Backlot express gas really stepped their game since the last time I ate there. The decor is still fantastic and does feel like you are on the back lot of a movie set. There are lots of shady spots to sit and enjoy your meal. The food... really good. You can definitely still get traditional park fare... but they gave added some great and super tasty more healthy options. We had the southwest chicken salad and the chicken teriyaki bowl and they were outstanding. Definitely recommend! read more

Backlot Express - Southwest Chicken Salad, mango margarita (delish), buffalo fries... and chicken teriyaki bowl. - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Backlot Express is the perfect example of what it's like when dining at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's mediocre, low quality fast food that's designed to feed the masses. First, the sticker shock is real. Prices here are high, and unlike at Disneyland Park, there's no annual passholder discount for quick service in Florida. If you're used to that easy 10% off out West, it's a rude awakening. (Yes, I have an annual pass at both Disneyland and Disney World). In search of a quick snack and a place to rest our feet, hubby and I shared a kid's meal that cost around $10, and it felt pretty underwhelming. It consisted of two small chicken strips, a tiny portion of fries, a small bag of sliced apples, and a mini bottle of Dasani. For what you get, it's hard not to feel like Disney is pushing things too far with the pricing. There are a few redeeming qualities. The fried food itself was actually really good. The tenders and fries were crispy, hot, and satisfying, and the apples have always been a favorite of mine. But the reason we always stop here, and one of THE best perks in the park, is the self-serve soda fountain. Being able to refill your drink while you sit and eat feels almost unheard of at Disney these days, and it's a nice little win. The space itself is huge, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which makes it easier to find a spot even during busy times. Still, if you're visiting during peak hours, definitely use the Disney app mobile ordering feature. It'll save you a lot of waiting. The theming is also worth mentioning. It's designed like a working prop department, and there are a lot of fun details tucked around the space if you take a minute to look. It fits right in with the park's behind-the-scenes movie magic vibe. Plus, it's conveniently located right next to Star Tours. I guess Backlot Express is fine in a pinch, especially if you want quick fried food and a refillable drink. But the prices and portion sizes make it hard to fully recommend. Then again, what at Disney IS a great value anymore? read more

Stopped here an hour before closing, it wasn't very busy, though, the atmosphere remained lively. It was easy to find a table around this time. I can see this place getting busy in the afternoon- there is indoor and outdoor seating available. Tables are scattered throughout the restaurant, so it might take a while to find a spot. I ordered the Honey Buffalo Chicken Strips with Ranch. Despite it being relatively quiet and close to the end of the night, the strips and fries were both hot and had the crunch you'd expect. The honey and ranch balanced out the heat from the buffalo sauce. This is a quick service restaurant, so no table service. Crew members are walking around, so if you need anything that's not readily available by the drinks/condiment station, I'm sure you could check with them. Mobile ordering is available, so if you're looking for one less line to stand in, I'd place the order ahead of arriving! read more

Backlot Express is always a must do based on their healthy options (actual vegetables in the park) and their portion sizes (legitimately... get the kids portion... I swear it is still a portion bigger than what you need) BUT... we were here for Jollywood Nights.. and the food was even better. Best food for the holiday celebration. Burnt end Mac & Cheese with Fried Onions, Brussel Sprouts that were delightful crisped and coated, a holiday meatloaf hamburger that had a fun onion jam... AND the holiday bread pudding with dark chocolate and cherries. The staff was so accommodating. We were in, ordered, served, and seated within a few minutes. Plus the theming is next level. Like you are legitimately at a backlot of a studio and Indiana Jones has his equipment everywhere for the next stunt. Ample tables too!! read more

Backlot Express - Jollywood Night Snacks - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

This is always my favorite place to go to when I need a quick service bite to eat in HS. The only issue is finding a place to seat because it is always so busy there. It is very convenient to do mobile order and I highly recommend that as you will want to have that ordered already submitted by the time you get there. Wait times for food if you don't do this could be quite long. I love the decor and the atmosphere there. Being next door to the Indiana Jones stunt show you definitely get that "backlot" feeling. You hear all the sounds of the show while you're dinning. It is a nice place to break up your day especially if you're coming out of the snow or coming off of Star Tours. They also have the BEST gluten free chicken strips. read more

