Disney Jollywood Nights is hands-down my favorite part of the holidays at Walt Disney World! I look forward to it all year long and prefer it over Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. From the unique entertainment and low wait times, to the incredible food and festive atmosphere, Jollywood Nights feels like a special event. I’ve attended Jollywood Nights the past three years and decided it was finally time to bring my entire family, including my four-year-old son! If you’ve never attended Jollywood Nights or are considering bringing the whole family, here’s what I’ve learned –
There Are A Lot of Families at Jollywood
Disney Jollywood Nights has become synonymous with “date night” or a Christmas party for the adults. This is likely due to the the specialty cocktail menus and the opportunity to dress up for a night at a Disney Park. However this year I saw a LOT of families with kids of all ages. I even noticed there seems to be less focus on live music and more on character interactions like multiple themed dance parties. If you think Jollywood is just for the adults, head over to Toy Story Land during the party. You’ll see plenty of young families plus special character interactions like Bo-Peep and Partysaurus Rex.
The Low Wait Times Are Better Than Lightning Lane
Speaking of Toy Story Land, the wait times are LOW! Both Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania! are walk-ons and Slinky Dog Dash is 30-minutes or less. If you have young Star Wars fans, the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a walk-on and Rise of the Resistance is 30-minutes or less. For most of the night, you can also walk right on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
While not for the little kids, the low wait times also allow the parents to easily fit in big attractions like Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Starring the Muppets and The Twilight Zone Tower or Terror. Simply see a Cast Member at the Lightning Lane entrance and get a return time for the “rider swap” program.
The Entertainment Will Dazzle Your Kids Too
My son loves both The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Muppets. Jollywood Nights is a very rare occasion to see both as a stage show. While both What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along and Disney Holidays in Hollywood are enjoyable for adults and offer something special for kids. In fact, the audience for What’s This? was mostly families with young children when we attended. Never underestimate the way kids love The Nightmare Before Christmas!
The Jollywood firework show, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, is also perfect for young children. The show mostly features Disney movie projections and the fireworks are not as intense as those at the Magic Kingdom. For kids who don’t love the crowds and the loud noises of Disney fireworks, this show is perfect. The crowds are much lower compared to other fireworks shows, meaning no need to stake out a spot an hour in advance. My tip – get your kids excited for Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! by watching Prep & Landing on Disney+. It’s an underrated Christmas classic with four movies to watch.
Plan Appropriately
This year, Jollywood changed its entertainment times making it possible to see shows early into the event. For visiting with kids, I would recommend either seeing What’s This? at 6:30 PM or Disney Holidays in Hollywood at 7:00 PM. This means you can see the shows early into the evening if you don’t want your little ones out until the park closes at 12:30 AM.
You’ll also likely want to make sure your kids have had dinner before the event begins. The Jollywood-specific menu items can’t be modified and if you have a picky eater, it’s harder to find something. If your kids get hungry during Jollywood, Woody’s Lunchbox, Rosie’s All-American Cafe, and Catalina Eddie’s are all open with their regular menu.
As with any Disney event, the night goes quickly and it’s impossible to fit everything in. Having a plan and prioritizing things like shows, rides, and character meet and greets is essential. Including your kids on the conversation is both fun trip prep and helps set expectations.
The Verdict
My entire family, including my parents, sister, and son, had a great first visit to Disney Jollywood Nights! We all agreed it’s now our family tradition and we’ll prioritize attending again next year. The party has a wide-variety of offerings and feels much more relaxed than a special event at the Magic Kingdom. We got a healthy dose of holiday magic and my son is still wearing his Jollywood wristband with pride! Jollywood Nights is also less expensive than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and runs all the way until January 5th.
Let us know in the comments if your kids love Disney Jollywood Nights or if you have any questions about planning your visit!
