Walt Disney World is throwing a model new Christmas get together…and it is geared toward adults.
Many Disney followers already return 12 months after 12 months to the Magic Kingdom for his or her cherished one Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasionthe place sizzling chocolate and characters abound, however this 12 months Disney World launched a brand new occasion: Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Jollywood Nights is model new for 2023 and can solely happen 10 nights this 12 months. It is geared toward Disney adults solely and marketed as a flowery vacation get together. There are vacation meals specials, reside leisure, and character meet-and-greets you’ll be able to solely discover right here. That is additionally certainly one of Disney World’s most costly get together offers.
I attended the inaugural night of the brand new Jollywood Nights night. Here is what it was like and all the pieces it is advisable to know if you wish to go.
What to anticipate from Disney’s Jollywood Nights
This celebration is meant to be a throwback to old-school Hollywood — and attendees are inspired (however not required) to decorate accordingly. It options loads of Fifties vacation glamor, two specialty reveals offered 4 occasions an evening, fireworks, distinctive vacation character reunions, limited-time gala’s and road leisure.
The occasion will run on choose nights via December 20, 2023. Similar to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion, it is a individually ticketed occasion. Costs vary from $159 to $179 per ticket, plus tax. Official get together time is 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with mix-in (that is Disney-speak for whenever you’re allowed into the park with some company nonetheless there) at 7 p.m.
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Specialty experiences solely at Jollywood Nights
With the “main” crowd taking middle stage, the cornerstone (and most high-profile half) of the occasion are two specialty lounges: Jazzy Holidays on the Hollywood Brown Derby and the Twilight Soiree at Tip Prime Membership.
In the course of the get together, Disney’s iconic restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby, transforms right into a jazz membership with reside leisure and a menu of specialty meals and drinks. It operates on a cellular digital queue that opens at 8:15 p.m. within the Walt Disney World app.
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Visitors have to be close to the restaurant to entry this digital waitlist, and there was a crowd on opening night time. It is paying homage to the early days of making an attempt to attain a digital queue for Rise of the Resistance, full with loud cheers from the fortunate ones within the crowd who snagged a reservation.
After touchdown a spot on the waitlist, my group was instantly seated, whereas others who acquired a spot on the waitlist on the similar time needed to wait as much as two hours for a spot . Suffice it to say that some points and inconsistencies associated to the “new get together” made themselves recognized at sure occasions of the night time.
As soon as inside, the expertise – which might final at the very least an hour – felt roughly like a daytime tour, with the addition of a reside pianist and singer. In our day, it principally caught to Disney classics, however we would like to see a full vacation playlist to contribute to the spirit of the occasion.
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Twilight Evening at Tip Prime Membership is themed after the fictional bar from Twilight Zone Tower of Terror lore. Held within the adjoining courtyard exterior the attraction, the occasion includes a reside band and a small pop-up bar providing specialty cocktails. This turned out to be a particularly widespread place and the queue for drinks was over an hour lengthy.
Since there is no such thing as a desk service for this expertise, it may be higher to seize a drink at one other sales space or simply come and benefit from the environment and the group.
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Leisure and characters accessible at Jollywood Nights
Along with specialty experiences, this occasion contains two stage productions: “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” on the Theater of the Stars and “What’s This?” Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Sing-Alongside” on the Hyperion Theater.
Every efficiency was supplied solely 4 occasions through the occasion, and the venue reached capability earlier than every present’s begin time. Though I used to be in a position to get a spot at “Disney Holidays in Hollywood,” arriving early for “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Sing-Alongside” nonetheless did not give me sufficient time to get in.
“Disney Holidays in Hollywood” is a musical and musical selection manufacturing, that includes appearances by beloved Disney characters, together with Belle in her Christmas outfit. It’s hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
“What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Sing-Alongside” is a spirited group manufacturing filled with fan favourite songs from the now iconic movie directed by Jack Skellington.
Along with these reveals, company can take part in an occasion distinctive to any Disney after-hours occasion: particular meet-and-greets with uncommon characters and Disney favorites in vacation apparel.
Every encounter sometimes generated queues with wait occasions between 30 and 60 minutes, the preferred being Phineas and Ferb, which required ready as much as two hours. The Fab 5, together with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, donned vintage-inspired new Hollywood glamor outfits that served because the spotlight.
To recollect this second, you may have entry to free PhotoPass downloads, particular MagicShots and new picture experiences.
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In Commissary Lane, you may discover one other event-specific expertise: Vacation Fiesta en la Calle. This road expertise options reside Latin music celebrating Central and South American vacation traditions, which has confirmed to be a enjoyable place to chill out and take heed to the sounds. There may be additionally a DJ spinning vacation tunes close to the entrance of the park.
Sundown Seasons Greetings additionally returns all through the night time, reworking the Tower of Terror with a vacation projection present because the “snow” falls on Sundown Boulevard.
Lastly, the get together ends with the screening of “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” » at 12:30 a.m. This festive nighttime present is really a fan favourite that we’re glad to see return, because it combines projections, music, lasers and fireworks within the breathtaking setting of the Chinese language Theater. Sadly, it rained throughout our go to, making circumstances lower than splendid for watching the present.
Restricted time eating at Jollywood Nights
Disney has put collectively a strong meals and beverage program for this get together, with a mixture of savory and candy treats accessible at numerous eating places all through the park. Nonetheless, be aware that not one of the treats are included within the value of entry right here: there may be an extra cost for every merchandise you want to pattern.
The lovable Gertie cookie (modeled after the park’s beloved inexperienced dinosaur) was a favourite within the dessert class, and the tasty vacation turkey popover was clearly a savory winner.
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One in every of our favourite cocktails was the 5ème Dimension Royale from Tip Prime Membership. This brightly coloured drink is a fruity model of a margarita topped with prosecco.
Take into account that wait occasions for foods and drinks specials can vary from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, in our expertise, so if having fun with the occasion treats is vital to you, plan accordingly.
Wait occasions for Jollywood Nights points of interest
Many will probably be glad to know that the majority points of interest are open through the occasion. One of many highlights of our night was attending to stroll on a number of fan favourite rides together with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania! and Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster with Aerosmith. It was even straightforward to safe the digital queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which opened its queue at 8 p.m.
Though all Disney after-hours occasions have restricted capability, I didn’t see rapid entry to points of interest till attending Jollywood Nights. This could possibly be as a result of the get together is a brand new occasion and company had been actually targeted on the party-only offers, but when this continues, it could possibly be an enormous promoting level and even a purpose to return again for a uncommon probability to find your favourite rides. and time and again with no need to buy Genie+.
Is Disney’s Jollywood Nights price it?
As with all occasion exterior of Disney Parks hours, it relies upon totally in your tastes and what’s vital to you.
If dressing up in get together apparel and attending a Disney occasion created primarily for adults (though children are welcome) seems like an ideal night time out to your squad, then go for it. For individuals who love Tim Burton or the Muppets, that is an apparent selection. The identical goes for company who love seeing uncommon characters and Disney favorites of their limited-time vacation outfits.
That stated, I recommend having lifelike expectations of what it is possible for you to to do whenever you spend probably the most cash to be there. Strategizing and prioritizing is important for a lot of occasions on the Disney parks, and this new get together is not any exception. With the get together’s brief time-frame, it is inconceivable to expertise all of the characters, leisure, and meals specialties the occasion has to supply.
Hopefully, some expectations will steadiness out as Disney will host just a few extra events like this.
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