The Best Day of the Week to Visit Disney World | Hollywood Studios

The biggest mistake Hollywood Studios guests make is not planning to attend on the best day. This Disney park is home to some of the most popular attractions and shows, drawing massive crowds daily.

Our secret for tackling this behemoth of a park? Planning an itinerary for the perfect day. In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you down the red carpet of Hollywood glamor, ensuring you become the VIP of every attraction.

Best Day of the Week to Visit Hollywood Studios

Let’s get straight to the answer you’re seeking: the best day to visit Hollywood Studios is Wednesday.

Selecting the ideal day can make a noticeable difference in your overall park experience. Wednesdays tend to be the least crowded day of the week, which means shorter wait times for popular attractions and a more relaxed pace.

Here’s why we decided on Wednesdays for your Hollywood Studios adventure:

• Midweek Magic: Many vacationers often arrive on Friday or Saturday. By Wednesday, there’s a natural dip in park attendance as some guests opt for a midweek break or shift their focus to other parks.
• Post-Travel Break: Mondays can be busy as guests, who have just arrived, want to dive straight into the magic. By Wednesday, there’s a decrease in attendance as some guests take a day to rest and recharge after their travels, especially if they have young children.

Runner-Up Days to Consider

While Wednesday takes the top spot, there are a few other days that can also offer relatively lower crowds:

• Tuesday Wins: Much like Wednesdays, Tuesdays experience a dip in crowd levels because it’s near the middle of the week. But Wednesday just seems to hit that sweet spot.
• Thursday Thrills: Thursdays can be a good choice, especially if you’re using early park entry as a resort guest. These early entry times tend to be quieter than the afternoon or evening Extra Magic Hours, giving you a head start on popular attractions.

We’ve built an entire Disney World itinerary for your week-long stay, and we’ve placed Hollywood Studios right at the beginning of your week on Wednesday.

Best Time of Year to Visit Hollywood Studios

Now that we’ve told you the best day of the week, let’s find out the best time of year to visit Hollywood Studios:

• September and Early October Surprises: The summer crowds have returned to school and work, resulting in lower attendance. The weather is also slightly cooler, providing a more comfortable environment for exploring the parks.
• Late January to Early February Fun: Immediately following the busy holiday season, this period is often quieter, with guests returning to their daily routines. You’ll find shorter lines and fantastic deals on accommodations, making it a budget-friendly Disney getaway.
• Early November Magic: While not our favorite time to travel, you can experience the calm before the storm. As the holiday season approaches, the parks transform with festive decorations and special events.

Tips to Avoid Crowds and Make the Most of Your Day at Hollywood Studios

We get it. Crowds suck.

Here are some strategies that experts use to maximize their day in Hollywood Studios:

• Early Bird Advantage: Set an alarm. We can’t stress how important mornings are in Disney World. We get that you’re on vacation, but if you wanted to relax, you should’ve booked a Caribbean cruise – not one with Pirates! For the best alarm, set the wake-up call on your resort phone to have Mickey’s voice be the first thing you hear every morning.
• Disney Genie+: We know. Yet another cost? But trust us when we say this one is worth it. Hollywood Studios has the most heavy-hitter attractions, including thrill rides and dark rides. There is only one filler attraction in this park. Lines get incredibly long. Save yourself the time and buy Genie+ for your Hollywood Studios Day.
• Annual Passholder Perks: If you’re an Annual Passholder or have the option to purchase the Park Hopper option, you can take advantage of passholder blockout dates. These are days when certain passholders are blocked from visiting, resulting in lower overall crowds.
• Entertainment Escapades: When the park gets busy, and you need a break, schedule some time to enjoy the entertainment offerings. Catch a showing of the incredible Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular or Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.
• Rest and Recharge: Don’t forget to take breaks! The Florida weather can be exhausting, and Hollywood Studios has plenty of indoor attractions and air-conditioned shows where you can rest and recharge.

Hollywood Studios Wait Times by Day Breakdown

The following table provides an overview of average wait times by day of the week. As you can see, Wednesday stands out with the shortest average wait time:

Day of the Week	Average Wait Time
Tuesday	50 minutes
Wednesday	45 minutes
Thursday	55 minutes
Friday	60 minutes
Saturday	75 minutes
Sunday	70 minutes
Monday	60 minutes

Note: These estimates may vary based on the time of year, special events, and other factors. They provide a general guideline to help plan your visit.

