Disney Jollywood Nights is a difficult price ticket Christmas match with particular vacation leisure, meals & beverage, and grownup surroundings at Walt Disney International. This evaluations our revel in with the get together, protecting vivid spots and what went fallacious. We’ll additionally deal with whether or not it’s well worth the cash, how a lot you’ll accomplish, and my step by step revel in. (Up to date June 5, 2024.)
Prior to we get all the way down to brass tacks with the evaluation and what went fallacious (and proper!), let’s get started with fundamental background. Disney Jollywood Nights used to be the brand-new one by one ticketed, limited-capacity Christmas get together from 8:30 p.m. to twelve:30 a.m. on 10 make a choice nights. It debuted final yr at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with price ticket costs starting from $159 to $179 in keeping with individual.
Jollywood Nights is billed by way of Walt Disney International as being a “glam vacation get together” and a “swanky Hollywood bash stuffed with merriment, track and spirited just right instances.” The adult-focused match promised a extra subtle vacation vibe, attractions of glowing décor, sounds of recent beats over vintage vacation songs, tastes of craft cocktails and decadent dishes. Disney Jollywood Nights is nostalgic and it’s glitz and glam galore. Those are all ways in which Walt Disney International itself advertised the development.
June 5, 2024 Replace: Whether or not Disney Jollywood Nights returned for Christmas 2024 used to be an open query. After the hole evening meltdown final yr, there used to be hypothesis that it’d be (any other) one and achieved. Then again, a large number of adjustments have been made to tweak the development for next nights and salvage the season. (See Walt Disney International Made Main Adjustments & Added Uncommon Characters to Disney Jollywood Nights.)
We have been glad to listen to that visitors who attended next nights didn’t file the similar problems with strains, crowds, or different operational issues. As an entire, their revel in sounds adore it used to be considerably smoother and the ones evaluations are a lot more sure than this one because of this.
Speedy-forward to this summer time, and Walt Disney International has posted casting requires the performers within the level presentations at Disney Jollywood Nights. This type of in particular references the get together, however it additionally reads adore it used to be reproduction & pasted from final yr’s casting name (it nonetheless refers back to the get together as brand-new). As such, we’re no longer treating this as absolutely professional affirmation that Disney Jollywood Nights is returning for 2024. There’s nonetheless an outdoor likelihood that the level presentations are coming again in a remodeled or reimagined match.
Regardless, this confirms {that a} Christmas get together materially reminiscent of Disney Jollywood Nights will likely be held at Hollywood Studios for Christmas 2024. Whether or not it’s referred to as Disney Jollywood Nights or one thing other and the way it differs from final yr’s match all is still observed.
For now, right here’s our evaluation of the inaugural Disney Jollywood Nights…
Twilight Soirée on the Tip Most sensible Membership – Walt Disney International advertises this as a swingin’ party within the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Lodge. Right here, you’ll sip cocktails and unwind in taste whilst a reside band swoons and croons vacation tunes.
The primary of 2 expectancies as opposed to fact misses, that is like advertising a swingin’ soiree with swoonin’ and trendy croonin’ most effective to have the Riding Crooner be the leisure. Sure, it might be objectively superior to peer the Riding Crooner, however is that in point of fact what used to be promised. You positive about that?
On this case, the band used to be nice and gave an interesting performances. If all you sought after to do used to be watch them, and that used to be the case for me, what Walt Disney International presented used to be arguably just right sufficient. As an energetic revel in, this used to be a bit of useless, which I suppose is rather becoming for an otherworldly soiree.
With that mentioned, I feel it might be a tricky activity to in reality flip this right into a swinging soiree–what number of Walt Disney International visitors are in reality going to decorate the section and dance? I don’t know, however I’m guessing the solution is “no longer sufficient to offer this the fitting vibe.” The article is, we don’t know since the setup didn’t facilitate anything else however status round in a cramped viewing space.
This doesn’t even start to deal with the bar scenario right here, which used to be a fundamental beverages served from a glorified out of doors merchandising cart that had a 30+ minute estimated wait. (I say estimated since the line moved at a glacial tempo–certainly one of our pals used to be in it, however bailed after making 0 growth after quarter-hour.) The excellent news, I suppose, is that it must be beautiful simple to successfully double skill by way of bringing a 2d ODV again right here prior to the second one get together.
Jazzy Vacations at The Hollywood Brown Derby – This iconic eating place transforms right into a limited-capacity easy jazz joint the place you’ll experience vacation track, craft cocktails and an unique menu of sunshine bites in an advanced surroundings.
