Disney’s Hollywood Studios has good & unhealthy days to go to, however some dates ought to be flagged as ones to focus on and keep away from in 2025 & 2026. This explains why there are massive variations in wait occasions, with lists of the least & most crowded dates in October by way of December to help in planning your Halloween or Christmas journey to Walt Disney World.
As with the Finest & Worst Dates at Magic Kingdom in 2025, this comes right down to particular occasions. Social gathering Season is an enormous deal at Walt Disney World as a result of it disrupts attendance dynamics and creates a “porcupine sample” of wait occasions and crowd ranges. In a nutshell, each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering push attendance at Magic Kingdom a lot increased on the dates they’re not occurring and decrease on days of the occasions.
That is nothing new–we’ve been banging the Social gathering Season drum the final decade, not less than. Magic Kingdom crowd patterns throughout Social gathering Season are a key dialogue factors of our August by way of December crowd calendars. Nonetheless, this put up isn’t merely a ‘copy+paste’ of the Magic Kingdom suggestions. On the contrary, our recommendation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is sort of the reverse of what it’s for Magic Kingdom!
As a reminder, we strongly advocate that readers go to Magic Kingdom through the day on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering nights. In a great world, they’d have Park Hopper tickets and bounce to a different park at round 4 pm.
The rationale for that is that many day friends keep away from Magic Kingdom on days when MNSSHP or MVMCP is held at evening as a result of the park closes at 6 pm as an alternative of 10 pm or 11 pm, and Disney Starlight Evening Parade and Fortunately Ever After fireworks usually are not proven. This leads to considerably lighter crowds on social gathering days.
In concept, the dynamic ought to be very related with Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout its particular occasions, which is essentially simply the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. Nonetheless, there are a number of variations.
First, friends who attend Disney’s Hollywood Studios on social gathering nights aren’t going to lose as many hours as these doing the identical at Magic Kingdom. The fort park will shut at 10 pm or 11 pm on non-party nights. That’s an additional 4-5 hours, plus seeing the evening parade & fireworks, and attending to benefit from the cooler night hours within the park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 or 9:30 pm most conventional nights and closes to common friends at 7 pm on social gathering nights, that means that the quantity of misplaced time on a celebration vs. non-party evening is ~2 hours. That’s nonetheless an excellent chunk of time, however it’s not as a lot and never on the fort park. Furthermore, day friends nonetheless have the chance to catch Fantasmic, in order that they’re not lacking out on any nighttime spectaculars.
This brings us to the second key level. On a traditional evening, Disney’s Hollywood Studios actually clears out within the remaining few hours of the day, whereas Magic Kingdom doesn’t.
Doing DHS on a celebration day means basically forfeiting that end-of-night slowdown, which gained’t occur because of the social gathering mix-in. (For these unfamiliar with it, mix-in is the casual time period for the overlap between the common working day and time when friends with tickets to the particular occasion are allowed to enter the park early.) It additionally means heavier crowds for Fantasmic, particularly with the chance of just one efficiency on social gathering nights, as each day friends and social gathering friends attempt to see the present.
This basically quantities to a unfavorable double-whammy. Daytime crowds aren’t that a lot decrease on social gathering days as a result of most common friends gained’t keep away from DHS resulting from a 7 pm closure, so that you’re not saving a lot time in line all through the day. Then, when wait occasions would usually be falling on the finish of the evening, social gathering friends arrive and hold these traces longer.
Lastly, there are far fewer social gathering dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whereas MNSSHP and MVMCP are held 3-4 nights per week from October by way of December, there are a grand complete of 13 dates for Disney Jollywood Nights at Christmastime. It’s by no means held on greater than two evenings per week.
This implies there are 5 non-party nights per week to soak up the displaced crowds from Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because of this, the distinction in wait occasions between social gathering days and non-party days at DHS is way much less excessive than at Magic Kingdom. And on high of that, this isn’t taking place in a vacuum. Visitors can solely schedule a lot, they usually’re extra more likely to plan round MVMCP, whereas ignoring Jollywood Nights.
Avoiding MVMCP is already an enormous problem for a lot of friends–juggling plans round two completely different events in two parks is an excessive amount of for the typical visitor. They gained’t hassle worrying in regards to the DHS occasion and can simply go to once they go to. That is doubly true since they will nonetheless see Fantasmic whatever the evening, and fewer friends really feel the want to be at DHS from opening to closing like they do with Magic Kingdom.
All of because of this we do NOT advocate a zig once they zag suggestion for Disney’s Hollywood Studios like we do with Magic Kingdom. Attendance gained’t be that a lot decrease through the day earlier than events. Displaced crowds gained’t be as massive of a deal as a result of there are fewer occasions. The intuitive strategy is the right one at DHS!
The lack of these quiet nights and ~2 hours is the larger deal than all the above. These slower evenings shall be misplaced because of the mix-in. Since Jollywood Nights would be the solely probability many attendees have to go to DHS, they’ll arrive as early as potential to cram rides in earlier than the social gathering begins.
For the 2025 Disney Jollywood Nights, mix-in begins at 5:30 pm. That is sooner than the earlier two years, as Walt Disney World makes an attempt to present friends extra incentive to purchase tickets. As an alternative of wait occasions falling within the remaining two hours of the night like regular, they may enhance on DJN nights from 5:30 to 7 pm.
It is a massive blow. That’s usually once we advocate knocking out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. On some evenings, it’s potential to do these complete lands within the final two hours of the evening. That won’t be the case on DJN nights.
Consequently, we advocate doing Disney’s Hollywood Studios on non-party days if you happen to’re spending all day within the park and don’t have Park Hopper tickets. Now that we’ve defined the why and the way of this, right here’s the listing of dates to keep away from at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the rest of the yr…
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – October 2025
- October 1, 2025
- October 8, 2025
- October 15, 2025
- October 22, 2025
- October 29, 2025
All the dates on the listing above are dates when Prolonged Night Hours is held within the park. We must always observe that DHS is incredible for this “free” perk, so if you happen to’re among the many friends eligible for Prolonged Night Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we extremely advocate you attend. We’d simply gently nudge you elsewhere through the day, particularly if you happen to’re not eligible for ExEH.
