Walt Disney World is known for its holiday celebrations this time of year, and they’ve finally kicked off. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney Jollywood Nights is back again for its second year, bringing even more festive fun to my favorite Disney World theme park. The separately ticketed event is a throwback to the glitz and glamor of old Hollywood combined with holiday entertainment and incredible food.
Disney Jollywood Nights kicks off November 9 and will run through December 21, 2024, and there will be 13 parties. With three holiday events kicking off within a couple of weeks of one another (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, and Jollywood Nights) November is shaping up to be a busy month at Disney World.
KICK OFF THE HOLIDAYS: A New Yorker’s Guide to Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Person
The event promises guests a swinging good time. This year it’s even more exciting with the debut of an all-new show, more character meet-and-greets, and a host of new treats to try. If you’re heading to Jollywood Nights at Disney World, keep reading for all that you need to know. Plus I’m sharing my tips on making the most of your time at the party.
Tickets and timing for Disney Jollywood Nights
Tickets for Disney Jollywood nights are currently on sale. At the time of publication, all nights are still available to attend. Tickets range from $159 to $179 per ticket, plus tax. Annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members can save $10 per ticket on all event nights.
The five-hour event starts at 7:30 p.m. and goes until 12:30 a.m. Just like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party, you can get into Disney’s Hollywood Studios early with your event ticket. Entry for those with Jollywood Nights-only tickets can enter the park at 6:00 p.m.
MAKE MEMORIES: 25 best family vacation spots in the U.S. for all ages
Your ticket includes access to the party, a variety of entertainment offerings, more than 20 character experiences, party-only photo ops, free PhotoPass downloads, lower wait times on attractions, and a Wondermade sweet treat handed out at the exit of the event.
What’s new in 2024 at Disney Jollywood Nights
Disney is known for listening to guest feedback and making adjustments accordingly at its parks and resorts around the world. Since 2023 was the first year for Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney listened to guest feedback very seriously.
This year, new additions include an ice skating show called Glisten!, but more on that later. Additionally, there’s a new Pixar dance party called Pixar Disco; new character experiences with Joy from Inside Out, King Louie from Talespin, Panchito from The Three Caballeros, and Lost from Toy Story; the chance to step into The Muppet Christmas Carol with a new photo experience at the Stage 1 Company Store; even merchandise featuring the Jollywood Nights mascot, Ollie the jolly gingerbread; and Star Wars fans will be able to interact with the Mandalorian inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Disney Jollywood Nights entertainment
You can find a plethora of entertainment all around Jollywood Nights this year. First, enjoy a live band at the Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club by the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The vibes change at Echo Lake, where a “throwback bash” will feature appearances by Powerline Max and Phineas and Ferb. A holiday street fair called Holiday Fiesta en la Calle will also take place in Animation Courtyard, and you may even spot a few Disney characters dancing too.
HOLIDAY SPIRIT: 29 Festive Hotels for Christmas Getaways This Year
Returning favorites include Disney Holidays in Hollywood, a variety show featuring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, along with a host of other characters singing and dancing. You can catch the show throughout the night at the Theater of the Stars. Inside the Hyperion Theater, What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along is presented at select times throughout the evening. You may even spot the larger-than-life Jack Skellington puppet that’s used during the fireworks show at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.
And no evening at Disney is complete without fireworks. During Jollywood Nights, you’ll be able to catch Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM. The nighttime show features lasers, fireworks, and projections on the Chinese Theater. The show starts promptly at 10:00 p.m., so be sure to get your spot early.
Exclusive food and drink offerings during Jollywood Nights
Just like any Disney party, the food and drink offerings are plentiful and delicious. Sweet and savory snacks can be found all around the park. My favorite spot to get some tasty bites is Fairfax Fare, where the menu features two stuffed popovers, one filled with turkey and mashed potatoes, and the other filled with macaroni and cheese and collard greens. I also love the PB&J Doughnut, filled with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly, then dipped in chocolate and topped with salt and vinegar chips.
SEASON’S GREETINGS: This Year’s Most Magical Christmas Vacations for Families
Near The Tip Top Club at the Hollywood Tower Hotel, two pop-up bars are slinging alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Over at Epic Eats near the Indiana Jones theater, you’ll find loaded funnel cakes, topped with Korean fried chicken or marshmallow and chocolate. ABC Commissary is dishing out Latin-inspired dishes like birria tacos and yuca fries with fried pork belly. At Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction, you can purchase a Christmas Gertie Cookie, which is fashioned after the dinosaur structure found in Echo Lake.