Average Hollywood Studios Attraction Wait Time

Before we begin building your Wednesday itinerary, let’s take a look at the average wait times for each attraction in Hollywood Studios so you have a better idea of when to ride these heavy-hitters:

Attraction	Average Wait Time (minutes)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance	120
Slinky Dog Dash	110
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror	80
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run	70
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway	60
Toy Story Mania!	60
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith	60 – *(currently closed for refurbishment)
Alien Swirling Saucers	25
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue	10
Muppet*Vision 3D	10

Sample Hollywood Studios Wednesday Itinerary

Now that we’ve established Wednesday as the prime day to visit, let’s put together a sample itinerary to help you make the most of your time:

Morning:

• If you’re a resort guest, arrive at the park 30 minutes before opening and head straight for Rise of the Resistance. Since you’re entering the parks early, you should only be waiting around 30 minutes maximum for this ride.
• Once finished, head on out of Galaxy’s Edge to Toy Story Land to ride Slinky Dog Dash. Congratulations, you’ve just ridden two of the biggest rides in this park!
• Grab a bite to eat over at Ronto Roasters. It should still be breakfast time, so try one of the breakfast Ronto wraps – they’re good!
• Once you’re finished eating, head back over to Toy Story Land and ride Toy Story Mania! Rides will not be as short of a wait from now on as the park is now open to the public

Mid-Morning:

• Prioritize the shows you want to see for the day. Check the My Disney Experience app for all the showtimes and plan your day around them
• If Tower of Terror isn’t too long of a wait, head on over to Sunset Boulevard and get ready for the best ride in Disney World
• Since you’re already beside it, check the wait time for Rock n’ Rollercoaster. The average wait time for this ride is about 60 minutes. If it’s any lower, ride it.

Early Afternoon:

• Don’t go for lunch at noon. Everyone will be going for lunch then, so prioritize some big rides in the meantime. Check the wait time for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and if it’s a short wait, get on it.
• Once 1:00 pm hits, you can go for lunch. ABC Commissary used to get a bad rap for its menu, but they’ve since updated it and now it’s our top choice for lunch. I always get the shrimp tacos and they never fail to disappoint.
• After eating, check the wait time for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. It’s likely going to be high, but believe it or not, this will probably be the shortest wait time it sees for the rest of the day.
• DO NOT ride Star Tours after lunch as this ride makes people very motion-sick. Plus, this ride almost always has a short wait time, so we can ride it much later.
• Since you’re in Galaxy’s Edge, take time to explore this land. Visit the Blackspire outpost shops and experiences. There is so much to look at in this land, even if you’re not a Star Wars fan. Meet with one of the Memory Maker photographer cast members in front of the Millennium Falcon to get your picture taken in front of the fastest hunk a’ junk in the galaxy.

Late Afternoon:

• Since you’re heading out of Galaxy’s Edge, feel free to hop onto Star Tours, but ONLY if it’s a 15-minute wait or less.
• This is a good time to head on over to Animation Courtyard to meet several characters. Snap a pic with Chewie, BB-8, and even the Sith Lord himself, Vader – just make sure you do everything he asks!

Evening:

• Now we can use this time to do everything we haven’t done yet. First on our list is Muppet Vision 3D! This will likely be a 10-minute wait, which is good.
• Head on back to Toy Story Land for a nighttime view and hop on Alien Swirling Saucers. If you didn’t get to ride Toy Story Mania! earlier in the day, now would be a good time to do so.
• If you were unable to hop onto Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, head back over to Galaxy’s Edge one last time to ride it. The evening is my personal favorite time to ride this one as the background will change depending on the time you ride it. When you’re passing through, don’t forget to grab either blue or green milk (my personal favorite is the green milk)!
• Try your best to make it to 7:00 pm for dinnertime. Most people go for dinner from 5:00-7:00, so like with breakfast, we can use this time for more rides. We absolutely love the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater as it’s one of the most unique concepts for a restaurant in Disney World. But if you want something simple, Woody’s Lunch Box takes the cake – or, burger!
• Once you’re done dinner, you have two options: either line up for a show or finish off some last-minute rides. If you choose the latter, you likely won’t get a good spot during the show, so it’s all about personal preference. We prioritized rides on our last trip and ended up getting terrible seats during Fantasmic! which made the experience way less special than it could’ve been. But to each their own!

Nighttime Spectacular:

• Hollywood Studios has two nighttime spectaculars, which are both extremely entertaining. And thankfully, you don’t have to choose. The Wonderful World of Animation shows at 9:00 pm, while Fantasmic! presents at 9:00 pm OR 10:30 pm.
• If you have to choose between the two, choose Fantasmic! While the Wonderful World of Animation is an emotional 12-minute stroll through 90+ years of timeless classics, Fantasmic! is just seriously on another level. It’s a 27-minute show decorated with big sets, water projections, beautiful costumes and so much more. If you haven’t seen Fantasmic!, get ready to seriously be blown out of the water.
• Congratulations, you’ve just finished your day at Hollywood Studios, aka my second favorite Disney World park! Now get on the skyliner and go back to your resort so you can wake up and do it all over again at another park!

Please note, this schedule is based on a non-lightning lane usage. If you decide to purchase Genie+ for this park, your day could look a lot different.

Final Thoughts

Now you have all the tools to plan an unforgettable trip to Hollywood Studios. By choosing Wednesday as your park day, you’ve already set yourself up for success, with more riding and less waiting. With this guide in hand, you’re well on your way to becoming a Hollywood Studios expert, ready to create magical memories that will last a lifetime.

Until then, keep dreaming of those thrilling rides, delicious treats, and unforgettable Disney moments that await you. May your Wednesday adventure exceed all your expectations!

Happy planning, and may the force (or the magic) be with you!

Share: