There are two enormous vacation season exhausting ticket occasions at Walt Disney World: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering in Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights in Hollywood Studios. This compares and contrasts MVMCP and DJN to see which is healthier for characters, fireworks, leisure, crowds, and extra.
Now that tickets to each Christmas events at Walt Disney World are on sale for 2024, we thought it will be time to make this comparability so you’ll be able to decide which is perhaps best for you. With that stated, it does include a few asterisks. First, Jollywood Nights developed and improved final yr over the course of the season. We’re thus judging it primarily based on the top of its run final yr relatively than the start.
Second, Jollywood Nights is making much more adjustments and additions for Christmas 2024. We’re assuming it’ll be higher because of this, however that actually doesn’t issue into the classes that every social gathering “wins” and even the final word verdict. However, it’s an incomplete or imperfect comparability, which is nearly as good as you’re going to get if you’d like one thing sensible that will help you resolve which tickets to buy. In the event you await our precise evaluations of the 2024 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering and Jollywood Nights, there’s an opportunity your dates will already be bought out.
One remaining factor we wish to warn in opposition to is baked in biases of Walt Disney World diehards. This cuts each methods. On the one hand, plenty of followers maintain great nostalgia for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering, having skilled it over the course of a long time. This consists of us–it’s been annual custom since 2007. We’ve made so many nice reminiscences on the occasion and maintain a lot sentimentality in direction of it that I can’t think about not doing MVMCP…at the same time as ticket costs explode and never a lot adjustments.
Then again, there are those that are, basically, the precise reverse. They’ve been across the block with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering, and are prepared for one thing new. Disney Jollywood Nights is new. It is rather, very totally different from MVMCP. Because of this, plenty of longtime followers who really feel that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering is drained or stale is perhaps predisposed to preferring Jollywood Nights on the idea of it being contemporary and new-to-them.
However that’s the viewpoint of a blogger, vlogger, or Walt Disney World diehard fan. It’s not consultant of the common attendee and even the extra informal fan who visits occasionally. Whereas everybody clearly has biases, that’s our viewpoint when making this try at an goal comparability between Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering and Disney Jollywood Nights: which ought to an rare or first-time Walt Disney World visitor attend?
Time: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering – Walt Disney World is shifting in the correct course with Disney Jollywood Nights, making it a 5-hour vacation social gathering from 7:30 pm to 12:30 am in 2024, with the mix-in permitting occasion ticket holders to enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios as early as 6:00 pm.
That’s nonetheless inferior to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. The occasion length is equivalent at 5 hours, albeit from 7:00 pm to midnight. The distinction is the mix-in, which permits MVMCP ticket holders to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 pm. That further 90 minutes offers visitors time to knock out favourite points of interest with brief waits, seize a meal, or in any other case discover the park at Walt Disney World with probably the most issues to do.
Meals: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering – No refreshments are included with the value of your occasion ticket to Disney Jollywood Nights. That is in sharp distinction to After Hours, a serious promoting level of which is the limitless bottled drinks, ice cream novelties, and popcorn from out of doors merchandising carts.
It’s additionally a departure from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering, which affords “free” limitless Christmas cookies, sizzling chocolate, and different vacation refreshments. MVMCP additionally affords particular menus at numerous counter service eating places and snack stands, though that is hardly one of many principal options of the occasion.
Oddly sufficient, one of many principal promoting factors of Disney Jollywood Nights is “shimmering sips and sensational sweets.” The issue is that it is a promoting level, fairly actually, for Disney. They wish to promote you extra meals when you’re on the occasion. We discovered a few of that meals to be advantageous, however actually, we’re not paying over $100 or utilizing our restricted social gathering time to spend much more cash on meals. We doubt many visitors are. The free cookies and sizzling cocoa at MVMCP are the way in which to go–and what Disney Jollywood Nights ought to be doing, too.
Parade: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering – That is a simple one since solely Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering has a parade within the first place, so it wins by default. In the event you love parades, MVMCP is the Christmas social gathering you must select.
However let’s fake, for no matter motive, that you just’re on the fence in regards to the ‘significance’ of this class. Possibly you’re not essentially a parade particular person, however are open to watching one if it’s actually good.
