The Holidays Go Hollywood – Your Guide to Disney Jollywood Nights!

Posted:  Events Holidays Parties

All the glitter and glamour of the holidays make Hollywood Studios shine extra brightly during Disney Jollywood Nights

Silver tinsel garlands with sparkling stars and colorful ornaments are hung above the crowds entering Disney Jollywood Nights down Hollywood Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park.

Now in its third year, this party celebrates the season with a Tinsel Town twist, so let’s talk about what you can expect at this festive fiesta! 

A hand holds up a map pamphlet for Disney Jollywood Nights in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree. The front of the pamphlet features Mickey and Minnie Mouse in seasonal outfits.

From exclusive entertainment to specialty character meet-and-greets, seasonal snacks, and event-themed merchandise, there is a lot to enjoy during Disney Jollywood Nights. My personal favorite has GOT to be the incredible shows guests can check out as they party the night away, so let’s start there! 

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy perform in white holiday-themed costumes during the Disney Holidays in Hollywood show.

Disney Holidays in Hollywood is back for 2025 as Kermit, Miss Piggy, and other beloved Disney characters put on a vibrant variety show full of singing, dancing, and more! This show takes place at the Theater of the Stars, where you’d usually find Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. It features a full live band, tons of dancers, and plenty of holiday cheer, sure to leave you smiling! There are multiple performances each night, and I recommend arriving early for a good seat. It’s definitely a popular show!

Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and other performers dance in red and white seasonal costumes during the Disney Holidays in Hollywood show.

Two performers on stage react to the film clip and song about Christmas traditions playing on-screen during the What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing Along!

Up next is my personal favorite part of Jollywood Nights: What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing Along! This one is found over at the Hyperion Theater, where you’d usually be singing along to songs from Frozen, but during Jollywood Nights, the space transforms to tell the tale of Jack Skellington discovering the traditions and magic of Christmas. With appearances from Jack, Oogie Boogie, and lots of chances to sing along to your favorite songs from the film, this show is full of fun!

A life-sized Jack Skellington puppet performs on stage as part of the What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing Along!

The entertainment doesn’t stop there! Make sure you check out the ice-skating show Glisten! With a rink set up on Hollywood Boulevard near Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, champion skaters perform rousing routines. It’s such a unique experience to see an outdoor skating show in Florida, and you won’t be able to help tapping your toes to the soundtrack!

Skaters dressed in gold and white holiday season costumes perform in front of the Chinese Theatre during Glisten! The set and Chinese Theatre in the background are decorated with colorful Christmas imagery.

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! is also a fan-favorite returning this year! This festive, upbeat holiday extravaganza features a great soundtrack, lasers, projections, fireworks, and tons of clips from Disney holiday classics like “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, and “Prep & Landing”. Keep 10:00pm open on your schedule, as you won’t want to miss it!

Red and green lasers fill the sky over the Chinese Theatre at Disney’s Hollywood Studios along with glittering fireworks during a showing of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!

The Chinese Theatre at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is lit up with colorful Christmas projections as fireworks and lasers sparkle in the sky during Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!

Of course, a party also needs dancing, and don’t you worry, there’s plenty of opportunities for party-goers to cut a rug! If you’re looking to boogie down, be sure to check out the Holiday Fiesta en la Calle, where you can dance to some Latin-inspired holiday tunes along with Miguel from Coco, and Jose Carioca or Panchito from The Three Caballeros. There’s also the Pixar Disco over at Pixar Plaza, where you might spot Edna Mode, Frozone, Joy, Mike Wazowski, and more dancing the night away!

Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. dances with event guests at the Pixar Disco during Disney Jollywood Nights.

If you love Tower of Terror like I do, I also highly recommend checking out the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club! A group of live musicians straight out of the golden age of Hollywood perform seasonal swing songs in the courtyard outside the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Party guests can enjoy a dance or two, sip on a themed specialty bevvy at the nearby bar, and soak up the glamourous vibes. It’s another one of my personal favorite features Jollywood has to offer!

A trio of musicians and a singer all dressed in glamorous formal outfits perform live outside the Tower of Terror attraction as part of the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club during Disney Jollywood Nights.

Dancers perform during the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club during Disney Jollywood Nights. Both are dressed in sparkling, white, retro-designed costumes; one a tuxedo and the other a gown and feather-trimmed elbow gloves.

Beyond all the spectacular entertainment, there are many merry meet-and-greet opportunities with characters, some you don’t see every day! Over by Echo Lake, you’ll find Phineas and Ferb, Max Goof in his Powerline costume, Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers, Santa Stitch, and more! In other spots around the park, you might also spot Donald and Daisy Duck, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Santa Duffy, Lotso, Grogu, and other favorite Disney friends.

Max Goof in his Powerline outfit poses in front of a colorful Christmas tree at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Disney Jollywood Nights.

After you’ve hit the dancefloor, enjoyed the park’s attractions, and taken in some sensational seasonal performances, you’ll have surely developed an appetite! Not to worry, Jollywood Nights has got you covered with lots of specialty snacks, drinks, and dining opportunities! Favorites such as the Christmas Gertie cookie and Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby are back for 2025, and other locations around the park feature festive menus filled with delicious drinks and treats during the party. Trust me, there’s no shortage of ways to eat, drink, and be merry during the party!

A hand holds up the menu for the food and drink offerings at Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby during Disney Jollywood Nights.

A hand holds up a brown bag full of plant-based Gingerbread Bites. The bag is decorated with a sticker of Ollie the jolly gingerbread man.

If you want to commemorate your night with a special souvenir, themed merchandise is, of course, available for purchase. The party’s mascot, Ollie, the jolly gingerbread man, can be found on all kinds of trinkets from bags to pins, tumblers to Spirit Jerseys, and more. You’ll want to leave some time to browse the shelves for sure!

A hand holds a pair of Minnie ears in front of a sign for Disney Jollywood Nights. Each ear is designed to look like the party’s mascot, Ollie the jolly gingerbread man, with a candy-inspired brown bow in the center.

An ornament featuring Ollie the jolly gingerbread man standing next to a sign of his name is displayed for sale during Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

One of the coolest things that’s new for 2025 is the party’s earlier start time! The event kicks off at 5:30pm, so guests have even more time to enjoy all the glitz and glam around the park. Many of the park’s popular attractions are open during the party as well, so it can be a great chance to take advantage of lower wait times for rides such as Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, and more!

Ollie the jolly gingerbread man is seen wearing his blue jacket playing a gingerbread saxophone under some palm trees in a store window display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

I will say, it is a very different experience and vibe than the long-running Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. Both events are packed full of Disney magic and merry-making, but I have to admit that Disney Jollywood Nights was my favorite of the two events in 2024. Kids of all ages are, of course, welcome at both parties, but I would probably recommend Jollywood for those traveling with older kids or for those who would prefer a bit more of a laid-back experience. If you’re also a movie buff and fan of all things pop culture and entertainment like me, Disney Jollywood Nights is probably going to be right up your alley!

A tall Christmas tree with colorful decorations and lights is displayed next to a water fountain and feature at Disney’s Hollywood Studios under a clear night sky.

No matter how you celebrate the magic this year, we hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!

~Stacy 

Mickey and Minnie Mouse pose together in red and white holiday outfits during a performance of Disney Holidays in Hollywood during Disney Jollywood Nights.

 

DVC Rentals Magical Hat