Jollywood Nights is a Christmas party at Hollywood Studios. Our guide to the event covers likely 2025 dates & details for Walt Disney World’s newest hard ticket event, entertainment & attractions info, character meet & greets, a comparison to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, and more.
Let’s start with the basic details about Disney Jollywood Nights (DJN). This event will be held on select nights in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS), offering a more refined holiday vibe, sights of sparkling décor, sounds of modern beats over classic holiday songs, tastes of craft cocktails and decadent dishes, selfies with rare characters, and stunning stage shows & spectaculars. Disney Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed, limited-capacity holiday event on 13 select nights from November 8, 2025 through December 22, 2025.
You can get holly and jolly for five festive hours from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. during DJN. While dates have been announced and tickets go on sale soon, not everything about the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Party has been revealed. If you want to be notified when more details about the 2025 event are released, subscribe to our FREE Disney email newsletter for news & updates. For now, here’s everything you need to know about Jollywood Nights…
As noted above, Disney Jollywood Nights takes place from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM. These are the event hours, when the park is closed to day guests and requires special event tickets. During this time, you can see special entertainment, meet characters, and otherwise enjoy the unique party offerings
Jollywood Nights special event ticketholders will be admitted to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as early as 5:30 PM (that’s 30 minutes earlier than last year) on the valid date of their ticket. This early entry period is known as mix-in, because the park is open to both regular guests and event ticket holders during that time.
These date-specific event tickets do not require an additional day theme park ticket or theme park reservation. Note that the event hours and mix-in time differ from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which allows guests to enter Magic Kingdom earlier.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Christmas party. Party dates & ticket prices for Disney Jollywood Nights are:
- November 8, 2025 – $169
- November 15, 2025 – $169
- November 17, 2025 – $159
- November 22, 2025 – $169
- November 24, 2025 – $179
- November 29, 2025 – $189
- December 1, 2025 – $179
- December 6, 2025 – $189
- December 10, 2025 – $189
- December 13, 2025 – $199
- December 17, 2025 – $189
- December 20, 2025 – $199
- December 22, 2025 – $199
You can buy tickets over the phone or online: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events/jollywood-nights/purchase/
For those keeping score at home, this is the same starting price as last year, and a $20 increase on the high end (previously $179). Our expectation is that those final two parties hit $199, and possibly the one during Thanksgiving week. Otherwise, the cheaper dates will be in November, with prices getting progressively more expensive deeper into December.
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket to Disney Jollywood Nights, valid for all event nights.
The opening night of Jollywood Nights on November 8, 2025 is now sold out. This happened several weeks earlier than last year, mid-October as opposed to the day before the event. Given this, it’s entirely possible that Jollywood Nights sells out faster than either of the last two years–especially if Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party keeps selling quickly and guests are left with DJN as a “consolation prize.”
Last year, Jollywood Nights only sold out four nights–November 9, plus December 7, 14 & 21. That was the first party, and 3 of the final 4. By contrast, Jollywood Nights sold out 6 nights in its inaugural year. It was a rocky road to get there, as ticket sales were initially strong but got derailed by negative night one reviews before a rebound as Disney reworked and improved the event.
It’s not surprising that the 2025 Jollywood Nights is selling better. Reviews last year were much more positive, including ours, but it takes time for word of mouth to result in improved sales. All of the tourists visiting Walt Disney World during the first party last year would’ve been basing their decision to purchase tickets (or not) based on the previous year’s negative reviews.
The same is probably true, albeit to a lesser extent, for the first few parties. Vacation planners are largely making itinerary and upcharge decisions weeks to months in advance, not at the absolute last minute. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if last year’s ticket sales were a reflection of inaugural year reviews, and 2025 sales will reflect last year’s much more glowing reviews.
As we’ve seen with After Hours and other parties, it takes time for these events to gain traction. In the case of Jollywood Nights, in particular, mixed reviews haven’t helped–and the party probably will need a good 5 years before it cultivates a fan following.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if the party still hasn’t broken even, as the development costs were probably significant. Still, some special events have underperformed expectations to the point that Walt Disney World pulled the plug prematurely. We’re happy to not see that happening with Jollywood Nights.
