Jollywood Nights 2025: What to Expect and What Not to Miss

If you’re planning on or considering Jollywood Nights this year, you’re in for one of the most delightfully unique experiences Disney has to offer. Jollywood Nights brings together nostalgic glamour, standout entertainment, and top tier seasonal food, with an extra sprinkle of rare characters, low attraction wait times, and festive party exclusive experiences. Hollywood Studios glows with that vintage holiday sparkle, and the entire night feels like stepping into a cinematic Christmas postcard. But here’s the key: you’ll need to do a bit of planning ahead and prioritize what matters most to you, because even with shorter attraction lines and special offerings, you won’t be able to do it all in a single party.

In its third year, Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed holiday event that takes place at Hollywood Studios after regular park closing. It’s geared more towards adults than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party over in Magic Kingdom, but there were definitely things for kids and families to enjoy too.

Rare Character Meet and Greets

Millennials get ready, because all your favorite characters from the 90s are at this party. We’re talking Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers, Phineas and Ferb, Powerline Max, and more. Many of these characters rarely appear in the parks, which makes these meet and greets feel extra special. Lines look long (and a few actually are), but they tend to move quickly all night. The characters with the longest lines all night were Bing Bong, Partysaurus Rex, Chewbacca in his Life Day outfit, and Santa Duffy. This is one area where prioritizing early in the evening (and getting in line as soon as possible) makes a big difference, especially if meeting harder to find characters is high on your list.

Insider Tip: Get in line a few minutes before the party officially begins to maximize your time. Even a small head start can save you valuable minutes later.

A Foodie Experience that Feels Like an EPCOT Festival

If you love EPCOT festivals, you’ll feel right at home at Jollywood Nights! The food and beverages were genuinely impressive with creative, flavorful offerings spread around the park and a festival-like buzz in the air. Some highlights include:

• Holiday Dill-ight Martini – Tune-In Lounge
  It might seem shocking (and maybe a little questionable at first glance) but this drink was surprisingly refreshing and festive. It largely tasted of lime with a hint of sweet relish. The lead creative mixologist shared that he was inspired by the tradition of hiding a pickle ornament in a Christmas tree.
• Sleigh Bell Brussel Sprouts – Backlot Express
  This was hands down our favorite food item! The brussels sprouts were perfectly crispy with bourbon onion jam that complemented the flavor perfectly.
• Miss Piggy Strawberry Glam – Hollywood Scoops
  If you’re a fan of strawberry, this is the dessert for you! Strawberry ice cream and strawberry cheesecake in the cutest souvenir cup – what’s not to love? Maybe the boba popping pearls.

Shows that Steal the Spotlight

You can’t talk about Jollywood Nights without mentioning the Holidays in Hollywood stage show. This was truly the best entertainment of the night. It’s funny, full of characters (hosted by Kermit and Miss Piggy), packed with incredible song and dance numbers, and beautifully produced. The stage setting evokes classic Hollywood holiday specials with twinkling lights and big musical moments.

If shows are important to you, make this one a non-negotiable in your plan. The earlier shows are more crowded with the later shows allowing you to arrive 15-20 minutes early. You’ll find other excellent entertainment throughout the park, but this is one we encourage you to make time for!

Pixar Disco: A Party You Didn’t Know You Needed

The Pixar Disco was such a fun surprise! High energy and full of characters who pull you right into the moment. You can jam out with your Pixar favorites like Mike Wazowski, Frozone, Edna Mode, and Sadness. The lighting and projections give it a lively club feel with a playful Pixar twist.

This event closes briefly during Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!, the nightly fireworks, and we found it most crowded right when it reopened afterwards. Even if you aren’t a dance party person, plan to stop by and watch for a bit. You might stay longer than you expect!

Low Wait Times for Rides

One of the big perks of Jollywood Nights is the lower wait times on attractions. It’s a great opportunity to hop on your favorites, but remember: rides are the easiest thing to do any day at Hollywood Studios. The party-exclusive experiences like characters, entertainment, and dining are what make Jollywood Nights special, and the things you can’t replicate during normal park hours. Use rides as fillers, not your priority, though it’s hard to resist 15-minute waits on Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash!

You Can’t Do it All, So Choose Wisely

The biggest mistake guests make at this event is going in without a plan.

Because the party is packed with great offerings, it’s impossible to experience every headliner in one night. Decide ahead of time what matters most to you:

• Rare character meet and greets
• Jollywood-exclusive food and cocktails
• Shows and entertainment
• Select attractions
• Strolling and soaking up the atmosphere

Choose two or three top priorities and build your night around them. Anything extra becomes a bonus.

Why Booking With a Be Our Guest Vacations Travel Professional Matters

Jollywood Nights is one of the most festive, creative, and genuinely fun holiday events Walt Disney World has added in years. From rare characters to incredible entertainment to food that rivals EPCOT festivals, this party feels fresh and elevated. It is absolutely worth attending as long as you go in with a plan.

That’s where working with a Be Our Guest Vacations travel professional makes a real difference. We stay on top of party updates, food reviews, character locations, and entertainment schedules so you don’t have to. When you book with us, you get our exclusive party guide and personalized strategy built around your family’s priorities – whether that’s rare characters, festival-style dining, low-wait attractions, or soaking up all the holiday vibes.

We help you focus on the experiences that matter most so you never waste precious party time guessing where to go next. And best of all? Our services are absolutely free to you.

If you want a Jollywood Nights plan that feels effortless, efficient, and perfectly tailored to your family, a BOGV travel planner makes all the difference.