Disney additionally in the past described Jazzy Vacations on the Brown Derby as being encouraged by way of New York Town piano bars. The Hollywood Brown Derby eating place used to be to be was a sing-along piano bar with a piano and accompanying singer, acting songs from the ’20s, ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. The distance used to be to be remodeled into “a swinging speakeasy get together such as you’ve by no means observed, one thing you need to most effective in finding in a large town.” Generally a desk provider eating place, the distance used to be to be arrange another way and come with a couple of bars.
Virtually none of that came about. Jazzy Vacations did have a pianist, that section is right. And his piano did have garland on it, so test the field for adornment (singular) within the Brown Derby! That used to be actually it. Even supposing nitpicky, any other peculiar selection used to be to play Disney track in equivalent quantities as vacation songs.
For those who came about to time Jazzy Vacations poorly and be seated proper after a suite ended, you may no longer even notice anything else particular used to be going down, as no Christmas track–no longer even a background loop–used to be enjoying all through the downtime.
Even supposing the contest is fierce, this most likely is the most important sadness of Jollywood Nights just by distinctive feature of the time dedication, problem in getting access to the distance, and expectancies vs. fact. No offense to the musician, who used to be gifted and gave nice performances, however one guy does no longer make a speakeasy get together except that fella’s title is Jay Gatsby.
The one silver lining here’s that I did acquire meals (no longer short of to be impolite) and the sliders have been incredible. However that’s no longer sufficient to justify doing Jazzy Vacations. Save your self the strain and time, and skip this.
Setting – Past the 2 limited-capacity choices underwhelming, the most important misfire of Disney Jollywood Nights for me used to be the vibe. One of the crucial issues we robotically communicate up about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday celebration is the outstanding environment–our favourite factor in regards to the match is just being there.
Seeing the snowfall on Major Boulevard, listening to Jolly Previous Saint Nicholas in Fantasyland, playing the moody lights and particular projections, free-roaming characters having amusing–all of it simply places a grin on my face. And that’s no longer simply nostalgia speaking. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday celebration has mastered its temper, and that’s a large explanation why such a lot of other people love that get together.
Against this, a number of spaces of Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt like entire ghost cities. And no longer in a great way. Celebrity Wars: Galaxy’s Edge used to be so desolate that Solid Participants have been almost begging visitors to go into Oga’s Cantina. Toy Tale Land had just about not anything occurring for Disney Jollywood Nights. The 2 hottest portions of the park presented not anything.
Even lands that ostensibly have been collaborating in Disney Jollywood Nights have been beautiful unhappy. We don’t in most cases spend a lot time in Animation Courtyard–as a result of why would we?!–and this match used to be a just right reminder of that. It felt like a lifeless mall looking to reinvent itself by way of including a Spirit Halloween Christmas. The Commissary Lane “get together” used to be no longer reasonably as unhappy, but additionally not anything particular and really low-energy. Ditto Pixar Position.
Echo Lake used to be a vivid spot, however no longer as a result of Disney Jollywood Nights–it’s all the time a sleeper all through the vacation season. Similar is going for Sundown Street, however that’s as a result of just about the entire substantive choices have been on this space of the park.
Best small wallet of Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt like they have been open for industry, a lot much less actively celebrating Christmas. Once more, this can be a common ole DHS downside, however it’s amplified while you cut back the park skill and faux there’s a get together going down. It simply didn’t have the calories.
Journey Wait Occasions – Except Slinky Canine Sprint and Celebrity Wars: Upward thrust of the Resistance, each enchantment seemed to be a close to walk-on. Slinky Canine Sprint did have a line (possibly ~10-15 minute exact wait till the final hour) and Celebrity Wars: Upward thrust of the Resistance used a digital queue prior to breaking down for a bit of.
I didn’t do any rides because of the fast length of the development, however this used to be undoubtedly a vivid spot of Disney Jollywood Nights. Because of variations in demographics and other people guidance transparent of one of the vital underwhelming choices, I’d be expecting enchantment waits to extend all through next occasions. They nonetheless must be manageable and a ways higher than a typical day, even though.
Disney Vacations in Hollywood – That is an all-new level display encouraged by way of the glitz and glamour of antique Hollywood TV specials—with a modern twist and a few vacation magic—at Theater of the Stars, Disney’s personal Hollywood Bowl-inspired venue.
In line with the corporate, Vacations in Hollywood is an opportunity to peer the vacations thru a recent lens on this star-studded sequence of jolly vignettes. Vacations in Hollywood options appearances from particular visitor stars, together with Kermit the Frog, Omit Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse—accompanied by way of a skilled forged of singers, dancers and jazz musicians.
