Summer crowds are officially arriving at Walt Disney World, and that usually means one thing for guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios: long waits.Between Star Wars attractions, Toy Story Land, and newer entertainment offerings, Hollywood Studios continues to be one of the busiest parks at Walt Disney World. On many days, wait times for headliner attractions can easily climb well over an hour, leaving guests scrambling to fit everything into a single day.Now Disney is making a change that could help solve part of that problem.Credit: gardener41, FlickrThe company has quietly extended operating hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on several dates later this summer, giving guests more time inside the park and creating one of the best opportunities of the day to experience some of its most popular attractions.More Time at Disney’s Hollywood StudiosDisney regularly adjusts park hours as travel demand changes throughout the year. While initial operating schedules are often released months in advance, Disney frequently updates those hours as vacation periods approach.According to recently updated park calendars, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will remain open until 10:00 p.m. on select nights in August. The extended hours currently apply to August 7, 11, 14, 18, and 21.Those dates coincide with evenings when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom. As thousands of guests leave Magic Kingdom early for the separately ticketed event or shift their plans around the party schedule, Disney appears to be providing another option for visitors who want to maximize their park day elsewhere.For Hollywood Studios guests, that extra hour could end up being far more valuable than it initially sounds.Why Nighttime Is the Best TimeVeteran Disney fans have long known that the final hours before park closing can be some of the most productive of the entire day.Many families begin leaving before nighttime entertainment concludes. Others head back to their resorts for dinner reservations, transportation concerns, or simply because younger children are exhausted after a full day in the Florida heat.The result is often noticeably lighter crowds during the final hour or two of operation.At Hollywood Studios, that creates opportunities for attractions that normally carry some of the highest waits anywhere at Walt Disney World.Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance remains one of Disney’s most ambitious attractions ever built. Even years after opening, the ride continues to draw substantial crowds throughout the day. Posted waits frequently exceed an hour, and during busy periods can climb significantly higher.Slinky Dog Dash continues to generate similar demand.The family coaster serves as the centerpiece of Toy Story Land and remains one of the most sought-after attractions in the park. Many guests head directly there at rope drop, while others use Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections to avoid lengthy standby waits.By the evening, however, both attractions often become much more manageable.A Better Strategy Than Rope DroppingFor many guests, the instinct is to arrive as early as possible and immediately head toward the most popular rides.While rope dropping certainly remains a useful strategy, extended operating hours create another approach that can sometimes be even more relaxing.Instead of fighting large crowds first thing in the morning, guests can spend the day enjoying shows, dining, character experiences, and lower-wait attractions before targeting major rides later in the evening.The additional hour until 10:00 p.m. makes that strategy even easier.Not only does it spread out the day, but it can also help visitors avoid some of the most congested periods inside the park.Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and even Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets can all see wait times fluctuate considerably as the night progresses.Guests who remain until close are often rewarded with shorter lines than they would encounter during peak afternoon hours.Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), FlickrSummer Hours Continue Beyond AugustThe August extension isn’t the only encouraging sign for guests planning Hollywood Studios visits this summer.Disney has also scheduled multiple nights throughout the summer with 10:00 p.m. closing times before Halloween party season officially ramps up. Those later operating hours have quietly created additional opportunities for guests to enjoy the park after sunset.Hollywood Studios has increasingly become a nighttime destination thanks to the atmosphere throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.Once darkness falls, Batuu transforms completely. The lighting effects throughout the land become more visible, the Millennium Falcon takes on a different appearance, and crowds often begin to thin compared to earlier in the day.For many fans, experiencing Galaxy’s Edge at night is one of the most memorable parts of a Hollywood Studios visit.The extra operating time gives guests more opportunities to enjoy that atmosphere without feeling rushed.What This Means for Your VacationAn additional hour may not sound significant on paper, but at a park like Hollywood Studios, it can dramatically change how a day unfolds.When attractions such as Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash routinely attract some of the longest waits at Walt Disney World, having extra nighttime operating hours creates valuable flexibility.Guests who take advantage of the later closing times may find themselves spending less time standing in line and more time actually experiencing the park.For Disney fans visiting later this summer, those extended 10:00 p.m. closings could become one of the easiest ways to enjoy Hollywood Studios at its best.And if your goal is finally riding Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash without dedicating a huge chunk of your day to waiting, staying until the very end may be the smartest move you make.The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extends Hours, Making This Top Ride Way Easier to Hit appeared first on Inside the Magic.