Is Jollywood Nights the Event for You?

Disney’s latest special-ticketed holiday event has enormous potential.

This year, Disney debuted a fresh new event at Hollywood Studios to celebrate the holiday season with glitz, glamour, and jazz.

Jollywood Nights invites guests to dress to the nines as they sip shimmering cocktails and enjoy entertainment inspired by Old Hollywood. Similar to other special ticketed events, attendees are treated to low wait times for attractions, character meets and exclusive menus to taste their way through the evening.

The inaugural season of Jollywood Nights will wrap in the coming weeks, and amidst the rollercoaster of reviews….we decided to check it out for ourselves.

MVT Sales Manager Holly attended the event on November 20th with her teenage daughter, while my husband and I opted for a parent’s night out on December 4th.

Jollywood Nights takes over Disney’s Hollywood Studios park for ten nights, from November 11-December 20, 2023.

The event runs from 8:30PM-12:30AM, and ticket-holders can enter as early as 7PM to get a head start on rides or dining before day guests exit the park. Once you check in and are outfitted with your event wristband and lanyard, you’re free to do as you please.

We were impressed by how many guests leaned into the theme of the evening, with sequined evening gowns and dinner jackets floating up and down Sunset Boulevard.

The park’s holiday decorations added to the glamorous vibe of the event as well. Glittering lights, tinsel and ornaments are draped around lampposts and trees, and even Gertie is dressed in her festive best.

The stage shows were the clear star of Jollywood Nights.

After opening night, many hailed event-exclusive shows the highlights of the night. Each of the stage shows were run hourly, so you have plenty of chances to watch, versus a single performance at some other holiday parties.

Miss Piggy, Kermit, Tiana and Belle join an incredibly talented ensemble of singers and dancers to bring to life classic holiday music inspired by Disney favorite films. The big band transports you to the golden age of Hollywood, with the added charm of beloved Disney characters. Hosted at the Theater of the Stars, there’s really no bad seat in the house, but be sure to head over early as it filled up fast.

Over at the Hyperion Theater, Jack Skellington welcomed us to sing along to the recognizable tunes from The Nightmare Before Christmas. This was an interesting experience – not many sang along, but the show’s dream sequence theme was well-executed and oh-so entertaining. Cheers roared for the larger-than-life Jack puppet and the dancing feet of Oogie Boogie, who gave new energy to the musical skill of Danny Elfman.

We were equally impressed with the interpreters at this show. Leave it to Disney to showcase such energetic Cast Members to make sure ALL guests felt included.

Over at the Twilight Soirée in the Tower Courtyard, we all agreed that the jazz band was a major highlight of the evening. Classic holiday tunes performed by a glam crooning singer set an incredible mood… especially when paired with shimmering cocktails.

The evening is rounded out with the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular. While not a new show, it’s a colorful way to close out the event in front of the Chinese theater, complete with lasers, fireworks and holiday music inspired by Disney films.

A big difference between Jollywood Nights and similar ticketed events was the lack of “inclusions.”

While they aren’t included in the ticket price, event-exclusive treats and drinks were delicious – especially the Naughty or Nice cocktail over at the Dockside Diner. The lines for these event treats were hearty, so you will want to take a peek at menus ahead of time so you can prioritize the bites you want to try most!

If you’re of age and DO choose to indulge in a drink, we recommend picking up one of the fluted cocktails at the Twilight Soirée, getting your photo taken and sipping as you listen to the band.

We didn’t get a chance to check out Jazzy Holidays at Hollywood Brown Derby, but it looked to be an intimate, festive way to dine in the park if you’re willing to spend the event time.

Outside of food and drink, there are certainly benefits to being in the park for a special event like this one.

For both Holly and myself, wait times were exceptionally low throughout the evening. We walked right onto rides that would otherwise require a Lightning Lane to make it worth your while. In fact, many areas were so low on crowds that it felt like you had the park to yourself. Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land were especially light, meaning you could walk into Oga’s Canteen or onto Slinky Dog Dash essentially as you pleased.

A party perk we nearly overlooked was the PhotoPass services… and boy were we glad for it! We’re not typically dolled up to stroll around the parks, so it was a lovely change of pace to document the occasion with professional photos. Party guests have access to any PhotoPass images taken for the duration of the event, sent right to your My Disney Experience app.

Lines for photos moved quickly, even those for character meets, which typically eat up a good chunk of event time. We happened upon several photo spots and were able to get some shots that we otherwise wouldn’t wait for, or ask a stranger to take for us.

If characters ARE high on your list, you’ll get some unique interactions at Jollywood Nights. Powerline Max, Rescue Rangers Chip ‘n’ Dale, Phineas and Ferb, Edna Mode, Frozone and the sensational six in unique party attire are all in attendance, ready to meet you and smile for the camera.

As we left the gates at the end of the night, Cast Members were ready to send us home with a set of coasters to commemorate the event. As a big “merch girl,” I was excited to have a token to remember our first Jollywood Nights.

Both Holly and I, as well as our “dates” for the evening agreed that this event is excellent for the right guests.

This event celebrates foodie treats and drinks, many of which will only appeal (or be available) to adults. There are several nonalcoholic “mocktail” options, but the stars of the show might not be appropriate for all ages.

Along the same lines, this event starts at 8:30, so you and your group will want to be ready for a late night. If you have youngtsers who normally go to bed early, you may want to plan for a babysitter and enjoy an adults only night out.

Both Holly and I recommend eating your dinner before the party starts. The event-exclusive menus are unique and tasty, but lines can be lengthy and the food is more cocktail-style. Try to get an in-park dining reservation or plan on a quick service meal before checking in for your wristbands and lanyards to make the most of your time at the party.

We all agreed that the Cast Members and entertainment were high points of the evening. So much so that we feel the stage shows could have been showcased even more to amp up the energy of the night. We would love to see even more live entertainment, especially in a more central spot, like the end of Hollywood Boulevard, to tie the different activities together and energize the whole party.

At the end of the day, none of us regretted experiencing Jollywood Nights during its first year. There is so much potential to this event, and we hope to see Disney turn up the volume even more for 2024. In the meantime, we’ll keep wearing our sequins and sipping bubble to jazzy holiday tunes… even if it’s just from our living rooms.