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Disney’s Hollywood Studios is closing four hours earlier in October, and Guests will want to plan accordingly this fall.
Summer’s winding down, and for those living under the tyranny of recent heat waves across the country, that’s good news. It’s also good news for Disney fans planning to visit the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort during the autumn months when temperatures are slightly cooler and the Resort is dressed up in its harvest best. (Magic Kingdom Park began decorating with pumpkins on August 1!)
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Magic Kingdom Park on August 1/Credit: Becky Burkett
All year long, the four uniquely-designed Disney World theme parks offer Guests a variety of ways to enjoy the magic of Disney in ways that are meaningful to them and that allow them to make the most memories with their friends and family. Magic Kingdom offers the nostalgia of classic Disney films with rides and attractions inspired by the films, as well as opportunities to meet beloved characters like Princess Tiana, Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, and Tinkerbell, among others, and an exciting afternoon cavalcade of more Disney characters than most fans can count–some Guests can only see during this Magic Kingdom event.
Credit: Becky Burkett
In the fall, that Disney magic becomes even more special as Magic Kingdom is adorned with fall colors, pumpkins, and jack-o-lanterns.
EPCOT takes the cake with the annual International Food & Wine Festival. Guests can enjoy a virtual buffet of some of the best music, food, and drinks from all over the globe without ever living the gates at Disney World’s second park. And exciting rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure keep the magic alive while Guests enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Festival.
Credit: Becky Burkett
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a daily celebration of the magic in nature. The park is home to thousands of wild animals, many of which can be seen when Guests board a rugged truck and set out for the African savanna at Disney’s Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction. Guests can often view more of the wildlife while on safari in the fall, as temperatures and heat index values aren’t quite as high as they are in the warmer summer months. (The animals tend to enjoy that!)
And at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the magic of the Golden Age of Hollywood is always alive and well. That is, except at the Hollywood Tower Hotel inside the park, where things are neither alive nor well. Inside the hotel, the doors to an old elevator open, beckoning Guests to enter, only to subject them to visages and experiences that will serve to fuel their nightmares for years to come. And the best time of the year to experience such nightmare fuel is during the spookiest time of the year.
Credit: Becky Burkett
But this year at Walt Disney World, Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios during October will want to pay close attention to the calendar, as the entertainment-themed park will close early. The good news is that it’s only for one day.
On October 17, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close several hours earlier than usual, as it has been rented out by a large group. Gartner, an IT company, is hosting the annual Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo Conference at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels from October 16 to October 19, and on the evening of October 17, guests will take a break from the conference and enjoy stepping back into the Golden Age of Hollywood as well.
Credit: Becky Burkett
Disney World Guests will be permitted to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios on October 17, but the theme park will be closed to any Guest who is not associated with the Gartner conference group after 5:00 p.m. that evening.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios regularly closes at 9:00 p.m., so the four-hour loss of time could be upsetting to Guests who aren’t aware of the special event-related closure at the park. If you and your traveling party will be visiting Disney World on October 17, you can choose to select another Disney World theme park for your park pass reservation that day, or visit Hollywood Studios and use the evening hours to relax at your Disney Resort Hotel or take in the nighttime vibe of Disney Springs.