If you’re looking to sit down and enjoy a cocktail and a few bites, make a reservation for Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby. The restaurant turns into a swanky cocktail lounge complete with a live pianist singing Christmas and Disney songs throughout the night. I loved being able to enjoy the entertainment here for about 45 minutes while I sipped on a sugar cookie martini and munched on Korean pork belly bao buns.
Five tips to get the most out of Disney Jollywood Nights
Utilize the early entry time to your advantage and make a plan
With your party ticket, you can enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios as early as 6:00 p.m. Take advantage of this hour and a half before the party officially starts. After scanning your ticket and getting your party wristband, you’ll be directed to a bypass near the front of the park. Here, you’ll find a few festive photo ops, which is a great way to start your night. The bypass drops you off near the Theater of the Stars.
BEST TRIP EVER: 50 best family vacation ideas for all ages
From there, find a table nearby and make a plan for the evening. With so much to do, and only five hours of actual party time you’ll need a good strategy to get everything done. Think about what characters you may want to see that could get long lines, or what show you want to start with.
When I attended Disney Jollywood Nights, I made a list on the notes app of my phone of all of the entertainment times, foods I wanted to try and where they were located, what characters I wanted to meet, and what time my reservation for Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby was at.
My night went so well because I made a plan. I started at the Duffy the Disney Bear meet and greet, which began promptly at 7:30 p.m. From there, I went to the Disney Holidays in Hollywood Show, then had some snacks from Fairfax Fare across the street. Then I was able to get a cocktail from Market, near Toy Story Land, and popped into the Pixar Disco. At 9:25, my table for Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby was ready, and I spent about 45 minutes inside. The last scheduled thing I did was the 11:15 p.m. Glisten! ice skating show, which is about 15 minutes. On the way out of the park, I stopped to take some photos and take in the lively atmosphere of the party.
Take all of the photos you wish with characters and props
Throughout Hollywood Studios, you’ll find character meet and greats, special Magic Shots, handheld props, and more celebrating Disney Jollywood Nights. I didn’t know until after the party that PhotoPass downloads were included with the ticket. Don’t make the same mistake I did and skip taking photos because I thought I wouldn’t be able to download them. Take photos with PhotoPass photographers around the park because they are free to download. You can also pass your personal camera to any PhotoPass photographer and they will take pictures with that too.
DISNEY GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Disney Genie and Genie+
Consider skipping rides in place of party-specific offerings
Disney Jollywood Nights is only five hours long. Instead of riding attractions, I would highly suggest doing all of the party-specific offerings instead. Those five hours go by quickly, and you’ll want to use every minute of the party going to shows, seeing characters, dancing, or trying some of the food and beverage offerings. If there’s a ride that you really have to get on, consider doing it during the hour and a half before the party starts, but your ticket is good for entry from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attraction lines will still be short during this time.
Dress up in your holiday best to get into the theme
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is my favorite park at Walt Disney World. I love the old Hollywood glam vibe and the overall feel of the park. All of this is heightened during Disney Jollywood Nights, including Disney encouraging guests to don their holiday best to attend the party. While there’s no real requirement to dress up, it’s always fun to put on a few sparkles or a fun holiday sweater (pending it’s actually cool on the night you attend).
FIND A DEAL: 12 best hotel booking sites for cheap prices
For the party, I wore a red sequin dress I got from Amazon, a set of dark green Minnie ears, sparkly shoes from Amazon, and a set of Christmas tree earrings from the Disney collaboration with Baublebar. It was a comfortable outfit to walk around the park in, but still felt fun and in-theme for the party.
Think about how you’re going to get back to your hotel
If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, then you’re going to want to think about how you’re going to get back to your hotel at the end of the night. This is especially true if you’re at one of the EPCOT resorts or a resort connected to the Disney Skyliner.
During my visit, I stayed at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. I took the friendship boat that takes guests from the EPCOT resorts to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios to the party. On the ride over, our captain mentioned that the boat service stopped at 10:00 p.m. Our options back to the hotel were to take the complimentary Disney buses, walk, or get a ride share. We opted to take a Disney bus, which took longer than expected because the bus also stopped at the Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort before going to Disney’s Beach Club, and then on to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.
I also noticed that the Skyliner had ceased operations for the day before the party was over. Those staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, or Disney’s Riviera Resort and who did not drive themselves to the party were able to get a complimentary Disney bus or get a ride share back to their hotel.
More from PascherEvasion:
- Everything You Need to Know about Disney Genie and Genie+
- What to Wear to Disney World (and What to Leave at Home)
- How to Get Extra Time at Disney or Universal Beyond the Regular Theme Park Hours
Editors Note: This story has been updated and features some reporting by Carly Neil.
