Jingle Bell Jingle BAM?

[1GoldenSun]

Is this any good? Also, it doesn't look like it costs extra, am I correct on this? It looks like just the dessert party costs extra, and you get reserved seating. Where does this show take place and is the reserved seating worth paying for the dessert party? I thought the Fantasmic dinner package was worth it, but there are only so many desserts we can eat for $79, and we hardly drink at all.

I LOVE anything to do with Christmas, but am not usually much into shows (for instance I'm not that impressed with Fantasmic) so I don't know if this Jingle Bell thing is something I want to try to do or not.

I really miss the Osborne Festival of Lights. Nothing will ever be as good as that. Sigh.

 

[1GoldenSun]

From the pictures it kind of looks like the show takes place where the Star Wars show is, kind of in front of the Chinese theatre. Is this right? So where would the Dessert Party seating be?

 

[OB1]

Agree with OP - miss the Osborne Lights. We were there in DEC for a goodbye viewing for us, and navigated the insane crowds.

This show is a projector show on the Chinese Theater. It pulls in animation from Christmas past - Like Prep & Landing, as well as classic characters. I have not personally seen it, but reviews were positive and the clips I have watched looked good.

As for the dessert party, it depends on how much you can eat. Like you, we won't drink much, so I think this is a high expense for seats. I have found that for just a few people you can find a decent spot to watch 15 minutes out unless it is major peak season. On our recent trip at the end of May, we found a great spot about 10 minutes out (just 2 of us).

 

[CAS239]

This year's show is different from last year's. Mainly disappointed reviews from last year's show and many wanted the star wars fireworks instead. So we'll have to see how this show is

It's done on the Chinese theater and I believe the reserved area will be off to the left side. I believe it's standing only, chairs, but I could be wrong on that

 

[cgattis]

We found it to be incredibly lame, and we love shows, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Prep and Landing. As PP said, I'm personally still quite bitter that a big part of our trip was to see the SW fireworks (since we'd had a trip booked for SWW when they cancelled THAT), and then it was snatched out from under us and replaced with JBJB. But aside from that, the "story" they stitched together was pathetic. At the end, my teen kids said "is that it??) Hopefully they've changed it up, and if you're spending the whole day at HS, it's probably worth staying for. Unless, also like last year, pretty much every attraction except RNRC and TOT are closed nearly two hours before showtime.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Disclaimer: it rained (literally the only time i rained the entire trip) during the show, so that could have affected our experience.

We did the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM dessert party. Upon arriving at the location, we were directed to go to the Disney Junior building, as the forecast was calling for rain. We actually liked the indoor location better, although it was very dimly lit. The selection was...strange. There was a weird antipasto, some kind of meatballs, and a few other savory selections. For dessert there was some kind of chocolate cake with a cream cheese frosting, a peppermint mocha cupcake, some gingerbread thumbprint cookies, and some other things. Overall, it was weird. It felt like a cheap cocktail party and there were too many "holiday-themed" treats. I would have been content with a chocolate and vanilla cupcake decorated in holiday colors rather than a peppermint mocha. I would have loved sugar or snickerdoodle cookies, rather than gingerbread. Could have done without the savory. I will say—solid selection of drinks. The bartenders were very good, although, inconsistent with their pours.

The CMs were fantastic. They kept things organized. The handler for Santa Goofy brought him to each table and made sure everyone got photos. They kept the viewing area open to just dessert party guests and were handing out water bottles. They also provided special glasses, which may have been the best part.

The show was "cute" but underwhelming. Not enough fireworks and not a great story. It was confusing—there were those elves, then Oogey Boogey is on the building... nothing special.

We'd definitely go again, but wouldn't do the dessert party.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Hmmmm...it sounds like it may be worth catching if we're in the park at the time, but not making a special trip for, and I think we'll definitely skip the dessert party.

We're only doing one park-hopping day this holiday season, visiting all four parks, so I'm trying to decide which one I want to spend our evening hours in. They all seem to feel more Christmasy after dark. If they still had the Osborne lights HS would win hands-down, but now I'm not so sure.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Hmmmm...it sounds like it may be worth catching if we're in the park at the time, but not making a special trip for, and I think we'll definitely skip the dessert party.