Point being, if you want to attend the 2025 Jollywood Nights, you probably shouldn’t wait until the absolute minute to buy tickets. While tickets will still sell slower than MVMCP, we wouldn’t be surprised to see every single date of Jollywood Nights sell out this year–and not simply same-day.
There aren’t nearly as many DJN dates, so you may only have one option during your Walt Disney World vacation. November dates are set for select Saturdays and Mondays, while December dates fall on select Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Also be advised that the November 8, 2025 Jollywood Nights is before Christmas officially starts at Walt Disney World, which is something to keep in mind if you’re planning a trip. You won’t see the daily entertainment that’s included in admission until the following Friday.
We’ve attended both of the first two years of Disney Jollywood Nights are happy to report that last year was a massive improvement over the inaugural season of the new Christmas party. To help you decide whether to buy tickets, it’s worth reading last year’s Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Party Review: Wow, What a Difference a Year Makes!
Suffice to say, last year was a massive improvement over the inaugural event. The first night ever were absolutely atrocious. It made Madame Web sound good by comparison. If you’re curious for whatever reason, our experience at the inaugural night of the event is covered in Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Party Review: Good, Bad & Ugly. That’s now obsolete for planning purposes since so many changes were made.
Walt Disney World management and entertainment teams deserve kudos for taking the negative year one reviews panning the party to heart, and making major changes for its second season. From a planning perspective, we also have a 1-Night Disney Jollywood Nights Itinerary, if you already know all about the event, don’t need an overview, and just want tips & tricks.
What’s New for 2025
Walt Disney World has revealed a few new bites, experiences, and characters to look forward to at the 2025 Jollywood Nights:
- New Characters: Miguel, Partysaurus Rex, Life Day Chewbacca, Bing Bong and more (see full character list below)
- Enter the park earlier than before, at 5:30 p.m. before Jollywood Nights starts
- Enjoy two new shows, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After”
- Snack on the new Backlot Express Restaurant specialty menu (presumably to replace PizzeRizzo, which filled that role last year but is now closed for Monstropolis construction)
- A new Jollywood Nights merch collection
Guests attending Jollywood Nights in 2025 will be given a keepsake ornament as they leave the event.
The ornament has retro-inspired details, including Mickey and Minnie gift boxes sitting on top of the frame. The ornament is also a frame, perfect for your photo with Duffy from the party!
This isn’t the first party favor given to guests as they leave Jollywood Nights. Last year, the parting gift was champagne-flavored marshmallows. The prior year, Disney Jollywood Nights-branded wood drink coasters were distributed.
Walt Disney World has also revealed the 2025 Disney’s Jollywood Nights exclusive merchandise for purchase. Disney’s creative team behind Ollie wanted to capture the classic aesthetic of mid-century holiday cards and 1940s-1950s advertisement illustration.
This year, Walt Disney World is introducing another new merchandise collection inspired by Ollie. The product line will feature items like a Minnie Mouse ear headband, Spirit Jersey, coffee mug, ornament, and festive apparel.
My potentially unpopular opinion is that Ollie is forgettable, and comes across as trying too hard to make an original character happen. I love the idea, and welcome more unique theme park characters with open arms. There’s just nothing of substance at the event featuring the character, and we know nothing of his personality.
Is Ollie a Christmas-time cannibal who feasts on the flesh of other gingerbread men? Does he have a dark secret lurking behind those twinkly eyes? Or is he fond of telling dad jokes and watching Home Improvement re-runs? Is he innocent and pure of heart? We have no idea because all Disney has given us of Ollie is merchandise.