I really quick place in Disney to get a snack or light snack or meal. Self-serve drink dispensers and the fries are really good. Has indoor and outdoor seating as well. Not too terribly expensive. read more

Backlot Express - Holiday cupcake - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

We were starving at Hollywood studios and we didn't want to wait. Backlot express was opening within 10 minutes and we liked the menu so figured why not give it a go. I did mobile order- and our food was ready pretty quick. If you don't know what mobile order is download the MyDisney Experience App it's free and a game changer especially for ordering food around the parks. We both got the Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Burger and it was huge and so yummy! There was such a great amount of pulled pork I was shocked and it came with fries my boyfriend got the buffalo fries. Everything was fresh and so good. And I don't do sweets but I really wanted to try the Wookiee Cookie- it was huge and made for 2, I'm not big on sweets but I had to give this a go. It was really good we didn't finish it that's how huge it was. You can dine in or outside this location was right outside Indiana Jones. The movie vibes inside was cool, I loved the ambiance I wish I would've taken pictures but I was too amazed at the food portions. I would 100% to here again and next time try the Cuban sandwich (that's what I was stuck between getting). read more

Backlot Express is located outside Indiana Jones. With an interesting array of food items, online ordering, plenty of seating, and bathrooms right around the corner, it is always a fabulous one stop shop for us. The Southwest salad with chicken really elevated a typical entree. The meat was a nice combination of dark and light pieces. It as flavorful and moist. The bed of lettuce was topped with roasted corn, tomatoes, pickled onion, and roasted pumpkin seeds. The cherry on top was the creamy and tangy jalapeño lime ranch dressing. It was really well balanced with lots of great texture. The star of the show however was the gingerbread cheesecake on a vanilla cookie with milk chocolate ganache, dulce de leche whipped cream, a gingerbread chocolate man, with a sprinkle of crispy pearls. Not only was it beautiful to behold, but the cheesecake filling was smooth and had just the right ratio of warm spices. The crust was nice and buttery with a good crunch. And I really enjoyed the contrast of the pearls for some texture. But as with all cheesecakes, it is best to share because they can get heavy on the palette after a few bites. Overall, with quick service, a unique variety of items to order from, and an idealistic location, this is one of my preferred quick stop shops at Hollywood Studios. read more

Backlot Express - Southwest Chicken Salad and Gingerbread Cheesecake - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

If you want to spend your money on a plate of white rice, terrible customer service and unhappy employees. $28 for two of these rice bowls with barely anything tofu in them and no way to order a side of tofu either read more

Backlot Express - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Due to technical difficulties, our reservation at Sci-Fi Drive In restaurant was canceled. So we came here, since the food never disappoints. Neither does the service. We ordered on the app, and our food was ready when we checked in. The two ladies who helped us were friendly. Husband had the bacon cheeseburger and fries. He was happy with his meal. No complaints. I had the Cuban again, and this time I got the plantains. I thoroughly enjoyed both. The restaurant is like a Hollywood back lot area, functional and comfortable. The seats are padded and the wooden tables are cleaned by efficient staff. There is also outside seating, at plastic looking tables and chairs. It's too hot to eat outside - 85° on 9/25/24. This is our go to lunch or dinner place for its good staff & food and reasonable prices. read more

Backlot Express - Burger, fries, chicken strips, Apple slices & one drink with free water from past experience - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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I thought that the backlot express was great! I had a tofu bowl that was very flavorful and hit the spot for dinner. My family and I also split the Wookie cookie. The cookie portion of it was tasty, but I didn't love the middle cream filling as much, but I tend to not like cream desserts. There was plenty of seating in our food came out quickly after doing mobile order. My kids had some chicken strips and they also enjoyed them as well. My husband had the chicken version of the bowl that I had and he thought it was really good. I think this is a solid option while spending a day in Hollywood Studios. read more

Backlot Express - Wookie cookie - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Well, usually when we are in a hurry we stop here. Today took so long, as a cast food, took about 35 min between pay and wait to pick up. Fries were good, one of the burguers we ordered with pulled pork, but it was too much, to sweet too. read more

