Disney's Hollywood Studios Closes Early for SHRM Conference Buyout

The one-day buyout shortens public hours and could compress crowds and wait times across the park.

Overview

Disney's Hollywood Studios will operate for the public from 9:00 a.m. with 8:30 a.m. early entry until a 6:00 p.m. closing on Thursday, June 18, and will reopen exclusively from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for attendees of the Society for Human Resource Management conference.
The shortened day removes three evening hours that many guests use for popular rides and nighttime experiences, which is likely to concentrate crowds and raise standby and Lightning Lane wait times during daytime hours.
Guests with dining reservations or late arrivals should verify bookings in the My Disney Experience app because the earlier close could require changing plans or exiting the park before scheduled meal times.
Visitors who want to extend their evening have alternatives because Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and other resort locations are expected to run normal hours on June 18 and may absorb displaced crowds.
Private buyouts are a routine revenue and event tool for Walt Disney World, but whole-park early closures are relatively uncommon so last-minute schedule shifts can force quick itinerary changes and make prioritizing must-do attractions earlier in the day essential.