Welcome to planDisney, Andrew!
I just returned from a visit to Walt Disney World Resort with my 1-year-old in tow, so I am here to give you some first-hand advice to help you make your decision.
Let's start with what there is to do for your littlest one at Disney's Hollywood Studios!
My 1-year-old absolutely loved
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway so much that we had to ride it twice! my little girl also happened to be tall enough for
Alien Swirling Saucers which had her giggling the entire time. Also in Toy Story Land, you will find
Toy Story Mania! where you can help your little one try their hand at some fun arcade games on a moving track.
In terms of shows, my girl could not get enough of
For The First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. This is no surprise as she is currently obsessed with all things Elsa. There is also the very cute
Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy as well as the Disney Junior Play and Dance! where your little one can be up, out of their seats, rocking out with some familiar faces.
Andrew, the choice on whether or not to add the park hopper option may depend on how jam-packed you want your trip to be. I like the idea of having one or 2 rest days built into our trip where we can spend some time at the pool, do a little shopping at Disney Springs, and visit a Walt Disney World Resort hotel for a lunch or dinner reservation. If your family is go-go-go all the time, you may want to add the park hopper option and just take full advantage of your non-park rest day.
I think you may be surprised at just how much it is for your little one to do in each park, and you may have a little less time for park hopping than you think. If it was my first trip with my 1-year-old, I would probably skip the park hopper option, as I would like the ability to head back to the hotel for a mid-day nap if my little one needed it or to call it a day early and head back to the hotel for some time at the pool before an early bedtime. Knowing myself, I would also feel pressured to take FULL advantage of the park hopper option, leading to a little more hectic trip all around.
Andrew, if there are a few rides that you would like to do but your little Mouseketeer isn't tall enough for, have you heard about the
Rider Switch Service? This service allows only one of you to have to stand in line and lets your other party members jump to the front of the line when they return. Simply ask a Cast Member at the ride entrance for details. During naptime, my husband and I like to switch off riding some of our favorite rides while the other one stays with the baby in a quiet section of the park, or takes a trip to the
Baby Care Center.
I hope that this gave you a little insight, Andrew. Please come back here to planDisney if we can help as you plan a magical vacation for your little one.
See you real soon!
Sarah B.