Hollywood Studios to use virtual queue for 35th-anniversary merch

Walt Disney World will celebrate Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ 35th anniversary on May 1, 2024, with a special event featuring Disney leaders, characters, and, of course, merchandise.

The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. in the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard. To accommodate the celebration, the 11 a.m. showing of Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage will not take place that day.

Now, special limited-edition 35th-anniversary apparel, collectibles, and pins specially designed to commemorate this milestone will be available at Stage 1 Company Store on Grand Avenue near MuppetVision 3D. To help cut back on some of the craziness that always takes place at these merch events, Disney is implementing a virtual queue.

The virtual queue will open at 7 a.m. on the event day, allowing guests to join remotely without needing to be physically present at the park early in the morning.

To join the virtual queue, download the “My Disney Experience” app and enable location services. Once set up, navigate to the “Virtual Queues” section to secure a spot. Disney notes that merchandise availability is limited, and joining the virtual queue does not guarantee access to the exclusive items. Furthermore, purchase limits will be applied to ensure that as many guests as possible can enjoy the offerings.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989, and was based on a concept by Marty Sklar, Randy Bright, and Michael Eisner. It was the third of the four theme parks to open at Walt Disney World. Originally named Disney–MGM Studios (Theme) Park, the name was changed on Jan. 7, 2008, to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Here’s a look at some of the merchandise that will be available.