From the Florida heat and 20-minute thunderstorms to thick crowds and hours-long waits, visiting Hollywood Studios and the rest of Walt Disney World can really work up an appetite. If you’re looking for a fast and easy place to grab a bite before jumping back into the theme park fray, then we highly recommend one of the best quick service restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Whether you’re in the mood for themed eats and an immersive setting or just something basic but tasty to keep you going, there’s a Hollywood Studios quick service restaurant to suit every situation and taste. Read on as we dig into all the delightful options on offer.
All About Walt Disney World Quick Service Restaurants
When eating in the parks, resorts and Disney Springs, guests can choose from two different styles of Disney World restaurants: quick service and table service. Quick service is Disney’s version of fast food. In other words, orders are placed at a counter with a cast member, or by mobile ordering on the My Disney Experience app. Then, when your meal is ready, you pick it up and cross your fingers that there’s an empty table available.
Hollywood Studios Quick Service Restaurants
There are tons of dining options available at Hollywood Studios, including some of the most table service restaurants at a Disney World theme park. However, with so many attractions to experience (and lines to wait in), it can be difficult to justify setting aside time for a full sit-down meal. Fortunately, there are even more quick service dining options to choose from.
Unlike at Epcot or Animal Kingdom, restaurants here tend to focus on familiar, family-friendly dishes. So, you’ll never have to worry about tracking down a dish to please even the pickiest of eaters. Plus, with an array of plant-based and allergy-friendly options, guests of all dietary needs are sure to be satisfied.
Buying Alcohol From Quick Service Restaurants in Hollywood Studios
Unlike at quick service restaurants in Magic Kingdom, boozy beverages can be bought at dining locations across Hollywood Studios. While you are welcome to imbibe in a cocktail from one of the park’s many drink kiosks, while it isn’t a quick service location, we suggest you set aside some time to sit and sip on something from Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge. Not just the best bar at Hollywood Studios, this intergalactic tavern is one of the best bars at Disney World. It’s also incredibly popular, so be sure to make a reservation.
Allergy-Friendly & Gluten-Free Dining at Hollywood Studios Counter Service Restaurants
Traveling is stressful enough as it is. You shouldn’t have to worry about getting an upset stomach, or worse, due to cross-contamination, or only have an unimpressive selection of salads and fruit to choose from. Luckily, Disney World makes all diners feel welcome regardless of their dietary needs.
No matter whether you’re eating at a table-service or quick-service location, Disney restaurants are incredibly accommodating for food allergies and sensitivities. And the same can be said for Hollywood Studios fast food spots. Having said that, you won’t find as many options as what you can get at a regular sit-down meal.
No chef-guided tours of the buffet or off-menu eats here – allergy-friendly eats at Disney quick-service restaurants are mostly done by substituting or omitting ingredients. And if you’ve got a hankering for fries, many dining outlets also have a special fryer that’s only used for gluten allergies. Not all have designated fryers, however, so be sure to ask a restaurant cast member before making an order.
If you’re traveling to Disney World with a food allergy, we highly recommend you spend some time researching before you walk through those main entrance turnstiles. Rather than stressing yourself out hunting down allergy-friendly dishes when surround by theme park crowds, scope out the menus ahead of time so you know what’s available. And when you’re ready to dig in, don’t forget to let a cast member know about your dietary restrictions to mitigate any cross-contamination mishaps.
Best Disney Hollywood Studios Quick Service Restaurants
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a tribute to the silver screen, transporting guests from the streets of Tinseltown’s golden age to a galaxy far, far away, the animated world of Toy Story, and much more. Dining here, with a few notable exceptions, is decidedly less thrilling with its mostly standard, American-style fare. Having said that, there are some Disney Hollywood Studios quick service restaurants that should be on your radar for your next Disney World vacation.
Quick service dining is a pretty broad category at Disney World, with over 20 snack stands and quick service restaurants at Hollywood Studios officially claiming the title. Of those food outlets, however, there are really only 6 that are worth returning to again and again.
So, if you’re ready to refuel for more star-studded adventures, here’s our list of the best quick service restaurants at Hollywood Studios at Disney World.