The identical logic applies to ExEH as Disney Jollywood Nights, albeit to a a lot lesser extent. On these evenings, there shall be mix-in crowds that lead to much less of an finish of the evening slowdown. We’ve additionally noticed ever-so-slightly increased daytime crowds on Prolonged Night Hours dates.
Nonetheless, the large distinction is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 pm, not 7 pm, on ExEH dates. So that you don’t lose these 2 hours, and there nonetheless is a few finish of evening slowdown, simply not as pronounced because it’d be on adjoining dates. We don’t advocate going out of your strategy to keep away from these ExEH dates, however it’s a finest apply to take action.
It additionally doesn’t matter as a lot in October as a result of, apart from Fall Break, this month is mostly slower than November and December. On the danger of stating the apparent, selecting dates properly round Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, issues much more than selecting the most effective dates in mid-September or early November.
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Christmas 2025
- November 8, 2025
- November 15, 2025
- November 17, 2025
- November 22, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- November 29, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 6, 2025
- December 10, 2025
- December 13, 2025
- December 17, 2025
- December 20, 2025
- December 22, 2025
All of those dates in November and December 2025 are the 13 dates of Disney Jollywood Nights. Our recommendation with regard to DJN is greater than the ‘light nudge’ that it’s with ExEH, for the explanations mentioned above: Disney’s Hollywood Studios does shut early on these nights and there’s extra of a mix-in with occasion friends.
Nonetheless, our suggestion is just not as emphatic as it’s with Magic Kingdom on social gathering vs. non-party dates. Should you’d go away DHS by 7 pm, regardless, and one of many above dates works significantly better to your schedule, it’s not the tip of the world if you happen to ignore our recommendation!
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2026
- January 14, 2026
- January 28, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- February 11, 2026
- February 21, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- Could 6, 2026
- Could 14, 2026
- Could 30, 2026
- June 3, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- June 17, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- July 1, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- July 15, 2026
- July 22, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 5, 2026
- August 12, 2026
- August 19, 2026
- August 26, 2026
- September 2, 2026
- September 12, 2026
The above dates are all After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is sort of precisely like Prolonged Night Hours. Besides as an alternative of being “free” for eligible friends, this social gathering prices ~$189 per particular person. Minor element. I don’t need to fixate on After Hours since, like ExEH, we’d solely supply the ‘light nudge’ recommendation that friends keep away from DHS on these dates. Additionally, as a result of we already defined the why of this above–it’s precisely the identical as ExEH. There’s no materials distinction in planning round After Hours or that.
Should you’re in search of a quasi-VIP splurge, we advocate attending After Hours at DHS. Not as forcefully as with Prolonged Night Hours given the entire $0 vs. ~$189, however it’s nonetheless an excellent premium product providing that may assist you beat the crowds. See our Information to After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for technique and extra.
Finest Dates to Do Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2025 & 2026
As for the finest days to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the low density of events shouldn’t actually disrupt our common Finest & Worst Days of the Week to Do Each Walt Disney World Park suggestions that a lot.
The one factor I’ll level out is that Jollywood Nights November dates are set for choose Saturdays and Mondays, whereas December dates fall on Saturdays, plus choose Mondays or Wednesdays. (Once more, it’s by no means greater than two occasions in a single week.)
Sunday is our favourite day to do DHS, however provided that you’re staying till the bitter finish. Should you’re arriving within the afternoon, you may accomplish a stunning quantity in that half-day at DHS. Vacationers filter early as all the time, and locals visiting for the day additionally head for the exits since Monday is a workday.
Statistically talking, Wednesdays and Thursday are the target finest days to do Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Wednesday half gained’t be true on Prolonged Night Hours dates, December 10 & 17 when the park is internet hosting DJN, or on After Hours dates in 2026, however it ought to in any other case stay correct in November and December 2025 and choose 2026 dates.
Thursdays shall be nice at Disney’s Hollywood Studios all through the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. That’s the clearest-cut suggestion that doesn’t require any asterisks.
One other savvy technique you probably have Park Hopper tickets is beginning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Jollywood Nights dates, after which bouncing to a distinct round 6 or 7 pm for the remainder of the evening.
From a sensible perspective, this may be particularly engaging when paired with the zig once they zag technique for Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season since Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering and Disney Jollywood Nights are all the time held on completely different dates. That means you can begin at Magic Kingdom on a MVMCP day and hop to DHS that evening; then do the other on the Jollywood Nights day.
This shall be doubly true if DHS will get earlier openings on days when the park closes early, as was the case some dates final yr. Even when this solely finally ends up being half-hour, Early Entry at 8 am as an alternative of 8:30 am, or rope drop at 8:30 am as an alternative of 9 am, may supply important upside.
Finally, that’s how we advocate approaching a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the park is internet hosting Prolonged Night Hours or (extra importantly) the Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. It is a notable departure from our Magic Kingdom zig once they zag recommendation.
It’s value reiterating that this dynamic is not going to be as excessive at DHS as it’s at Magic Kingdom. There’s a chasm in wait occasions on social gathering vs. non-party days there for causes mentioned above. The distinction gained’t be practically as stark at DHS since friends aren’t dropping as many hours or nighttime leisure. So if you happen to can solely observe our Social gathering Season recommendation at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, achieve this at MK.
It’s additionally value underscoring that Park Hopper tickets add a distinct dimension to this, particularly while you pair two MK/DHS half days collectively. That ought to work rather well, particularly if DHS finally ends up getting its opening time prolonged by half-hour or an hour. That is exactly what we plan on doing over Veterans Day weekend!
As is hopefully clear, the aim of this put up isn’t the listing of dates that you can’ve pulled up on a calendar in 30 seconds. Moderately, it’s serving to you make extra sense of this dynamic, and why Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely different than Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season. We favor the “educate an individual to fish” strategy–serving to you perceive the why of Walt Disney World, so you may take the recommendation and apply it to your individual circumstances, trip dates, and so forth in 2025, 2026 and past!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s worthwhile to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does this persuade you which you can, from an goal perspective, come out forward by doing non-party days at DHS? Or, are you continue to unpersuaded, favoring the counterintuitive strategy? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has good & unhealthy days to go to, however some dates ought to be flagged as ones to focus on and keep away from in 2025 & 2026. This explains why there are massive variations in wait occasions, with lists of the least & most crowded dates in October by way of December to help in planning your Halloween or Christmas journey to Walt Disney World.
