*** Official Jollywood Nights 2024 ***

[scrappinginontario]

Counting down to leaving on Monday, 12/9! Would love to hear from anyone else who has been to JN this year!

You're in the right spot. Many have posted their experiences in this thread. Please read the last pages of this thread for experiences people have already shared.

 

[elgerber]

I don't think I ever posted after we went. We went on the 23rd. We had a blast!!! It was dang cold, but we had so much fun. Dd 28 and I, both liked it better than MVMCP. We loved the Tip Top Club, the shows, the atmosphere, the people dressed up. So much fun. And of course Santa Stitch.

 

[DenaRox]

I went to the one on the 2 and MVMCP on the 3. I liked MVMCP but I LOVED Jollywood. It was such a cool vibe and with much less children the vibe definitely gave off a more adult feel. Even the kids that were there seemed to be more mature in their behaviour (or better parented but that’s a different rant). I know this was asked, there were definitely those who dressed up to the 9’s, but I saw a good amount in regular park clothes and yes, there were people in Disney jammies too . If I had to choose one party (being I no longer have young children) I would pick Jollywood!!!

 

[JoJoGirl]

I was at both parties too and agree with everything you wrote! Jollywood outperformed and MVMCP was good but… a little chaotic with kids and stroller pushers run amok. I ended up leaving early - the first time ever. Hope it was just a crazy night.

Jollywood was so fun I stayed until after midnight. Kudos to Disney for listening to feedback and upping the game.

eta: I was at Jollywood on 12/2 and MVMCP on 12/3.

 

[Lesverts]

I did MVMCP on Sunday followed by Jollywood Nights on Monday. It was the coldest I have ever experienced Florida. I bought a ‘spirit Jersey’ (I hate that name) because I was so cold. Would have bought the red zip hoodie I had been seeing but didn’t see them for purchase at the emporium.

My general take away from Jollywood is that it is less focused compared to MVMCP. Instead of the main focus of fireworks and parade there is all these little events.

Tip Top Club would have been better in the event space behind RNRC (where they hosted that villains thing from years and years ago now). Seating and a less crowded area would have been fantastic to make it easier to appreciate the excellent performers

The show with Kermit and Miss Piggy was great. Really enjoyed the production

I am not a nightmare fan so did not go to that. The ice show was cute and unique.

I really did enjoy how almost the whole park was used for the party. Made it a more explore and seek vibe instead of sitting around for hours to wait for the main entertainment. The character interaction was solid. (Though in fairness Disney had signature cards and really good line management at MK for the party there too). As a child when Rescue Rangers was in first run seeing those two was awesome.

I did end up using the party as an after hours even and just hit ride after ride after ride.

I think more improvements need to be made because it just did not measure up to the awe and fun of MVMCP for me. Solid but if I had to choose only one it would be MVMCP

 

[DenaRox]

I was at both parties too and agree with everything you wrote! Jollywood outperformed and MVMCP was good but… a little chaotic with kids and stroller pushers run amok. I ended up leaving early - the first time ever. Hope it was just a crazy night.

I left early too. Well I hopped on 7 dwarfs and saw fireworks from the ride l(so awesome) then left.

Jollywood was so fun I stayed until after midnight. Kudos to Disney for listening to feedback and upping the game.

eta: I was at Jollywood on 12/2 and MVMCP on 12/3.

Makes sense that we had same experience since we went to same party nights ◡̈ maybe you saw me running around in a black dress all night?? Would be cool if our paths crossed ◡̈

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Just saw that our night Dec 21st is now sold out. Worried that the blissful early reports from low crowd parties will not be the case for us at all and it will be a cluster with long waits. We're eating beforehand so not worried about food, but wondering, for folks who have been to busy parties, does this seem like a good/doable plan?

6-7pm rides, Muppet camera photo opp
7:30pm What's This?
8-10pm rides, Tip Top Club party, Pixar party
10:30pm get in line for Santa Duffy
11pm leave park

We don't care about the Christmas show with Kermit, the Ice skating show, or other character meets.

 

[AussieFan8]

If we wanted to try to stop by the HBD lounge after arriving for the event, I assume that the restaurant/lounge is open with the regular menu dining until 7pm when the park closes, and then it switches over to Jazzy Holidays?

