Why Disney Jollywood Nights is better in 2024
If you attended Disney Jollywood Nights’ first year in 2023, or just read the many social media posts about it, you may think it was a flop. And it sort of was. But Disney heard all the complaints and improved it for 2024, in more ways than one.
Disney Jollywood Nights, an after-hours holiday party, is back for 2024 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Last year, we only attended opening night during the media preview. While there were a lot of fun things to do and see, there were also a lot of not-so-great things, from long lines to missed opportunities, a lack of characters, and things that just didn’t live up to how they were described. The general consensus was that it wasn’t worth the money and that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party over at Magic Kingdom was better. After that first night of Jollywood in 2023, things did get better, as Disney added a lot more characters, and the lines got shorter, but that was mostly because of low attendance.
Jollywood Nights has improved a lot for 2024. We also attended the media night for the first party this year. I recommend it instead of Very Merry, if you have to choose one. Here’s why.
More and rare characters than Jollywood Nights’ first year
Disney added even more characters to meet at Jollywood Nights 2024, many of them being ones guests rarely get to meet, like Clarice (the chipmunk), Duffy (Mickey’s teddy bear), and some characters from “TaleSpin.” Other characters are in rare outfits you usually don’t get to see, like Santa Stitch and Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers. (See our character guide for a full list and locations.)
Better Tip-Top
The Twilight Soirée at the Tip-Top Club — a pop-up bar themed to Tower of Terror with live music — was a disappointment last year. From the way it was described, many guests, us included, thought there would at least be some roaming characters. Well, now there are. In addition to the same wonderful band, there are some professional dancers and characters wandering around talking with guests and posting for photos.
Better Pixar area
The Pixar area at Disney Jollywood Nights was just sad last year. The characters were standing around Pixar Plaza by themselves looking sad (and Sadness wasn’t even one of them). This year it’s the Pixar Disco dance party with a DJ and many Pixar characters all around.
Improved park entry as Disney Jollywood Nights begins
Entering Hollywood Studios on the first evening of Jollywood Nights was a pain last year. People already in the park had to wait in very long lines, as did those outside. This year, we walked right up, cast members scanned our ticket then gave us a wristband, and we were in. And this was just before the event officially started. Once inside, cast members sent party guests one way while they emptied the rest of the park of day guests.
New and returning favorite Disney Jollywood Nights shows
In addition to the returning guest-favorite shows — the “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” variety show, the “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!” fireworks, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along,” all of which didn’t need improving — for 2024 Jollywood Nights added “Glisten!,” ice-skating show in the center of the park. While enjoyable, it’s not really worth waiting for. It’s nice as something to check out if it’s happening as you walk by. The professional skaters are great, but it could use some Disney on Ice infusion with a couple of characters. The projections on the “ice” are neat, but you can’t see them if you were sitting down in front. Some more interactive projections on the Chinese Theater would be great, too.
More PhotoPass
PhotoPass photos are included with your Jollywood Nights ticket and they have lots of options. From the character meet photos, to a video option, and more unique photo-ops and Magic Shots, there are more than you could probably get to.
Lots of special food and drinks just for Disney Jollywood Nights
The map provided at the event showcases 20 different foods and specialty drinks (including mocktails), and I thought that was a lot. Then I noticed that’s not everything; it’s just the highlights. Most restaurants and food stands had more than one special party item to try.
Low waits everywhere during Disney Jollywood Nights
The one thing that made the event better — and that would ruin all the other improvements if it wasn’t there — was the low crowds. We visited on a sold-out night, but there still weren’t many long lines. Some of the long lines, like the 70-minute wait to meet Santa Duffy earlier in the evening, turned into five minutes later in the night.
When looking for good things to say about Disney Jollywood Nights last year, one was that the rides had low waits, which was great if you didn’t care about the holiday stuff. But this year, everything was more enjoyable because there were low waits for everything: to get into shows, to meet characters, to get food, and to ride rides. Star Wars: Rise of Resistance was listed in the app as being part of a virtual queue, but they made it stand-by with it being a walk-on parts of the night.
One thing that would make the party better is to extend the amount of hours (currently five). We didn’t make it to many of the characters and missed some whole areas of the park because of the limited amount of time, even with the low waits. But that just means we have to go back, I guess.
We really hope Disney keeps Jollywood Nights at whatever sold-out number of people they had it at last night. If so, this event may become a yearly must-do.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
