It’s officially the start of the holiday season at Walt Disney World! Seasonal desserts are making their way into the parks, garland is hung all around Disney Springs, and the resort’s two holiday parties kicked off this weekend to the delight of many spirited guests.
This year, I was lucky enough to attend the first night of both events — Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. Jollywood Nights made its debut last year, and it was such a hit that it’s back this year — and seems to be here to stay. I was particularly excited to experience this new party since it was my very first time attending!
Jollywood Nights is described by Disney as “Hollywood Glamour Meets Holiday Cheer.” The party runs from 7:30pm to 12:30 am, but ticketed guests are allowed to enter as early as 6pm. Tickets are not cheap, ranging from $159 to $179 per guest age 3 and up, with discounts for annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club Members. The price of Disney’s special ticketed events are always steep, but I felt Jollywood Nights delivered enough in the six and a half hours we got to spend there during the party.
Since I’ve been to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and other after-hours events at Walt Disney World before, I generally knew what to expect from Jollywood Nights: a late entrance to the park with the promise of great theming and lower wait times that let guests party late into the night. While I enjoyed Mickey’s Very Merry, I felt it had room for improvement and thought Jollywood Nights would be the same way. To my surprise, it won me over instantly and had far less kinks to iron out.
If you’ve ever been to an after-hours event at Hollywood Studios, you know that it’s a great location for a party. The layout is easy, areas aren’t too narrow, and crowds are generally lighter than the Magic Kingdom any time of year. Combine all that with some Christmas magic and you have the perfect party setting!
I fell in love with Jollywood Nights and can’t wait to go back next year. Why was it such a hit for me? Here are my top 10 reasons why Jollywood Nights is my favorite special event at Walt Disney World!
10. Something for Everyone
Disney is great at building its parks with everyone in mind, taking into account all ages, interests, and ability levels. But some parks are generally geared toward certain crowds more than others. It’s commonly said that “Magic Kingdom is for kids, while “Hollywood Studios is for adults.” There’s no question that this park offers a great date night experience for adults, but I’d argue that Hollywood Studios is for everyone… and so is Jollywood Nights!
To make your whole crew happy, you can get to the park at 6pm and spend the early part of your night dining with Minnie and friends at Hollywood & Vine (snag a reservation in advance!) Kids also love Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and all that Toy Story Land has to offer, both of which are open during the party. People of all ages have a blast in Galaxy’s Edge, which looks fantastic at night during the event as well. And let’s not forget the awesome character meet and greets that kids will love (more on that below.)
My son is ten and had the greatest time at his first Jollywood Nights! We saw people of all ages, from families with toddlers and teenagers to adults without children. It’s truly an event for everyone, and had a chill vibe about it that made it feasible for everyone in your party (read more about that below.)
9. Perfectly Retro Decorations
What can I say? I’m a sucker for retro design. So even on an average day, the atmosphere of Hollywood Studios has my heart… and at Christmastime it’s even more fantastic! The lighting is so spectacular that everywhere you go in the park you’ll find a beautiful photo spot.
You have to take time to notice all the details in their decorations… the plastic 1950’s kids on the lawns, the old-school Rudolph knockoffs, the retro ribbon candy garland… it’s all so much fun and puts a unique, colorful spin on Christmas.
8. The Chance to Get Your Glam On
Have you ever seen a really fancy outfit in the store and thought, “Wow, that would be fun… but where am I going to wear it?” Well, Jollywood Nights gives you an opportunity! This party is all about celebrating the holidays with retro style and glitz and glamour. While you can certainly wear anything you like, I found dressing up alongside so many other excited guests really put me in the holiday spirit. I also loved checking out everyone’s glamorous looks! There was everything from Christmas tee shirts to head-to-toe sequins, and it was so much fun seeing people express themselves through special holiday attire.
My one piece of advice is to keep comfort and climate in mind. While the temperature is a bit cooler at night, it’s still Florida, so lots of layers and heavy knits might get uncomfortable. Similarly, opt for things that you can ride rides wearing without being uncomfortable. (I wore bike shorts under my dress and it’s my best park attire hack!) Even if you opt for regular park apparel and a light-up Christmas necklace they sell in the park, it’s fun to just embrace the opportunity to sparkle. I love the dressing-up aspect of this party so much that I already purchased my outfit for next year!
7. Festive Photo Ops
As I always say, PhotoPass pictures are one of my favorite souvenirs of Disney Parks visits. And I love that unlimited photos come with your Jollywood Nights ticket. This is another reason this party takes the cake in my book, as other after-hours events don’t include PhotoPass. In addition to all the character meetings and glamorous backdrops you can squeeze in, you can also take special effect shots at Stage 1 on Grand Avenue. Look out for some surprise guests like Fozzy Bear in your downloads!
6. Plentiful Christmas Eats
In my opinion, the Jollywood food situation is a trade-off: while you don’t get free treats like at other Disney parties or events, many eateries remain open, which I much prefer to the depressing sight of closed-down food carts at other parties. (Let’s not talk about what it feels like to travel 1,000 miles for a Cheeseburger Spring Roll and not be able to get it.) Having dining options is a big plus in my book, while my kid would argue otherwise, it outweighs the all-you-can-eat Mickey premium bars.
During Jollywood Nights, Hollywood Studios takes a page from Epcot’s book by offering some festival-type fare: small, themed bites at various locations throughout the park. While it would be nice if Jollywood Nights gave out free cookies like MVMCP does, I love having small portions of lower-priced holiday foods that include savory choices.
