Walt Disney World is adding another holiday party to its theme park lineup: Disney Jollywood Nights debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Nov. 11. The resort also has set the dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and announced other festivities, new and returning.
The new Hollywood Studios after-hours, extra-ticket event will take place10 select evenings, winding up Dec. 20. It will include a live holiday special featuring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy at Theater of the Stars, a singalong at Hyperion Theater and a “lively Latin Street Fair,” according to the official Disney Parks Blog. Joining the Muppet duo will be Tiana, Belle, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse.
“We’re going to put on a show that will rival Radio City Music Hall because Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are hosting an all-singing, all-dancing holiday show,” Tom Vazzana, creative director for Walt Disney World Live Entertainment, said at a holiday-oriented media event at Hollywood Studios Thursday night. The show will include a live band with singers and dancers.
In addition, Jollywood will have limited-capacity offerings within the event, one at Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant (a jazz lounge) and one at the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard (“an other-worldly soiree,” Disney says).
At Brown Derby, “there’s going to be a piano in there and accompanist singing piano tunes from the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, all the standards of the era,” Vazzana said. “We’re going to throw this swinging speakeasy party like you’ve never seen.”
The Hyperion singalong will be based on “Nightmare Before Christmas,” with the crowd joining in on “What’s This?” and other tunes.
“We’re going to transform that whole theater. We’re going to dress all the walls. We’re changing up all the scenery … to bring this slightly darkly delicious, surreal, singalong through Tim Burton’s mind,” Vazzana said.
Other Jollywood features will be character meet-and-greets with holiday props, including Powerline Max and Phineas and Ferb at Echo Lake. Mickey and other icons will be stationed at Animation Courtyard with new settings and costumes.
“We’re opening the studio cases, and there’s going to be never-before-seen backdrops inside,” Vazzana said. “I really wanted to lean into the pop culture, pop icons and be really current with all of our offerings.”
There also will be live entertainment in Commissary Lane.
“We wanted to make each section feel welcoming, and where you can hop from party to party and just get a different vibe from each of the parties. You know, the ‘20s, the ‘50s, a little bit of something for everyone,” Mayra Queris, senior marketing strategy manager for Walt Disney World, said Thursday evening.
There were several sell-outs for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party last year, which may have encouraged this holiday push at Hollywood Studios.
“It’s a little bit more adult,” Queris said. “It’s a different park, and it just gives something else for others to experience.”
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Some Hollywood Studios rides will be available during the Jollywood event, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will use the virtual queue.
Ticket prices will range from $159 to $179 per person. They’ll go on sale July 6 (or June 29 for guests at select Disney World hotels). Party dates are Nov. 11, 18, 20, 27, 29 and Dec. 4, 6, 16, 18 and 20.)
Pictures: Disney announces “Jollywood Nights” for 2023 holidays at Hollywood Studios
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will take place at Magic Kingdom Nov. 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21,22, 26, 28, 30 and Dec. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22. Ticket prices will range from $159 to $199, and they will also go on sale July 6 (or, again, June 29 for guests at select Disney World hotels).
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The Very Merry lineup will include “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration” stage show and “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.” Among the open rides will be Tron Lightcycle / Run roller coaster, which will use a virtual queue on Very Merry evenings.
Other holiday festivities revealed Thursday include “Frozen Holiday Surprise,” billed as a new way to illuminate Cinderella Castle. (This will happen during regular park hours and during Very Merry.)
It’s not a return of the Castle Dreamlights look, though.
“It’s not the lights like you used to remember for the lighting of the castle,” Queris said. “It’s more of projections. Think of the spectacular projections that we have on Cinderella Castle today for the fireworks show.”
Returning moments are Epcot’s Candlelight Processional, the Merry Menagerie puppets at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Tower Hotel projections a la Sunset Seasons Greetings and “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam” at Hollywood Studios and the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll.
SeaWorld Orlando says its holiday events will run on select nights starting Nov. 11. Universal Orlando has not posted a holiday schedule yet for 2023.
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