Our 1-night itinerary for Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios provides a step by step Christmas occasion plan for minimizing time ready in strains for personality meet & greets, seeing fireworks, all 3 level displays and leisure acts, and fending off crowds throughout Walt Disney International’s arduous price tag vacation season occasion.
For individuals who are unfamiliar with it, Disney Jollywood Nights (DJN) is hung on two evenings every week at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS) throughout the vacation season. It begins in mid-November and runs till the week prior to Christmas, and is a 5-hour vacation occasion from 7:30 PM to twelve:30 AM–visitors with Christmas occasion tickets might input DHS as early as 6:00 PM. DJN is a limited-capacity, one by one ticketed occasion that happens after hours, and contours family-friendly amusing for visitors of every age.
Actually, Disney Jollywood Nights is so much like an After Hours occasion, minus the “unfastened” refreshments however with a large number of leisure added. Whilst we’re going to concentrate on what’s distinctive to the Christmas occasion right here, simply know that it is advisable to additionally decide to do rides as a substitute–maximum can have waits of beneath 10-Quarter-hour. Slinky Canine Sprint may well be the only exception–we’d suggest saving that for later within the night to reduce ready.
If you need the development data and our overview of whether or not it’s definitely worth the cash, see our Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Birthday party 2024 Evaluate: Wow, What a Distinction a Yr Makes! It is a occasion plan or itinerary, targeted only on maximizing time on the occasion for attendees.
One thing we must reveal up-front is this Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas occasion plan could be very a lot tentative. We’ve most effective attended DJN two times ever (with a 3rd occasion booked for December). And truthfully, what we discovered from occasion #1 is sort of completely beside the point, because the occasion modified such a lot from final yr to 2024. So in reality, this 1-night itinerary is according to just one evening. In most cases, I cherish to do a large number of box trying out and analysis prior to liberating itineraries and technique guides, however that merely isn’t conceivable (but) right here.
This could also be a pointy distinction to our making plans assets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday party (MVMCP). We’ve been attending that occasion yearly since 2007, and in some instances have long past 4-5 instances in one yr. (It was once a a lot inexpensive occasion and we like Christmas…don’t pass judgement on!) No longer most effective that, however MVMCP doesn’t exchange a lot from yr to yr, so what we discovered a decade in the past nonetheless roughly applies.
The only saving grace with this DJN occasion plan is that we’ve carried out so much of Walt Disney International particular occasions through the years, and most of the making plans ideas are transportable. The teachings we’ve discovered from MVMCP follow right here a minimum of partly, which is one thing so that you can additionally take into account should you’ve carried out that however are a newcomer to Disney Jollywood Nights. With that out of the way in which, let’s get started the night at DHS!
Arrive Early – Buying an occasion price tag to Disney Jollywood Nights offers you get entry to to DHS beginning at 6 PM. This overlap with common park hours, referred to as the development mix-in, is scaled again as in comparison to MVMCP, but it surely’s nonetheless bonus time and also you must take complete benefit–it’s a just right alternative to do issues that aren’t distinctive to the Christmas occasion itself.
We suggest making plans to get to DHS by means of 5:45 pm. If you have already got admission for nowadays within the park, you’ll be able to input even previous during the non-event turnstiles and get your wristband within reasonably than the entrance of the park. In contrast to at MVMCP, this isn’t essential. Even at the offered out DJN date we attended in 2024, the check-in and wristband procedure on the entrance of the park was once seamless. It’s conceivable that’ll exchange one day, however we had been stunned by means of simply how easy it went.
Additionally not like MVMCP, the mix-in time throughout Disney Jollywood Nights isn’t in particular busy. Trip wait instances are already beginning to lower, most likely owing to visitors–each day and occasion attendees–being pulled to the lone appearing of Fantasmic. In the event you’ve by no means observed that display and that is your most effective (partial) day in DHS, we’d extremely suggest it. Differently, believe doing one thing rather then Fantasmic–it’ll be busier than standard.
That is all matter to modify as Walt Disney International ‘tweaks’ the attendance cap for Disney Jollywood Nights, however that also calls for larger call for for the development (which hasn’t been the case but). That is almost certainly the variation between a Christmas occasion at Magic Kingdom vs. Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Suffice to mention, that is just about an After Hours occasion–not like MVMCP, which not guarantees low crowds.
Consume Early – We discovered that counter provider eating places round Disney’s Hollywood Studios started serving the particular Disney Jollywood Nights menus previous to the development starting. I used to be ready to devour the above unfold (fortunate me) at PizzeRizzo as of ~6:30 pm. I additionally noticed different eating places and snack stands in a position to roll smartly prior to 7:30 pm, making mix-in a great time to devour.
An alternative choice, and almost certainly a greater one, could be consuming a typical meal prior to the mix-in begins. I’ll by no means go up a possibility to suggest certainly one of my non-public favorites, Sebastian’s Bistro, which is a smart price (higher than ‘Ohana) and a brief Skyliner journey clear of DHS over at Caribbean Seashore Hotel. I’d suggest the earliest conceivable reservation for Sebastian’s Bistro should you decide to try this.