I completely liked Vacations in Hollywood! Such a lot in order that I want I may just’ve observed it greater than as soon as. The performances have been incredible, and even supposing I might’ve liked extra Muppets, everybody else used to be incredible. Specifically, dancing Minnie and Mickey Mouse did a excellent process. Throughout incredible choreography, track, staging–the whole thing.
I do want Disney gave extra space for the antique Hollywood TV particular framing instrument room to “breathe.” This used to be an implausible concept, and a really perfect nod to the old fashioned taste of the Disney MGM Studios, however it didn’t reasonably absolutely click on. (So possibly completely in step with the OG park’s manner!) I additionally remember that Disney most effective needs level presentations to be goodbye, and this used to be already in point of fact meaty.
I’d put Vacations in Hollywood in the similar tier because the Hocus Pocus or Very Merriest level presentations on the Halloween and Christmas events in Magic Kingdom. It will most likely be #3 on that checklist, however it’s a detailed name. Regardless, being in the similar league as the ones is a win.
What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Prior to Christmas Sing-Alongside – In line with the corporate, this can be a likelihood to sign up for Jack Skellington at Hyperion Theater for a dreamlike journey encouraged by way of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Prior to Christmas.
Sing at the side of the Pumpkin King to cherished songs from the movie as you practice 2 pals on a larger-than-life adventure. You’ll uncover the unusual magic of surprise in not likely puts, overcome the Oogie Boogie guy himself and keep curious when issues don’t seem to be reasonably as they appear.
For the reason that I’m an excessively cool (allegedly) grownup guy over the age of 12 years previous, I’ve 0 use for sing-alongs. I don’t get the verdict to make a in point of fact prime quality display…after which flip it right into a sing-along. It will be like if Cirque du Soleil, for some explanation why, referred to as at the target audience to accomplish the acrobatics.
A few of you may love sing-alongs for no matter explanation why–superb, that’s your prerogative–however judging by way of the close to silence of the target audience all through my appearing, my perspective is outwardly the present one.
With that caveat, What’s This? used to be method higher than it had any proper to be. The silent performers have been incredible, seeing the Jack Skellington puppet in a theater surroundings is superior, and Oogie Boogie stole the display. What’s This? ended up being the delightful wonder of the development for me. It wasn’t as just right as Vacations in Hollywood, however I anticipated to like that. As any individual who hates sing-alongs and is detached to all issues Tim Burton, I used to be shocked to experience this such a lot.
What’s This? additionally underscores that there’s simply as a lot at Disney Jollywood Nights for youngsters as for adults. Of the profitable choices, the argument might be made that this match used to be in reality extra kid-friendly than adult-oriented.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! – This midnight impressive returns to Hollywood Studios most effective all through Disney Jollywood Nights. In line with the corporate, it options heartwarming vacation moments from favourite Disney motion pictures are dropped at existence at the façade of the park’s iconic Chinese language Theater. It’s a shocking show of fireworks, lasers, lighting, projections and merry track.
I’m no longer the arena’s largest Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM fan. I don’t like it or hate it, however I do suppose it’s extremely lame that: 1) this display wasn’t introduced again for normal day-to-day operations the final couple of years, and; 2) a brand new midnight impressive wasn’t created that higher have compatibility the development. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM seems like an afterthought. It’s as though Disney knew the above choices weren’t sufficient, so that they recycled an previous display and tacked it on.
Match Explicit Meals & Drinks – There are eating places right through Disney’s Hollywood Studios promoting party-exclusive meals and drinks. There have been in reality reasonably a large number of those choices, as you’ll see from the Complete Meals Information & Eating place Reservation Information for the Jollywood Nights Christmas Birthday celebration.
As famous above, I used to be ready to pattern one of the vital pieces served at Disney Jollywood Nights. Maximum of it didn’t wow me, particularly no longer the Dinosaur Gertie cookie (I will not consider other people stood in line ~half-hour for that). With that mentioned, I additionally wasn’t there for the meals–it used to be an already quick match and I figured that might consume up an excessive amount of time.
Too A lot Friction – It could be imaginable to learn the above and say that it sounds so much like After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And possibly that’s a good level. Having achieved After Hours at DHS, I feel even that has a greater calories than Disney Jollywood Nights, with the park feeling most commonly alive due to a mixture of visitors, characters, and loose refreshment spots higher allotted right through the park.
Regardless, the important thing distinction between the respective occasions is friction. We’ve advisable Disney After Hours previously as it’s a quasi-VIP match that eliminates all friction from the common revel in and provides visitors the run of the park. In need of doing a VIP excursion, it makes other people really feel particular.
