My 2024 Disney Jollywood Nights Experience

In 2023, a new after hours holiday event debuted at Walt Disney World, Disney Jollywood Nights. At first, there were complaints, but Disney listened and turned things around. I went on the final night and had a blast. I was excited when I learned that Disney Jollywood Nights was returning in 2024.

Disney Jollywood Nights is supposed to represent the glitz and glamor of the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s a more grown-up event than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, although there is still plenty for all ages. Unlike Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it isn’t oversold and wall to wall people. I hope that the number of tickets sold continues to be limited in years to come, because the low crowd level is definitely a plus for Jollywood.

My daughter and I attended Disney Jollywood Nights on Saturday, November 30. It was a cold evening, but many people still dressed in their glamorous best. I am not a fan of dressing up, but I did for this! You’ll see a mix of everything at Disney Jollywood Nights. If you want to attend wearing your regular “theme park clothes”, go ahead. If you prefer to dress to the nines, go for it! There was a little bit of everything in between, including Christmas sweaters and pajamas. Wear whatever you’ll have fun with, but check the forecast first. By the end of the night, the temperature was 51 degrees, and we saw several groups in shorts and t-shirts who were obviously regretting their choice.

One of the main draws of Disney Jollywood Nights is that there are tons of characters, including some who are hard to find. Others are dressed in their holiday best. My daughter and I decided that characters were our top priority, especially Santa Duffy. I still don’t forgive Disney for removing Duffy from Epcot, so seeing him again was must-do.

Disney Jollywood Nights officially starts at 7:30, but you can enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 6:00 with your ticket. When we arrived we walked around a bit, then got in line for Santa Duffy. It was the longest line we waited in all night, but I’m glad we got in it early. Duffy is indoors this year, in It’s a Wonderful Shop. It’s fairly well marked. The meet and greet area is well decorated (it’s where Santa greets during the day), and Duffy was awesome. He took time with each person who came through, we weren’t rushed at all. It only took one character picture for me to feel that it was all worth it!

Of course, we met with plenty more characters. They’re listed in the guide that they’ll give you when you enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios. One thing I liked this year is that the classics doubled up. Mickey and Minnie were together, as were Donald and Daisy, and Pluto and Goofy. That was three fewer lines to wait in.

Speaking of pictures, your PhotoPass downloads are included with your Disney Jollywood Nights ticket. The watermark might still be on them during the event, but that should go away the following day. If it doesn’t, contact Disney. Remember, though, that the included PhotoPass doesn’t count on any pictures that are taken before 7:30.

There is plenty of extra entertainment at Disney Jollywood Nights. We ran out of time (five hours flies by!) and skipped What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along. We did stop by both Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club and Holiday Fiesta en la Calle for a little while. They both had a party atmosphere, even though they’re very different. Disney Holidays in Hollywood was just as much fun this year as last year. Who doesn’t love seeing The Muppets and Mickey and Minnie in the same show!

Disney Jollywood Nights moved the fireworks show Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! to 10:00 this year, which was smart. Midnight was just too late for it! Although we watched it, I’m not a fan of Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!, I don’t think it’s up to Disney fireworks standards. It also doesn’t fit with the Hollywood glamour theme of Disney Jollywood Nights. That said, we still watched it, because fireworks that I’m not a fan of are better than no fireworks at all, right?

I also wasn’t impressed with Pixar Disco. It’s a character dance party in Pixar Plaza. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but it wasn’t special. It was also pretty crowded, at least when we went by.

We didn’t buy any of the special foods or merchandise at Disney Jollywood Nights. The merch line was long at the beginning of the evening, and I honestly forgot to go back. We also didn’t ride anything. I did check Wait Times throughout the evening and they were low. At one point we walked through an empty Galaxy’s Edge.

New this year is Glisten!, an ice skating show. The final performance of the evening was at 12:15, and we decided that would be the perfect way to end a great night. For the most part, I enjoyed Glisten!. Some of the tricks were better than I expected at a theme park! My only problem with Glisten! was some of the music. Singing and skating to On the First Day of Jollywood made sense and was fun. Be Our Guest, though? It didn’t fit in, and we didn’t need yet another Beauty and the Beast tie-in. We have enough of those at Walt Disney World.

When leaving Disney Jollywood Nights each guest is given a small box with champagne-flavored marshmallows. I don’t have much to say about this, except that it’s the thought that counts. I guess.

A special shout-out to the Cast Members who worked so hard the entire evening. Many of them are in the Disney College Program. Most of them seemed to be having a great time, and they were friendly and helpful. I don’t think we encountered one Cast Member who didn’t want to be there the entire night. That’s rare lately.

For the second year in a row I loved Disney Jollywood Nights. If it returns next year I’ll be there! Even though my daughter and I had a full evening, we still didn’t have enough time. If you love characters, low crowds, glitz, glamour, and the holidays, most likely you’ll enjoy Disney Jollywood Nights. I think its sophomore year is a success.