Skip Characters – Differently that Disney Jollywood Nights is not like MVMCP is that not one of the marquee characters get started assembly early throughout mix-in. A minimum of, now not materially early. I will be able to’t be far and wide directly, however in doing laps of the park, I noticed lengthy strains however no characters between 7 pm and seven:20 pm.
This ends up in some of the greatest items of recommendation this Disney Jollywood Nights 1-night itinerary has to supply: skip characters early on throughout the development. Right through the Disney Jollywood Nights that I attended, all the meet & greets–each unmarried one–had longer strains throughout the primary hour than later.
After all, should you’re some of the first to line up, you received’t wait as lengthy as soon as the characters do seem. However you’re going to nonetheless be ready–it’ll simply be that you just’re pulling that ahead to the mix-in. Whether or not that is the suitable resolution for you in reality relies on what number of characters you need to satisfy. Sooner or later, it turns into a math downside–you’ll be able to most effective meet such a lot of throughout the overall couple of hours, and it’s now not conceivable to get to all of them then.
What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Ahead of Christmas Sing-Alongside – It is a likelihood to sign up for Jack Skellington at Hyperion Theater for a level display impressed by means of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Ahead of Christmas. Sing in conjunction with the Pumpkin King to liked songs from the movie as you practice two pals on a larger-than-life adventure.
“What’s This” is a must-see, and it’s the piece of marquee leisure with the earliest showtime: 7:30 pm. We discovered call for for this level display to be not up to absolutely anything else on the 2024 Disney Jollywood Nights, which is strictly why we advise doing it first. You received’t need to allocate precious occasion time later within the occasion to this when crowds are beginning to skinny out.
We’d suggest sitting at the some distance aspect of the theater. (If individuals are preventing within the heart, you’ll be able to all the time cross across the entrance row and loop again to the tip.) No longer most effective does this come up with a greater view of Jack Skellington, but it surely makes for a sooner and more straightforward go out. That may well be essential with the next move.
With that stated, if characters do in reality topic and you need to satisfy over a half-dozen, believe prioritizing one or two of the ones (getting into line for a well-liked one prior to 7 pm) and slotting in “What’s This” later. In the event you go for characters, you must do the very final appearing of “What’s This” at 12:30 am. It is a just right method for extending the development.
Disney Vacations in Hollywood – Hosted by means of Kermit the Frog and Leave out Piggy, this star-studded vacation extravaganza comprises appearances from Characters akin to Tiana, Belle, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse—accompanied by means of a skilled solid of singers, dancers and jazz musicians.
That is the opposite marquee level display throughout Disney Jollywood Nights, and my favourite a part of the development, length. The primary appearing of Vacations in Hollywood is at 8:15 pm, which is 45 mins after What’s This? The former level display ends at 7:52 pm, which offers you a reasonably slender window to make it to Theater of the Stars on Sundown Street. It must take you lower than 8 mins to stroll between the 2, which is a 15-minute (give or take) buffer. We discovered that to be greater than enough, however your mileage might range.
Twilight Soirée on the Tip Most sensible Membership – It is a swingin’ birthday party within the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Lodge. Right here, you’ll be able to sip cocktails and unwind in taste whilst a reside band swoons and croons vacation tunes. The following showtime is 8:50 pm.
Whilst the window is a tad tight between What’s This and Vacations in Hollywood, this must be simple. Actually, you will have quite a few time to clutch beverages from the bar prior to the band comes on–or mingle with the outdated Hollywood characters within the crowd.
Characters & Dance Events – Between the Twilight Soirée and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, you have got virtually an hour to do no matter. I’d suggest taking this time to knock out a few characters and/or take a look at the opposite ancillary dance events (Pixar Disco and Vacation Fiesta en los angeles Calle). You’ll even kill two birds with one stone, doing each on the similar time–it’s simple to revel in Vacation Fiesta en los angeles Calle whilst in line for José Carioca or Panchito, and you’ll be able to snag selfies with Pixar buddies at that disco.
After about 9:30 pm could also be a great time to satisfy Santa Duffy. Right through the occasion I attended, he had a 70 minute posted wait at the start of the development, and was once a literal walk-on most effective a few hours later. My running principle is that there’s a slightly restricted pool of Duffy diehards that prioritize him as #1, however maximum different visitors don’t care. As soon as that preliminary rush is labored via, there’s just a trickle of visitors during the remainder of the development.
Following Santa Duffy, believe knocking out a meet & greet or two (time allowing) round Echo Lake. Once more, that is what I did and it labored smartly to satisfy Disney Afternoon characters with ~10 minute lengthy strains. You don’t have to fret about staking out a place for Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM with this plan.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! – It is a midnight impressive that may make spirits vivid. Watch in awe as heartwarming vacation moments from favourite Disney movies are delivered to existence at the façade of the park’s iconic Chinese language Theater. It’s a show of fireworks, lasers, lighting, projections and merry song.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM isn’t my favourite midnight impressive at Walt Disney International, to be completely truthful with you. Nonetheless, it’s seasonal fireworks and I by no means go up the chance to peer it. I don’t, on the other hand, installed a ton of effort. My favourite spot for staring at is round Echo Lake. It is a nice view for the pyro and different results, and is the perfect photograph spot (10/10 Disney photographers agree).