Throughout After Hours, you don’t have to hassle with reserving Lightning Lanes, Cellular Order, or any of the limitations that in most cases get in the best way of a really perfect day at DHS. Stroll as much as an ODV and also you’re passed loose* cushy beverages, ice cream, popcorn, and so on. (*Integrated with admission.) That’s no longer true at Jollywood Nights.
No Contingency Plans (Out of date?) – Disney Jollywood Nights is held in Florida, a spot identified for its famously dry local weather. Oh wait. Clearly, Walt Disney International can’t be blamed for the elements. There used to be a large number of rain within the final hour of evening one, and that affects sure issues. That’s unavoidable, and it additionally occurs in day-to-day operations.
Much less excusable is having no plan for rain and simply, I suppose, hoping for the most efficient. There have been a host of meet & greets with uncommon characters, all of that have been held outdoor in outdoor. When the rain got here down, they left and have been achieved for the remainder of the evening. Personality meet & greets are already low skill and a number of other had hour-plus waits, however that used to be worsened by way of them being unavailable for the final hour. Similar is going for the leisure that used to be additionally outdoor and likewise no longer relocated.
Disney Jollywood Nights used to be already too quick to perform an inexpensive quantity of its substantive choices, and it no doubt didn’t assist that one-quarter of the get together’s distinctive choices didn’t occur for probably the most section. What would the plan had been if rain began within the first hour of the development? Believe how packed the few issues that have been indoors would’ve been then!
Lengthy Strains & Logistics (Out of date) – From an operational viewpoint, almost about the whole thing that might’ve long past fallacious all through the primary evening of Disney Jollywood Nights did pass fallacious. It used to be a whole meltdown–chaos, crowds, and confusion. Solid Participants didn’t understand how sure venues would perform or gave flawed data, lengthy strains shaped for just about anything else unique to the development, and a too-high share of paying visitors left disappointed and underwhelmed, spending extra time ready than doing.
What’s maximum irritating about that is that it used to be simply foreseeable. For those who haven’t already, I’d inspire you to revisit Why You Must NOT Do Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Birthday celebration. Except 3 paragraphs written within the speedy aftermath of the development, that publish used to be penned again in June. It reads as beautiful prescient now, however truthfully, it in point of fact isn’t that exceptional.
Specifically, it mentioned how logistical disasters play out on a constant and predictable at Walt Disney International, speedy pink flags I noticed with this match, and the way it used to be a possible absolute best hurricane of issues. That it might be unattainable for Walt Disney International to challenge call for dynamics, crowdflow, and the logistics of the various shifting items.
It irritates me to no finish that, from the outdoor having a look in, I will determine these things inside of days of an match being introduced–with out the advantage of inside of data. But Walt Disney International can not do the similar with months of conferences and making plans and no matter it’s that they do.
I’m only one dude on the web. They’ve loads of other people running in this. The variation is that I’ve been attending Walt Disney International occasions for over a decade, and feature realized so much from the great, unhealthy and unsightly of the ones. (I truthfully surprise how again and again Villains Unleashed got here up of their interior conferences, or if no person remains to be at Walt Disney International who labored on that debacle.)
My Evening in a Nutshell
My staff used to be laser-focused on becoming a member of the digital queue for Jazzy Vacations at Brown Derby to start out the development. Having been across the block with Walt Disney International, we knew this used to be going to be a major factor. And it used to be. Regardless, velocity technique labored and we scored spots within the digital queue for this intimate living room.
We additionally knew that the ten minute estimated wait despatched out to everybody within the digital queue used to be entire nonsense and 100% the results of a device concurrently servicing such a lot of simultaneous requests. Now not my first rodeo with Disney IT, both. Accordingly, we made a direct beeline to Twilight Soiree on the Tip Most sensible Membership moderately than looking forward to Jazzy Vacations to kind itself out.
We have been a number of the first visitors outdoor the Tower of Terror reward store, and had a entrance row spot for the primary set of the band that carried out on level. After gazing their complete set, we went to the Theater of the Stars for the Vacations in Hollywood display. Proper as seating for this started, we have been referred to as again to Brown Derby presenting the quandary of whether or not to dance or hope they’d seat us overdue for Jazzy Vacations.
Our calculation used to be that many different visitors can be in the similar boat as us and, if this have been a standard digital queue, overdue arrivals can be accommodated. If we have been fallacious, oh neatly, we’d omit Jazzy Vacations. We returned to Brown Derby instantly after the display, and have been proper–we have been seated after a brief wait.
At Brown Derby, we ordered nearly instantly and likewise asked our exams when the meals arrived. We controlled to peer lots of the pianist’s complete set, however our revel in with Jazzy Vacations at Brown Derby used to be maximum undoubtedly rushed. It’s beautiful uncommon to have a counter provider meal that briefly, let on my own Signature Eating place!
