Disney World Announces Never-Before-Seen Characters for Hollywood Studios Holiday Event
Disney has quietly announced two new characters for Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Both come from Monsters, Inc., and both are rare finds you won’t see anywhere else at Walt Disney World.
Here’s what’s new and what guests can expect from this year’s event.
The New Characters
George Sanderson
George is known for one of the most memorable scenes in Monsters, Inc. After scaring a child, he returns through the door with a sock stuck to his back. That sets off the famous 2319 code, and the CDA (Child Detection Agency) shaves his fur to remove the “contamination.”
Needleman
Needleman is the taller of the two characters. In the movie, he works as a maintenance worker and door shredder.
Most fans may not know their names, but many will recognize them from the film.
Not the First Monsters, Inc. Appearance
Monsters, Inc. has been part of Jollywood Nights before. Mike Wazowski has appeared at the event, making him one of its more unique character meets.
George Sanderson and Needleman take the lineup even further into deep-cut territory.
Returning Characters
Disney also shared several returning characters for this year:
- Baloo or King Louie from TaleSpin
- Lotso from Toy Story 3
- Bo Peep from Toy Story
- The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Joy from Inside Out
- More to be found at the event
Glisten! Adds Disney Characters
Glisten!, the holiday skating show at Jollywood Nights, will feature Disney characters for the first time ever this year.
This could make the show feel more connected to Disney and give guests another reason to attend.
Event Details
Dates: Select nights, November 7 through January 5
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
What’s included:
- Exclusive characters
- Exclusive entertainment
- Exclusive food
- Lower crowds than a typical park day
- Shorter wait times
Availability: Select nights are already selling out.
Is It Worth the Ticket?
Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed event, so guests often weigh what’s new against the cost.
Reasons it could be worth it:
- Two brand-new, rare character meets
- Glisten! with Disney characters for the first time
- Uncommon characters like Lotso, Bo Peep, and TaleSpin favorites
- Lower crowds and shorter waits
Things to consider:
- Rare characters often mean long meet-and-greet lines
- Two new characters alone may not justify the price for everyone
- Popular nights are selling out, limiting date options
Planning Tips
- Buy tickets soon if you have a specific date in mind
- Prioritize meet and greets early if George Sanderson or Needleman are on your list
- Plan around Glisten! since the show has changed this year
- Take advantage of lower crowds to catch attractions with shorter waits
Final Thoughts
The new Monsters, Inc. characters are a fun addition for fans who love rare meets. Combined with the changes to Glisten!, Jollywood Nights is offering more this year than before.
Whether that’s enough to make the ticket worth it comes down to what matters most to you. Character hunters will likely be thrilled. Others may want to see more before committing.
Do George Sanderson and Needleman make Jollywood Nights worth it for you?
