Hollywood Studios Early Entry Strategy 2026
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Early Entry in Hollywood Studios is popular because of the wide range of rides included in the perk, and because it’s a great experience. There’s lots of worthwhile options to pick from, all starting with 0 minute wait times at the start of Early Entry and are great ride experiences to start the day. When it comes to Early Entry, this is probably the park you’ll want to head to early most often.
Early Entry in Hollywood Studios: Quick Facts
The quick facts for planning your Early Entry time in Hollywood Studios:
How long is Early Entry at Hollywood Studios? | 30 minutes |
|---|---|
What time does it start at Hollywood Studios? | 30 minutes before the park opens to everyone, but this varies so always check opening times in the app. |
Who can use Early Entry at Hollywood Studios? | Disney World resort hotel guests and guests staying in select partner hotels |
Are all areas of Hollywood Studios open? | Yes, but not all attractions |
Are all Hollywood Studios attractions included in Early Entry? | No, there are 9 attractions open during Early Entry. |
To find out more about Early Entry and how it adds value to your holiday in all Disney Parks read:
Which Rides Are Open For Early Entry in Hollywood Studios?
9 rides are open during Early Entry in Hollywood Studios in 2026:
- Alien Swirling Saucers opens in a new tab
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opens in a new tab
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run opens in a new tab
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens in a new tab
- Slinky Dog Dash opens in a new tab
- Star Tours - The Adventures Continue opens in a new tab
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens in a new tab
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens in a new tab
- Toy Story Mania! opens in a new tab
Don’t expect to get through this full Early Entry ride list in 30 minutes in one morning: it’s impossible! There's over 50 minutes of riding time in that list without walking through the queue line or getting between rides. You'll likely only get a maximum of three rides in during Early Entry on an average Hollywood Studios morning.
Hollywood Studios Early Entry Strategy: Best Ride Options
The best option for Hollywood Studios involves using Early Entry to ride the bucket list rides, the ones that have consistently high wait times in the day so you don’t feel the need to spend extra on Lightning Lanes if you don’t want to. There are five key rides to target in my opinion, and you'll probably need two mornings of Early Entry to do all five.
Here's my list of the best rides most worth your Early Entry time, and why the time you arrive for Early Entry impacts the ride to choose:
Ride | Early entry arrival time | Early Entry Benefit |
|---|---|---|
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Within the first 10 minutes | Lower wait times compared to most of the day |
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets | Before Early Entry begins | Lower wait times compared to the rest of the day |
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance | Within the first 10 minutes, but always worth checking as not always open first thing | Lower wait times compared to the peak of the day |
Slinky Dog Dash | Before Early Entry begins | Lower wait times compared to the rest of the day Cooler to wait in the queue line Queue moves faster |
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run | Within the first 10 minutes | Lower wait times compared to peak of the day |
If you arrive after those first 10 minutes consider heading to any of the other Early Entry rides on the list, after checking queue times in the My Disney Experience app.
Early Entry Plan 1: Best For Avoiding Lightning Lane Singe Pass Costs
Which ride to head to first? | Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance |
|---|---|
Closest back-up ride? | Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, but Slinky Dog is a better use of your time if heading here when Early Entry begins |
Which ride to head to next? | If you’re a Star Wars fan: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run if the wait time is less than 30 minutes, other wise consider Toy Story Mania. |
Why this works? | Riding this first saves spending money on Lightning Lane Single Pass, and is the best option if you have only one day in Hollywood Studios. |
Early Entry arrival time | It’s an arrive early and head straight to the ride, but with a back-up plan in case it’s down |
For UK visitors planning only one day in Hollywood Studios, this is the best Early Entry option because it will save you time and potentially money. If you are using Early Entry for four days as part of a strategy to beat the cost of Lightning Lane Single Pass in Disney World, you can find out exactly how much this guest benefits saves you in:
This option works well for everyone, but there are some downsides:
- Rise of the Resistance often goes down during Early Entry. There are countless mornings I have planned to ride this only to find it isn’t open. Having a back-up option in your head's important. (But there are more options to come).
- Lower wait times are possible at other times of the day, usually in the hour before Fantasmic! but this does mean potentially missing the best night-time show in Disney World. Early Entry is a better time to ride with a lower wait time if you only have one Hollywood Studios day.
