Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of the most exciting parks at Disney World, which can also make it one of the more crowded parks.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
With headliner attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, and Tower of Terror, this park consistently change have long wait times and crowds year-round. On top of that, Hollywood Studios is in the middle of a major transformation, with construction underway for Monstropolis and Animation Courtyard officially becoming Walt Disney Studios this summer. If you’re hoping for shorter waits and a smoother park day, here are the dates you may want to skip for 2026.
March 1st
The final operating day of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is expected to be a major crowd draw. Fans will want one last ride before the attraction closes, and lines could stretch for hours. This date may also end up being closely tied to the attraction’s reopening in summer 2026 (exact date TBD), which will likely bring another surge of interest to ride the new Muppets-themed version of the rollercoaster.
©Disney
May 4th
If you’ve ever heard “May the Fourth be with you,” then you already know why this day is huge at Hollywood Studios. As home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the park becomes a magnet for Star Wars fans celebrating all things Jedi, Sith, and droids. You can expect packed walkways, potential Lightning Lane sellouts, and some of the longest waits of the year for Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This is a dream day for superfans, but a nightmare if you’re trying to do Hollywood Studios efficiently.
May the Fourth guests dressing up
Major Holidays
Holiday weeks are some of the busiest times across Disney World, and Hollywood Studios is no exception. Families traveling around school breaks, extended weekends, and holiday celebrations push crowd levels way up. Attractions with already limited capacity, like Slinky Dog Dash, can see triple-digit wait times, and dining reservations disappear quickly. Christmas week, in particular, is consistently one of the busiest stretches of the entire year. If you are traveling during these times to capitalize on time off from work and school, then be prepared for crowds and to wait.
Crowds at Hollywood Studios
Jollywood Nights
Disney’s Jollywood Nights typically run on select evenings during the holiday season, and while they bring festive fun, they also come with early park closures. If your goal is to enjoy Hollywood Studios from rope drop to close, these party days can be frustrating. Regular park ticket holders are forced out earlier than usual, meaning you won’t be able to see Fantasmic! Until Disney releases the official 2026 dates, keep an eye on the calendar if a full park day is important to you.
Jollywood Nights
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve at Hollywood Studios is crowded, but it’s worth noting that while it’s not quite as packed as EPCOT or Magic Kingdom that night, it’s still busy enough to impact wait times and mobility. That said, if you’re set on being inside a Disney park when the clock strikes midnight and want slightly less chaos, Hollywood Studios can be a solid compromise. Just go in knowing crowds will still be heavy.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Avoiding these dates can mean shorter waits, less stress, and a much more enjoyable day. And of course, for the latest crowd calendars, construction updates, and Disney planning tips, be sure to keep checking back with us here at DisneyFoodBlog.
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We have AP and a reservation for HS on May 4th. If we leave middle of the day do we risk not getting back in? Can you ride rides while carrying a lightsaber?
Thanks
Hi, Fred! Unfortunately, if you leave the park there is no guarantee of getting back in if the park reaches capacity. That said, I just did some research and I haven’t found any evidence that the park officially reaches capacity on that date. (The AP park passes DO reach capacity often for May the 4th, but since you’re all set with a park pass you’re obviously in good shape there :). For the most part, people report that the park gets REALLY busy, but it still doesn’t approach the kinds of crowds that you could possibly expect on, say, Christmas or New Year’s Day.
For the Lightsaber, Disney has shared a few options on planDisney if you purchase one. You CAN bring Lightsabers on several rides, BUT they said that Cast Members at the attractions at load/unloading stations are able to hold Lightsabers, too. They also mentioned this tip: “If you’d like to go this route, it’s not a bad idea to bring a luggage tag or spare ID badge to attach to your carrying bag” to make it more easily identifiable when you pick it up in unloading (Cast Members make the switch for the guests so it’s there for you at the ride’s end). You can also ask for holding services at Droid Depot or Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities and they may be able to offer complimentary holds (though it’s not guaranteed — worth checking, though)!
I hope that helps, and May the 4th Be With You :)!