Disney Jollywood Nights is a tough ticket Christmas occasion with particular vacation leisure, meals & beverage, and grownup environment at Walt Disney World. This critiques our expertise with the get together, protecting shiny spots and what went unsuitable. We’ll additionally handle whether or not it’s well worth the cash, how a lot you’ll be able to accomplish, and my step-by-step expertise. (Up to date June 5, 2024.)
Earlier than we get all the way down to brass tacks with the assessment and what went unsuitable (and proper!), let’s begin with primary background. Disney Jollywood Nights was the brand-new individually ticketed, limited-capacity Christmas get together from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on 10 choose nights. It debuted final yr at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with ticket costs starting from $159 to $179 per particular person.
Jollywood Nights is billed by Walt Disney World as being a “glam vacation get together” and a “swanky Hollywood bash crammed with merriment, music and spirited good occasions.” The adult-focused occasion promised a extra refined vacation vibe, sights of glowing décor, sounds of contemporary beats over traditional vacation songs, tastes of craft cocktails and decadent dishes. Disney Jollywood Nights is nostalgic and it’s glitz and glam galore. These are all ways in which Walt Disney World itself marketed the occasion.
June 5, 2024 Replace: Whether or not Disney Jollywood Nights returned for Christmas 2024 was an open query. After the opening evening meltdown final yr, there was hypothesis that it’d be (one other) one and accomplished. Nevertheless, a variety of adjustments have been made to tweak the occasion for subsequent nights and salvage the season. (See Walt Disney World Made Main Adjustments & Added Uncommon Characters to Disney Jollywood Nights.)
We have been completely satisfied to listen to that friends who attended subsequent nights didn’t report the identical points with traces, crowds, or different operational issues. As an entire, their expertise sounds prefer it was considerably smoother and people critiques are far more optimistic than this one in consequence.
Quick-forward to this summer season, and Walt Disney World has posted casting requires the performers within the stage exhibits at Disney Jollywood Nights. One in every of these particularly references the get together, however it additionally reads prefer it was copy & pasted from final yr’s casting name (it nonetheless refers back to the get together as brand-new). As such, we’re not treating this as totally official affirmation that Disney Jollywood Nights is returning for 2024. There’s nonetheless an outdoor probability that the stage exhibits are coming again in a reworked or reimagined occasion.
Regardless, this confirms {that a} Christmas get together materially resembling Disney Jollywood Nights will probably be held at Hollywood Studios for Christmas 2024. Whether or not it’s known as Disney Jollywood Nights or one thing completely different and the way it differs from final yr’s occasion all stays to be seen.
For now, right here’s our assessment of the inaugural Disney Jollywood Nights…
Twilight Soirée on the Tip High Membership – Walt Disney World advertises this as a swingin’ celebration within the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Lodge. Right here, you’ll be able to sip cocktails and unwind in model whereas a dwell band swoons and croons vacation tunes.
The primary of two expectations versus actuality misses, that is like advertising and marketing a swingin’ soiree with swoonin’ and fashionable croonin’ solely to have the Driving Crooner be the leisure. Sure, it might be objectively superior to see the Driving Crooner, however is that actually what was promised. You certain about that?
On this case, the band was nice and gave a charming performances. If all you needed to do was watch them, and that was the case for me, what Walt Disney World supplied was arguably adequate. As an lively expertise, this was a bit lifeless, which I assume is considerably becoming for an otherworldly soiree.
With that mentioned, I feel it might be a tricky process to truly flip this right into a swinging soiree–what number of Walt Disney World friends are literally going to decorate the half and dance? I don’t know, however I’m guessing the reply is “not sufficient to provide this the proper vibe.” The factor is, we don’t know as a result of the setup didn’t facilitate something however standing round in a cramped viewing space.
This doesn’t even start to handle the bar state of affairs right here, which was a primary drinks served from a glorified outside merchandising cart that had a 30+ minute estimated wait. (I say estimated as a result of the road moved at a glacial tempo–certainly one of our pals was in it, however bailed after making zero progress after quarter-hour.) The excellent news, I assume, is that it needs to be fairly straightforward to successfully double capability by bringing a second ODV again right here earlier than the second get together.
Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby – This iconic restaurant transforms right into a limited-capacity clean jazz joint the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in vacation music, craft cocktails and an unique menu of sunshine bites in a complicated setting.
