Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Walt Disney World guests planning to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios next week will have less time to explore the park than usual, with an upcoming early closure set to disrupt the regular operating schedule.
The change will affect visitors on October 20, when the park is scheduled to close to day guests several hours earlier than its usual evening closing time, leaving those hoping to experience its attractions with less time to fit everything in.
The early closure is particularly notable because October is already a busy period for Disney World, with Halloween festivities and special events affecting operating hours across the resort. While Hollywood Studios will continue welcoming guests throughout the morning and afternoon, visitors hoping to stay into the evening will need to adjust their plans accordingly.
According to the announced schedule, Hollywood Studios will close to regular guests at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, rather than its usual 9 p.m. closing time. Early Theme Park Entry is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., with the park opening to all guests at 9 a.m. That means visitors will still have a full morning to enjoy the park, but will lose four hours of regular operating time compared with the standard schedule.
The change is connected to a private event associated with the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2026, which runs from October 19 through October 22 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. Hollywood Studios is scheduled to host an evening event from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., meaning regular park guests will need to leave before the private gathering begins.
“Join us for our Special Event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park! From 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., we’ve reserved the entire park for you to enjoy entertainment, thrilling rides, and delicious food,” the conference website explains. “This is a celebration you won’t want to miss, reserved just for you!”
For visitors, the earlier departure could make it more difficult to experience some of the resort’s most popular attractions without careful planning. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and other headline experiences may need to be prioritized earlier in the day, particularly for those hoping to avoid long queues. Guests could also consider moving to another Disney World theme park after leaving Hollywood Studios, although they should check the operating hours at their chosen destination before making alternative plans.
October 20 is not the only date Disney World visitors need to keep in mind. Magic Kingdom will also see repeated early closures throughout the month as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place on select evenings. Guests without a separate party ticket must leave by 6 p.m. on multiple dates, including October 22, 23, and 25.
Meanwhile, EPCOT will delay its opening until 10 a.m. on October 23 and 25 to accommodate the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. The overlap means visitors on those dates will have fewer opportunities to follow their usual park-hopping plans, particularly if they intend to start at EPCOT before spending the evening at Magic Kingdom. With three of Disney World’s four theme parks affected by operating changes at some point this October, guests should check the official calendar before traveling to avoid unexpected disruptions.
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