Docking Bay 7 and Cargo | Best Hollywood Studios Quick Service Restaurant
With its out-of-this-world theming and menu, Docking Bay 7 and Cargo in Galaxy’s Edge is easily the best quick service restaurant at Hollywood Studios. A real blockbuster, the restaurant is designed to look like an intergalactic transport hub, making for one of the more interesting settings on this list. Best of all, it’s also blissfully air-conditioned.
If you’re partial to adventurous eats, this is the quick-service option for you. While the dishes may have otherworldly names like Batuuan Beef and Crispy Topato Stir-fry and Peka Tuna Poke, the flavors are a bit closer to home while still being a step above what you’ll find elsewhere in the park. Soul food fans will be happy here too with items like Smoked Kaadu Pork Ribs and Fried Endorian Chicken Tip Yip on the menu.
Traveling with kids? Even younglings will enjoy options here like crispy chicken and macaroni & cheese or pasta served with a meaty marinara sauce made from plant-based proteins. And speaking of dietary restrictions, Docking Bay 7 and Cargo also dishes up a tempting array of options for those with food allergies.
As one of the newer, more elaborate quick service restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Docking Bay 7 is also the priciest when it comes to fast food at Disney World. So, be sure to keep that in mind if budget is an issue.
ABC Commissary | Best for Slightly Elevated Eats and Air Conditioning
The must-try bites continue over at ABC Commissary. Nestled down Commissary Lane just down the walkway from the Chinese Theater, the ABC Commissary is an air-conditioned, out-of-the-way escape from the craziness of the theme park.
Thanks to its location a bit off the well-trodden path, ABC Commissary tends to be slightly less busy than some of the options on our list. Plus, if you’re looking for a temporary distraction for a tired-out kiddo, the restaurant also plays clips from different ABC shows on televisions throughout the dining area.
This counter-service spot serves up light, flavorful dishes perfect for those hot days in Central Florida, like Shrimp Tacos and a Chicken Club Sandwich. Or, for something on the cozier side, go for the Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich instead.
Woody’s Lunch Box | Best for Cooler Days or After Sunset
If you’re looking for comfort food classics to please kids of all ages, then hightail it over to Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land. Serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this open-air dining location specializes in wholesome favorites that would be right at home in a brown bag lunch.
Stop by for the saucy BBQ Brisket Melt, a sandwich served with Tomato-basil Soup, or “Totchos” made from potato barrels smothered with chili and cheese. Vegetarians don’t need to miss out on the cozy cuisine either with Plant-Based Totchos and a Toasted Cheddar Sandwich on offer too. And of course, be sure to save room for a Lunch Box Tart or two (or three!) in flavors like chocolate-hazelnut, lemon-blueberry, and raspberry.
The main downside of this location is that the entire restaurant is outside. So, if you’re looking for a place to cool off, this isn’t it. If you can, we highly recommend visiting later in the day when it isn’t so hot. Otherwise, be prepared to sweat it out under the umbrella in the adorable seating section.
Fairfax Fare | Best for Picky Eaters
Hot dogs aren’t exactly what we’d call earth-shattering theme park eats, but they’re just the ticket when traveling with picky eaters. Part of Sunset Ranch Market down Sunset Boulevard, Fairfax Fare is the place to grab an all-American frank smothered with next-level toppings. The California BLTA Dog comes loaded with avocado, bacon, and pieces of ranch-flavored tortilla chips while the Pretzel Dog comes crowned with apple-braised sauerkraut and onions and a drizzle of mustard aioli. And while there isn’t a plant-based hot dog for them to tuck into, veggie lovers will get a kick out of the creative Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad.
This open-air restaurant is part of a larger dining area with several quick service options, so there is plenty of seating to choose from. Unfortunately, none of it is completely covered and it can get pretty hot and crowded here during the middle of the day.
Rosie’s All-American Café | Best for Plant-Based Eats
With a menu filled with theme park standards like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets, Rosie’s All-American Café may not be the first counter-service restaurant you think of for plant-based dishes and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Although you can find a variety of animal-free items throughout the park, Rosie’s All-American Café offers one of the more unique items catered towards vegetarians and vegans. Its Plant-based Lobster Roll is made with marinated hearts of palm, heavy on the dill, and comes with perfectly crispy house-made potato chips.
Similar to Fairfax Fare, Rosie’s All-American Café is part of Sunset Ranch Market, making it a great place to get a bite before Fantasmic! or after going on Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n Roller Coaster.
