Sometimes, you and your main squeeze will be lucky enough to take an entire romantic Disney vacation for two. Other times, you may be part of a larger group, like Mike and I were this past November. That doesn’t leave much time for a full-on date night at Disney Hollywood Studios or whatever your fave romantic park is.

During this type of trip, your only opportunity for a Disney date night pops up when everyone parts ways for an hour or so, or when you take a break from the park midday and the gang decides to stay at the hotel for the rest of the evening.

(We won’t tell anyone that you’re secretly excited about that. 😏)

Or, maybe you two were able to book a Disney for couples trip, but it’s turned into a little whirlwind (see what I did there?) of restaurant reservations and ride wait times and Lightning Lane windows. We’ve been there too.

If you’re having either kind of trip, you can still squeeze an hour or two out of a busy park day to go slower, appreciate your surroundings and take advantage of what’s right nearby. One of the best ways to do this is to pick a section of the park and stay there — you won’t use up your precious time together walking back and forth.

In this article, we’re going to walk you through a date night at Disney Hollywood Studios along Hollywood Boulevard (and right nearby). Let’s go!

You may also like:

• Disney World Date Night: A Fairy Tale in Fantasyland
• Is Genie Plus Worth It? Everything We Did at MK Without Lightning Lanes
• Quick Tips: How to Avoid Ride Lines at Disney World

Where is Hollywood Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

First things first: Hollywood Boulevard in Disney World is the street you walk down as you enter the park — think of it as Hollywood Studios’ Main Street.

Hollywood Boulevard spills out into a more open area, like the hub-and-spoke section at Magic Kingdom that’s in front of the castle. Part of that is still technically Hollywood Boulevard, including the Chinese Theatre.

Your Hollywood Boulevard Itinerary for a Date Night at Disney Hollywood Studios

Alright, let’s get into it! Not accounting for ride and restaurant wait times — which are within your control if you use Genie Plus and book a dinner reservation ahead of time — this evening will take about 2 hours.

Wondering what happens if you’re late to a Disney reservation? Read our article about it.

Get a Coffee or Tea from The Trolley Car Cafe

Pop into The Trolley Car Cafe, which is Hollywood Studios’ Starbucks (each park has one). In addition to your favorite Starbucks drink, you can also order Disney bakery items and shop for Starbucks x Disney souvenirs, like themed mugs and tumblers.

☕️ You can’t use your Starbucks rewards to pay for your order at the Disney locations, but they will scan your app to add points to your rewards.

Check out these Hidden Mickey coffee mugs. We’re obsessed.

Ride Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is in the Chinese Theatre at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, the same building that The Great Movie Ride used to be in, may it RIP. (There’s a nod to the ride in Runaway Railway — see if you can spot it.)

🤩 Before you head in, look down at the handprints, footprints and signatures in the cement. For anyone who misses some of the now-defunct MGM Studios attractions, this is a nice holdover.

Now for the ride itself. Don’t let the cartoon-y-ness of Runaway Railway fool you — it’s actually adorably romantic. It features the ultimate Disney couple, Mickey and Minnie, heading out for an afternoon date, and then you witness their utter dedication as they save one another from a series of unfortunate events (whoops, wrong production company 😳).

Also, the ride’s theme song, Nothing Can Stop Us Now, is the sweetest — so much so that I have a bracelet with the lyrics on it.

🍿 P.S. If you love this ride, head to the Vacation Fun theater that’s right nearby in the Echo Lake section of the park. You’ll watch a super cute Mickey and Minnie short in a Mickey Mouse-themed theater, and afterward is a photo op area with props to pose with.

We loved Vacation Fun so much that we binge-watched the entire Mickey Mouse series once we got home. It makes for a perfect start to the morning if you’re not ready to get out of bed — the shorts are all around 5 minutes.

Have Dinner or Drinks at The Hollywood Brown Derby

Our favorite restaurant for a date night at Disney Hollywood Studios is The Hollywood Brown Derby, which you’ll want to make reservations for.

If you can’t get reservations or you’re throwing together this date night at the last minute, there’s another option: The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge, which is walk-up only and has outdoor seating. The Lounge still has a full menu, or you can order drinks and appetizers if you want something lighter.

✨ To get on the walk-up list for the Brown Derby Lounge, you don’t physically need to go to the restaurant. You can join via the My Disney Experience app instead.

Need something even quicker? Check out our Disney dining review of the ABC Commissary in Hollywood Studios.

Pick Up a Souvenir at Mickey’s of Hollywood or Keystone Clothiers

If you want a souvenir to commemorate your trip to Disney World as a couple, check out Mickey’s of Hollywood or Keystone Clothiers. Mickey’s of Hollywood is more Disney- and Mickey Mouse-focused, while Keystone Clothiers has Marvel and Star Wars items.

❌ Need something to remove from your list because you’re short on time? Skip these shops!

Yes, these are the two we recommend on Hollywood Boulevard, but we much prefer the options on Sunset Boulevard. The shops there have more unique options, including clothing and fine jewelry that you won’t see in most Disney World gift shops.

Save shopping for a day or night when you have more time to spare or pop into a Sunset Boulevard shop the next time you’re waiting for your Tower of Terror Lightning Lane window to begin.

You Just Had a Date Night on Hollywood Boulevard in Disney World 🎉

Don’t let a short window of time stop you from finding things to do at Hollywood Studios when you want to make the most of Disney World as a couple. One of our best Disney date nights ever was spent at Epcot when it was closing in two hours. Anywhere in Disney World can become a date night if you use your time wisely, stop rushing and appreciate what you’re able to do nearby.

Looking to bring the magic home once your vacation’s over? Our Etsy shop has parks-inspired products that’ll help ease the Disney blues. Check out the collection here!