That’s a wrap on everything that’s new for the 2025 Disney Jollywood Nights. Here’s everything you need to know about the event…
Jollywood Nights Entertainment
Disney Jollywood Nights will be packed with entertaining shows like What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, Disney Holidays in Hollywood, and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
Starting with the latest updates, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” is returning for Jollywood Nights, taking you on a festive journey to the North Pole with the elves from “Prep & Landing.” It’ll be back with a new, earlier showtime of 10 pm (last year it was at 12:30 am). This is presumably one of several changes that has been made to make the event more family friendly.
The Chinese Theater comes alive during “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” with holiday moments from Disney favorites like “Pluto’s Christmas Tree,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” all leading up to a sparkling finale that’s “So tinsel!,” as Lanny and Wayne would say.
Last year’s big addition was “Glisten!” – An All-New Skating Spectacular.
“Glisten” is a new dazzling ice skating spectacular set to your favorite holiday tunes in the center of the park, in front of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Several times each evening, take in the grace and skill of international champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the traditional ice show.
Guess will be swept away by the grace of these skilled skaters as they perform breathtaking routines set to a vibrant holiday soundtrack including original songs and Disney favorites like “Be Our Guest” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.” Showtimes will be 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:10 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. during the 2025 Jollywood Nights.
The highlight of the Christmas party is Disney Holidays in Hollywood, a star-studded variety show in the grand tradition of Tinseltown’s most beloved holiday specials – all with a twist of today’s Hollywood magic.
Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are among the special guest stars, and there are plenty of surprises in store – including a brand-new original song by Tiana. Singers, dancers and live jazz musicians round out the talented cast of entertainers in this dazzling performance.
Jolly vignettes remind everyone that the holidays mean something special to each and every one of us. “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” will hit the stage at 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.
Jollywood Nights attendees also won’t want to miss “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along.” This show will be performed in the Hyperion Theater at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
Enter a dreamlike adventure in The Hyperion Theater where Jack Skellington takes us on an ethereal exploration of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Sing along to beloved songs from the iconic film and discover peculiar magic in unexpected places. Along the way, you’ll conquer Oogie Boogie and be encouraged to follow your curiosity.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) recognized “What’s This?” with the “Most Creative Winter Holiday Production” award at this year’s IAAPA Honors event. It beat out competitors from around the globe, including an excellent production at Universal Studios Japan. My personal view is that “What’s This?” is the second-best stage show at Jollywood Nights, but the sing-along does punch way above its weight.
Jollywood Nights Characters
Those aren’t the only characters–Disney Jollywood Nights event includes over 20 unique character experiences featuring both new and returning favorites.
Season’s Meet & Greetings at Echo Lake
- Phineas and Ferb
- Max Goof as Powerline
- Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
- Santa Stitch
- Baloo and King Louie
Pixar Plaza Pals
- Mike Wazowski
- Edna Mode
- Frozone
- Joy from “Inside Out”
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Friends
- José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros”
- Miguel from “Coco” (NEW)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Chewbacca celebrating Life Day (NEW)
Toy Story Land
- Lotso from Toy Story 3
- Partysaurus Rex (NEW)
Grand Avenue
- Goofy and Pluto
- Bing Bong from Inside Out (NEW)
Walt Disney Presents
Commissary Lane
- Donald Duck and Daisy Duck
Red Carpet Dreams
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
Don’t forget PhotoPass digital downloads are included in your event ticket!
Food is also a big part of Disney Jollywood Nights.
As with last year, there are literally dozens of cocktails, light bites, and sophisticated snacks available at the counter service and table service restaurants, as well as outdoor vending locations around the park. Last year, lines for food & beverages at the event we attended were quite long, to the point that we didn’t want to waste valuable party time to pay even more money to eat. We heard reports that lines weren’t nearly as bad for food during subsequent DJN nights, though.
See the Full Food Guide for the Jollywood Nights Christmas Party for a rundown of the items available this year.
Speaking of which, the swankiest spot during Disney Jollywood Nights is Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby. The restaurant transforms into a smooth jazz joint, playing holiday tunes amidst sparkling décor.
Here, you can sip craft cocktails and indulge in an exclusive menu of light bites while enjoying the music and ambiance of this classy establishment. Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby will return–and continue requiring a reservation due to limited space.