As with the Finest & Worst Dates at Magic Kingdom in 2025, this comes right down to particular occasions. Social gathering Season is an enormous deal at Walt Disney World as a result of it disrupts attendance dynamics and creates a “porcupine sample” of wait occasions and crowd ranges. In a nutshell, each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering push attendance at Magic Kingdom a lot increased on the dates they’re not occurring and decrease on days of the occasions.
That is nothing new–we’ve been banging the Social gathering Season drum the final decade, not less than. Magic Kingdom crowd patterns throughout Social gathering Season are a key dialogue factors of our August by way of December crowd calendars. Nonetheless, this put up isn’t merely a ‘copy+paste’ of the Magic Kingdom suggestions. On the contrary, our recommendation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is sort of the reverse of what it’s for Magic Kingdom!
As a reminder, we strongly advocate that readers go to Magic Kingdom through the day on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering nights. In a great world, they’d have Park Hopper tickets and bounce to a different park at round 4 pm.
The rationale for that is that many day friends keep away from Magic Kingdom on days when MNSSHP or MVMCP is held at evening as a result of the park closes at 6 pm as an alternative of 10 pm or 11 pm, and Disney Starlight Evening Parade and Fortunately Ever After fireworks usually are not proven. This leads to considerably lighter crowds on social gathering days.
In concept, the dynamic ought to be very related with Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout its particular occasions, which is essentially simply the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. Nonetheless, there are a number of variations.
First, friends who attend Disney’s Hollywood Studios on social gathering nights aren’t going to lose as many hours as these doing the identical at Magic Kingdom. The fort park will shut at 10 pm or 11 pm on non-party nights. That’s an additional 4-5 hours, plus seeing the evening parade & fireworks, and attending to benefit from the cooler night hours within the park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 or 9:30 pm most conventional nights and closes to common friends at 7 pm on social gathering nights, that means that the quantity of misplaced time on a celebration vs. non-party evening is ~2 hours. That’s nonetheless an excellent chunk of time, however it’s not as a lot and never on the fort park. Furthermore, day friends nonetheless have the chance to catch Fantasmic, in order that they’re not lacking out on any nighttime spectaculars.
This brings us to the second key level. On a traditional evening, Disney’s Hollywood Studios actually clears out within the remaining few hours of the day, whereas Magic Kingdom doesn’t.
Doing DHS on a celebration day means basically forfeiting that end-of-night slowdown, which gained’t occur because of the social gathering mix-in. (For these unfamiliar with it, mix-in is the casual time period for the overlap between the common working day and time when friends with tickets to the particular occasion are allowed to enter the park early.) It additionally means heavier crowds for Fantasmic, particularly with the chance of just one efficiency on social gathering nights, as each day friends and social gathering friends attempt to see the present.
This basically quantities to a unfavorable double-whammy. Daytime crowds aren’t that a lot decrease on social gathering days as a result of most common friends gained’t keep away from DHS resulting from a 7 pm closure, so that you’re not saving a lot time in line all through the day. Then, when wait occasions would usually be falling on the finish of the evening, social gathering friends arrive and hold these traces longer.
Lastly, there are far fewer social gathering dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whereas MNSSHP and MVMCP are held 3-4 nights per week from October by way of December, there are a grand complete of 13 dates for Disney Jollywood Nights at Christmastime. It’s by no means held on greater than two evenings per week.
This implies there are 5 non-party nights per week to soak up the displaced crowds from Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because of this, the distinction in wait occasions between social gathering days and non-party days at DHS is way much less excessive than at Magic Kingdom. And on high of that, this isn’t taking place in a vacuum. Visitors can solely schedule a lot, they usually’re extra more likely to plan round MVMCP, whereas ignoring Jollywood Nights.
Avoiding MVMCP is already an enormous problem for a lot of friends–juggling plans round two completely different events in two parks is an excessive amount of for the typical visitor. They gained’t hassle worrying in regards to the DHS occasion and can simply go to once they go to. That is doubly true since they will nonetheless see Fantasmic whatever the evening, and fewer friends really feel the want to be at DHS from opening to closing like they do with Magic Kingdom.
All of because of this we do NOT advocate a zig once they zag suggestion for Disney’s Hollywood Studios like we do with Magic Kingdom. Attendance gained’t be that a lot decrease through the day earlier than events. Displaced crowds gained’t be as massive of a deal as a result of there are fewer occasions. The intuitive strategy is the right one at DHS!
The lack of these quiet nights and ~2 hours is the larger deal than all the above. These slower evenings shall be misplaced because of the mix-in. Since Jollywood Nights would be the solely probability many attendees have to go to DHS, they’ll arrive as early as potential to cram rides in earlier than the social gathering begins.
For the 2025 Disney Jollywood Nights, mix-in begins at 5:30 pm. That is sooner than the earlier two years, as Walt Disney World makes an attempt to present friends extra incentive to purchase tickets. As an alternative of wait occasions falling within the remaining two hours of the night like regular, they may enhance on DJN nights from 5:30 to 7 pm.
It is a massive blow. That’s usually once we advocate knocking out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. On some evenings, it’s potential to do these complete lands within the final two hours of the evening. That won’t be the case on DJN nights.
Consequently, we advocate doing Disney’s Hollywood Studios on non-party days if you happen to’re spending all day within the park and don’t have Park Hopper tickets. Now that we’ve defined the why and the way of this, right here’s the listing of dates to keep away from at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the rest of the yr…
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – October 2025
- October 1, 2025
- October 8, 2025
- October 15, 2025
- October 22, 2025
- October 29, 2025
All the dates on the listing above are dates when Prolonged Night Hours is held within the park. We must always observe that DHS is incredible for this “free” perk, so if you happen to’re among the many friends eligible for Prolonged Night Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we extremely advocate you attend. We’d simply gently nudge you elsewhere through the day, particularly if you happen to’re not eligible for ExEH.