Early Entry Strategy 2: Best For Reimagined Ride Vibes
Which ride to head to first? | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets |
|---|---|
Closest back-up ride? | The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror |
Which ride to head to next? | The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is closest, and if you like your thrills this is a great way to get Hollywood Studios best thrill rides done with lower wait times first. |
Why this works? | Both rides have high wait times throughout the day, they are located within a short walk of each other, and if you can get one ride done and in the queue for the second during Early Entry you’ll save time during the day. |
Early Entry arrival time | This is popular now, so you need to be heading here at the start of Early Entry for the lowest wait times |
The downside of choosing this option:
- There are only 2 Early Entry rides in this area of the park, so doing both together is wise, as you are now at the furthest point from other Early Entry rides
- It’s big on the thrills, so may not be worth it for families with younger children
Early Entry Plan 3: Best for Families
Which ride to head to first? | Slinky Dog Dash |
|---|---|
Closest back-up ride? | Toy Story Mania / Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run / Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway |
Which ride to head to next? | If you’re a Star Wars fan: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run or Rise of the Resistance if the wait time is less than 30 minutes, other wise consider Toy Story Mania or Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway |
Why this works? | Riding this ride first is the best option as it saves spending time during the day in the hottest queue line in Hollywood Studios (in my opinion) |
Early Entry arrival time | You need to be there early, heading to this ride as soon as Early Entry begins |
While this is often the best use of Early Entry for anyone looking to ride Slinky Dog Dash, the option does have some downsides:
- It is one of the most popular Early Entry attractions, so the queue gets long fast.
- You need to head to this ride at the beginning of Early Entry, so if you’re late consider a different option, but check the wait time first
Early Entry Strategy 4: Best For Thrill Seekers
Which ride to head to first? | The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror |
|---|---|
Closest back-up ride? | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets |
Which ride to head to next? | Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, or head to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway |
Why this works? | It’s a good ride to do with a fairly empty tummy given the drop sequencing |
Early Entry arrival time | You can get to Early Entry a little after it begins and still get a lower wait time |
The downside of this option is the location. Once you head to the thrill seeking rides at the end of Sunset boulevard you are at he furthest point from all the other Early Entry rides. While it’s only a few minutes walk, if you’re looking to maximise time, minutes matter.
Early Entry Plan 5: Best For A Quieter Ride Experience
Which ride to head to first? | Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run |
|---|---|
Closest back-up ride? | Slinky Dog Dash / Rise of the Resistance |
Which ride to head to next? | If you’re a Star Wars fan: Rise of the Resistance if the wait time is less than 30 minutes, other wise consider Toy Story Mania or Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway |
Why this works? | Riding first is the most chilled morning ride option out of the popular rides. Great for families and all ages, it’s been a popular Summer Early Entry option due to the new Mandalorian and Grogu update |
Early Entry arrival time | If you’re late for Early Entry, this is your best option |
There isn’t really a downside in choosing this ride in our experience, yes there are more thrilling and bigger rides to start the day off with, but with the new overlay this is the best all-rounder for all ages.
Which Early Entry Plan To Choose?
The plan you choose depends on the time you arrive and what rides you want to prioritise. The thought of riding Tower of Terror first thing could be a simple no due to the large drops. Choosing the right Early Entry plan for your holiday depends on:
- How many mornings you have to use Early Entry
- Whether you have a 7- or 14-Day UK Magic Ticket
- Whether you're planning to venture beyond the Disney Parks as part of your holiday
- The rides that matter most to you, and what’s on your bucket list: not everyone wants to ride everything
- Whether you are using Early Entry strategy to avoid the cost of Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi-Pass
What Time Should You Be At Hollywood Studios For Early Entry?
Aim to be at Hollywood Studios around 20 minutes before Early Entry begins to give yourself a buffer in case there are any hiccups getting from resort. The walk-in from the car park is short so if you are driving, you'll have less than a 5 minute walk to the front entrance for Early Entry.
Sometimes Early Entry can also start a little bit before the scheduled time; the most we have got is 5 minutes extra. So having that extra 20 minute scope can pay off.
Is It Worth Setting The Alarm For Early Entry At Hollywood Studios?
Yes, Early Entry to Hollywood Studios is 100% worth it in 2026, and is the joint best park for Early Entry in my opinion. All the rides on your bucket list are probably included, it’s an easy park to get into, and for rides like Slinky Dog Dash which has an outdoor queue line, it’s helpful to not only get a lower wait time but also beat the heat.
How Many Days Early Entry Should You Do At Hollywood Studios With A 14-Day Magic Ticket?
Hollywood Studios is the park where you’ll find yourself wanting to spend most of your Early Entry days because it's easier to do. I'd say it's joint top with EPCOT. 4 Early Entry mornings with a 14-Day Magic Ticket is usually the sweet spot, helping you get lower wait times for the big rides. But when I plan 4 mornings of Early Entry, I am not usually planning a full day in Hollywood Studios, only a morning.
4 mornings in Hollywood Studios lets me get through the big rides with decent wait times, without it feeling exhausting. Heading to Hollywood Studios on day 3 of your trip will also give you an advantage as your body will likely still be adjusting to the time difference, so if you only plan to use Early Entry once, this is the best day for most UK visitors to use it.
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What time should I arrive for Early Entry at Hollywood Studios?
Arriving at least 15 minutes before Early Entry is due to start helps you get to the entrance, find where the queue is, and make the most of your Early Entry time.
Is Early Entry worth it at Hollywood Studios?
Yes, Early Entry is worth it at Hollywood Studios with a great selection of rides to choose from, it helps you have a quieter park experience for 30 minutes and helps you achieve lower wait times for popular rides in comparison to middle of the day wait times.