Maybe it’s the old Hollywood glamour of this event, but the bites on the party menu felt a little snazzier too. Small but sustaining samples include Mac and Cheese Croquettes at Baseline Tap House, a Holiday Turkey Popover at Fairfax Fare, and Jazzy Holidays at the Brown Derby which offers a special menu. Themed desserts are plentiful as well, including the Christmas Tree Cookie Stack at the Dockside Diner and the Agent P. (Perry) Croissant at the Trolley Car Cafe. I’m not much of a drinker, but if you imbibe there are plenty of holiday spirits offered at this party, too.
5. Dazzling Entertainment
Disney Parks have plenty of entertainment, but these special ticket parties are all about the unique shows and experiences you can’t get the rest of the year. In true Hollywood form, Jollywood Nights has fabulous entertainment. “Glisten! Skating Spectacular is a vibrant, lively ice skating show in front of the Chinese Theatre. “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” is a popular show for the Jack and Sally crowd. There’s even “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” hosted by that hilarious, rarely seen duo Kermit and Miss Piggy! Another can’t-miss event is the Pixar Dance Party in Pixar Plaza. Guests of all ages will have so much fun here getting the chance to rub elbows with rare characters such as Mike Wazowski and Frozone, without needing to wait on line to meet them!
4. Amazing Characters
Speaking of cutting a rug with Mike Wazowksi, the character meet and greets at Jollywood Nights are fantastic! This party is full of so many rare favorites that it’s hard to choose which to prioritize. Phineas and Ferb, Santa Stitch, and Santa Duffy were among the most popular meet and greets. There was even Bo Peep and Lotso, José Carioca and Panchito, Baloo and King Louie, and The Mandalorian!
If characters are your top criteria, then the other after-hours parties pale in comparison to Jollywood Nights. Plain old after-hours event at, for example, Magic Kingdom, come with a hefty price tag but a big disappointment in the lack of character meet-and-greets. If meeting unique characters is your thing, a Jollywood ticket is worth the price!
Because the characters at this party were incredible, some of their lines were incredible too. Phineas and Ferb were a must-do for my son, but we spent almost an hour and half on their line. In addition to the long line of people, they went backstage for breaks way too often which made guests wait on line without any movement. Hopefully Disney does a better job next year at switching cast members more frequently or staggering the lines. Because of the popularity of this event’s meet and greets, my best advice is to prioritize your favorite characters and try to catch them before the party gets too busy.
3. Low Crowd Levels
After some complaints about the organization of Jollywood Nights during its first year, Disney has certainly improved its operations, because this year was a very smooth experience. Even on the first night of the event it wasn’t at all overwhelming or unmanageable. While this party is popular, it feels to me like a well-kept Disney secret. It doesn’t have the same draw as other bigger parties, and I also think Disney kept the capacity lower than it does for events like Mickey’s Christmas and Halloween parties. Even with some lines and expected crowds, Jollywood Nights just had a calmer nature to it, making it much less overstimulating. At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, I saw so many tired, crying children by the end of the night. Interestingly enough, we stayed at Jollywood Nights even later, and yet the children there (including my own) were not exhausted or cranky. I think this speaks to the vibe of the party, the well-organized way it’s run, and why Jollywood Nights is fun and feasible for guests of all ages.
2. Walk-On Rides
Disney special events come with the hope of lower ride wait times, and because of the reduced capacity of Jollywood Nights, we got just the perk we paid for! Though there were some waits for rides like Toy Story Mania at certain times of the night, they were still much better than the wait on a regular day, and better than other after-hours parties we attended. In fact, many of the rides were actually walk-ons. Imagine our astonishment seeing rides like Rise of the Resistance and Smugglers Run with 5 minute queues! One of the best parts of our evening was at the end of the night when a lot of people were leaving and we literally had Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway all to ourselves — not another group even in the building! Now that’s the kind of reduced capacity I expect from a pricey party.
1. It’s a Vibe
Have you ever watched an old black-and-white movie and marveled at how cool the actors seemed? That’s the same cool vibe I got at Jollywood Nights. There’s just something about the old Hollywood vibe of Jollywood Nights that makes it top my list of special events. While the ticket price is hefty, the smooth experience and chill atmosphere put me in such a holiday mood that it made it worth the price. The beautiful, retro Christmas decor was something to stop and soak in, and I didn’t feel rushed or pressured by chaotic crowds like at other parks. From walk-on rides to fantastic photo ops, there were so many glamorous details that made this party a whole vibe… and one you want to experience.
As you can tell, I love Jollywood Nights! From the food to the entertainment to the general way it runs, this is one holiday vibe I want to experience year after year. The reduced capacity and cool energy of this party made it a huge win in my book.
Of course, I’m always honest in all my reviews, so there are a few improvements I’d like to see. Though the characters are incredible, the waits should be managed better. The absence of free treats is a complaint I’ve heard, and I agree free cookies or drinks like at other after-hours events would be a nice touch considering the high price of this party. Along the same lines, the party favor Jollywood Nights gave guests this year was a terrible choice. Champagne flavored marshmallows are quite a “womp womp” at the end of such a fabulous night — and they sure didn’t live up to the adorable Muppets boxes they came in! Apparently last year’s guests received coasters, and I’d love to see a non-edible souvenir like that return next year.
A few constructive criticisms aside, in my opinion Jollywood Nights is the best way to kick off the holidays at Disney. Keep these tips in mind if you decide to buy tickets, and get ready to party where “Hollywood glamour meets holiday cheer!”
What Lara Wrote 