The identical logic applies to ExEH as Disney Jollywood Nights, albeit to a a lot lesser extent. On these evenings, there shall be mix-in crowds that lead to much less of an finish of the evening slowdown. We’ve additionally noticed ever-so-slightly increased daytime crowds on Prolonged Night Hours dates.
Nonetheless, the large distinction is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 pm, not 7 pm, on ExEH dates. So that you don’t lose these 2 hours, and there nonetheless is a few finish of evening slowdown, simply not as pronounced because it’d be on adjoining dates. We don’t advocate going out of your strategy to keep away from these ExEH dates, however it’s a finest apply to take action.
It additionally doesn’t matter as a lot in October as a result of, apart from Fall Break, this month is mostly slower than November and December. On the danger of stating the apparent, selecting dates properly round Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, issues much more than selecting the most effective dates in mid-September or early November.
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Christmas 2025
- November 8, 2025
- November 15, 2025
- November 17, 2025
- November 22, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- November 29, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 6, 2025
- December 10, 2025
- December 13, 2025
- December 17, 2025
- December 20, 2025
- December 22, 2025
All of those dates in November and December 2025 are the 13 dates of Disney Jollywood Nights. Our recommendation with regard to DJN is greater than the ‘light nudge’ that it’s with ExEH, for the explanations mentioned above: Disney’s Hollywood Studios does shut early on these nights and there’s extra of a mix-in with occasion friends.
Nonetheless, our suggestion is just not as emphatic as it’s with Magic Kingdom on social gathering vs. non-party dates. Should you’d go away DHS by 7 pm, regardless, and one of many above dates works significantly better to your schedule, it’s not the tip of the world if you happen to ignore our recommendation!
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2026
- January 14, 2026
- January 28, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- February 11, 2026
- February 21, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- Could 6, 2026
- Could 14, 2026
- Could 30, 2026
- June 3, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- June 17, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- July 1, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- July 15, 2026
- July 22, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 5, 2026
- August 12, 2026
- August 19, 2026
- August 26, 2026
- September 2, 2026
- September 12, 2026
The above dates are all After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is sort of precisely like Prolonged Night Hours. Besides as an alternative of being “free” for eligible friends, this social gathering prices ~$189 per particular person. Minor element. I don’t need to fixate on After Hours since, like ExEH, we’d solely supply the ‘light nudge’ recommendation that friends keep away from DHS on these dates. Additionally, as a result of we already defined the why of this above–it’s precisely the identical as ExEH. There’s no materials distinction in planning round After Hours or that.
Should you’re in search of a quasi-VIP splurge, we advocate attending After Hours at DHS. Not as forcefully as with Prolonged Night Hours given the entire $0 vs. ~$189, however it’s nonetheless an excellent premium product providing that may assist you beat the crowds. See our Information to After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for technique and extra.
Finest Dates to Do Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2025 & 2026
As for the finest days to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the low density of events shouldn’t actually disrupt our common Finest & Worst Days of the Week to Do Each Walt Disney World Park suggestions that a lot.
The one factor I’ll level out is that Jollywood Nights November dates are set for choose Saturdays and Mondays, whereas December dates fall on Saturdays, plus choose Mondays or Wednesdays. (Once more, it’s by no means greater than two occasions in a single week.)
Sunday is our favourite day to do DHS, however provided that you’re staying till the bitter finish. Should you’re arriving within the afternoon, you may accomplish a stunning quantity in that half-day at DHS. Vacationers filter early as all the time, and locals visiting for the day additionally head for the exits since Monday is a workday.
Statistically talking, Wednesdays and Thursday are the target finest days to do Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Wednesday half gained’t be true on Prolonged Night Hours dates, December 10 & 17 when the park is internet hosting DJN, or on After Hours dates in 2026, however it ought to in any other case stay correct in November and December 2025 and choose 2026 dates.
Thursdays shall be nice at Disney’s Hollywood Studios all through the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. That’s the clearest-cut suggestion that doesn’t require any asterisks.
One other savvy technique you probably have Park Hopper tickets is beginning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Jollywood Nights dates, after which bouncing to a distinct round 6 or 7 pm for the remainder of the evening.
From a sensible perspective, this may be particularly engaging when paired with the zig once they zag technique for Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season since Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering and Disney Jollywood Nights are all the time held on completely different dates. That means you can begin at Magic Kingdom on a MVMCP day and hop to DHS that evening; then do the other on the Jollywood Nights day.
This shall be doubly true if DHS will get earlier openings on days when the park closes early, as was the case some dates final yr. Even when this solely finally ends up being half-hour, Early Entry at 8 am as an alternative of 8:30 am, or rope drop at 8:30 am as an alternative of 9 am, may supply important upside.
Finally, that’s how we advocate approaching a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the park is internet hosting Prolonged Night Hours or (extra importantly) the Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. It is a notable departure from our Magic Kingdom zig once they zag recommendation.
It’s value reiterating that this dynamic is not going to be as excessive at DHS as it’s at Magic Kingdom. There’s a chasm in wait occasions on social gathering vs. non-party days there for causes mentioned above. The distinction gained’t be practically as stark at DHS since friends aren’t dropping as many hours or nighttime leisure. So if you happen to can solely observe our Social gathering Season recommendation at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, achieve this at MK.
It’s additionally value underscoring that Park Hopper tickets add a distinct dimension to this, particularly while you pair two MK/DHS half days collectively. That ought to work rather well, particularly if DHS finally ends up getting its opening time prolonged by half-hour or an hour. That is exactly what we plan on doing over Veterans Day weekend!
As is hopefully clear, the aim of this put up isn’t the listing of dates that you can’ve pulled up on a calendar in 30 seconds. Moderately, it’s serving to you make extra sense of this dynamic, and why Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely different than Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season. We favor the “educate an individual to fish” strategy–serving to you perceive the why of Walt Disney World, so you may take the recommendation and apply it to your individual circumstances, trip dates, and so forth in 2025, 2026 and past!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s worthwhile to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does this persuade you which you can, from an goal perspective, come out forward by doing non-party days at DHS? Or, are you continue to unpersuaded, favoring the counterintuitive strategy? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has good & unhealthy days to go to, however some dates ought to be flagged as ones to focus on and keep away from in 2025 & 2026. This explains why there are massive variations in wait occasions, with lists of the least & most crowded dates in October by way of December to help in planning your Halloween or Christmas journey to Walt Disney World.