We're only doing one park-hopping day this holiday season, visiting all four parks, so I'm trying to decide which one I want to spend our evening hours in. They all seem to feel more Christmasy after dark. If they still had the Osborne lights HS would win hands-down, but now I'm not so sure.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

IMO, it comes down to what you prefer. We usually go 12/24-1/1. This year we'll be there one less day/night (going on 12/25.)

We always do one day of DHS in the daytime/EPCOT at night for Illuminations (the holiday version)
Then one day at EPCOT for the World Showcase/Holidays and DHS at nighttime for Fantasmic and at the time, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam.

With DHS running another holiday projection show, we'll probably make the stop over. We've seen Fantasmic a million times. We're going with another family, who vacationed with us in 2015. We'll be looking to show them what's new at the parks and keep the holiday spirit going—so we'll probably do JBJBAM and the Sunset Show. If Fantasmic coincides with the schedule, we'll do that as well.

Would I go out of my way for JBJBAM? Maybe. But that's just because the rain ruined it for us. We have that "well let's see what it's like without the rain" mentality. We'll give anything a second chance. But we definitely would not do or recommend the dessert party, unless they drastically change its offerings.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Im glad you posted this question....as I had debated making a special trip to see Jingle Bam. After seeing last years jingle bam on youtube, honestly I dont think i'll bother making a special trip for it.

 

[Brian Ball]

we have never seen either the jingle bell or fantasmic. If we have to choose only 1, what would you recommend?

Also, what is the sunset show?

 

[CAS239]

we have never seen either the jingle bell or fantasmic. If we have to choose only 1, what would you recommend?

Also, what is the sunset show?

You'd probably want to go with Fantasmic.

What do you mean sunset show?

Edit: I see a pp said sunset show, I think they meant Star Wars because there's no "sunset show"

 

[yulilin3]

I think the sunset show people are talking about is the new protection on tower of Terror.
It'll be Christmas themed vignettes so I'm assuming maybe 5 minutes long, no other info had been given on this new offering

 

[DisneyDork1969]

we have never seen either the jingle bell or fantasmic. If we have to choose only 1, what would you recommend? Also, what is the sunset show?

I believe this is what the person was asking about: Sunset Seasons Greeting at DHS

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/hollywood-studios/sunset-seasons-greetings/

 

[deedubb]

Looks like we get JBJB and Star Wars this year!

 

[minniebeth]

Looks like we get JBJB and Star Wars this year!

Meaning they will show both on the same night?

Ok, I think I just answered my own question~ It looks like yes, as the night I was looking at offers both the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam Dessert Party AND the Star Wars Dessert Party.
We've already done the Star Wars Dessert Party, so I'm looking at the JBJB Dessert Party.
Having the Star Wars show makes it a little more worth it.

 

[deedubb]

Meaning they will show both on the same night?

Ok, I think I just answered my own question~ It looks like yes, as the night I was looking at offers both the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam Dessert Party AND the Star Wars Dessert Party.
We've already done the Star Wars Dessert Party, so I'm looking at the JBJB Dessert Party.
Having the Star Wars show makes it a little more worth it.

Yes, just looked at the Dec 26-30 schedule again. JBJB is at 6:30 every night, and SW is at 10.

 

[minniebeth]

Yes, just looked at the Dec 26-30 schedule again. JBJB is at 6:30 every night, and SW is at 10.

 

[nevergrowup826]

Yes, just looked at the Dec 26-30 schedule again. JBJB is at 6:30 every night, and SW is at 10.

There's no star wars in december at all per the TA calendar

https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDW_TAC_2017Dec.pdf

 

[yulilin3]

There's no star wars in december at all per the TA calendar

https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDW_TAC_2017Dec.pdf

that is not correct, look here
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/star-wars-galactic-spectacular/
SWaGS comes back Dec 15th is dark on the 16th because of the special ticketed event Galactic Nights then back up on the 17th through the 31st

 

[nevergrowup826]

that is not correct, look here
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/star-wars-galactic-spectacular/
SWaGS comes back Dec 15th is dark on the 16th because of the special ticketed event Galactic Nights then back up on the 17th through the 31st

Good, I'm there that week, so i was not happy about SW being gone... why is the TA website SO wrong right now with HS?