Disney additionally beforehand described Jazzy Holidays on the Brown Derby as being impressed by New York Metropolis piano bars. The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant was to be was a sing-along piano bar with a piano and accompanying singer, performing songs from the ’20s, ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. The area was to be reworked into “a swinging speakeasy get together such as you’ve by no means seen, one thing you might solely discover in an enormous metropolis.” Usually a desk service restaurant, the area was to be arrange otherwise and embody a number of bars.
Virtually none of that occurred. Jazzy Holidays did have a pianist, that half is true. And his piano did have garland on it, so verify the field for adornment (singular) within the Brown Derby! That was actually it. Though nitpicky, one other odd alternative was to play Disney music in equal quantities as vacation songs.
In the event you occurred to time Jazzy Holidays poorly and be seated proper after a set ended, you won’t even understand something particular was occurring, as no Christmas music–not even a background loop–was enjoying in the course of the downtime.
Though the competitors is fierce, this in all probability is the largest disappointment of Jollywood Nights just by advantage of the time dedication, problem in accessing the area, and expectations vs. actuality. No offense to the musician, who was gifted and gave nice performances, however one man doesn’t make a speakeasy get together until that fella’s identify is Jay Gatsby.
The one silver lining right here is that I did buy meals (not desirous to be impolite) and the sliders have been unbelievable. However that’s not sufficient to justify doing Jazzy Holidays. Save your self the stress and time, and skip this.
Environment – Past the 2 limited-capacity choices underwhelming, the largest misfire of Disney Jollywood Nights for me was the vibe. One of many issues we routinely discuss up about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering is the distinctive ambiance–our favourite factor in regards to the occasion is just being there.
Seeing the snowfall on Predominant Road, listening to Jolly Outdated Saint Nicholas in Fantasyland, having fun with the moody lighting and particular projections, free-roaming characters having enjoyable–all of it simply places a smile on my face. And that’s not simply nostalgia speaking. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering has mastered its temper, and that’s an enormous purpose why so many individuals love that get together.
In contrast, a number of areas of Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt like full ghost cities. And never in a great way. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was so desolate that Solid Members have been virtually begging friends to enter Oga’s Cantina. Toy Story Land had nearly nothing happening for Disney Jollywood Nights. The 2 hottest elements of the park supplied nothing.
Even lands that ostensibly have been collaborating in Disney Jollywood Nights have been fairly unhappy. We don’t usually spend a lot time in Animation Courtyard–as a result of why would we?!–and this occasion was a great reminder of that. It felt like a useless mall making an attempt to reinvent itself by including a Spirit Halloween Christmas. The Commissary Lane “get together” was not fairly as unhappy, but additionally nothing particular and really low-energy. Ditto Pixar Place.
Echo Lake was a shiny spot, however not due to Disney Jollywood Nights–it’s at all times a sleeper in the course of the vacation season. Identical goes for Sundown Boulevard, however that’s as a result of nearly all the substantive choices have been on this space of the park.
Solely small pockets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt like they have been open for enterprise, a lot much less actively celebrating Christmas. Once more, this can be a common ole DHS drawback, however it’s amplified while you cut back the park capability and fake there’s a celebration occurring. It simply didn’t have the power.
Journey Wait Occasions – Except Slinky Canine Sprint and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, each attraction gave the impression to be a close to walk-on. Slinky Canine Sprint did have a line (possibly ~10-15 minute precise wait till the final hour) and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance used a digital queue earlier than breaking down for a bit.
I didn’t do any rides as a result of quick length of the occasion, however this was undoubtedly a shiny spot of Disney Jollywood Nights. Because of variations in demographics and folks steering away from among the underwhelming choices, I’d count on attraction waits to extend throughout subsequent occasions. They nonetheless ought to be manageable and much better than a traditional day, although.
Disney Holidays in Hollywood – That is an all-new stage present impressed by the glitz and glamour of classic Hollywood TV specials—with a recent twist and a few vacation magic—at Theater of the Stars, Disney’s personal Hollywood Bowl-inspired venue.
In line with the corporate, Holidays in Hollywood is an opportunity to see the vacations by way of a contemporary lens on this star-studded collection of jolly vignettes. Holidays in Hollywood options appearances from particular visitor stars, together with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse—accompanied by a gifted solid of singers, dancers and jazz musicians.
I completely beloved Holidays in Hollywood! A lot in order that I want I might’ve seen it greater than as soon as. The performances have been unbelievable, and though I’d’ve beloved extra Muppets, everybody else was unbelievable. Particularly, dancing Minnie and Mickey Mouse did an outstanding job. Throughout unbelievable choreography, music, staging–every part.