As with the Finest & Worst Dates at Magic Kingdom in 2025, this comes right down to particular occasions. Social gathering Season is an enormous deal at Walt Disney World as a result of it disrupts attendance dynamics and creates a “porcupine sample” of wait occasions and crowd ranges. In a nutshell, each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering push attendance at Magic Kingdom a lot increased on the dates they’re not occurring and decrease on days of the occasions.
That is nothing new–we’ve been banging the Social gathering Season drum the final decade, not less than. Magic Kingdom crowd patterns throughout Social gathering Season are a key dialogue factors of our August by way of December crowd calendars. Nonetheless, this put up isn’t merely a ‘copy+paste’ of the Magic Kingdom suggestions. On the contrary, our recommendation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is sort of the reverse of what it’s for Magic Kingdom!
As a reminder, we strongly advocate that readers go to Magic Kingdom through the day on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering nights. In a great world, they’d have Park Hopper tickets and bounce to a different park at round 4 pm.
The rationale for that is that many day friends keep away from Magic Kingdom on days when MNSSHP or MVMCP is held at evening as a result of the park closes at 6 pm as an alternative of 10 pm or 11 pm, and Disney Starlight Evening Parade and Fortunately Ever After fireworks usually are not proven. This leads to considerably lighter crowds on social gathering days.
In concept, the dynamic ought to be very related with Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout its particular occasions, which is essentially simply the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. Nonetheless, there are a number of variations.
First, friends who attend Disney’s Hollywood Studios on social gathering nights aren’t going to lose as many hours as these doing the identical at Magic Kingdom. The fort park will shut at 10 pm or 11 pm on non-party nights. That’s an additional 4-5 hours, plus seeing the evening parade & fireworks, and attending to benefit from the cooler night hours within the park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 or 9:30 pm most conventional nights and closes to common friends at 7 pm on social gathering nights, that means that the quantity of misplaced time on a celebration vs. non-party evening is ~2 hours. That’s nonetheless an excellent chunk of time, however it’s not as a lot and never on the fort park. Furthermore, day friends nonetheless have the chance to catch Fantasmic, in order that they’re not lacking out on any nighttime spectaculars.
This brings us to the second key level. On a traditional evening, Disney’s Hollywood Studios actually clears out within the remaining few hours of the day, whereas Magic Kingdom doesn’t.
Doing DHS on a celebration day means basically forfeiting that end-of-night slowdown, which gained’t occur because of the social gathering mix-in. (For these unfamiliar with it, mix-in is the casual time period for the overlap between the common working day and time when friends with tickets to the particular occasion are allowed to enter the park early.) It additionally means heavier crowds for Fantasmic, particularly with the chance of just one efficiency on social gathering nights, as each day friends and social gathering friends attempt to see the present.
This basically quantities to a unfavorable double-whammy. Daytime crowds aren’t that a lot decrease on social gathering days as a result of most common friends gained’t keep away from DHS resulting from a 7 pm closure, so that you’re not saving a lot time in line all through the day. Then, when wait occasions would usually be falling on the finish of the evening, social gathering friends arrive and hold these traces longer.
Lastly, there are far fewer social gathering dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whereas MNSSHP and MVMCP are held 3-4 nights per week from October by way of December, there are a grand complete of 13 dates for Disney Jollywood Nights at Christmastime. It’s by no means held on greater than two evenings per week.
This implies there are 5 non-party nights per week to soak up the displaced crowds from Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because of this, the distinction in wait occasions between social gathering days and non-party days at DHS is way much less excessive than at Magic Kingdom. And on high of that, this isn’t taking place in a vacuum. Visitors can solely schedule a lot, they usually’re extra more likely to plan round MVMCP, whereas ignoring Jollywood Nights.
Avoiding MVMCP is already an enormous problem for a lot of friends–juggling plans round two completely different events in two parks is an excessive amount of for the typical visitor. They gained’t hassle worrying in regards to the DHS occasion and can simply go to once they go to. That is doubly true since they will nonetheless see Fantasmic whatever the evening, and fewer friends really feel the want to be at DHS from opening to closing like they do with Magic Kingdom.
All of because of this we do NOT advocate a zig once they zag suggestion for Disney’s Hollywood Studios like we do with Magic Kingdom. Attendance gained’t be that a lot decrease through the day earlier than events. Displaced crowds gained’t be as massive of a deal as a result of there are fewer occasions. The intuitive strategy is the right one at DHS!
The lack of these quiet nights and ~2 hours is the larger deal than all the above. These slower evenings shall be misplaced because of the mix-in. Since Jollywood Nights would be the solely probability many attendees have to go to DHS, they’ll arrive as early as potential to cram rides in earlier than the social gathering begins.
For the 2025 Disney Jollywood Nights, mix-in begins at 5:30 pm. That is sooner than the earlier two years, as Walt Disney World makes an attempt to present friends extra incentive to purchase tickets. As an alternative of wait occasions falling within the remaining two hours of the night like regular, they may enhance on DJN nights from 5:30 to 7 pm.
It is a massive blow. That’s usually once we advocate knocking out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. On some evenings, it’s potential to do these complete lands within the final two hours of the evening. That won’t be the case on DJN nights.
Consequently, we advocate doing Disney’s Hollywood Studios on non-party days if you happen to’re spending all day within the park and don’t have Park Hopper tickets. Now that we’ve defined the why and the way of this, right here’s the listing of dates to keep away from at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the rest of the yr…
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – October 2025
- October 1, 2025
- October 8, 2025
- October 15, 2025
- October 22, 2025
- October 29, 2025
All the dates on the listing above are dates when Prolonged Night Hours is held within the park. We must always observe that DHS is incredible for this “free” perk, so if you happen to’re among the many friends eligible for Prolonged Night Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we extremely advocate you attend. We’d simply gently nudge you elsewhere through the day, particularly if you happen to’re not eligible for ExEH.
