The holiday season has arrived at Walt Disney World, with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicking off November 8 (running on select nights through December 20) and Disney’s Jollywood Nights back for the second year starting November 9 and continuing on select nights through December 21.
We have all the info from the snazzy Jollywood Nights opening night, so let’s get started.
What is Jollywood Nights?
The special-ticketed after-hours holiday event at Hollywood Studios features holiday festivities like exclusive themed entertainment, rare character photo ops, festive food and beverage choices, and the return of the beloved fireworks show Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
It’s also an excuse to break out your finest festive fits as the party encourages guests to wear their holiday best to go along with the party’s glitz and glamor.
Exclusive Jollywood Nights merch is also available featuring the event’s mascot, a gingerbread man named Ollie.
Jollywood Nights Character Greetings and Photo Ops
The event has more than 20 character experiences during the five-hour event. New to the party this year are Baloo or King Louie from “Talespin,” José Carioca or Panchito from “The Three Caballeros,” Bo Peep or Lotso from the Toy Story franchise, The Mandalorian, and Joy from “Inside Out.”
Returning favorites include Phineas and Ferb, Max Goof as Powerline, Rescue Rangers Chip ‘n’ Dale, Santa Stitch, Santa Duffy, Edna Mode and Frozone from “The Incredibles,” Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy or Pluto, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
On opening night, Dr. Strange also made a surprise appearance roaming around on Grand Avenue.
INSIDER TIP: Some of these character lines can get extremely long throughout the night, such as Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch, so be sure to make a plan to prioritize whoever you absolutely must meet. Consider lining up prior to the start of the party to meet some of the more popular offerings as soon as things kick off. Keep in mind, wait times will fluctuate throughout the night. For example, at one point, Santa Duffy had a 90-minute wait. However, I waited just 13 minutes toward the end of the evening.
Disney PhotoPass
Disney PhotoPass is included with the cost of the event ticket, so be sure to take advantage of all of the photo and video opportunities! Offerings include shots taken from Disney PhotoPass photographers, as well as special image captures at Stage 1 on Grand Avenue, including a Muppet Christmas Carol photo op inside of the often shuttered Stage 1 Company Store.
Exclusive Jollywood Nights Entertainment
This year’s event has several returning shows, as well as a new offering.
Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a holiday variety show with music, dancing and appearances from Tiana, Belle, Minnie, Mickey and the true stars of the show, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. The show is performed at Theater of the Stars several times throughout the evening, with performances at 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 10:15 p.m., and 11:15 p.m.
What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along features songs from the classic holiday film, plus an appearance from Oogie Boogie. The show runs in the Hyperion Theater at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a,m.
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! makes its return to Hollywood Studios exclusively during the party. The nighttime spectacular features favorite holiday moments from iconic Disney films on the façade of the Chinese Theater, accompanied by a display of fireworks, lasers and projections. The show is performed each evening of the party at 10 p.m.
Debuting this year is Glisten!— a show featuring international champion skaters performing on Hollywood Boulevard set to a spirited holiday soundtrack, including original songs and Disney favorites like “Be Our Guest” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.” The show is performed at 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.
Themed Entertainment
Echo Lake is the spot for all of your 1990’s and 2000’s nostalgia with appearances from Phineas, Ferb, Max Goof, and Baloo and King Louie from Talespin.
Animation Courtyard transforms into Holiday Fiesta en la Calle, a holiday street fair from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.. The area is decked out with colorful decor and musicians performing Latin holiday tunes, plus appearances from José Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros.
The fan-favorite Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club returns this year, featuring a swingin’ celebration in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Grab a cocktail and enjoy some holiday tunes from the live band playing at 7:30 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 8:50 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:10 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.
Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby also returns with a crucial update: Guests hoping to score a table can now use My Disney Experience to book a reservation ahead of time, rather than utilizing a virtual queue like last year’s event – it’s a huge improvement!
The menu during the event offers exclusive party items, including Chorizo Arancini, Jazzy Holiday Sliders, and a Sugar Cookie Martini.
New this year is the Pixar Disco, a dance party at Pixar Place featuring favorite characters, including Joy, Frozone, Edna Mode, and other Pixar friends.
Festive Foods
One of the best parts of the holidays are the seasonal sips and snacks – and there’s no shortage of festive foods to try at Hollywood Nights! Favorites include a Holiday Turkey Popover and Mistletoe Martini at Fairfax Faire, the Chicken Empanadas with Street Corn and Oaxaca Old Fashioned from ABC Commissary, and the viral Christmas Gertie sugar cookie, complete with a Santa hat.
Party guests are also given a farewell gift of Champagne-flavored marshmallows as they exit the park for the evening.
Last year, the start of the event had some issues: lines for characters and food kiosks were extremely long and the event was just four hours, making it virtually impossible to feel like you had even scratched the surface on things to experience. However, this year, many of those issues have been addressed. Jollywood Nights was extremely well run, with wonderful character meet and greets, spectacular entertainment and manageable lines for everything. I plan to make attending this party an annual holiday tradition.
Jollywood Nights: Know Before You Go
The party runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with ticket holders able to enter the park as early as 6 p.m. Event tickets are $159 to $179 per ticket, plus tax (prices vary by date). Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket to Disney Jollywood Nights, valid for all event nights.
Tickets are still available for Jollywood Nights on the following dates:
- November 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
- December 2, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21
Guests with event tickets can begin checking in at 6 p.m.; however, valid park admission for Hollywood Studios will be required if you plan to arrive earlier than 6 p.m. A theme park reservation to Hollywood Studios may also be required depending on your ticket type
Check out our guide for all the holiday happenings at Walt Disney World Resort:
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Let’s Hear From You!
What do you think about Disney’s Jollywood Nights? Is this 5-hour event worth the price of a party ticket? And are you happy to see Disney make adjustments to correct problems that plagued the event last year? For us, it made all the difference. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.