I do want Disney gave extra room for the classic Hollywood TV particular framing gadget room to “breathe.” This was a unbelievable concept, and an amazing nod to the old-fashioned model of the Disney MGM Studios, however it didn’t fairly totally click on. (So maybe completely consistent with the OG park’s method!) I additionally perceive that Disney solely desires stage exhibits to be so lengthy, and this was already actually meaty.
I’d put Holidays in Hollywood in the identical tier because the Hocus Pocus or Very Merriest stage exhibits on the Halloween and Christmas events in Magic Kingdom. It will in all probability be #3 on that record, however it’s a detailed name. Regardless, being in the identical league as these is a win.
What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Sing-Alongside – In line with the corporate, this can be a probability to affix Jack Skellington at Hyperion Theater for a dreamlike journey impressed by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas.
Sing together with the Pumpkin King to beloved songs from the movie as you observe 2 pals on a larger-than-life journey. You’ll uncover the peculiar magic of marvel in unlikely locations, conquer the Oogie Boogie man himself and keep curious when issues usually are not fairly as they appear.
On condition that I’m a really cool (allegedly) grownup man over the age of 12 years previous, I’ve zero use for sing-alongs. I don’t get the choice to make a extremely prime quality present…after which flip it right into a sing-along. It will be like if Cirque du Soleil, for some purpose, known as on the viewers to carry out the acrobatics.
A few of you would possibly love sing-alongs for no matter purpose–high-quality, that’s your prerogative–however judging by the close to silence of the viewers throughout my displaying, my viewpoint is seemingly the prevailing one.
With that caveat, What’s This? was means higher than it had any proper to be. The silent performers have been unbelievable, seeing the Jack Skellington puppet in a theater setting is superior, and Oogie Boogie stole the present. What’s This? ended up being the nice shock of the occasion for me. It wasn’t nearly as good as Holidays in Hollywood, however I anticipated to like that. As somebody who hates sing-alongs and is detached to all issues Tim Burton, I used to be stunned to take pleasure in this a lot.
What’s This? additionally underscores that there’s simply as a lot at Disney Jollywood Nights for youths as for adults. Of the worthwhile choices, the argument may very well be made that this occasion was really extra kid-friendly than adult-oriented.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! – This nighttime spectacular returns to Hollywood Studios solely throughout Disney Jollywood Nights. In line with the corporate, it options heartwarming vacation moments from favourite Disney movies are delivered to life on the façade of the park’s iconic Chinese language Theater. It’s a shocking show of fireworks, lasers, lights, projections and merry music.
I’m not the world’s greatest Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM fan. I don’t like it or hate it, however I do suppose it’s extremely lame that: 1) this present wasn’t introduced again for normal day by day operations the final couple of years, and; 2) a brand new nighttime spectacular wasn’t created that higher match the occasion. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM appears like an afterthought. It’s as if Disney knew the above choices weren’t sufficient, so that they recycled an previous present and tacked it on.
Occasion Particular Meals & Drinks – There are eating areas all through Disney’s Hollywood Studios promoting party-exclusive meals and drinks. There have been really numerous these choices, as you’ll be able to see from the Full Meals Information & Restaurant Reservation Data for the Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering.
As famous above, I used to be in a position to pattern among the gadgets served at Disney Jollywood Nights. Most of it didn’t wow me, particularly not the Dinosaur Gertie cookie (I can’t consider individuals stood in line ~half-hour for that). With that mentioned, I additionally wasn’t there for the meals–it was an already quick occasion and I figured that will eat up an excessive amount of time.
Too A lot Friction – It may be potential to learn the above and say that it sounds rather a lot like After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And maybe that’s a good level. Having accomplished After Hours at DHS, I feel even that has a greater power than Disney Jollywood Nights, with the park feeling principally alive due to a mixture of friends, characters, and free refreshment spots higher distributed all through the park.
Regardless, the important thing distinction between the respective occasions is friction. We’ve advisable Disney After Hours prior to now as a result of it’s a quasi-VIP occasion that removes all friction from the common expertise and provides friends the run of the park. Wanting doing a VIP tour, it makes individuals really feel particular.
Throughout After Hours, you don’t must hassle with reserving Lightning Lanes, Cell Order, or any of the obstacles that usually get in the best way of an amazing day at DHS. Stroll as much as an ODV and also you’re handed free* gentle drinks, ice cream, popcorn, and so forth. (*Included with admission.) That’s not true at Jollywood Nights.