The identical logic applies to ExEH as Disney Jollywood Nights, albeit to a a lot lesser extent. On these evenings, there shall be mix-in crowds that lead to much less of an finish of the evening slowdown. We’ve additionally noticed ever-so-slightly increased daytime crowds on Prolonged Night Hours dates.
Nonetheless, the large distinction is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 pm, not 7 pm, on ExEH dates. So that you don’t lose these 2 hours, and there nonetheless is a few finish of evening slowdown, simply not as pronounced because it’d be on adjoining dates. We don’t advocate going out of your strategy to keep away from these ExEH dates, however it’s a finest apply to take action.
It additionally doesn’t matter as a lot in October as a result of, apart from Fall Break, this month is mostly slower than November and December. On the danger of stating the apparent, selecting dates properly round Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, issues much more than selecting the most effective dates in mid-September or early November.
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Christmas 2025
- November 8, 2025
- November 15, 2025
- November 17, 2025
- November 22, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- November 29, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 6, 2025
- December 10, 2025
- December 13, 2025
- December 17, 2025
- December 20, 2025
- December 22, 2025
All of those dates in November and December 2025 are the 13 dates of Disney Jollywood Nights. Our recommendation with regard to DJN is greater than the ‘light nudge’ that it’s with ExEH, for the explanations mentioned above: Disney’s Hollywood Studios does shut early on these nights and there’s extra of a mix-in with occasion friends.
Nonetheless, our suggestion is just not as emphatic as it’s with Magic Kingdom on social gathering vs. non-party dates. Should you’d go away DHS by 7 pm, regardless, and one of many above dates works significantly better to your schedule, it’s not the tip of the world if you happen to ignore our recommendation!
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2026
- January 14, 2026
- January 28, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- February 11, 2026
- February 21, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- Could 6, 2026
- Could 14, 2026
- Could 30, 2026
- June 3, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- June 17, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- July 1, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- July 15, 2026
- July 22, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 5, 2026
- August 12, 2026
- August 19, 2026
- August 26, 2026
- September 2, 2026
- September 12, 2026
The above dates are all After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is sort of precisely like Prolonged Night Hours. Besides as an alternative of being “free” for eligible friends, this social gathering prices ~$189 per particular person. Minor element. I don’t need to fixate on After Hours since, like ExEH, we’d solely supply the ‘light nudge’ recommendation that friends keep away from DHS on these dates. Additionally, as a result of we already defined the why of this above–it’s precisely the identical as ExEH. There’s no materials distinction in planning round After Hours or that.
Should you’re in search of a quasi-VIP splurge, we advocate attending After Hours at DHS. Not as forcefully as with Prolonged Night Hours given the entire $0 vs. ~$189, however it’s nonetheless an excellent premium product providing that may assist you beat the crowds. See our Information to After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for technique and extra.
Finest Dates to Do Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2025 & 2026
As for the finest days to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the low density of events shouldn’t actually disrupt our common Finest & Worst Days of the Week to Do Each Walt Disney World Park suggestions that a lot.
The one factor I’ll level out is that Jollywood Nights November dates are set for choose Saturdays and Mondays, whereas December dates fall on Saturdays, plus choose Mondays or Wednesdays. (Once more, it’s by no means greater than two occasions in a single week.)
Sunday is our favourite day to do DHS, however provided that you’re staying till the bitter finish. Should you’re arriving within the afternoon, you may accomplish a stunning quantity in that half-day at DHS. Vacationers filter early as all the time, and locals visiting for the day additionally head for the exits since Monday is a workday.
Statistically talking, Wednesdays and Thursday are the target finest days to do Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Wednesday half gained’t be true on Prolonged Night Hours dates, December 10 & 17 when the park is internet hosting DJN, or on After Hours dates in 2026, however it ought to in any other case stay correct in November and December 2025 and choose 2026 dates.
Thursdays shall be nice at Disney’s Hollywood Studios all through the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. That’s the clearest-cut suggestion that doesn’t require any asterisks.
One other savvy technique you probably have Park Hopper tickets is beginning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Jollywood Nights dates, after which bouncing to a distinct round 6 or 7 pm for the remainder of the evening.
From a sensible perspective, this may be particularly engaging when paired with the zig once they zag technique for Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season since Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering and Disney Jollywood Nights are all the time held on completely different dates. That means you can begin at Magic Kingdom on a MVMCP day and hop to DHS that evening; then do the other on the Jollywood Nights day.
This shall be doubly true if DHS will get earlier openings on days when the park closes early, as was the case some dates final yr. Even when this solely finally ends up being half-hour, Early Entry at 8 am as an alternative of 8:30 am, or rope drop at 8:30 am as an alternative of 9 am, may supply important upside.
Finally, that’s how we advocate approaching a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the park is internet hosting Prolonged Night Hours or (extra importantly) the Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. It is a notable departure from our Magic Kingdom zig once they zag recommendation.
It’s value reiterating that this dynamic is not going to be as excessive at DHS as it’s at Magic Kingdom. There’s a chasm in wait occasions on social gathering vs. non-party days there for causes mentioned above. The distinction gained’t be practically as stark at DHS since friends aren’t dropping as many hours or nighttime leisure. So if you happen to can solely observe our Social gathering Season recommendation at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, achieve this at MK.
It’s additionally value underscoring that Park Hopper tickets add a distinct dimension to this, particularly while you pair two MK/DHS half days collectively. That ought to work rather well, particularly if DHS finally ends up getting its opening time prolonged by half-hour or an hour. That is exactly what we plan on doing over Veterans Day weekend!
As is hopefully clear, the aim of this put up isn’t the listing of dates that you can’ve pulled up on a calendar in 30 seconds. Moderately, it’s serving to you make extra sense of this dynamic, and why Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely different than Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season. We favor the “educate an individual to fish” strategy–serving to you perceive the why of Walt Disney World, so you may take the recommendation and apply it to your individual circumstances, trip dates, and so forth in 2025, 2026 and past!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s worthwhile to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does this persuade you which you can, from an goal perspective, come out forward by doing non-party days at DHS? Or, are you continue to unpersuaded, favoring the counterintuitive strategy? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has good & unhealthy days to go to, however some dates ought to be flagged as ones to focus on and keep away from in 2025 & 2026. This explains why there are massive variations in wait occasions, with lists of the least & most crowded dates in October by way of December to help in planning your Halloween or Christmas journey to Walt Disney World.
