Hello Michael. Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question!
I went ahead a took a look at the Walt Disney World
theme park availability calendar and I do see where Disney's Hollywood Studios does seem to be full for the first part of May for resort Guests. Theme park availability does change often when people decide to change up their itinerary or cancel a trip altogether. I've had great luck with securing a
park pass reservation for a day that had been full simply by being diligent about checking back.
Since you have your heart set on visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios, I suggest upgrading your ticket to include the
park hopper option. Park hopping is where you are able to visit multiple Walt Disney World theme parks in one day. Park hopping just returned to Walt Disney World at the start of this year and I couldn't have been happier. Park hopping is actually my preferred park touring method. With its return a few months ago came some new rules around what park hopping currently looks like. To park hop, you must have park pass reservations for the first park you plan to visit each day. You'll also need to scan in and enter that theme park to "activate" your park hopper feature. Park hopping hours now start at 2:00 p.m. each day and last until each park closes in the evenings. You do not need to make any additional park pass reservations to park hop after your initial selection each day. To make park hopping a little bit easier for Guests, complimentary park-to-park bus transportation is currently being provided. Around 2:00 p.m. or after, you'll head out of the Walt Disney World Theme Park that you are currently at and walk toward the bus stop area. It should be easy to find the bus stop that is marked for where you'd like to go next. There will be a Cast Member working this area and he or she will want to verify that you do, indeed, have the park hopper feature added to your ticket before getting on the bus. It's just a quick scan of your MagicBand and then you'll be on your way to the next park of your choosing.
By adding the park hopper option to your tickets, you'll be able to visit Disney's Hollywood Studios mid-afternoon all the way up to the park closing and on multiple days if you'd like. This will give you plenty of time to explore everything Disney's Hollywood Studios has to offer. When park hopping, I like to save some of the more popular attractions that tend to have longer wait times for later in the evening when I feel like the park tends to be less crowded. As long as you are in line for an attraction when the park closes, you will be permitted to enjoy it. That's a fun way to be able to squeeze as much in as possible and then get some pictures in the park on the way out with no one in the background.
Michael, be sure to keep checking the park availability calendar before your vacation. If you aren't able to secure a spot at Disney's Hollywood Studios, I do think park hopping is your best bet. If you have any other questions before you go, please feel free to come back and
ask me. Have fun!