 

[Disneydawg74]

If we wanted to try to stop by the HBD lounge after arriving for the event, I assume that the restaurant/lounge is open with the regular menu dining until 7pm when the park closes, and then it switches over to Jazzy Holidays?

I don’t think so. I think it closes at 4:00 or so and reopens for Jazzy Holidays in the evening.

 

[AussieFan8]

I don’t think so. I think it closes at 4:00 or so and reopens for Jazzy Holidays in the evening.

Thanks!

 

[FreeTime]

We attended on the 2nd also. Low crowds was nice. So was seeing very few kids. We rode Midway Mania, Tower of Terror, and Runaway Railway. Watched Nightmare, Kermit and Miss P’s stage show, a few minutes of Glisten, fireworks show, ToT lights display. Visited the Tip Top and found it rather disappointing. Other than that we ate. We would do this again before MVMCP. We haven’t done the CP in several years as it is to chaotic.

 

[japanese maple]

Sorry, wrong thread!

 

[nherbert]

We attended last night, had an absolutely brilliant time. Unlike most our focus was definitely on the rides (we have another booked where we might focus more on the shows). Lots of people were dressed up, not us though.
We were a bit late arriving, due to the DHS bus from POR being delayed - this was our worst wait for a bus at POR all week, normally they are spot on but this one was delayed by 20 minutes. So we left POR right on 6pm, and we had to stand on bus - only time all week we had to stand.
We were surprised when we arrived at DHS and got through security that at almost 6:30pm to be confronted by a large queue waiting to enter, we thought it would be cleared much faster - but we were inside by 6:45.
For the first two hours we were asked to show our wrist bands a lot, after that they must have felt the park was clear of day guests.
Before the party started we did star tours and muppets as they had no wait times. We then went to Galaxy Edge, joined the queue for RoR around 7:30pm - it said 40 minutes but it was a walk on (a long walk though) - all parts were working. We then walked around GE to soak up night time atmosphere and then did smugglers run - we were lucky it was just us 3 in the pod and so my DH and DS both got to be pilots on that run - so we decided not to do it again.
We then headed to toy story land, we wanted food - but there were long queues everywhere almost all night - we hardly had anything to eat all night. Maybe next time we will be more willing to queue for food.
In Toy Story land we did TSM with a 15 minute wait sign but in reality it was closer to 25. We thought about doing slinky but had a 40 minute wait sign and looked it. So we went off to do RRNR which was a walk on, no preshow, we did this twice. After that we headed to fireworks, we did get a chance to get the Kermit smoothie drinks on the way, which were nice and refreshingly cold but we thought had an odd flavor. I wanted the turkey popover but that queue was very long.
We did see the fireworks at 10pm, had a fabulous spot right in the centre. We did feel they crowd managed this event very well, we felt really close to the stage and we weren’t squashed in. Most importantly we got our spot at 9:50pm, so no need to stand around for ages. The firework show was fantastic, glad we didn’t miss it.
We then high tailed it to slinky, but even at 10:30 it was a 35 minute wait. But doing this ride in the dark was worth it.
We then did TSM again with a 15 min wait, and then did aliens swirl with no wait.
Lines for characters never let up all night, almost everyone we saw was at least a 30 minutes wait. The only one we joined was at 11:15 pm for Phineas and Ferb, we hoped by going later it would be quicker which it probably was as the early queues were probably an hour, we waited at least 45 minutes (they swapped out the CMs 4 times while we were in queue) - once right before it was our turn.
We ended the night on MMRR at around midnight, this was brand new to us and a great way to end the night. It was a walk on and This ride is so much fun, we would have done it again but by this time it was 12:20 and our legs were so sore.
We headed for the bus, got our marshmallows on the way, just as we exited we saw a POR bus go around the curve, so we had to run - but it waited for us as he could see us trying and our DS made good time, I was a very slow runner at that time. Glad we made the effort, we had a nearly empty bus so we didn’t have to stand - the next one would have been very crowded. We were asleep by 1am!
Absolutely worth it in our eyes, got to do all the rides we wanted - we could have done more twice if we wanted but chose to keep moving to different things. Next time we might focus on more shows and food, but suspect DS will be more ride focused again.