As with the Finest & Worst Dates at Magic Kingdom in 2025, this comes right down to particular occasions. Social gathering Season is an enormous deal at Walt Disney World as a result of it disrupts attendance dynamics and creates a “porcupine sample” of wait occasions and crowd ranges. In a nutshell, each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering push attendance at Magic Kingdom a lot increased on the dates they’re not occurring and decrease on days of the occasions.
That is nothing new–we’ve been banging the Social gathering Season drum the final decade, not less than. Magic Kingdom crowd patterns throughout Social gathering Season are a key dialogue factors of our August by way of December crowd calendars. Nonetheless, this put up isn’t merely a ‘copy+paste’ of the Magic Kingdom suggestions. On the contrary, our recommendation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is sort of the reverse of what it’s for Magic Kingdom!
As a reminder, we strongly advocate that readers go to Magic Kingdom through the day on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering nights. In a great world, they’d have Park Hopper tickets and bounce to a different park at round 4 pm.
The rationale for that is that many day friends keep away from Magic Kingdom on days when MNSSHP or MVMCP is held at evening as a result of the park closes at 6 pm as an alternative of 10 pm or 11 pm, and Disney Starlight Evening Parade and Fortunately Ever After fireworks usually are not proven. This leads to considerably lighter crowds on social gathering days.
In concept, the dynamic ought to be very related with Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout its particular occasions, which is essentially simply the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. Nonetheless, there are a number of variations.
First, friends who attend Disney’s Hollywood Studios on social gathering nights aren’t going to lose as many hours as these doing the identical at Magic Kingdom. The fort park will shut at 10 pm or 11 pm on non-party nights. That’s an additional 4-5 hours, plus seeing the evening parade & fireworks, and attending to benefit from the cooler night hours within the park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 or 9:30 pm most conventional nights and closes to common friends at 7 pm on social gathering nights, that means that the quantity of misplaced time on a celebration vs. non-party evening is ~2 hours. That’s nonetheless an excellent chunk of time, however it’s not as a lot and never on the fort park. Furthermore, day friends nonetheless have the chance to catch Fantasmic, in order that they’re not lacking out on any nighttime spectaculars.
This brings us to the second key level. On a traditional evening, Disney’s Hollywood Studios actually clears out within the remaining few hours of the day, whereas Magic Kingdom doesn’t.
Doing DHS on a celebration day means basically forfeiting that end-of-night slowdown, which gained’t occur because of the social gathering mix-in. (For these unfamiliar with it, mix-in is the casual time period for the overlap between the common working day and time when friends with tickets to the particular occasion are allowed to enter the park early.) It additionally means heavier crowds for Fantasmic, particularly with the chance of just one efficiency on social gathering nights, as each day friends and social gathering friends attempt to see the present.
This basically quantities to a unfavorable double-whammy. Daytime crowds aren’t that a lot decrease on social gathering days as a result of most common friends gained’t keep away from DHS resulting from a 7 pm closure, so that you’re not saving a lot time in line all through the day. Then, when wait occasions would usually be falling on the finish of the evening, social gathering friends arrive and hold these traces longer.
Lastly, there are far fewer social gathering dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whereas MNSSHP and MVMCP are held 3-4 nights per week from October by way of December, there are a grand complete of 13 dates for Disney Jollywood Nights at Christmastime. It’s by no means held on greater than two evenings per week.
This implies there are 5 non-party nights per week to soak up the displaced crowds from Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because of this, the distinction in wait occasions between social gathering days and non-party days at DHS is way much less excessive than at Magic Kingdom. And on high of that, this isn’t taking place in a vacuum. Visitors can solely schedule a lot, they usually’re extra more likely to plan round MVMCP, whereas ignoring Jollywood Nights.
Avoiding MVMCP is already an enormous problem for a lot of friends–juggling plans round two completely different events in two parks is an excessive amount of for the typical visitor. They gained’t hassle worrying in regards to the DHS occasion and can simply go to once they go to. That is doubly true since they will nonetheless see Fantasmic whatever the evening, and fewer friends really feel the want to be at DHS from opening to closing like they do with Magic Kingdom.
All of because of this we do NOT advocate a zig once they zag suggestion for Disney’s Hollywood Studios like we do with Magic Kingdom. Attendance gained’t be that a lot decrease through the day earlier than events. Displaced crowds gained’t be as massive of a deal as a result of there are fewer occasions. The intuitive strategy is the right one at DHS!
The lack of these quiet nights and ~2 hours is the larger deal than all the above. These slower evenings shall be misplaced because of the mix-in. Since Jollywood Nights would be the solely probability many attendees have to go to DHS, they’ll arrive as early as potential to cram rides in earlier than the social gathering begins.
For the 2025 Disney Jollywood Nights, mix-in begins at 5:30 pm. That is sooner than the earlier two years, as Walt Disney World makes an attempt to present friends extra incentive to purchase tickets. As an alternative of wait occasions falling within the remaining two hours of the night like regular, they may enhance on DJN nights from 5:30 to 7 pm.
It is a massive blow. That’s usually once we advocate knocking out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. On some evenings, it’s potential to do these complete lands within the final two hours of the evening. That won’t be the case on DJN nights.
Consequently, we advocate doing Disney’s Hollywood Studios on non-party days if you happen to’re spending all day within the park and don’t have Park Hopper tickets. Now that we’ve defined the why and the way of this, right here’s the listing of dates to keep away from at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the rest of the yr…
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – October 2025
- October 1, 2025
- October 8, 2025
- October 15, 2025
- October 22, 2025
- October 29, 2025
All the dates on the listing above are dates when Prolonged Night Hours is held within the park. We must always observe that DHS is incredible for this “free” perk, so if you happen to’re among the many friends eligible for Prolonged Night Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we extremely advocate you attend. We’d simply gently nudge you elsewhere through the day, particularly if you happen to’re not eligible for ExEH.