Backlot Express - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Backlot Express serves up exactly what you'd expect from theme-park fare--nothing fancy, but it hits the spot when you need some reliable chicken tenders. The themed warehouse-style setting, complete with movie props and covered seating, adds a neat nostalgic touch for classic Hollywood Studios. It's reliable and efficient--especially useful when you've got kids or need to use mobile ordering during a busy park day. The indoor dining area with air conditioning and shaded outdoor tables makes it a convenient refuge when the Florida heat gets intense. That said, while the food is consistently okay, it's unremarkable. It doesn't feel like a culinary destination so much as a solid fallback when you're hungry and options are limited. Overall, Backlot Express is average theme-park fare--not bad, not mind-blowing--but dependable enough when you just need a quick, familiar meal without the frills. read more

Backlot Express - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Food was sooo good and fresh and totally hit the spot! Very needed after a great day at Disney. We ordered ahead which was totally the move and it was super fast service! The vibe was great and we loved it! read more

Backlot Express - Teriyaki Chicken Bowl - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

The line here took forever just to order, and then I had to wait a bit for my food to be ready. However, there's plenty of seating which is nice and the food was pretty good. They had lots of options, including vegan options, so it's not bad for a Disney meal. read more

Backlot Express - Teriyaki Tofu Bowl - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Loved the food and was very accommodating to my milk friendly need. ( I needed more words for this review.)

Though there are so many seats you might have to fight to get one! Grab a seat and mobile order here. My favorite is the Cuban. Two people can easily share this sandwich (and many other entrees) and the prices aren't bad for Disney read more

Backlot Express - Half the Cuban with some of the chips poured out in the container - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Quick service burger place @ Hollywood studio, galaxy edge, ordered bacon cheese burger and pulled pork burger with coleslaw. The pulled pork burger was moist and tasted better than the cheese burger which was dry. We ordered thru the mobile app and didn't have to wait too long for the food but the temperature of the food wasn't hot. Good place to grab a quick meal with a reasonable price. read more

Backlot Express - Pulled pork burger - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

A quick service spot in Hollywood Studios that has mainly burgers and sandwiches. There was also some rice bowls so my friend got the teriyaki chicken bowl but she found it too be a bit too sweet and just alright. I got the cuban sandwich which looked great but it didn't have much filling. Most of it was in the middle of the sandwich so by the end, it was just bread. However, the bites that had all the filling - ham, pulled pork, cheese, pickles - was great. The burgers had lovely buns that were soft but still held together well. The patties were just alright but I think the smoked BBQ pulled pork burger is the way to go. It was the best thing we got. It was a burger patty topped with pulled pork and slaw, well worth it! The pulled pork was juicy and the slaw was refreshing in contrast to all the meats. There's also plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors so I'd say it's a solid spot for a quick meal in between attractions. read more

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This is your typical fast food restaurant when it comes to Disney however everything about this place I love because from the service with how quick it is, to the very chicken tenders and fries, to the amazingly decorated walls everything about this place is exquisite! I always do mobile order so by the time I reach the location it is ready, in terms of food, for me to pick up. The cast members here are always ready to serve you with a smile and are very attentive and quick with grabbing the food once I tell them I'm here for the mobile order. Seating is very nicely spaced out and you will never feel like you are overcrowded and one of my favorite things about this location is you can get refills on your soda because they have the soda machine out for everyone to get their drinks on their own. I always go for a Coke Zero because it is super refreshing and it just tastes really great from this location. My go-to is a kids meal chicken tender because you get two very nice size chicken tenders. The chicken tenders are always crispy and hot to wear there has been times I've been in into them and seen steam come out because of how freshly cooked they were! The crunch on the chicken tenders is perfect and the chicken is so juicy that I never need to dip it in anything to add more flavor! The fries are average and I usually end up adding salt to them because they definitely are missing something. A kids meal comes with a little side that you can pick an orange or cookie and I usually get the cookie because I saved it for later since it is wrapped up and prepackaged. Prices are generic pricing here and I believe it is almost about $10 for a chicken tender kids meal however it is enough food that you won't feel overly stuffed or feel like you are breaking the bank by purchasing this. Definitely my go-to food location for Quick Service in Hollywood studios! read more

