It's time to break out the glitter! Disney Jollywood Nights is returning to Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2024 on select dates from Nov. 9 through Dec. 21. Experience the Hollywood glamour combined with festive yuletide fun. The party features fireworks, special entertainment, characters, specialty food and drink and complimentary PhotoPass downloads — it's sure to be a holly jolly time! Discount tickets are now available through Undercover Tourist.
Overview of Disney Jollywood Nights
Returning for the first time after its festive first year, Disney Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed event occurring after regular park hours on 13 select nights from Nov. 9 to Dec. 21, 2024. This event combines the holidays with the glitz and glam of the past. While there is plenty to enjoy during the day with the holidays at Disney's Hollywood Studios, this event includes lots of exclusive offerings not seen anywhere else!
The event features the return of the fan-favorite "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM" nighttime spectacular plus even more special entertainment, including a show hosted by Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog (it was the top highlight of our night last year, and we're not even being biased!) and a brand-new ice skating show on Hollywood Boulevard. There are also character greetings throughout the park, along with access to favorite rides. PhotoPass downloads are included with your event ticket, so be sure to enjoy special PhotoPass stops and holiday-themed Magic Shots around the park. Plus, savor specialty food and drink offerings, such as Chicken Empanadas with Street Corn, the Meatball and Polenta and even the adorable Christmas Gertie Cookie!
Disney Jollywood Nights Dates and Tickets
Disney Jollywood Nights will take place on select nights from Nov. 9 to Dec. 21, 2024. The separately ticketed event runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (one more hour than last year!), and you can enter as early as 6 p.m. You do not need an additional park ticket or park pass reservation.
Tickets are on sale now — and you can save up to $9 per ticket through Undercover Tourist! Many dates sold out last year. With only 13 event dates total, we recommend booking your tickets as soon as possible.
Disney Jollywood Nights Special Entertainment
Jollywood Nights is wrapped with exclusive entertainment, which ended up being our favorite part of the night.
Glisten!
New this year, a spectacular skating extravaganza will debut on Hollywood Boulevard. Several times a night, you'll be able to witness the grace and skill of international champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the traditional ice show. Set to a vibrant holiday soundtrack including songs and Disney favorites such as "Be Our Guest" and "When You Wish Upon a Star," this stunning skating show will feature glitzy costumes and glittering projections on the iconic Chinese Theater.
Showtimes: 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 10:20 p.m., 11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
Jollywood Nights brings the return of "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" Join elf duo Wayne and Lanny from "Prep and Landing" with festive projections on the Chinese Theater, music, lasers, fireworks and more at 10 p.m.
As they say in show business, the show must go on ... and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! indeed went on as planned while it rained on opening night last year.
Note that Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! is exclusive to the event and is not shown during regular park hours.
Disney Holidays in Hollywood at Theater of the Stars
A show hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy? Sign us up! Our two favorite muppets host a musical variety show (inspired by the glamour of a Hollywood TV special) with guests such as Belle, Tiana, Mickey and Minnie. The stage show takes place at the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard.
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are the perfect hosts and left us laughing with jokes about churros and spirit jerseys. Tiana sings an original song, as well as "Up on the Housetop." Mickey and Minnie star in a cute segment with Mickey surprising Minnie with a Christmas tree. And Belle delivers a message of hope with "As Long As There's Christmas."
After attending two different nights last year, we noticed that the first showing filled up quicker as many people lined up early using the pre-party time. If you really want the best, centered seats, this could be a good use of time. But we found you can find seats even 5-10 minutes until showtime, so you don't need to arrive too early if wanting to maximize the event (and are OK with a further-away view). In our park plan, we recommend the last showing as it is the least crowded — we got a close side seat just five minutes beforehand!
Showtimes: 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.
American Sign Language interpretation will be offered at select shows on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, 2024. Additional interpretation dates may be requested, based on availability, with at least two weeks advance notice by emailing Disney World ([email protected]).