This is a limited-capacity experience; reservations are strongly recommended to help you plan your evening. Make your Jazzy Holidays reservation here.
Another highlight is Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club in the courtyard outside the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Walt Disney World advertises this as a swingin’ celebration in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Here, you can sip cocktails and unwind in style while a live band swoons and croons holiday tunes.
This exclusive event transports guests to a 1930s-style jazz lounge, complete with live holiday music at 7:30 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 8:50 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:10 p.m., and 11:50 p.m.
Pixar Disco lights up Pixar Place with a holly jolly dance party featuring Edna Mode, Frozone, Joy, and other Pixar favorites. Come to Pixar Place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and between 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to get moving.
For 2025, Holiday Fiesta en la Calle moves to the vibrant Coaster Courtyard on Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, offering a lively Latin-inspired holiday street fair. Soak up Latin holiday music performed by spirited musicians while enjoying colorful decorations that bring the fiesta to life.
Meet José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros,” and new this year, Miguel from “Coco” is joining in the fun. Food and drink at the Holiday Fiesta en la Calle are inspired by traditional Latin holiday flavors, with unique desserts and beverages that really capture the season’s warmth and spice.
Speaking of Coaster Courtyard, it’s back here where guests will be able to experience “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” for the first time during Jollywood Nights. This new stage show is also joined by “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” over in Animation Courtyard. Below are other attractions that’ll be open during DJN.
During last year’s Disney Jollywood Nights, guests could also enjoy after-hours access to some of your favorite rides and coasters under the stars. After-hours access to some of your favorite rides and coasters including the following:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
- The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
Note that there are several changes to this list as compared to last year, with a few of the park’s more popular rides not being open for DJN. On the plus side, both new stage shows make the list.
While subject to change (meaning they could be added later), the following attractions appear to not be part of the 2025 Jollywood Nights ride roster: Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Toy Story Mania, and Alien Swirling Saucers. Here’s hoping that changes, but our guess is that these “underperforming” attractions were cut to offset the higher operating expenses (with equity performers) of the two added stage shows.
It’s already clear that Walt Disney World is further improving Jollywood Nights, and our expectation is that it’ll be better right from night one. What that means is still unclear. Our guess is that a lot of fans will be in “wait and see” mode, awaiting early reviews before taking the plunge.
In all likelihood, dates won’t sell out until after those come in–and then there will either be a run on tickets with more dates selling out…or not…based on whether the reviews are positive or negative. Last year, demand was not as strong for Jollywood Nights as it was for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and it’s hard to imagine that changing unless there are hugely positive surprises at Disney Jollywood Nights.
If you’re a Floridian or Annual Passholder with a ton of flexibility and able to do one of the December dates for Disney Jollywood Nights, you can wait until reports come out from the first and second nights before deciding whether or not to buy tickets. No guarantees on that, but if you’re on the fence and don’t necessarily mind missing out, that’s probably what we’d recommend. (I’ll be there on opening night and will have a report ASAP afterwards.)
Disney Jollywood Nights is one of two holiday season special events at Walt Disney World. The other is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. Although both are Christmas parties with limited attendance featuring entertainment and other offerings, there are just as many differences as there are similarities between the two events.
If you’re not sure which is right for your family, we’d highly recommend reading Disney Jollywood Nights vs. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. That’s our point-by-point comparison of the characters, fireworks, entertainment, crowds, and more at each event. If budget allows, you could easily attend both and have unique and memorable experiences–that’s how little overlap there is.
That’s what we’ll be doing, but we’re also not the regular guests–we’re diehard fans who do this stuff year in and year out (and have a blog about it). If we were average Walt Disney World first-time families and could only do one, that would be Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Without a doubt.
In theory, Disney’s Hollywood Studios offering a holiday season event after park closing that serves as counterprogramming to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a great idea. But as with anything, it’s very much contingent upon execution, and what we know about Disney Jollywood Nights thus far sounds makes it more of a toss-up than a sure thing.