 

[pixiedust2u]

We were at Jollywood Nights last night Saturday 12/8. We are a family of 4, with two kids 10&7. We were allowed in as soon as we got there 5:45ish? Headed straight to Fantasmic, got a great spot. Getting out of Fantasmic was the usual chaos, they eventually have party guests veer off to the right and enter back into the park. It wasn’t quite 7:30, so although lines for character started they weren’t out yet. We used the time to ride MMRR with a 10 minute wait.

Once the party got underway, we did a little of everything. Lines for character meets were super long initially, so instead we grabbed some snacks, did some photo pass photos, went to the Pixar Dance Party (so fun)!! We did the 9:15 Hollywood Christmas show with Kermit & Miss Piggy ( we all enjoyed!) After the show we grabbed another snack and drink and sat a table, caught a little of the Fireworks Show, then headed over to Rise and rode, with only a 15 minute wait. The ride went down right after us so we got lucky! We then headed to Toy Story Land, met Bo Peep. We then did some more characters with 10-15 minute waits (Chip & Dale, Jimney Cricket). Then rode Slinky Dog (10m) TSM (walk on), and met Pluto and Goofy. We closed the night out with one last dance with Sadness at the Pixar Dance Party! We all had a great time! We left at 12:30, promptly got a bus back to Swan.

My ONLy disappointment is the merch situation. They have one extremely small section of one store for merch, and there’s not a lot of it. We went about 2 hours into the party and they were sold out of pins my 10 year old was so disappointed, it’s all she wanted and she doesn’t ask for much. The cast members felt really bad for her….

Why does Disney do this? They know how many tickets they sell, they manage to have plenty of pins for say Festival of the Holidays. You are already paying extra for the exclusiveness of the party, don’t make people have to rush to a merch line, spend party time sitting in line, then enter a chaotic tiny store for a pin or else you don’t get one? Wrong. I thought about getting her one off market, but I can’t see paying the 60-70$ for one. If Disney sold enough, then the value of the ones people sell after market wouldn’t be there. I don’t get it. With that being said, if anyone has an upcoming JN party and wouldn’t mind grabbing a pin I’d be happy to Venmo you cost for pin and shipping.

Hope everyone enjoys party! Happy to answer any other questions!

 

[Chirple]

We did the party on 12/2, but we also had a park reservation so arrived well before 6 pm. At 6 we got our wristbands by MV3D and then headed directly to the merchandise location. My timing was good because I did not have to wait in a queue. I was able to get a spirit jersey and a t-shirt (all sizes available for both) and the Ollie Lug bag. I wasn't looking for a pin, but my friend who went there later in the evening wanted one and was disappointed none were left; therefore, I cannot say whether they even had them at 6.

I noticed last year during MVMCP that they were out of stock on a number of items early in December, but this year there was a better quantity. I tend to go during crossover and then stuff everything in a locker.

 

[Evansvillegirl26]

Had so much fun at Jollywood! Character lines were quick and organized. Shows were fantastic! Food was great. Walked on to TOT 3 times in a row and mickeys railway 2 times with no wait. Can’t wait for next year.

 

[japanese maple]

We enjoyed last night at Jollywood a heck of a lot more than Christmas party! Much less chaotic and I think a lot more festive! Hollywood Studios is the best decorated park for Christmas by far.

 

[Dawn Albert]

Just got tickets for 6 of us on 12/18
Whoohoo!

 

[pangyal]

I LOVE LOVE LOVED my 12/2 party! I even got an elevator to myself on TOT. I texted my husband to tell him I’d peaked in life.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Why does Disney do this? They know how many tickets they sell, they manage to have plenty of pins for say Festival of the Holidays. You are already paying extra for the exclusiveness of the party, don’t make people have to rush to a merch line, spend party time sitting in line, then enter a chaotic tiny store for a pin or else you don’t get one? Wrong. I thought about getting her one off market, but I can’t see paying the 60-70$ for one. If Disney sold enough, then the value of the ones people sell after market wouldn’t be there. I don’t get it. With that being said, if anyone has an upcoming JN party and wouldn’t mind grabbing a pin I’d be happy to Venmo you cost for pin and shipping.

Hope everyone enjoys party! Happy to answer any other questions!

I'll look when we go but we're going to the very last party so I doubt they'll have any more in stock unless they get a new shipment in.