What's This? Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along at the Hyperion Theater
A spirited sing-along occurs at the Hyperion Theater throughout the night. And yes! It's Nightmare Before Christmas-themed! You can sing along to your favorite songs from the movie and find special surprises in unusual places. You'll even defeat Oogie Boogie and be inspired to "follow your curiosity."
We attended both the first and last show of the night last year and were able to get seats just before it started! You can typically arrive even five minutes before and still have a good view.
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
American Sign Language interpretation will be offered at select shows on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, 2024. Additional interpretation dates may be requested, based on availability, with at least two weeks advance notice by emailing Disney World ([email protected]).
Holiday Fiesta en la Calle
Partake in a lively Latin Street Fair at Animation Courtyard (a new spot this year!). The vibrant alley features Latin holiday music, colorful decor and food and drink inspired by Latin holiday traditions. It's at this festive fiesta where you'll be able to hang out with José Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros! The party goes on all night from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby
Delight in a Hollywood-themed jazz lounge with Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant and enjoy holiday music, craft cocktails and an exclusive food menu (we really enjoyed the Derby Sliders last year!). Note that the food and drink are available at an additional cost.
This is a limited-capacity experience and spots can go fast! Reservations are strongly recommended to help you plan your evening. Make yours today!
Twilight Soiree at The Tip Top Club
Over by Tower of Terror, be sure to visit the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club. Experience a live band, dancing and cocktails (for an additional purchase) at The Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard. While there can be a long line for drinks, anyone may walk through the area to take in the sights and sounds — or even hop on the dance floor! (I'm looking at you Leap ...)
Sets begin 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.
Other Entertainment
Get ready to bust a move with Frozone, Edna Mode, Joy and other Pixar Pals at an all-new Pixar-themed dance party! This lively bash promises to keep the celebration going all night long.
Disney Jollywood Nights Character Greetings and Rides
We're so excited to see some of our favorite characters at Jollywood Nights, including some rare characters (20, to be exact!) — both new and returning. Here's the character lineup for this year!
New Characters
- Baloo and King Louie from "TaleSpin" at Echo Lake (alternating pair)
- José Carioca and Panchito from "The Three Caballeros" at Animation Courtyard (alternating pair)
- Bo Peep and Lotso from "Toy Story" at the entrance of Toy Story Land (alternating pair)
- The Mandalorian at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Joy from "Inside Out" at Pixar Place
Returning Characters
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams on Commissary Lane
- Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy or Pluto by Pixar Plaza (alternating)
- Phineas and Ferb at Echo Lake
- Max Goof as Powerline at Echo Lake
- Rescue Rangers Chip 'n' Dale at Echo Lake
- Santa Stitch at Celebrity Spotlight at Echo Lake
- Santa Duffy at Santa's Workshop at Grand Avenue
- Edna Mode and Frozone from "The Incredibles" at Pixar Plaza
- Entertainment is subject to change, so you never know which festive character may appear!
Also, be sure to head to the Stage 1 Company Store where you can step behind the scenes of "The Muppets Christmas Carol" for your movie star moment.
The most popular characters last year were Phineas and Ferb (we stopped by and decided to catch a glimpse from afar when cast members estimated an hour wait time). However, we only waited less than 20 minutes to meet Mickey in his dapper outfit (and this gets even shorter later in the night). Note that some characters alternate, so we recommend showing up shortly before it switches over to your desired character and jumping in line then. Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch are also quite popular, often remaining around 45 minutes.
Rides
Amongst all the holiday fun, you'll also be able to enjoy lower wait times for your favorite attractions, similar to other evening events such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios. We didn't see wait times rise above 35 minutes all night long last year for popular rides such as Slinky Dog Dash, with the majority of rides 10 minutes or less.
With so much special entertainment and exclusive offerings, we generally recommend not focusing on rides as much, or saving them for the end of the event.
Available Attractions and Experiences from 2023:
Sunset Boulevard
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (confirmed for 2024)
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (confirmed for 2024)
Hollywood Boulevard
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (confirmed for 2024)
Toy Story Land
- Slinky Dog Dash (confirmed for 2024)
- Toy Story Mania!
