Jollywood Nights OR MVMCP: Which WDW Holiday Party Should YOU Attend?
As the self-appointed Christmas Elf of David’s Vacation Club Rentals, this is my absolute favorite time of year. The sights of joy and camaraderie, the sounds of laughter and love, and the smells of delicious baked goods and holiday scents truly make every day a little brighter during this season. All of these can be found at Walt Disney World, specifically at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios.
These two festive parties offer good times, great memories, and lots of fun throughout the evening. At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, everything is merry and bright with lots of holiday delight, full of special entertainment, character appearances, and seasonal sights and sweets. At Disney Jollywood Nights, Hollywood glamor meets holiday cheer, with lots of festive glitz and glam, themed entertainment, and some extra special character encounters not usually seen in the parks.
With all this in mind, you may be wondering, what’s the best party to attend? Well, the answer is very simple.
BOTH.
If you’re going to Walt Disney World this holiday season, then you absolutely must pay both of these festive parties a visit, because both offer unique experiences and amazing entertainment that you don’t want to miss.
At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, guests can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with Mickey and friends in a storybook-like atmosphere. On select nights, Magic Kingdom transforms into a holiday wonderland, with lots of special character greetings around the park for guests to enjoy.
Among the character greetings, there are also multiple dance parties and celebrations around the park that guests can explore, including the Disney Junior Jingle Jam for young partygoers.
Plus, among all the gorgeous seasonal decor and snow that takes over Main Street USA, there are also sweet treats and festive beverages that are available at special designated locations around the park that are included in the cost of your ticket! I don’t know about you, but walking down Main Street with snow falling and a nice hot chocolate in my hand sounds like a perfect holiday activity to me.
Of course, we cannot forget the festive entertainment offered during this holiday party! Walt Disney World always has the most outstanding and engaging entertainment when they host holiday parties, so you won’t be disappointed with what’s offered here.
First off, Magic Kingdom is known for its amazing fireworks displays, and during this party, guests can sit back and watch Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show as festive colors illuminate the sky and Christmas carols sing out in sync. Plus, Cinderella Castle is taken over for a yuletide-inspired stage show with Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration! This show, starring our favorite mouse, features music, laughter, shimmering snowflakes, and a whole lot of Disney characters ringing in the holidays. This show plays a few times each night during the party, so definitely find a time to stop and enjoy this merry celebration when you can.
Don’t forget to make time for the parade, too! At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade floats through the park and down Main Street, spreading yuletide cheer. Complete with toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread men, and beloved Disney characters on specialty floats, the parade ends with none other than a special appearance by the guest of honor; Santa Clause himself!
I’d definitely recommend grabbing a spot right at the end of Main Street USA to view this parade; you’ll have the perfect spot and some great photos to capture these magical memories.
If you thought all of that was amazing, let me tell you about the other Christmas party you should absolutely attend; Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This party is a throwback to nostalgic times mixed with some festive cheer. It is such a glamorous and memorable party that you’ll be sure to come back to.
There is specially themed entertainment all over the park for guests to enjoy. Over at Echo Lake, a throwback bash to the 1990s and 2000s is in full swing, complete with some classic characters like Phineas and Ferb and Max Goof as Powerline! Over in the Pixar Plaza, a dance party featuring some Incredible appearances (get it?) from Edna Mode and Frozone, along with some other Pixar pals!
You can also check out “Glisten!” – a stunning show that takes over Hollywood Boulevard where international skate champions perform some breathtaking routines set to some amazing Christmas songs, and even some songs from classic Disney movies!
Also at Disney Jollywood Nights, you definitely don’t want to miss the show “Disney Holidays in Hollywood!” This show, hosted by the Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, put on a holiday extravaganza with appearances by some other Disney favorites. The show also features a talented cast of singers, dancers, and jazz musicians. If you’re a fan of The Muppet Show and all other things Disney, I would definitely recommend checking this out. Not only is it a great time to sit down and relax, but it’s also full of amazing laughs, great songs, and an even better memory after the party! It runs a few times each party night, so there are many opportunities to slip this into your schedule for the evening.
If you’re looking for something to do for those in your party who may still be in the Halloween spirit, then look no further than “What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” show! Here, guests can join Jack Skellington on a dreamlike adventure, singing along with the Pumpkin King to songs from the feature-length film. Guests may even encounter Oogie Boogie himself, among other holiday tricks and treats at this show. It also runs multiple times during this party, so you’re bound to find the perfect time to celebrate both holidays!
And finally, if you’re a big fan of the Disney Movie Magic projection show at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood Studios, then you’ll enjoy this holiday take on it. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! is a dazzling nighttime spectacular show focusing on some heartwarming holiday moments from some favorite Disney movies. With this show, there’s also an amazing display of fireworks, lasers, lights, projections, and festive music that can only be seen at Disney Jollywood Nights! It’s definitely a spectacular show to behold, you cannot miss it!
Reading all this back is really tempting me to book a little last-minute confirmed reservation to Orlando to kick off this festive season! There’s so much to see and do at both parties, it’s so hard to decide which one you couldn’t possibly skip. Disney really knows how to celebrate the Holidays, so you cannot go wrong with celebrating the festive season at Walt Disney World with both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Disney Jollywood Nights!
~Elyse