Disney is changing how guests access one of its busiest shopping days of the year.
At Walt Disney World Resort, May 4 has become less about attractions and more about limited releases tied to Star Wars. The annual event — widely known as Star Wars Day — now draws crowds comparable to peak holiday periods.
That shift has forced operational changes.
For years, Disney relied on standby lines for merchandise, even during major events. Star Wars Day pushed those limits, with long queues forming early and inventory often disappearing quickly.
Guests have come to expect that experience, even as Disney experimented with alternatives.
Star Wars Day Continues to Grow at Disney Parks
The May 4 celebration has expanded across multiple locations, particularly at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge anchors the park’s offerings.
Merchandise drops have become the main draw, with exclusive collections tied to characters, anniversaries, and park-specific branding.
Fans often plan visits months in advance, with demand driven by limited quantities and resale value. The result has been increasingly crowded retail spaces rather than ride queues.
Disney has already tested different ways to manage that pressure.
Virtual queues have proven divisive in the Disney park community. Some guests see them as a way to avoid hours-long standby lines when high-demand attractions, such as TRON Lightcycle / Run, first opened.
Others argue they create added stress, require early wake-up times, and leave access to in-demand rides feeling limited and unpredictable.
Disney Confirms New Access System for May 4
Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed plans for a virtual queue at one theme park next month.
Both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs will receive new virtual queues in May.
The queues are for those hoping to purchase May the 4th (aka Star Wars Day) merchandise.
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, the queue will open at 7 a.m. ET. Access will be limited to guests with valid park admission and, if required, a reservation.
Distribution will take place at the Mickey Shorts Theater.
The location typically hosts Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie, but it will close temporarily from April 29. No reopening date has been confirmed.
A second virtual queue will open at Disney Springs at 9 a.m. ET, giving guests without park tickets another way to access the collection.
Disney is also expanding mobile checkout at Hollywood Studios through the My Disney Experience app. Guests can scan and pay for items directly on their phones, reducing time spent in physical lines.
The company has used similar systems before. In 2025, Star Wars Day merchandise was sold at the Stage 1 Company Store in Muppets Courtyard.
That area later closed on June 7 to make way for a new Monsters, Inc. land. The same location was also used in 2024.
More recently, Disney confirmed a virtual queue for merchandise at the 2026 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend, signaling a broader shift in how high-demand retail is handled.
On the West Coast, early access to this year’s Star Wars Day collection will be available during Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite on April 28 and 30, with additional items released online.
Are you planning on buying Star Wars Day merchandise this year?
