Everything you need to know about Jollywood Nights, a holiday party geared toward adults at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Editor's Note
Walt Disney World never rests on its laurels. Last year, it launched Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was a brand-new holiday party geared toward adults. The event is back this year and even better with some new options and tweaks to last year's package.
Many Disney fans already return year after year to the Magic Kingdom for the beloved Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, where hot cocoa, free cookies and characters are plentiful. Others make a point to book an annual outing to Epcot for its Candlelight Processional. Now, there's a similar reason to return to Disney's Hollywood Studios each holiday season.
Disney has expanded its Jollywood Nights special event to 13 evenings this year versus just 10 in 2023.
It’s billed as being where "Hollywood glamour meets holiday cheer," and it's uniquely designed to draw Disney adults keen on enjoying a swanky holiday soiree. There are holiday specialty foods, live entertainment and character meet-and-greets you can only find here. It also happens to be one of Disney World’s most expensive party offerings.
TPG attended the first evening of the Jollywood Nights party last year and this year. Here’s what it was like and what's new, plus everything you need to know if you want to go.
What to expect from Disney’s Jollywood Nights
This celebration is intended to be a throwback to old-school Hollywood — and attendees are encouraged (though not required) to dress the part. We saw plenty of guests dressed in sparkly outfits, others in Christmas-themed shirts and dresses and a fair contingent with Santa hats, elf ears and reindeer antlers. Many strollers were decked out with flashing holiday lights, adding to the overall joy of the evening.
Jollywood Nights features plenty of 1950s holiday glam, three specialty stage shows, fireworks, unique holiday character meetings, limited-time lounges and street entertainment.
The event will be hosted on select Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights through Dec. 21, 2024. Just like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, this is a separately ticketed event. Prices range from $159 to $179 per ticket, plus tax. The official party time is 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with mix-in (that’s Disney-speak for when you are allowed to enter the park with some day guests still there) at 6 p.m.
Note: While Jollywood Nights is billed as an adult party, you can purchase tickets for children. You'll pay the same price as an adult, though. We were surprised to see so many children in strollers during our soiree.
Related: Up all night: How Disney transforms the Magic Kingdom from Halloween to holiday overnight
Jollywood Nights stage shows
Three stage production shows are the hallmark of Jollywood Nights 2024. The earliest of the three shows starts at 7:30 p.m., and the latest hits the stage at 12:30 a.m.
'Glisten!'
New for 2024, "Glisten!" is a skating spectacular celebrating the season. It takes place in the open air in front of Hollywood Boulevard's Chinese Theater. International champion skaters perform to favorite Disney songs such as "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Be Our Guest" and the show is staged five times on party nights.
'Disney Holidays in Hollywood'
Back by popular demand and playing five times a night, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy of "The Muppets" fame host this sit-down variety show at Hollywood Boulevard's Theater of the Stars. Arrive early if you want to snag bench seating. Disney does a fantastic job of earmarking a viewing area for those using assistive mobility devices, such as wheelchairs.
Mickey and Minnie also have several numbers alongside a multitude of talented singers and dancers.
"Beauty and the Beast" fans went wild when Belle took to the stage in her Christmas finery.
"Disney Holidays in Hollywood" is not to be missed.
'What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along'
Another return engagement is “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” at the Hyperion Theater. This one remains popular, so you must arrive early if you want a seat.
This is a fun and spirited production full of fan-favorite songs from the now-iconic movie led by Jack Skellington.
Character meet-and-greets
In addition to all the shows, Jollywood Nights guests can partake in a hallmark of any Disney after-hours event: special meet-and-greets with rare characters and Disney favorites in holiday attire.
Each meet-and-greet generally garnered lines, with wait times between 20 and 40 minutes.
PhotoPass downloads included
Complimentary PhotoPass downloads are a tremendous benefit of buying a ticket to Jollywood Nights. This includes special MagicShots and new photo experiences. There's no need to pay extra for the photo downloads, as this perk is included in the price of admission. They should show up automatically in your My Disney Experience account.