No Contingency Plans (Out of date?) – Disney Jollywood Nights is held in Florida, a spot recognized for its famously dry local weather. Oh wait. Clearly, Walt Disney World can’t be blamed for the climate. There was a variety of rain within the final hour of evening one, and that impacts sure issues. That’s unavoidable, and it additionally occurs in day by day operations.
Much less excusable is having no plan for rain and simply, I assume, hoping for the perfect. There have been a bunch of meet & greets with uncommon characters, all of which have been held outdoor in open air. When the rain got here down, they left and have been accomplished for the remainder of the evening. Character meet & greets are already low capability and several other had hour-plus waits, however that was worsened by them being unavailable for the final hour. Identical goes for the leisure that was additionally outdoor and in addition not relocated.
Disney Jollywood Nights was already too quick to perform an affordable quantity of its substantive choices, and it actually didn’t assist that one-quarter of the get together’s distinctive choices didn’t occur for essentially the most half. What would the plan have been if rain began within the first hour of the occasion? Think about how packed the few issues that have been indoors would’ve been then!
Lengthy Strains & Logistics (Out of date) – From an operational perspective, nearly every part that might’ve gone unsuitable in the course of the first evening of Disney Jollywood Nights did go unsuitable. It was an entire meltdown–chaos, crowds, and confusion. Solid Members didn’t know the way sure venues would function or gave incorrect data, lengthy traces fashioned for just about something unique to the occasion, and a too-high share of paying friends left upset and underwhelmed, spending extra time ready than doing.
What’s most irritating about that is that it was simply foreseeable. In the event you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to revisit Why You Ought to NOT Do Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering. Except for three paragraphs written within the rapid aftermath of the occasion, that publish was penned again in June. It reads as fairly prescient now, however truthfully, it actually isn’t that exceptional.
Particularly, it mentioned how logistical failures play out on a constant and predictable at Walt Disney World, rapid purple flags I noticed with this occasion, and the way it was a possible good storm of issues. That it might be not possible for Walt Disney World to undertaking demand dynamics, crowdflow, and the logistics of the various transferring items.
It irritates me to no finish that, from the skin trying in, I can determine these items inside days of an occasion being introduced–with out the good thing about inside data. But Walt Disney World can’t do the identical with months of conferences and planning and no matter it’s that they do.
I’m only one dude on the web. They’ve lots of of individuals engaged on this. The distinction is that I’ve been attending Walt Disney World occasions for over a decade, and have discovered rather a lot from the great, unhealthy and ugly of these. (I truthfully marvel what number of occasions Villains Unleashed got here up of their inside conferences, or if nobody remains to be at Walt Disney World who labored on that debacle.)
My Evening in a Nutshell
My crew was laser-focused on becoming a member of the digital queue for Jazzy Holidays at Brown Derby to start out the occasion. Having been across the block with Walt Disney World, we knew this was going to be a critical subject. And it was. Regardless, velocity technique labored and we scored spots within the digital queue for this intimate lounge.
We additionally knew that the ten minute estimated wait despatched out to everybody within the digital queue was full nonsense and 100% the results of a system concurrently servicing so many simultaneous requests. Not my first rodeo with Disney IT, both. Accordingly, we made an instantaneous beeline to Twilight Soiree on the Tip High Membership moderately than ready for Jazzy Holidays to type itself out.
We have been among the many first friends outdoors the Tower of Terror reward store, and had a entrance row spot for the primary set of the band that carried out on stage. After watching their full set, we went to the Theater of the Stars for the Holidays in Hollywood present. Proper as seating for this started, we have been known as again to Brown Derby presenting the dilemma of whether or not to bounce or hope they’d seat us late for Jazzy Holidays.
Our calculation was that many different friends can be in the identical boat as us and, if this have been a daily digital queue, late arrivals can be accommodated. If we have been unsuitable, oh effectively, we’d miss Jazzy Holidays. We returned to Brown Derby instantly after the present, and have been right–we have been seated after a brief wait.
At Brown Derby, we ordered virtually instantly and in addition requested our checks when the meals arrived. We managed to see many of the pianist’s full set, however our expertise with Jazzy Holidays at Brown Derby was most undoubtedly rushed. It’s fairly uncommon to have a counter service meal that shortly, not to mention Signature Restaurant!
