Disney isn’t ready to let one of its newest holiday events fade into the background. After lackluster ticket sales last year and a slow start this season, the company is rolling out some big changes to Jollywood Nights at Walt Disney World Resort in hopes of turning things around.
A Struggling Holiday Party
When Jollywood Nights first debuted, Disney pitched it as a glamorous alternative to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The event promised retro holiday décor, an elegant vibe, elevated treats, and exclusive entertainment. But despite that strong pitch, Jollywood Nights never really took off the way Disney hoped.
Last year, only four nights sold out. This year, so far, just one night has hit capacity. Compare that to the consistent sellouts for Mickey’s Christmas Party, and it’s clear Disney is facing an uphill battle.
New Characters Take the Spotlight
One of the biggest changes this year is the expanded character lineup. Disney has brought in Bing Bong from Inside Out, Partysaurus Rex decked out in Toy Story style, Chewbacca in his Life Day outfit, and Miguel from Coco. They’ll join Mickey, Minnie, Stitch, and other regulars to give the event a stronger pull for character meet-and-greet fans.
Adding beloved and rare characters is a strategic move. These kinds of interactions are huge selling points for many guests, and Disney clearly hopes this will help draw in more buyers who skipped the party in previous years.
Earlier Entry and New Entertainment
Operational tweaks are also part of Disney’s strategy. Guests will now be allowed to enter Hollywood Studios at 5:30 p.m., earlier than in past years. On top of that, two new shows are making their debut: The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After. Returning favorites like the Glisten! skating show and The Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along will round out the entertainment.
These extra offerings aim to give the event more weight, something fans have said it’s lacked compared to its Magic Kingdom counterpart.
The Pressure to Deliver
The stakes are high. Jollywood Nights is an expensive event to produce, and if sales don’t pick up, Disney could scale it back or even retire it. By enhancing character offerings, expanding entertainment, and adjusting operational details, Disney is clearly signaling it wants this party to succeed.
Mickey’s Christmas Party remains the holiday heavyweight, but Jollywood Nights is getting a serious push this year. Whether these changes are enough to keep it on the calendar remains to be seen.
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