Last week, Walt Disney World shared exciting details about the holidays. A brand new holiday party named Disney Jollywood Nights will be offered, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be back! In our Halfway to the Holidays article, we assured you the details would show up this week, and that happened. We will unpack all of what was revealed in their announcement. Also, we will share our thoughts on if they are worth building into your Disney trip.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Disney Jollywood Nights
Let’s start with the newest edition over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Disney Jollywood Nights – which sees the return of Jingle Bells, Jingle Bam from years past! The most prominent complaint about the return of Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam, is that it will be behind a paywall instead of just free. Luckily there will be a lot more activities included with Disney Jollywood Nights you should have this in your holiday plans!
From Disney themselves, “Get ready to dress in your holiday glam best or festive flair, dance the night away to merry mashups, indulge in divine treats and bubbling spirits, and snap selfies with iconic characters during this new festive event. For an extra dose of cheer, the party wraps with the return of the nighttime spectacular, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” You’ll be in fa la la la la la la la land before you can say Tinseltown!
Experience holiday vibes throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios with entertainment areas inspired by different genres:
- You’ll be welcomed to Disney Jollywood Nights with a DJ spinning a mix of holiday tunes. Commissary Lane comes to life with a lively Latin Street Fair. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will be very special guests at Theater of the Stars along with some of their Disney friends. And … what’s this? Hyperion Theater will host a spirited sing-along – more details to come.
- Encounter glitz and glamor galore at two limited-capacity entertainment experiences – a jazz lounge at The Hollywood Brown Derby and an other-worldly soiree at The Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard.
- Wrap up the night and enjoy the return of a festive favorite, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” This Santa-sized nighttime spectacular is jam-packed with music, fireworks, special effects and dazzling state-of-the-art projections.
Snap selfies with unique photo opportunities throughout the night:
- Pose with friends for holiday-themed Magic Shots and two new Disney PhotoPass experiences throughout the night. Complimentary digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos captured during the event are included with the price of your ticket.**
- Meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the rest of the iconic gang in Animation Courtyard on a hot set with holiday props. Get into the spirit with your fave throwback friends like Powerline Max and Phineas and Ferb at Echo Lake and strike a pose with Edna Mode and chill with one of her super friends at Pixar Place.
Enjoy after-hours access to some of your favorite rides and coasters under the stars:
- After-hours access to some of your favorite rides and coasters like Slinky Dog Dash, Rock N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and more. (Star Wars: Rise of Resistance will use virtual queue* during Disney Jollywood Nights.)
- Indulge in delicious holiday tastes and sips exclusive to the party:
- Guests can buy specialty offerings throughout the party like Spicy Korean Chicken on a Mini Funnel Cake, sweet delights including a colorful Christmas Tree Cookie Stack inspired by the iconic Echo Lake Christmas Tree and classic cocktails and holiday beverages that can be enjoyed during the party.
Disney Jollywood night will be a limited capacity event, and only being offered ten evenings, we feel it will sell out fast. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, and Shades of Green can buy tickets starting June 29. Tickets may be purchased by all guests beginning July 6. Here are the dates:
- November: 11,18, 20, 27, 29
- December: 4, 6,16,18, 20
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2023
Also announced are the details surrounding Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). You can look at our review from last year’s event here. We are big fans of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and always recommend it to anyone visiting during the holidays. If you want to make the most of a Magic Kingdom day, add a Ticket to your Magic Kingdom day. Typically the crowds before the parties are so lite you will accomplish a lot.
Given all the attention to the new party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios not much was mentioned about MVMCP except that they did add Frozen to the mix,
From Disney themselves, “For the first time in forever, guests will be able to join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and the Snowgies in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom for “Frozen Holiday Surprise,” a brand new “Frozen”-inspired entertainment experience that will illuminate the castle in a whole new way. This delightful new offering can be seen during regular park hours and during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details on this exciting holiday addition.”
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets are limited and can be purchased online beginning July 6. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets as early as June 29 on the Walt Disney World website. Here are the dates:
- November: 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
- December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22
Conclusion and thoughts on Disney Jollywood Nights, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Well, there you have it, you can celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World in several ways, but you have to pay for each of these events separately. Disney did well to avoid overlapping dates for these parties, so if you are inclined to do so, you can attend both. We absolutely suggest budgeting for these parties. They are often fun and offer lower crowds.
If you decide to purchase tickets for these events, there are two strategies to consider. One is to add it to the same day you are going to be visiting DHS or MK, which typically have lesser crowds before the parties making your wait times very short in the day and allowing you to concentrate on the party offerings in the evening, on the other hand, you can skip the daytime in the parks and enjoy your resort for the day and attend the parties at night. What are your thoughts? Will you try out a holiday party as part of your Walt Disney World Holiday vacation? Let us know in the comments.