Ronto Roasters | Best for Breakfast
Heading to Black Spire Outpost early? There’s no better way to kick off your day than with a visit to Ronto Roasters. As you’re heading to the restaurant, don’t be surprised if you smell it before you see it, with the promise of grilled meats wafting through the air. Once you get there, be sure to keep an eye out for the huge podracer engine firing up the sausages.
Greet the morning with the Ronto Morning Wrap stuffed with eggs, sausage, cheese, and peppercorn sauce, a plant-based Triple Suns Breakfast Wrap, or the healthful Rising Moons Overnight Oats. While we love coming here in the AM, it’s also a welcome stop in the afternoon for PM takes on the portable dishes.
Other Good Quick Service Restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
While these aren’t our favorite fast-food joints at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the following quick service restaurants are still worth checking out.
Backlot Express
We don’t go to Backlot Express for the basic theme park fare. Think burgers, salads, chicken strips, and a surprise Cuban Sandwich. Instead, we like going to the Backlot Express near Echo Lake for its wall-to-wall theming. At one time, this counter-service location designed to look like a backstage props warehouse was filled with authentic film and television props. Although many of them have been removed to make more space for seating, the haphazard, creative atmosphere remains. Although there is some indoor seating to be had, a good chunk of tables, though shaded, are located outside.
PizzeRizzo
Located in the Grand Avenue neighborhood near Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo is owned and operated by none other than Rizzo the rat (according to the backstory, of course). Made to look like a local pizza place in New York City, PizzeRizzo is a truly adorable restaurant bursting at the seams with cute details like old “family” photos from Rizzo’s clan, fun signage featuring Muppets Easter eggs, and so much more. Which is why it kind of breaks out heart that the pizza here is unsurprisingly mediocre. If you have kiddos who are craving a slice, then PizzeRizzo is a fine place to go. Otherwise, swing by to look at the décor before grabbing lunch somewhere else.
Dockside Diner
Typically only open during the busy season, the Dockside Diner on Echo Lake is on this list not for the food, but for the bits of hidden magic sprinkled about the restaurant. A play on California-Crazy architecture, this counter-service spot is set inside an old “tramp steamer.” However, it’s the boat’s cargo that’s littered about the dock that’s really a treat. The crates are addressed to characters from famous movies like Gone With the Wind’s Scarlett O’Hara. In the past, this quirky quick service location has offered hand-held items like hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches.
Can’t-Miss Hollywood Studios Snack Stands
Not hungry enough for a full meal? Stop by one of these quick service food kiosks for some of the best snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Scoops
It can get hot, hot, hot in Orlando. One of our favorite ways to cool off when exploring Hollywood Studios is with a visit to Hollywood Scoops. On the corner of Sunset Boulevard opposite Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage and the entrance to the Fantasmic! theater, this little ice cream shop dishes up frozen favorites like hand-scooped cones, cups, and sundaes. If you’re looking for a real indulgence, try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion Shake garnished with a wedge of peanut butter cake dipped in chocolate and shaped like half of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
Market and Neighborhood Bakery
Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies, and you’ll find one of the best at the Market and Neighborhood Bakery snack stands in Pixar Place. Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie is a massive brown butter cookie tart generously speckled with huge chocolate chunks. Best of all, Cookie Num Nums are served warm, making for pockets of chocolate that are positively ooey-gooey.
The Trolley Car Café
Starbucks may seem like an odd location for one of the best Hollywood Studios snacks, but that’s where you’ll find the Carrot Cake Cookie. Although this sweet treat has been on the menu at past dining locations that are, sadly, no longer in existence, you’ll currently find it at The Trolley Car Café on Hollywood Boulevard. With two thick slabs of moist carrot cake and a healthy slathering of cream cheese, it’s a decadent delight that’s a steal at only $3.99.
Well, that’s a wrap on our guide to the best quick service restaurants Disney Hollywood Studios. While there are tons of dining outlets to choose from, these are our top picks for fast, yummy food, memorable atmosphere, and the all-important A/C.
Hoping to maximize your time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Don’t miss out on our 1-Day Holiday Studios Plan. Wanting to make the most of your budget instead? Be sure to check out our discount Disney World tickets.
Are you a self-professed Hollywood Studios foodie? Which restaurants do you visit over and over? What dishes are you still dreaming about? Let us know in the comments!