Related: Disney World and Disneyland holiday details revealed, including the return of Jollywood Nights
Specialty experiences only at Jollywood Nights
With the “of-age” crowd as the focus, the cornerstone (and most hyped portion) of the event are two specialty lounges: the Twilight Soiree at The Tip Top Club and Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby.
The Twilight Soiree at The Tip Top Club is themed after the fictional bar from The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror lore.
Held in the adjoining courtyard outside the attraction, the event features a live band and a small pop-up bar with specialty cocktails. This proved to be an immensely popular spot in 2023 and again in 2024.
Related: The best restaurants at Disney World
Also during the party, the iconic Disney dining spot The Hollywood Brown Derby transforms into a jazz club with live entertainment and a specialty food-and-beverage menu. While there was a mobile walk-up virtual queue in the Walt Disney World app last year, this experience could be reserved in advance for the 2024 party nights.
Once inside, the experience — which you can expect to last at least an hour — was more or less similar to a daytime visit, with the addition of a live pianist and vocalist. During our time, he stuck to mostly Disney classics, but we’d love to see a full holiday playlist to contribute to the spirit of the event.
Sunset Seasons Greetings also returns throughout the night, transforming the Tower of Terror with a holiday projection show as “snow” falls upon Sunset Boulevard.
Pixar Disco is new this year at Pixar Place with Joy, Frozone, Edna Mode and more.
In Commissary Lane, you’ll find another event-specific experience: Holiday Fiesta en la Calle. This street experience features live Latin music celebrating Central and South American holiday traditions that proved to be a fun spot to relax and listen to the sounds. There’s also a DJ spinning holiday tracks near the front of the park.
And what's a Disney party without fireworks? The festive nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” is staged one time during each party. It combines projections, music, lasers and fireworks set to the stunning backdrop of the Chinese Theater.
Limited-time food at Jollywood Nights
Disney curated a robust food-and-beverage program for this party, with a mix of savory and sweet goodies available from various dining locations throughout the park. However, note that none of the treats are included in the cost of admission here — there’s an extra charge for every item you wish to sample.
The adorable Gertie cookie (modeled after the park’s beloved green dinosaur) was a favorite in the dessert category, and the savory holiday turkey popover was a clear savory winner.
A favorite cocktail was the 5th Dimension Royale from The Tip Top Club. This brightly hued drink is a fruity twist on a margarita topped with prosecco.
Keep in mind that wait times for specialty food and drinks can vary from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, based on our experience, so if enjoying the event’s treats is important to you, plan accordingly.
Wait times for attractions at Jollywood Nights
Many will be pleased to know that most attractions are open during the event. One of the highlights of our evening was walking on to several fan-favorite rides, including Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania! and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. It was even easy to hop in the standby queues for Millennium Falcon and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance inside the park's Galaxy's Edge section.
Having access to the rides as early as 6 p.m. and throughout the evening is a major selling point of Jollywood Nights, in our opinion. It was a treat to experience some of our favorite rides over and over again. Walking onto Rise of the Resistance in less than 10 minutes was a huge score in our book.
Is Disney’s Jollywood Nights worth it?
As with any Disney Parks after-hours event, it’s entirely up to your tastes and what matters to you.
If getting dressed up in festive attire and attending a Disney event that was created primarily for adults (though children are welcome) sounds like a great night out for your crew, then go for it. For those who love Tim Burton or "The Muppets," this is an obvious choice. The same goes for guests who love seeing rare characters and Disney favorites in their limited-time holiday attire.
That said, we suggest having realistic expectations for what you’ll be able to do when you’re spending top dollar to be there. Having a strategy that prioritizes what matters most to you is key for many Disney parks events, and this new party is no exception. With the short time frame of the party (five hours), it’s impossible to experience all the characters, entertainment and specialty eats that the event has to offer.
Even so, we thoroughly enjoyed the party in 2023 and 2024 and look forward to the event hopefully returning in 2025.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.