Jollywood Nights at Disney

Jollywood Nights is a ticketed, Christmas-themed event held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on select evenings in November and December. The event runs from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM, with event guests able to enter as early as 6 PM. On event nights, the park closes at 7 PM for regular guests. While Jollywood Nights offers a fun holiday experience, there are a few drawbacks. Unlike Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, there are no free snacks or drinks. While the fireworks show is eye-catching, it doesn’t compare to Magic Kingdom’s spectacular displays. On the bright side, there are rare characters on a roaming schedule, low wait times for rides (including Star Wars), and the specialty foods are fantastic.

Pricing

The price of admission varies based on the dates, time of year, as well as the number of people in your party. Prime dates and weekends tend to be priced higher. As a general rule, tickets are less expensive earlier in the holiday season, though the first event of the season can be more expensive due to high demand. Guests over 10 years old are considered adults, and children ages 3-9 typically pay about $10 less per ticket. Children 2 and under do not require a ticket for the event.

Holiday Eats & Treats

Majority of the restaurants at Hollywood Studios will remain open during the event. My favorite restaurant in Hollywood Studios has to be Woody's Lunch Box, located in Toy Story Land. The Brisket Melt sandwich with tomato soup is always absolutely delicious, and the Raspberry Tart—a pastry filled with Raspberry Marmalade, coated in Strawberry Fondant, and topped with Crispy Pearls—is simply divine. Still it’s the culinary team that truly deserves a spot on the nice list, thanks to their incredible selection of exclusive Christmas snacks. My top picks include:

• Birria Tacos, Chicken Empanadas, & Hot Cocoa Cheesecake at Commissary Lane

• S’mores Funnel Cake at Epic Eats

• Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa at PizzeRizzo

• Holiday Minnie Bundt Cake at PizzeRizzo

• Mistletoe Martini at Hollywood Scoops

• 1939 Royale-Tip Top Club

That being said, the dining logistics at Jollywood Nights need improvement. The check-in process and long wait times at Brown Derby were poorly managed, while the Tower area, advertised as an “other-worldly soiree,” felt overcrowded. Standing tables near the bar exit created congestion, and they even ran out of the Christmas Gertie Cookie. In my opinion mobile ordering is the most efficient option

Must See Shows

Be sure to catch these holiday performances:

• Disney Holidays in Hollywood: Showtimes at 8:45, 9:45, 10:45, and 11:45 PM.

  •  Hosted by Kermit and Miss Piggy, this swanky show features performances by Mickey, Minnie, Belle, and Tiana, fitting perfectly with the vibes of Hollywood Boulevard.

• Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!: Fireworks show at 10:00 PM at the Chinese Theatre.

  •  A projection show with a few pyrotechnic effects, featuring Prep & Landing, as well as a bit of Nightmare Before Christmas.

• Nightmare Before Christmas: Sing-along show at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 PM, 

  • Featuring characters from the classic film, including Jack Skellington, Sally, Lock, Shock, and the infamous Oogie Boogie.

• Glisten Showtimes at 8:15, 9:15, 11:15, and 12:15

  • A new show for the event this year, featuring "international champion skaters" performing to Disney and Christmas songs,

• Twilight Soirée  Showtimes at 8:15, 9:15, 11:15, and 12:15

  • Jazz-styled Christmas tunes performed by the band at the Tip Top Club

Despite the variety of entertainment, Jollywood Nights could benefit from a longer duration. It’s only a 5-hour event, and with limited time, waiting 25-35 minutes for a show takes up a significant portion of your evening. It’s surprising that Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, both run by the same company, offer such different experiences.

Exclusive Characters

Pro tip: Since you can enter the park at 6 PM, grab your exclusive snacks first so you can enjoy them while waiting in line for characters. The special character photo opportunities don’t open until 7:30, so if you're not interested in riding the rides, this plan is perfect for you as it gives you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the experience. Be sure to grab a map so you can find where these characters are stationed. Meet some of your favorite characters in their holiday attire, including:

• Max Goof as Powerline at Echo Lake

• Chip and Dale at Echo Lake

• Phineas and Ferb at Echo Lake

• Santa Stitch Celebrity Spotlight at Echo Lake

• Bo Peep at the entrance to Toy Story Land

• Scrooge McDuck at Pixar Plaza

Other characters like Dr. Strange, Edna Mode, Santa Duffy, The Mandalorian, and more roam the park throughout the night.

The Best Rides to Enjoy

The best part of the night was the incredibly low wait times for all the rides. Most attractions had wait times of 10 minutes or less, including Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. There was no line at all, so we were even escorted through a back entrance directly to the front of the ride. Pro tip: If you head to Slinky Dog Dash during the Pixar Dance Party, where all the kids are, you can walk right on with no wait!

Get your adrenaline pumping with these must-do rides:

• Slinky Dog Dash

• Tower of Terror

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

• Toy Story Mania

Final Thoughts

Overall, Disney's Jollywood Nights was a bit of a letdown for me, and from speaking with others, it seems many shared the same sentiment. While there were some great aspects, the event felt lacking in key areas. The short wait times for rides were a highlight, but food lines were long, and many restaurants and shops were closed. There was only one showing of Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam, and it was at the very end of the night, which made timing tricky. Additionally, many of the food lines were poorly positioned and crowded. Compared to other WDW events, it fell short. There were no complimentary snacks, though marshmallows were handed out to guests as they left. Hopefully, Disney will make improvements for next year, as this event had the potential to become a great holiday tradition. That said, don’t let my review deter you from giving it a try, just keep the price in mind when planning your Disney vacation.