Walt Disney World released a new holiday party this season called Jollywood Nights. Held in Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, this night-time party occurs on ten select nights from November 11 to December 20, 2023. The event runs from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am, though guests can enter the park as early as 7 pm with their event tickets.
Think glitz and glam interspersed with holiday flair, and you will start to understand the imagining energy behind Jollywood Nights. While certain favorite attractions are open during Jollywood Nights, the main draw for me was experiencing the live bands, stage shows, and drinks and treats.
A magical stage show at Jollywood Nights is "Disney Holidays in Hollywood" at Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard. Think of a vintage musical variety holiday television special and you start to understand what's happening on the stage. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Belle, Tiana, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie Mouse make special appearances during the show alongside dancers and singers. It's as if the cast is performing live for a studio audience with announced cutaways to commercials. The dancing is top-notch and the singing fills the heart with joy. Four showtimes are offered during the party.
The second must-see show during Jollywood Nights is "What's This? Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along." During regular park hours, the Hyperion Theatre is where you'd go to watch the Frozen Sing-Along. However, during Jollywood Nights, Anna and Elsa are nowhere to be found. Instead, a super-sized Jack Skellington puppet launches the audience through a dream-like adventure. Songs from the Tim Burton film are showcased as two friends discover the magic of the holidays while they encounter the likes of Oogie Boogie. Four showtimes are also offered during the party.
Jollywood Nights is full of music and laughter around every bend. On Hollywood Boulevard you are welcome with a DJ spinning a holiday mix of songs. Party-goers who head down Commissary Lane will discover a holiday street fair filled with Latin holiday sounds as musicians play along the pathways. Over at the Brown Derby, the restaurant is transformed into a jazz joint where guests can enjoy yummy cocktails and light bites while listening to holiday music. My favorite musicians were over by the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where in the courtyard you couldn't help but tap your feet to a live band at the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club. If you are into swooning and crooning, this is the place to unwind.
This holiday season is the inaugural launch of Jollywood Nights. While there were certain hiccups to the launch, by the time I went in late November, the kinks had been worked out. There were plenty of characters out and about greeting folks. The holiday food offerings were wonderful and the lines weren't too outrageously long. One quibble I had with Jollywood Nights was the themed merchandise. Surprisingly, there was only one uninspired shirt item, and it didn't strike me as reflecting the glitz and glam of the party's theming. I took one look at it and walked away. Unlike Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party where there were complimentary items to be had (like cookies and hot cocoa) for guests during the celebration, Jollywood Nights guests had to pay for all the food and drinks.
One bonus for guests at Jollywood Nights is the return of "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!." There are also character greetings throughout the park. PhotoPass downloads are also included in the event tickets. The Tower of Terror becomes a holiday display with projected holiday overlays. If you want it to snow in Florida, a great place to experience it is along Sunset Boulevard.
Am I glad I was able to attend Jollywood Nights? Absolutely. It was fun to have a new holiday party to enjoy at Walt Disney World. Are there things that Disney can alter to make it even more enjoyable for the price point of $159-$179 per person? Absolutely, and lowering the price point might be a good idea too. I love the idea of Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios and hope it continues to improve in the years ahead.
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