Late last month, Disney’s Hollywood Studios went through a number of operational changes, mainly due to the ongoing popularity of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. However, with the new month brings even more changes around the park, and this time, they don’t have anything to do with the aforementioned ride!
1. FastPass+ tiers are changing
Image: Disney
FastPass+ reservations are finally available for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run for guests planning visits on or after February 19, and for guests visiting after March 8, FastPass+ reservations are now available for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. As a result of these additions, FastPass+ tiers at this park are also changing, and will have the following structure after March 8, 2020:
- Tier 1: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Slinky Dog Dash.
- Tier 2: Toy Story Mania!, Alien Swirling Saucers, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Disney Junior Dance Party!, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, MuppetVision 3D, Fantasmic! and Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage.
2. March hours adjusted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Image: Disney
And speaking of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Disney has adjusted the operating hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, adjusting opening times to 8:00 AM from March 1 – 14 2020, an hour earlier from the previously posted 9:00 AM openings, likely to give guests time to queue for this new attraction, which is opening March 8 and will be using standby/FastPass+ lines, and not the virtual queue currently being used for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. And speaking of Star Wars…
3. Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away to close February 22
Though rumors swirled last week about the closure of Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away, we now know that this show will indeed come to an end after February 22, 2020. No specific reason was given for the closure, but we’d imagine that Disney is likely working on drawing down Star Wars offerings at this park outside of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and with this show’s stage out the way, there will be more room in the center of the park for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
4. New Onward sneak peek now playing at Walt Disney Presents
Image: Disney/ Pixar
Beginning in just over a week on February 7th, guests who visit Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to see a sneak peek of Pixar’s new film Onward, which is a fantasy story following two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley, who set out on a quest after being given the chance to spend one day with their late father. Recently, characters based on the ones from this film have been meeting guests attending advance screenings of this film, fueling rumors that main characters Ian and Barley could eventually make their way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however, nothing has been confirmed yet.