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We chose to eat here because we wanted a quick bite to eat in between activities at the park. I have Celiac Disease and my boyfriend has dairy and wheat allergies so the attention they pay to allergies is vital to our wellbeing when eating anywhere. They have staff that were able to accommodate our allergies and neither of us got sick. The fries are gluten-free (designated fryer). We also enjoyed the free refills on soft drinks at this restaurant- while I believe that the pricing of the items should result in fountain drinks coming with refills, that is not often the case anymore at theme parks. The reason I am only giving three stars in this review is because the burgers weren't very good. They reminded us of something you would get at a traditional high school cafeteria (but not priced the same). I don't know if it was partially the gluten-free buns but we were underwhelmed by the quality. I thought the fries were okay but nothing special. Food was served hot. read more

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Perfect for a quick bite to refuel you for your day at Hollywood Studios. We shared chicken tenders and fries to keep it cheap. Actually found a seat and the place was clean and cool. Recommend for a quick stop. read more

Backlot express is a food vendor located on site of disneys Hollywood studios. It has patio seating and indoor seating as well. Like all Disney park food vendors have gone too you place your order through the app and go to the register to pick up and seat yourself. The interior and exterior is decorated with items from an old attraction they had called the backlot which was like a behind the scenes tour of Hollywood. The food is American traditional food with bbq, chicken tenders fries and other sandwiches. I personally went with a Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Burger and it was a solid bbq sandwich. Decent sized and very messy. The kids enjoyed there tenders but they appeared to be the same ones you get at all Disney food stops. Overall it a solid place to eat and get out of the sun. Has the high Disney prices but it does have fountain sodas which allows refills so that is a nice touch. read more

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Decent snack place at Hollywood Studios. Ordered the buffalo fries and they were delicious. The Wookie cookie is terribly overrated, the cookie was hard as can be and not worth the price. Can't comment on service because it was quick serve. The restaurant itself is huge but plan on waiting in a long line to order unless you do it online. read more

Lunch at Backlot Express at Disney's Hollywood Studios was yummy. My husband and I ordered the Cuban sandwich while my sister had the teriyaki chicken bowl. The sandwiches were really good and came with plantain chips. My sister's teriyaki chicken bowl was meh. She said it was ok, but the teriyaki tasted weird. There is a lot of both indoor and outdoor seating at Backlot Express, but what I thought was odd, and not normal of Disney service was the mess. Several tables were dirty and sticky. Luckily I had wipes in my backpack to clean our table. Other than that though, lunch was pretty good. read more

Backlot Express left me feeling more like an extra than a star because the fourteen-dollar teriyaki chicken was a pint-size production featuring maybe half a cup of rice (after cooking), 1 ounce of chicken, 4 bites of veggies and a polite sprinkle of sesame seeds. I get that theme park dining is never bargain theater, but when cheaper menu items in the same restaurant like the burgers or the southwest chicken salad arrive with noticeably heftier portions, this dish feels like a plot hole. If the kitchen simply boosted the protein to a true entrée size, added a proper scoop of rice and vegetables, and maybe offered a drizzle of extra sauce to keep everything juicy since the rice was so dry it was hard in some places, the value would start to match the price tag. read more

It was okay. I just wish there was more to it. It was a simple filling meal with lots of protein which was nice. Just not a big fan of teriyaki personally so may weigh in some bias on my review. We came for the kids mac and cheese which was a hit for my niece. read more

Backlot Express - Teriyaki Tofu Bowl - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Decent quick service spot at Hollywood Studios! The burgers were very average - the burger patties were very thin, but not inedible. Luckily, it came with plenty of fries which filled me up. For drinks, I ordered the margarita which was surprisingly very good - strong but not TOO strong. Shoutout to the lovely cast member who "pixie dusted" us with a free Wookiee Cookie! It was huge, easy to share with a few people and so rich. One of my favorite desserts of the trip for sure! read more

Backlot Express - Wookiee Cookie - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

For the over price food it's gross. My holiday drinks was alright and that is what this has a 2 star. Also, the staff were so friendly & place is clean. That's is pretty much it. The chicken teriyaki is so salty, I couldn't finished it. It's just best to get a kids meal. The only nice thing about this place is that if you get a kids meal you get 2 sides & refillable drinks. read more

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Good food, and my order was ready when the app Said it would be. Fair prices, clean dining area. I would def return to this dining place if I'm ever back at Hollywood studios. It's your basic theme park food but well done. read more

Backlot Express - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

The frozen margarita was really good! It's nice little spot to grab some food and a drink as you peruse the park. The service was quick and easy! read more

