten – family-style tables means your party will be paired with another party for ultimate fun.
Epcot Quick Service Restaurants (10/10)
No park can compete with Epcot’s edible offerings, even the quick service places. You’ve got a range of options at all 11 countries in the World Showcase, including School Bread from Kringla Bakeri in Norway, Shawarama at Tangierine Cafe in Morocco, Sushi in Japan, and ice cream all over the place. Epcot has the most variety of food available and it’s impossible not to find something you like here.
Hollywood Studios’ Best Restaurants
The Hollywood Brown Derby (8/10)
The Hollywood Brown Derby pretty much stands in a league of its own as far as Hollywood Studios dining goes. It’s the parks’ only real signature-level restaurant and features a menu that is markedly more upscale than what you’ll find anywhere else in the park.
It’s good, but it’s probably not going to rock your world, especially when compared to other signature dining locations on Disney property. The top menu item is their “Famous Cobb Salad”. The original Brown Derby restaurant was famous for pioneering the original Cobb salad. It’s a good restaurant for adults, but it’s not particularly interesting for kids.
ROUNDUP RODEO (8/10)
Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a brand new family-friendly table service restaurant in Toy Story Land. It wholesomely compliments the theme of Toy Story Land with familiar toy and play sets in the decor. The food is equally entertaining yet delicious with funny items like “Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs” and “There’s a Sausage in My Boot”.
There’s nothing fancy here, but if you’re in the mood for a BBQ lunch or dinner with the family, this makes a great choice.
Oga’s Cantina (8/10)
Oga’s Cantina is the long-awaited “Star Wars bar”, taking inspiration from the very first Star Wars film. While we highly recommend going here for a drink and the experience (complete with out-of-this-world alcoholic concoctions, a track-spinning droid and must-have souvenir cups), it has pretty much no food.
You’ll only be able to find a few snacks to nibble on like meat, cheese and jello cups. Oga’s is a 10/10 for a cocktail bar, but there’s just not enough food to make it a good “restaurant”.
Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaurant (7/10)
The Sci Fi Dine-In is another one of those restaurants you choose for the experience. The main draw is that it’s the indoor dining area that simulates the look and feel of an outdoor drive-in movie theater. The tables are shaped like cars and there is a big screen that plays classic science fiction thrillers while you eat. It’s cool for anyone who likes the idea of an old-school drive-in theater in the modern era, but the food is pretty standard American fare.
50’s Prime Time Cafe (7/10)
50’s Prime Time is a throwback restaurant set in a 1950’s family home. Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll find yourself in the family living room with tv’s playing old, black and white after-school shows. This is the height of comfort food in Hollywood Studios, serving up dishes like meatloaf, fried chicken and chicken pot pie.
Hollywood Studios Quick Service Restaurants (6/10)
Most of the quick-service options at Hollywood Studios offer standard park food like burgers, hot dogs and fries. Compared to other Disney World parks, this is one area where Hollywood Studios falls way short. The most exciting quick-service options are located in the newer areas like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. Here you’ll find better themed food and better quality ingredients.
Epcot vs Hollywood Studios: Entertainment & Attractions
Winner: Epcot
Preferences for entertainment and attractions are going to vary wildly from person to person. And while we slightly favor Epcot’s entertainment over Hollywood Studios, it’s generally a toss-up. Epcot has lots of cultural-themed attractions and performers that pull inspiration from around the globe, while Hollywood Studios has a number of stage performances and has more Disney movie magic.
Epcot’s Best Entertainment & Attractions
The World Showcase (10/10)
Even though the World Showcase comprises 11 different areas, we consider it all as one giant attraction. Epcot has numerous sections including the World Showcase, as well as World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature. But the World Showcase is where Epcot really shines.
This section of Epcot is so big that we created a standalone guide specifically for all of the Must-Do’s in the World Showcase.
The World Showcase is made up of 11 “Pavilions” sponsored by countries around the world – Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Morocco, Japan, France, UK, and Canada. Each Pavilion is full of unique dining, shopping, and entertainment. The whole Showcase is one of the coolest things at Disney World, especially for adults.
The American Adventure (10/10)
The American Adventure is an animatronic stage show that tells the story of American history, narrated by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. The show starts with the Revolutionary War and works its way through America’s timeline up to the Great Depression. From here, a video montage of the 20th and 21st centuries concludes the show. A great storyline and impressive sets make the American Adventure one of Disney’s best indoor shows.
Not to mention the serenade from the uber-talented Voices of Liberty while you wait for the show to begin is a can’t-miss attraction in and of itself.
The Seas Pavilion (10/10)
The Seas is an ocean-themed Pavilion located in the Future World section of Epcot. It houses a number of saltwater animals and exhibits, including one of the world’s largest saltwater aquariums. The real highlight of The Seas is the 360-degree viewing area that lets you walk directly into the middle of the tank.
It’s also got a Finding Nemo themed ride that runs through some of the aquarium’s exhibits. This ride is slow-moving and is perfect for families with young children.
Luminous the symphony of us (10/10)
Luminous is Epcot’s current nighttime fireworks show, featuring incredible pyrotechnics, lasers, water tricks and music that make it the best, most complete nighttime show at Disney World, period. We love watching the fireworks over World Showcase Lagoon and think you’ll agree that this is the best recurring fireworks show.
A musical symphony of various Disney movies is the score for the show, but we love the original song that Luminous finishes with. Everyone will have a great view of Luminous no matter where they stand inside the World Showcase.
