At MouseHouseNews.net, we closely watch crowd trends from year to year. This is easier to do with some dates and seasons, as human behavior and other data can dictate what to expect from year to year. It is exactly this type of analysis we are looking at with one date in particular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For this reason, we are issuing a crowd warning for those trying to visit the theme park in early May… that’s even if you can get into the park!
Star Wars Day
Star Wars Day is May 4th. As in, “May the Fourth be with you”. This day is unofficially celebrated every year in Walt Disney World by the Star Wars fandom, particularly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (home of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). If you were planning to celebrate Star Wars Day inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 4th, there’s something you need to know:
Annual Passholders can no longer secure a park reservation for that park unless they’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel.
I should explain that, while theme park reservations went away quite a while ago for regular park admission, they still exist for Passholders. This allows Disney to somewhat gauge interest and crowd levels in a park on any given day. Disney World’s Annual Passholder reservation calendar shows no availability for Hollywood Studios on May 4, meaning the park has effectively hit its capacity for Passholders not staying at a Disney Resort.
Why Will It Be So Crowded?
Demand for Star Wars Day Is Through the Roof
May 4th has grown to be one of the most in-demand days of the year at Hollywood Studios thanks to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, limited-time merchandise, and themed food offerings. That surge in demand causes reservations to disappear quickly, especially for Passholders.
Reservation Buckets Are Not Equal
Disney doesn’t pull from one shared pool of theme park reservations. Instead, availability is divided between different guest types, including:
- Annual Passholders (which also depends on the type of Pass purchased)
- Student group tickets
- Sport and Convention tickets
- Disney Military Salute tickets
- Disney Resort hotel guests holding any of the tickets listed above
That means even if Passholder availability is gone, other categories (especially resort guests with any of the above tickets) can still have openings. This is why staying at a Disney Resort can unlock access even when Passholder slots are gone.
Capacity Limits Still Exist
Even though park rules have relaxed in recent years, theme park reservations are still limited and subject to availability. Once a park hits its allocation for a specific guest group, that’s it… no more reservations for that category.
What This Means for Annual Passholders
You Can’t Start Your Day at Hollywood Studios
If you are a Passholder not staying at a Disney Resort and don’t already have an existing park reservation for Hollywood Studios, you cannot enter Hollywood Studios as your first park of the day. A valid pass alone is not enough; you still need that reservation for your starting park.
Resort Guests Have the Advantage
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels often have access to a different reservation pool. If availability still exists there, booking a Disney hotel stay could allow you to secure Hollywood Studios for May 4th when Passholder inventory is gone.
Is There Any Workaround?
There is, but it changes your entire game plan.
Park Hopping Is Still an Option
Passholders can:
- Make a reservation for another park (like Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or Animal Kingdom)
- Enter that park first
- Use free Disney transportation and park hop to Hollywood Studios later in the day
However, this comes with a big caveat:
- Entry is still subject to capacity
- If Hollywood Studios reaches its attendance limit, park hopping may be temporarily restricted
The 2 PM Rule (With Limits)
On most days, Passholders can enter parks after 2 PM without a reservation. Even so, this is not a guarantee; capacity rules still apply, especially on a high-demand day like May 4th.
The Bigger Picture, Even For Non-Passholders
Star Wars Day at Hollywood Studios has essentially become a “book immediately or miss out” event. Waiting, even by a few days, can mean losing access entirely unless you:
- Stay at a Disney Resort, or
- Adjust your strategy with park hopping
All of this just goes to show that, even if you are not a Passholder, you will be far from alone in Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 4th. That means that you should prepare for big crowds and longer wait times for rides and attractions. If you are not visiting for all things Star Wars and you have the ability to visit on a different day that week, you might think about doing just that. On the flip side, if you are a Passholder who cannot secure a park reservation for Hollywood Studios, consider staying at a Disney Resort for the night. It might be the difference between getting in or sitting it out.
MouseHouseNews.net will continue bringing you Disney Vacation News and Reviews For Disney Adults right here on this blog and also on our MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the notification bell so you are notified anytime we post a new video with the sights and sounds of Walt Disney World!