It isn’t, on the other hand, a just right view of the projections at the entrance of Grauman’s Chinese language Theater. If the ones are a must-see for you (they completely aren’t for me), head to Hollywood Street. It’s nonetheless somewhat simple to get a good spot last-minute.
Extra Echo Lake Characters – The opposite explanation why I really like staring at Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM from Echo Lake is as it places you in a main place to leap in line for a personality as soon as the fireworks finish and prior to the frenzy arrives.
A few of these characters proceed assembly throughout the fireworks, so it is advisable to technically multi-task and wait in line whilst staring at the fireworks. (Simply ensure that whichever one you do has a blank view over the water in opposition to the theater/Runaway Railway. Differently, your view may well be blocked by means of timber.
Extra Characters Across the Park – Following that, it’s a great time to satisfy ultimate characters for your listing. This comprises higher-priority ones like Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy or Pluto at the walkway between Pixar Position and Toy Tale Land, or Phineas and Ferb or Max Goof as Powerline in Echo Lake.
Word that most of the characters do their ultimate units smartly prior to the tip of the development, so you can not wait till 11:30 pm or later to knock all of them out.
Glisten – It is a surprising ice skating display on Hollywood Street the place global champion skaters carry out breathtaking routines set to a colourful vacation soundtrack—together with authentic songs and Disney favorites like Be Our Visitor and When You Want Upon A Famous person.
As the large new factor for 2024, Glisten drew bigger crowds throughout the sooner showings on the Disney Jollywood Nights we attended. By means of the overall two performances, it was once somewhat empty. It’s good to technically see it every time–it’s now not drawing actually large crowds at any efficiency–however the perspectives get significantly better with the overall two performances. I like to recommend seeing it at 11:15 pm to disencumber the tip of your night.
Remaining Name for Characters – Be expecting personality meet & greet units to finish round middle of the night at the most recent. On the Disney Jollywood Nights that I attended, this was once the reliable final name for each Santa Sew and Minnie & Mickey (assembly in combination) at Purple Carpet Goals.
In the event you e book it from Glisten over to Santa Sew, you may be capable to meet him and bounce into line for Mickey and Minnie (proper across the nook) prior to the clock moves middle of the night. It in reality depends on attendance (is the DJN you’re attending offered out?). Specializing in whichever meet & greet is higher-priority to you is almost certainly the smarter method.
Unfastened Time – This leaves in regards to the final Quarter-hour as unfastened time. In the event you in reality loved Vacations in Hollywood, you will have time to catch the overall (12:15 am) efficiency. In the event you skipped What’s This? previous, that displays at 12:30 am.
This may also be a great time to clutch PhotoPass Magic Pictures, of which there are a number of at Disney Jollywood Nights.
In the long run, you must be capable to have an effective night with quite a few amusing and a lot of leisure (in all probability an excessive amount of) by means of following this Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Birthday party plan. We in reality revel in this particular occasion and had a blast throughout its sophomore season. There’s sufficient to try this leaves you short of extra, however the crowds also are sufficiently low that you will have a pleasant evening despite the fact that you don’t strictly practice this 1-night itinerary.
That’s almost certainly price underscoring. In contrast to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Birthday party, which nearly “calls for” savvy method to steer clear of crowds and feature a great time, Disney Jollywood Nights is a lot more laid again. You don’t want to method this occasion like an army incursion with a purpose to have amusing.
You don’t even want to strictly persist with the step by step technique laid out right here! Whilst I’d for my part now not suggest ready in line 70 mins for Santa Duffy when you’ll be able to see him later in beneath 10, what you’ll be able to do is take the extensive contours defined right here and have compatibility them for your personal wishes.
As you’ll be able to almost certainly inform by means of our personal tastes and suggestions, what we in reality love is the party-specific leisure. Optimistically this Christmas Birthday party plan introduced a balanced night, with time for personality meet & greets, exploring the park, getting footage, and playing the ambience. But when this moves you as “an excessive amount of,” then merely skip steps or exchange issues up! Trip a pair rides, clutch a couple of beverages and bites to devour. There’s a just right quantity of suppleness, particularly should you’re occurring an evening that Disney Jollywood Nights doesn’t promote out–or should you don’t in reality care about uncommon characters.
In spite of everything, Disney Jollywood Nights is costly, however can be offering a large number of bang on your dollar. Move in with lifelike expectancies, however attempt to do up to you’ll be able to–characters, fireworks, each level displays. This itinerary must additionally exhibit why we don’t suggest doing common sights throughout the Christmas Birthday party, but when that’s all you care about, extra energy to you. A price tag to Disney Jollywood Nights is inexpensive than Lightning Lane Premier Go and you’ll get extra sights carried out! Wherein case, the whole lot else is icing at the cake.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever attended this yr’s Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Birthday party? Which personality meet & greets and different leisure are your best priorities? Did you meet Santa Sew/Duffy, Disney Afternoon characters, or Fab 5 pals of their vacation finery, or had been the strains too lengthy for you? Do you disagree with the rest in our 1-night DJN plan? Any questions? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
