More than 10 million people visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which until 2008 was known as Disney MGM Studios. As the fifth most visited amusement park in the country, the best time to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios is in May, before summer begins and spring break is over.
When planning your Disney vacation, you first need to choose the time of year that best suits your needs, then you can focus on the day and time that work best for your travel party. Most months at Disney they have special events throughout the year.
With the opening of Star Tours in 2011, the continued popularity of Toy Story Mania, the Tower of Terror, and the Rock n ‘Roller roller coaster, crowds at all times of the year can make it hard to see everything you want, but if You plan your visit wisely, you will see most of the attractions.
High Season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you’re looking for fewer people filling the parks, then your best bets are probably May, mid-August before Labor Day weekend and early December, after Thanksgiving weekend and before the holidays. winter.
As for the best days to visit, it depends on whether you are staying at a Disney Resort or not. If you are a guest of the resort, you can take advantage of the Disney Resort “Magic Hours”. This is a perk that is for Disney Resort guests only, allowing you to enter the park an hour earlier or allow you to exit an hour later.
Disney Resort Guests
If you’re staying at a Disney-owned resort, head to Hollywood Studios on a Friday morning for an extra “Magic Hour.” If you prefer to visit overnight to see Fantasmic !, plan to go to Hollywood Studios on a Wednesday night, and you will be able to stay and play after the park has closed for non-resort guests. Be sure to check Disney’s hours before solidifying your plans, the park may close or cancel magic hours for special events.
Best time of day to visit
If you plan to spend the day in the park, head there first thing in the morning of the day you have chosen.
If you are using the Disney transportation system, allow at least a 30 minute ride. If you drive yourself, you may need a little less time. You should wait when the park opens and proceed directly to your favorite attraction.
Since Hollywood Studios generally offers extra magic hours on Wednesdays and Fridays, avoid visiting on those days if you are not staying at a Disney Resort. The park will be packed with resort guests who are likely planning to take advantage of this. If you visit on a different day, you’ll likely see a lot less congestion, although popular attractions like Star Tours will still have a line most times of the year.
How to use FastPass at Disney
Disney’s FastPass + service was added as a way for customers to reduce waits at popular attractions at their parks. The use of the FastPass + service does not have an additional cost, it is included with the entrance to the theme park. However, the sooner you get your park admission, the sooner you can sign up for FastPass reservations for attractions, shows, and character encounters. You can reserve FastPass selections 30 days in advance. And if you’re staying at a Disney Resort, you can make reservations 60 days in advance.
FastPass selections can also be made the same day at a FastPass kiosk at the theme park or using the My Disney Experience mobile app.
If you haven’t secured your FastPass reservations before arriving at the park, consider sending the fastest member of your party to a kiosk or making reservations through the app to secure your FastPass options for attractions later in the day. Toy Story Mania generally has the longest line and runs out of FastPass for the day at mid-morning during the busiest times of the year.
Using a Disney Travel Specialist
If you feel like planning all of these things on your own is overwhelming, then you should consider enlisting the help of a Disney travel specialist. These agents, most of whom work on Disney commission, generally do not charge any customer fees, attend Disney courses, and can assist you with all of your travel plans, including advice on best times to visit, scheduling FastPass selections, magic hours, and Find a Disney Resort that fits your family and budget.
Spring
Spring can be a great time to visit Hollywood Studios, as the park is not very crowded. Ideally, schedule your visit in May, before Memorial Day weekend. Weekends attract a lot of locals, so visit on a weekday if possible.
Summer
Summer is the busiest season in all the parks. As expected, Florida’s climate is intensely humid and very hot. Unless you have no other options, skip a summer visit in favor of another season when the weather is better and the park is less crowded.
Fall
The crowds in the parks decrease from mid-September until the week before Thanksgiving, when the children return to school. While September is still quite hot, late fall can be a great time to visit. Keep in mind that hurricane season in Florida lasts until November 30.
Winter
After the onslaught of the holidays, the crowds tend to be smaller. From mid-January to March, you will find Hollywood Studios pleasant and less crowded than at other times of the year, except on weekends. The weather is also mild, although even Florida can experience the occasional cold snap.
Events to watch
- The park celebrates its annual flurry of fun every year during the holidays. The celebration includes festive shows, holiday decorations, and more.