- Alien Swirling Saucers
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (confirmed for 2024 via standby line)
- Savi's Workshop (closed early — last show was at 10:20 p.m.)
- Droid Depot
Grand Avenue
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Disney Jollywood Nights Dining and Shopping
Specialty food and drinks are available for purchase during the event. We enjoyed new favorites such as the Holiday Turkey Popover from Fairfax Fare, Mexican Hot Cocoa Cheesecake from ABC Commissary, the Sliders from The Hollywood Brown Derby and the adorable Christmas Gertie Cookie (which will be available this year, alongside some new treats!). For full menus from last year, hop over to our Jollywood Nights food guide!
Here is a list of open restaurants during Jollywood last year featuring exclusive event offerings:
- ABC Commissary
- Baseline Taphouse
- Dockside Diner
- Epic Eats
- Fairfax Fare
- Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction
- Market
- PizzeRizzo
- Twilight Soiree at The Tip-Top Club (limited capacity at Tower of Terror Courtyard)
- Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby
- The Trolley Car Cafe
- Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Company
- Outdoor Vending Locations
- Bar Locations
Other open locations without party-exclusive treats included:
- Oga's Cantina
- Milk Stand
- Kat Saka's Kettle
- Woody's Lunch Box
- Hollywood Scoops
- Catalina Eddie's
- Rosie's All-American Cafe
Party exclusive merch was available last year at Mickey's of Hollywood, Once Upon a Time and Celebrity 5 & 10. This year, Walt Disney World is introducing a new merchandise collection inspired by Ollie — the most dapper gingerbread man in Hollywood — featuring items, such as a Minnie Mouse ear headband and festive apparel.
Here's some sweet news: Upon exiting, you'll be gifted six champagne flavored Wondermade marshmallows in a Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy themed box — the perfect way to end an unfrogettable night!
Jollywood Nights Tips and Park Plan
We all enjoyed ourselves last year and had a fun time exploring a brand-new event! After the first night, certain aspects were changed or added that helped the operations improve. Attending a second time allowed us to utilize our park plan and we got a lot accomplished in a stress-free night. Available for download, our Jollywood Nights park plan features three different versions depending on your priorities.
Check out some of our tips for Jollywood after attending two separate nights:
- Be sure to arrive as early as possible. This year, the event starts at 7:30 p.m. and you can arrive as early as 6 p.m. with just your event ticket. This is a great time to eat dinner (if you hadn't already), watch Fantasmic (6:30 p.m. on party nights), knock out some rides or even meet Santa.
- For those already inside the park, you could check in at the Star Wars Launch Bay or Muppet*Vision3D to get your party wristband, so you don't have to exit the park.
- Dress for the occasion! This new event puts the "holly" in Hollywood with the glitz and glam of the past. It's a perfect chance to pull out some dapper outfits with so many great photo-ops.
- Be sure to prioritize your must-dos for the event. Will it be a certain entertainment show, the fireworks or exploring the park at night and enjoying low waits on rides? It's up to you to decide, but know you'll typically want to focus on either lots of rides or the majority of entertainment. We suggest identifying your top three must-do items!
- We saw the most crowds in Sunset Boulevard early on during the event, just as the party was getting started. We'd recommend hopping by later in the night and starting with meeting characters or grabbing food in Animation Courtyard or Echo Lake first.
- Be sure to utilize the many PhotoPass photographers and festive backdrops, as complimentary PhotoPass digital downloads are included with your event ticket! Our favorite had to be the glambot, which was located in Animation Courtyard.
- Stay until the very end to maximize your night and watch the last Nightmare Before Christmas show at 12:30 a.m.
As for the big question, "Is Jollywood Nights worth it?" we think the event is good if wanting to experience Hollywood Studios with some extra holiday entertainment. We think it's best for couples wanting a fun holiday date night and repeat visitors who have attended Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party multiple times and want to experience something new. It is a family-friendly event, though we observed it was mainly an older crowd. Overall, we think this event can pack a lot in and makes for a fun night in Hollywood.
Do you plan on attending Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: Our Guide to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Hoppy planning!
