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Disney World’s latest holiday offering, Jollywood Nights, is shaping up to be a memorable event at Hollywood Studios. The inaugural ticketed holiday happening on November 11 was filled with an array of exciting activities, ranging from live performances to interactive experiences and themed food and drinks that catered to all ages. The event also introduced new original characters, who were an instant hit with their audience, in addition to special guests that added to the overall entertainment value.
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Although the event received mixed reviews from guests, with some describing it as a “bust,” others enjoyed the festive atmosphere that the night offered. Jollywood Nights was an outstanding addition to Disney World’s holiday festivities, offering guests a unique and unforgettable experience that is sure to be remembered for years to come.
Jollywood Nights Brings a Vintage Hollywood Holiday Feel to Disney World
The name of the game for Disney World’s newest holiday festival at Hollywood Studios is entertainment. With DJs around Echo Lake blasting your favorite holiday hits, a jazz-filled vintage garden party full of glam and glitz in the courtyard at the Hollywood Tower Hotel, and What’s This?, the Hyperion Theatre show featuring characters from the popular Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jollywood Nights is a banging time to rock around the Christmas tree.
Related: Dining Guide to the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Although Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays typically get all the adoration when it comes to celebrating the holidays at Walt Disney World, Jollywood Nights is bringing in the new, mixed with some golden oldies, so that guests can relive memorable Christmas memories from the 20s and 30s on Sunset Blvd.
Oh, Hey Ollie, How Ya Doin’?
Every specially ticketed event at Walt Disney World needs a mascot, right? Jollywood Nights is no different, as Ollie, an adorable gingerbread man donning his holiday best, is ready for a night on the town rubbing elbows with the Hollywood elite.
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Although Ollie has been the focal point of many reviews surrounding Jollywood Nights, as many, including Disney, mistakingly have called him the “first original character at Disney since Figment,” there are plenty of other rare characters running around Hollywood Studios.
Related: Official Showtimes Listed For Disney World’s Newest Christmas Celebration, Jollywood Nights
Phineas and Ferb and Powerline Max were available to meet guests around Echo Lake, but as is with extremely popular and rare character meet-and-greets at Walt Disney World, lines to meet the party additions were long and started rather early into the night.
Jollywood Nights: First Look
Reviews pertaining to the newest holiday offering at Walt Disney World are mixed. Despite Hollywood Studios being home to several high-profile attractions and lands like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slink Dog Dash in Toy Storyland, and the Tower of Terror, some event-goers felt that the party was mismanaged.
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Citing long lines for everything, even the festive drinks and snacks, things seemingly didn’t go as planned. Sadly, this sometimes is how the Christmas cookie crumbles when it comes to After Hours and other ticketed events that are meant to be exclusive. Also, considering this was the first ever Jollywood Nights event, it’s safe to say that the turnout of guests looking to kick off their holidays with a Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! was at capacity.
However, Disney World still shared plenty of first looks at Jollywood Nights entertainment, including “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along,” and it all looks like a lot of fun! In fact, despite the frustration with long lines, these new holiday experiences surprised guests!
What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a holiday staple for many families since its debut in 1993. Easily functional for both Christmas and Halloween seasons, the stop-motion film featuring beloved characters like Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie, is a big draw at Disney World each holiday season.
FIRST LOOK: Walt Disney World shared a behind-the-scenes look at Disney Jollywood Nights and “What's This? Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” debuting tonight. pic.twitter.com/OTewup0s1w
— Drew (@DrewDisneyDude) November 11, 2023
The crew of Tim Burton’s masterpiece made their Hollywood Studios debut during Jollywood Nights at the Hyperion Theatre, replacing Frozen Sing-Along Celebration for the event. What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along treated fans to gothic-style merriment.
Related: Mickey and Friends Ready for New Jollywood Nights
Slamming together creep and cheer, Jack Skellington and the gang are offering up a fun-filled show featuring unique sets, actors, and costumed characters that you can, you guessed it, sing along with!
Holidays in Hollywood with Special Guests
Another new entertainment offering at Jollywood Nights is Holidays in Hollywood. This brand-new party addition is a music-filled, high-energy stage show taking place each night on stage at the Theatre of the Stars in Hollywood Studios.
Disney shared a first look at “Holidays in Hollywood” debuting tonight as part of Disney Jollywood Nights.
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are special guests for an all-new stage show at Theater of the Stars featuring Tiana, Belle, Minnie, and Mickey.
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) November 12, 2023
Much like other entertainment at Jollywood Nights, Holidays in Hollywood features dancing, singing, tons of music, and a few special guests, including Tiana, Belle, Minnie Mouse, and Mickey Mouse, all dressed to impress in their holiday best!
However, the real stars of the show over at the Theatre of the Stars are The Muppets. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy bring their talents to add a little seasonal cheer to the party, adding a much-needed comedic presence amongst the glitz and glamor.
Special Guests are Worth It at Jollywood Nights
As with anything you do at Walt Disney World, lines are going to be a problem, especially considering that Jollywood Nights is a brand new event in an already popular theme park that is home to attractions like Star Tours, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
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Given the park’s size, areas such as Commissary Lane, Hollywood Boulevard, and Galaxy’s Edge are sure to feel cramped, but that shouldn’t put a damper on your seasonal spirit! Despite the complaints, Disney’s Jollywood Nights feels like a fantastic addition to holiday celebrations at Walt Disney World, and it’s nice to see other parks outside of parades and castle shows at Magic Kingdom and the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT getting in on the fun.
Jollywood Nights run on select evenings all the way to December 20. Tickets can be purchased from Walt Disney World’s website, ranging in price depending on which nights you attend. As festive fun takes center stage amongst all the flashiness and attractions, Jollywood Nights is an event you aren’t going to want to miss, as it’s special guests are worth the price of admission.
Hollywood Studios is an Underrated Holiday Park
Compared to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, Hollywood Studios typically doesn’t get a lot of love during this festive time of year. However, despite it being home to Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and some of the scariest rides Disney has to offer, the old-school Hollywood feel of the park makes its a classic addition to our holiday happenings.
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The inclusion of a new hoilday-themed event is fantastic, with special guests like Kermit and Miss Piggy. However visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Hollywood Tower Hotel courtyard, or Pixar Place on an evening when party events like the Latin Street Fair of Jollywood Nights isn’t happening, Hollywood Studios has a ton to offer, sometimes, even snow! So, don’t overlook this holiday event or park as you travel to Walt Disney World this Christmas season. If you’re hoping to land tickets for Jollywood Nights, you’re going to want to act fast, as crowds indicate it will only get more popular as we approach the big day!