Following that, I did a snappy lap of the park to take a look at the whole thing else that I hadn’t observed. Me being me, I were given distracted taking footage, and needed to (actually) run to the final appearing of What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Prior to Christmas Sing-Alongside. I arrived 2 mins prior to showtime, and the road used to be lower like a dozen visitors 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 overall ~45 mins of the evening have been roughly 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 status round to finish the development.
In truth, I didn’t have a horrible revel in at Disney Jollywood Nights. An excessive amount of of it used to be a letdown for me, individually, however my evening went method higher than the common visitors with whom I spoke at the bus journey again to the lodge and all through the times that adopted. I additionally acknowledge that I knew what to anticipate (and worry!), and that very much knowledgeable my possible choices to reduce issues. This evaluation is from the viewpoint of a median attendee, who wouldn’t have identified to make the similar possible choices as me. (If everybody did what I did, my manner should not have labored!)
The place Disney Jollywood Nights Is going From Right here
In any case, we wish to briefly talk about the place Disney Jollywood Nights is going from right here for the ones attending the development this yr. The excellent news is that Walt Disney International is aware of there’s an issue, and that this match didn’t pass as deliberate.
However that doesn’t imply they’ve an answer. Once more, all of this used to be simple to foresee, which is strictly why we wrote an editorial pointing to doable pitfalls again in June. That Walt Disney International used to be stuck flat-footed demonstrates a disappointing loss of institutional wisdom and reminiscence, in addition to a failure of creativeness.
Fortunately, there are some low-hanging fruit fixes—extra bartenders, absolutely staffing the development, having contingency plans for rain. Then again, there’s so much that it’s tricky to consider will get addressed till 2024. The vibe of Disney Jollywood Nights isn’t abruptly going to modify, empty lands received’t abruptly have leisure, they usually aren’t going to flesh out the substance of anything else.
In the long run, it’s tricky for us to counsel Disney Jollywood Nights as-is to the common visitor on the lookout for a Christmas time particular match. There are area of interest cases the place it could have attraction, however even the ones are a bit of a ways fetched given the entire ready and timing. Our view is this match isn’t well worth the cash, and if us, we’re large suckers for Walt Disney International particular occasions.
Until you’re ok with an After Hours match (minus the loose meals) and possibly a bit of of Christmas leisure, you must persist with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday celebration this yr. The Magic Kingdom match has in reality gotten higher this yr due to decrease crowds, making it the simple advice for us.
Finishing this evaluation on a good be aware, Disney Jollywood Nights does have doable and I’m in reality constructive about its long term. As foolish as that would possibly sound after the majority of this evaluation, listen me out. The bones of this match–the issues that value some huge cash to broaden and are the most important attracts–are incredible. Bits and items are in point of fact just right, and there are kernels of significant concepts which might be simply incomplete and wish extra time (and cash) to incubate.
The ingenious aspect of Disney Jollywood Nights (neatly, minus Ollie…no longer positive what they have been considering there) is in large part incredible. The 2 level presentations have been superb, and might be superb with minor tweaks. The animating concepts at the back of either one of the lounges are just right, they simply want to be fleshed out and given more fit budgets.
For probably the most section, it used to be the operational aspect that fell aside, and all of this is fixable. I’m extremely assured that there’s a profitable match buried in Jollywood Nights, and I in reality hope the great concepts and leisure continue to exist to a brand new iteration of a Christmas get together at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Regardless, I’d be expecting Disney Jollywood Nights to go back in 2024. Perhaps with a special title if the present ‘model’ is deemed too poisonous, and expectantly in expanded shape and even rebranded as an After Hours match (with loose refreshments!). Walt Disney International obviously invested some huge cash in creating and advertising Jollywood Nights, and I will not consider it’ll wreck even after a unmarried yr. Right here’s hoping they repair the issue issues and the brand new or remodeled match is healthier for Christmas 2024!
Making plans a Walt Disney International go back and forth? Find out about accommodations on our Walt Disney International Inns Critiques web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Critiques. To save cash on tickets or resolve which kind to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to start out is our Walt Disney International Commute Making plans Information for the whole thing you wish to have to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever attended Disney Jollywood Nights? If that is so, what used to be your revel in? After studying evaluations, will you buy get together tickets for Disney Jollywood Nights? Suppose the prospective positives outweigh the negatives, or vice-versa? What has you fascinated with the development? What has you involved? For those who’re making plans to wait, will you achieve this as an alternative of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday celebration or along with it? Do you compromise or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will be able to allow you to solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