Following that, I did a fast lap of the park to take a look at every part else that I hadn’t seen. Me being me, I obtained distracted taking pictures, and needed to (actually) run to the final displaying of What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Sing-Alongside. I arrived 2 minutes earlier than showtime, and the road was reduce like a dozen friends after me. Phew.
As I exited the sing-along, it began sprinkling. I headed over to Animation Courtyard to catch the final set of the characters there. By the point I arrived, it had was a torrential downpour. The ultimate ~45 minutes of the evening have been kind of washed out, as there have been no contingency plans for the party-specific leisure choices. I went from racing round for first few hours to just about simply standing round to finish the occasion.
Actually, I didn’t have a horrible expertise at Disney Jollywood Nights. An excessive amount of of it was a letdown for me, personally, however my evening went means higher than the typical friends with whom I spoke on the bus journey again to the resort and in the course of the days that adopted. I additionally acknowledge that I knew what to anticipate (and worry!), and that enormously knowledgeable my decisions to attenuate issues. This assessment is from the attitude of a mean attendee, who wouldn’t have recognized to make the identical decisions as me. (If everybody did what I did, my method wouldn’t have labored!)
The place Disney Jollywood Nights Goes From Right here
Lastly, we wish to shortly focus on the place Disney Jollywood Nights goes from right here for these attending the occasion this yr. The excellent news is that Walt Disney World is aware of there’s an issue, and that this occasion didn’t go as deliberate.
However that doesn’t imply they’ve an answer. Once more, all of this was straightforward to foresee, which is exactly why we wrote an article pointing to potential pitfalls again in June. That Walt Disney World was caught flat-footed demonstrates a disappointing lack of institutional data and reminiscence, in addition to a failure of creativeness.
Fortunately, there are some low-hanging fruit fixes—extra bartenders, totally staffing the occasion, having contingency plans for rain. Nevertheless, there’s rather a lot that it’s tough to think about will get addressed till 2024. The vibe of Disney Jollywood Nights isn’t abruptly going to vary, empty lands received’t abruptly have leisure, and so they aren’t going to flesh out the substance of something.
Finally, it’s tough for us to advocate Disney Jollywood Nights as-is to the typical visitor on the lookout for a Christmas time particular occasion. There are area of interest circumstances the place it may need attraction, however even these are a bit far fetched given all the ready and timing. Our view is that this occasion shouldn’t be well worth the cash, and if you realize us, you realize we’re large suckers for Walt Disney World particular occasions.
Except you’re okay with an After Hours occasion (minus the free meals) and possibly a little bit of Christmas leisure, it is best to persist with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering this yr. The Magic Kingdom occasion has really gotten higher this yr due to decrease crowds, making it the straightforward advice for us.
Ending this assessment on a optimistic word, Disney Jollywood Nights does have potential and I’m really optimistic about its future. As foolish as that may sound after the majority of this assessment, hear me out. The bones of this occasion–the issues that price some huge cash to develop and are the largest attracts–are unbelievable. Bits and items are actually good, and there are kernels of nice concepts which can be simply incomplete and wish extra time (and cash) to incubate.
The artistic facet of Disney Jollywood Nights (effectively, minus Ollie…unsure what they have been pondering there) is basically unbelievable. The 2 stage exhibits have been excellent, and may very well be wonderful with minor tweaks. The animating concepts behind each of the lounges are good, they simply must be fleshed out and given more healthy budgets.
For essentially the most half, it was the operational facet that fell aside, and all of that’s fixable. I’m extremely assured that there’s a worthwhile occasion buried in Jollywood Nights, and I really hope the great concepts and leisure dwell on to a brand new iteration of a Christmas get together at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Regardless, I’d count on Disney Jollywood Nights to return in 2024. Presumably with a distinct identify if the present ‘model’ is deemed too poisonous, and hopefully in expanded type and even rebranded as an After Hours occasion (with free refreshments!). Walt Disney World clearly invested some huge cash in growing and advertising and marketing Jollywood Nights, and I can’t think about it’ll break even after a single yr. Right here’s hoping they repair the issue factors and the brand new or reworked occasion is healthier for Christmas 2024!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you have to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever attended Disney Jollywood Nights? In that case, what was your expertise? After studying critiques, will you buy get together tickets for Disney Jollywood Nights? Assume the potential positives outweigh the negatives, or vice-versa? What has you excited in regards to the occasion? What has you involved? In the event you’re planning to attend, will you achieve this as an alternative of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering or along with it? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