JOURNEY OF WATER (9/10)
This new attraction is located inside World Nature and is inspired by the movie Moana. The little section is packed with educational and interactive features that give you an idea of the journey water takes from ocean to land to sky. Kids and adults will both love the interactive stations where the water reacts to your movements.
The beauty of Journey of Water and the educational aspect make this a must-see area of the park, but it can be slightly challenging for guests in wheelchairs or with walking apparatuses.
Reflections of China (9/10)
Reflections of China is a 360-degree short film in the China Pavilion. The film visits a lot of iconic Chinese locations, including some that are rarely accessible to Western camera crews. The cinematography is great and the 360-degree screening makes it really interesting.
At certain showtimes, you can also meet Mulan at the front of the theater for a photo-op and autograph.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-along (9/10)
The Beauty and the Beast Sing-along show is geared toward children, but adults (like me) who adore this animated film will appreciate the comedy. The sing-along follows Le Fou’s telling of how Belle fell in love with the Beast, crediting him with nearly all the pivotal moments of their love story.
O! Canada (8/10)
O! Canada has also been recently renovated, taking place inside Canada’s 360 degree theater. No longer is this show the funny and somewhat corny display it once was; it’s now a beautifully picturesque story of each of Canada’s individual provinces, telling what makes each one unique.
Hollywood Studios’ Best Entertainment & Attractions
Fantasmic! (9/10)
Fantasmic is a big outdoor show that takes place after sundown in Hollywood Studios and features the biggest amphitheater in Walt Disney World. There’s a lot going on here- fireworks, performers, water floats, lights and stunts. A lot of the show takes place on the stage in front of a giant rock formation, but there’s also a waterway that wraps around the stage.
The water floats are one of the coolest parts of the show, carrying a host of well-known characters. It’s all pretty entertaining, especially for kids. We love the newest show updated, and if you had to choose between Fantasmic! and the current Hollywood Studios fireworks display, we’d go with Fantasmic!
Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage (9/10)
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage is an abbreviated retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast film’s story. The performers do an excellent job, replicating the film’s original talking and singing voices. The costumes are one of the biggest highlights, spotlighting life size characters like Lumiere and Mrs. Potts. The songs are classic and you’re encouraged to sing along. Seating typically isn’t a big problem with the show’s large amphitheater, but it is located outdoors.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-along Celebration (8/10)
Unlike the previous stage show, Frozen Sing-along is located indoors with shows happening once per hour for most of the day. During the performance, you’ll see characters like Anna, Elsa, and Christoff and will get to sing along to every single song from the original Frozen movie. At the end, Elsa will even send a flurry across the audience. It’s definitely more geared towards children than adults.
MuppetVision 3D (8/10)
Muppetvision 3D is a 3D film that takes place inside a standard theater. True to Muppet form, it’s a really well-executed comedy show. The jokes are clever and it has an altogether good pace with a happy song playing throughout the entirety of the film. Wait times are always short, so this one is a good option any time. Definitely worth your time!
WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANIMATION (7/10)
Wonderful World of Animation is Hollywood Studios’ nighttime show which takes place in front of the Chinese Theater. It relies heavily on the video projector screens to showcase over 90 years of Disney animation, highlighting some of their top performing movies, along with clips from nearly all the featured films that Disney Studios has created. Though masterfully done, there are virtually no fireworks, so it’s significantly less impressive than Magic Kingdom’s and Epcot’s nighttime displays.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (7/10)
The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is an action stage show and another attraction that could use some updating. It features lots of stunts, from fiery explosions to fist fights, all performed by professional Hollywood stuntmen. A director explains how each stunt is created for movies and will even pull volunteers from the audience.
Conclusion
Hopefully you’ve been able to draw your own conclusion of which park you should choose for one day at Disney World. We have almost always preferred Epcot when going to Disney, but Hollywood Studios has made significant strides over the last few years.
Epcot has also been undergoing a lot of changes in recent years, enhancing the front of the park with the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy ride, along with the additions and updates to World Discovery, World Nature and World Celebration. In Epcot’s current form, the World Showcase is what makes a trip here so spectacular. It’s hard to beat the delicious food and world-class entertainment.
On the other hand, Hollywood Studios has so many great rides to please any kind of thrill-seeker, but also has plenty of attractions that children will enjoy. Hollywood Studios also brings the ultimate entertainment value with new sections like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, displaying some of Walt Disney World’s most innovative technology. Those who value thrills and action movies are going to like this park better.
If you think Epcot is the right choice for your crew and want a great starting place for planning, we’ve got a guide to 30 Epcot Insider Tips & Secrets. If Hollywood Studios is the pick, we’ve got you covered with 30 Hollywood Studios Insider Tips & Secrets.Also, if you are doing an adults-only trip, we’ve got a resource specifically on Epcot for Adults and a guide to Hollywood Studios for adults. If you came into this post thinking that either of these parks could be done in half a day, I’m sure we’ve changed your mind! You could go to each of these parks on multiple occasions and still not experience everything they have to offer.
Looking for more park comparisons?
We also have comparisons for other parks! Each one goes into the same detail that this guide does and will help you make the most out of your Disney trip!
- Hollywood Studios vs Animal Kingdom
- Epcot vs Hollywood Studios
- Hollywood Studios vs Universal Studios
- Animal Kingdom vs Epcot
- Magic Kingdom vs Epcot
Need help planning your Disney Vacation?
We have so many different posts to help with each aspect of your trip. We’d suggest starting out by looking at Walt Disney World on a Budget or 110 Must-Do’s in Disney World to help you along. Have fun planning!