The identical logic applies to ExEH as Disney Jollywood Nights, albeit to a a lot lesser extent. On these evenings, there shall be mix-in crowds that lead to much less of an finish of the evening slowdown. We’ve additionally noticed ever-so-slightly increased daytime crowds on Prolonged Night Hours dates.
Nonetheless, the large distinction is that Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes at 9 pm, not 7 pm, on ExEH dates. So that you don’t lose these 2 hours, and there nonetheless is a few finish of evening slowdown, simply not as pronounced because it’d be on adjoining dates. We don’t advocate going out of your strategy to keep away from these ExEH dates, however it’s a finest apply to take action.
It additionally doesn’t matter as a lot in October as a result of, apart from Fall Break, this month is mostly slower than November and December. On the danger of stating the apparent, selecting dates properly round Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, issues much more than selecting the most effective dates in mid-September or early November.
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Christmas 2025
- November 8, 2025
- November 15, 2025
- November 17, 2025
- November 22, 2025
- November 24, 2025
- November 29, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- December 6, 2025
- December 10, 2025
- December 13, 2025
- December 17, 2025
- December 20, 2025
- December 22, 2025
All of those dates in November and December 2025 are the 13 dates of Disney Jollywood Nights. Our recommendation with regard to DJN is greater than the ‘light nudge’ that it’s with ExEH, for the explanations mentioned above: Disney’s Hollywood Studios does shut early on these nights and there’s extra of a mix-in with occasion friends.
Nonetheless, our suggestion is just not as emphatic as it’s with Magic Kingdom on social gathering vs. non-party dates. Should you’d go away DHS by 7 pm, regardless, and one of many above dates works significantly better to your schedule, it’s not the tip of the world if you happen to ignore our recommendation!
When to Keep away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2026
- January 14, 2026
- January 28, 2026
- February 4, 2026
- February 11, 2026
- February 21, 2026
- February 25, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- Could 6, 2026
- Could 14, 2026
- Could 30, 2026
- June 3, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- June 17, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- July 1, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- July 15, 2026
- July 22, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- August 5, 2026
- August 12, 2026
- August 19, 2026
- August 26, 2026
- September 2, 2026
- September 12, 2026
The above dates are all After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is sort of precisely like Prolonged Night Hours. Besides as an alternative of being “free” for eligible friends, this social gathering prices ~$189 per particular person. Minor element. I don’t need to fixate on After Hours since, like ExEH, we’d solely supply the ‘light nudge’ recommendation that friends keep away from DHS on these dates. Additionally, as a result of we already defined the why of this above–it’s precisely the identical as ExEH. There’s no materials distinction in planning round After Hours or that.
Should you’re in search of a quasi-VIP splurge, we advocate attending After Hours at DHS. Not as forcefully as with Prolonged Night Hours given the entire $0 vs. ~$189, however it’s nonetheless an excellent premium product providing that may assist you beat the crowds. See our Information to After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for technique and extra.
Finest Dates to Do Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 2025 & 2026
As for the finest days to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the low density of events shouldn’t actually disrupt our common Finest & Worst Days of the Week to Do Each Walt Disney World Park suggestions that a lot.
The one factor I’ll level out is that Jollywood Nights November dates are set for choose Saturdays and Mondays, whereas December dates fall on Saturdays, plus choose Mondays or Wednesdays. (Once more, it’s by no means greater than two occasions in a single week.)
Sunday is our favourite day to do DHS, however provided that you’re staying till the bitter finish. Should you’re arriving within the afternoon, you may accomplish a stunning quantity in that half-day at DHS. Vacationers filter early as all the time, and locals visiting for the day additionally head for the exits since Monday is a workday.
Statistically talking, Wednesdays and Thursday are the target finest days to do Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Wednesday half gained’t be true on Prolonged Night Hours dates, December 10 & 17 when the park is internet hosting DJN, or on After Hours dates in 2026, however it ought to in any other case stay correct in November and December 2025 and choose 2026 dates.
Thursdays shall be nice at Disney’s Hollywood Studios all through the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. That’s the clearest-cut suggestion that doesn’t require any asterisks.
One other savvy technique you probably have Park Hopper tickets is beginning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Jollywood Nights dates, after which bouncing to a distinct round 6 or 7 pm for the remainder of the evening.
From a sensible perspective, this may be particularly engaging when paired with the zig once they zag technique for Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season since Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering and Disney Jollywood Nights are all the time held on completely different dates. That means you can begin at Magic Kingdom on a MVMCP day and hop to DHS that evening; then do the other on the Jollywood Nights day.
This shall be doubly true if DHS will get earlier openings on days when the park closes early, as was the case some dates final yr. Even when this solely finally ends up being half-hour, Early Entry at 8 am as an alternative of 8:30 am, or rope drop at 8:30 am as an alternative of 9 am, may supply important upside.
Finally, that’s how we advocate approaching a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the park is internet hosting Prolonged Night Hours or (extra importantly) the Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. It is a notable departure from our Magic Kingdom zig once they zag recommendation.
It’s value reiterating that this dynamic is not going to be as excessive at DHS as it’s at Magic Kingdom. There’s a chasm in wait occasions on social gathering vs. non-party days there for causes mentioned above. The distinction gained’t be practically as stark at DHS since friends aren’t dropping as many hours or nighttime leisure. So if you happen to can solely observe our Social gathering Season recommendation at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, achieve this at MK.
It’s additionally value underscoring that Park Hopper tickets add a distinct dimension to this, particularly while you pair two MK/DHS half days collectively. That ought to work rather well, particularly if DHS finally ends up getting its opening time prolonged by half-hour or an hour. That is exactly what we plan on doing over Veterans Day weekend!
As is hopefully clear, the aim of this put up isn’t the listing of dates that you can’ve pulled up on a calendar in 30 seconds. Moderately, it’s serving to you make extra sense of this dynamic, and why Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely different than Magic Kingdom throughout Social gathering Season. We favor the “educate an individual to fish” strategy–serving to you perceive the why of Walt Disney World, so you may take the recommendation and apply it to your individual circumstances, trip dates, and so forth in 2025, 2026 and past!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s worthwhile to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does this persuade you which you can, from an goal perspective, come out forward by doing non-party days at DHS? Or, are you continue to unpersuaded, favoring the counterintuitive strategy? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