Backlot Express - Frozen Margaritas - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Good American fast food place inside Disney's Hollywood Studios. This place is tucked next to Star Tours and the ambiance is great as is all things Disney. Service is made with a smile and there are plenty of seats. Highlight are their chicken tenders; all white meat with minimal breading and just the right amount of salt. Perfect for families with kids. read more

Backlot Express - Cuban sandwich - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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KUDOS and thanks to Kylee for providing supreme quality customer service at Backlot Express here at Disney's Hollywood Studios! She single handedly helped get me sugar packets as my blood sugar was low! Her selfless act of kindness shows her loyal service, and she's an asset to her department! I was jamming to the nice jazz music as I waited for my friends to order their food. read more

Backlot Express - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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The gluten free chicken tenders were so tasty! I've heard so many great things about them and they lived up to the hype! Service was fast and easy! :) read more

Backlot Express - Gluten Free Chicken Tenders - American Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

(Late review from October - November 2022) Terrible burgers especially for the exorbitant food price. Like high school cafeteria bad quality level. It's not repulsive just poor quality burgers. Also, really dumb how if you ask for cheese to be removed, they can't remove because quality control and because it's frozen and premade. Stupid. Steer clear of Backlot Express while visiting and dining at Disney's Hollywood Studios. read more

Reminded me of school lunch cheese burgers, ya know, the cheese burgers that you say, "these ain't bad for being a school lunch" The only difference is this isn't a school cafeteria where you pay $2.25 for lunch. But, I can't complain because it was on par with amusement park food and they have all you can drink fountain soda, lemonade (sugar free) and Powerade. The burger wasn't dry and it tasted good(again this is amusement park standards) The service was fast and friendly. My one daughter got 4 Chicken Tenders, they were also not dry and they were big enough to fill her up with just 3, so Dad saved the day, and finished off the 4th one. Only thing I would have liked is if the fries would have been hot, always find it a little odd, that as busy as these places are and everything comes with fries, that the fries wouldn't be hotter and fresher. read more

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You would think that looking for a place to eat at Disney Hollywood Studios would be easy when they limited park capacity...you'd be wrong. All of the sit down themed restaurants were totally booked ... for lunch and dinner!!! You have to settle for what amounts to unmemorable theme park food: burgers, sandwiches and fries. Backlot express is one of the few places that don't need reservations. Ambience: like most Disney attractions, there is a theme. In this case, it seems to be inner city industrial ghetto. I wondered did they intentionally wear down and scratch up the soda machines to get that ghetto look? The tables are mismatched and the theme "decorations" look like they were pulled out of the salvage yard. Food: typical theme park fare: Cheeseburger - dry 3/5 Cuban Sandwich - cheese, Turkey and slice of ham 3/5 Chicken Tenders - dry and bland 2/5 Paint Can Cake - the highlight of the meal 5/5 TL/DR: make reservations EARLY for a sit down restaurant while at Hollywood Studios or pay top dollar for carnival quality food at Backlot Express. read more

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DISAPPOINTING MEAL AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS We recently visited Backlot Express. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating at what may be the largest cafeteria at Hollywood Studios. We ordered the 1/3 lb Angus Cheeseburger ($13.29) and Chicken Strips ($10.99), both served with fries. The chicken strips seemed smaller than what we usually get at Disney quick service places. The cheeseburger was not good - meh burger on a stale bun, wilted lettuce and tasteless tomato slice. The fries were okay. Park Admission: Hollywood Studios park admission required. Disney Mobile Food Ordering App: yes Annual Passholder Discount: no read more

Backlot express is great because it's got regular "theme park" food and some alternate options as well. It's one of the few quick service restaurants that has their soda machine for public use which means it's one of the few places where you can get free refills on your soft drinks. Cast members are enforcing mobile ordering, so be sure to have your order placed in advance. It's incredibly simple. I visited in early October 2021 and got to try their spooky Halloween cupcake. It was delicious, but very very rich. I highly recommend ordering a milk to help with all that fudge. read more

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Our favorite quick service in HS. Definitely do mobile order if you want to get your food quickly. We loved the big patio outside which was in the shade. Lots of room to Sit! I had the southwest salad which was awesome and my husband got the Cuban, also really good! The salad had so much chicken, they didn't skimp at all there! Tons of flavor too! Definitely the best quick meal in HS! read more