I do appreciate that Walt Disney World appears to be trying to do something more sophisticated. This comes across very much in the spirit of old Hollywood, and focuses more on live music, performers, and atmosphere than it does on popular characters and rides. Obviously, those latter two things will be present to round out the roster, but they are not the focus of Disney Jollywood Nights.
So even if I’m a little concerned about the execution or whether there will be enough entertainment to justify the cost of admission (and keep crowds occupied–even limited-capacity events can have issues if ticket sales exceed compelling offerings), I do have to give Walt Disney World props for trying something different and more adult. We’ve wanted to see precisely this type of thing. Here’s hoping it’s fully fleshed out and a hit right out the door. (My prediction is that this will be feast or famine–either it’ll be a huge hit with its target audience or a total trainwreck.)
Another big thing that’s worth addressing is the impact that Disney Jollywood Nights will have on crowds throughout Walt Disney World. Christmas is an incredibly busy time of year at Walt Disney World, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party already screws with crowds and attendance dynamics.
One of the bigger changes is that Disney Jollywood Nights is starting earlier, which means it’ll have more of an impact on attendance trends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…and everywhere else. One of the advantages of doing an After Hours event is that it has minimal impact on crowds since those events occur after regular park closing. Day guests thus don’t “plan around” After Hours, since it doesn’t really impact them.
Families always complain about these events with later start times, as their kids go to bed earlier. While that’s a fair perspective, there’s also the bigger-picture of how hard ticket events disrupt crowd dynamics across all of Walt Disney World. It’s a balance. Last year, Disney Jollywood Nights didn’t throw a monkey wrench into crowds like MVMCP.
As we covered ad nauseum, this very dynamic at Magic Kingdom can be leveraged to the strategic advantage of savvy guests. It’s counterintuitive strategy, but it works consistently there. That’s our go-to approach to Magic Kingdom for August through December, and it works without fail.
The problem, as noted above, is that it’s counterintuitive. Additionally, most guests are not savvy or have good reason (no Park Hopper tickets, wanting to see Happily Ever After, etc.) for not wanting to embrace the approach. The fact that the strategy does work without fail is a testament to the fact that the hard ticket events are so disruptive to attendance dynamics, and that the scheduling of MVMCP and resulting crowds create headaches.
We shall see what happens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the 7:30 p.m. start time for DJN. My guess is that it will throw a monkey wrench into daytime crowds to some extent, but not nearly as much as MVMCP. Our recommendation will probably be the opposite of Party Season in Magic Kingdom as a result, which is that day guests should avoid DHS on dates when Jollywood Nights is scheduled in the evening.
Ultimately, it sounds like Disney Jollywood Nights will end up meeting or exceeding expectations in its third season and putting its problems fully in the rearview mirror. The stage shows during last year’s party were really good–no need to mess with those in any major ways. Other concepts, like the holiday lounges were good, but overpromised and underdelivered. All of that is easily fixable.
Beyond that, there are opportunities to incorporate all of the areas of Disney’s Hollywood Studios into the event. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge could have a Life Day celebration and Toy Story Land could do something. All of the entertainment last year was concentrated in the front of the park, making the rest of DHS feel dead during Disney Jollywood Nights.
Nevertheless, it’s possible Disney Jollywood Nights is simply something that’s “not for you.” This is definitely more of a niche offering for adults, families without small children, and other demographics. It’s not attempting to be a crowd pleaser with something for everyone and iconic entertainment like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Either way, we’re both curious and cautiously optimistic. Disney Jollywood Nights improved a lot in year two, which doesn’t always happen, and we’re hopeful that 2025 will bring even more incremental upgrades! At the very least, the holiday/jolly-night party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios should put some crowds and demand away from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so that’s a win for longtime fans like me who love that time-tested event!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you attend this Christmas party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? If so, will you do it instead of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or in addition to it? What do you think about Disney Jollywood Nights? Are you excited for Christmas 2025 at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective on this? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!