Mickey’s As soon as Upon A Christmastime Parade (MOUACP) is basically good. It has marching toy troopers, dancing reindeer and gingerbread males, and ever the massive man himself, Ole Saint Nick! Calling MOUACP actually good is an understatement. It has iconic floats, characters, moments and music.
It’s prolonged and satisfying, with no filler–each unit is great, making for a parade that by no means overstays its welcome and truly leaves you wanting extra. About the one “weak point” of Mickey’s As soon as Upon A Christmastime Parade is that 90% of it existed a decade or two in the past. So for some Walt Disney World followers, it feels drained and overdue for a alternative. To that, I say don’t repair what isn’t damaged. What number of Walt Disney World followers imagine the alternative for Vacation Needs is an precise improve? Briefly, watch out what you would like for.
Mickey’s As soon as Upon A Christmastime Parade is likely one of the finest items of leisure at Walt Disney World, and is an absolute must-see. From the toy troopers marching in formation to the pleasant character costumes to reindeer dancing in entrance of Santa–and a lot extra. Mickey’s As soon as Upon A Christmastime Parade is cozy and charming, a enjoyable and memorable parade that’s bursting with vacation spirit.
Fireworks: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering – This can be a nearer name than it ought to be. 9 instances out of 10, fireworks at Magic Kingdom will win over these at Hollywood Studios as a result of the easy actuality is that explosions over Cinderella Fort have baseline attraction.
Fireworks above Cinderella Fort is likely one of the definitive experiences at Walt Disney World, and as long as the music is sweet sufficient, the vast majority of visitors will take pleasure in it. That’s how Disney Enchantment managed first rate visitor satisfaction scores general regardless of being very low relative to previous Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals.
Comparable story right here. Minnie’s Great Christmastime Fireworks are a current addition, and showcase pyro plus projections. Whereas longtime followers would possibly argue that this present is inferior to Vacation Needs in some methods, it’s ok. Just like the music “Great Christmastime,” it’s schmaltzy and foolish. (My unpopular opinion about each the fireworks and the music is that they’re good, really. However I do know there are many haters on the market.)
It’s an identical story with the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! fireworks at Disney Jollywood Nights. This nighttime spectacular primarily based on “Prep & Touchdown” has its moments and is polarizing amongst followers. Personally, I like Minnie’s Great Christmastime Fireworks much more–however by no means say no to both of those reveals.
It additionally helps that Minnie’s Great Christmastime Fireworks has much more pyro–together with perimeter bursts that encompass Cinderella Fort. On steadiness, not solely is Minnie’s Great Christmastime Fireworks the superior present, however in a contest between two nighttime spectaculars that garner blended evaluations, the Magic Kingdom fireworks will all the time beat the Disney’s Hollywood Studios fireworks.
Stage Exhibits: Disney Jollywood Nights – Now we flip to the straightforward win for Disney Jollywood Nights, which has three stage reveals to the one at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. In relation to DJN, the third of those stage reveals is described by Walt Disney World as a stunning new skating spectacular set to vacation tunes, that includes grace and ability of worldwide champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the normal ice present.
This can be a wild card, with its high quality, scale and scope all being unknowns. But it surely doesn’t matter. Disney Jollywood Nights wins even when we fake the ice skating present doesn’t exist, as its different two stage reveals are each superb to nice.
The spotlight of the stage reveals throughout DJN is Holidays in Hollywood, a vignette selection displaying that includes appearances from particular visitor stars, together with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Tiana, Belle, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse—accompanied by a gifted forged of singers, dancers and jazz musicians. Holidays in Hollywood is incredible. Nice choreography, music, staging–every thing. It’s one of many high 3 seasonal stage reveals in all of Walt Disney World.
The opposite stage present at Disney Jollywood Nights is “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Sing-Alongside.” That is admittedly a bizarre one, because it’s what quantities to a excessive idea sing-along plus puppetry. An odd combine, if I’ve ever seen one. Regardless of that, What’s This? is method higher than you would possibly count on. The silent performers are very good, seeing the Jack Skellington puppet in a theater setting is superior, and Oogie Boogie steals the present. As somebody who hates sing-alongs and is detached to all issues Tim Burton (so I’m hardly goal), I used to be stunned to take pleasure in this a lot.
Over at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering, the lone stage present is now Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration. That is the tried and true Cinderella Fort musical medley stage present, the premise of which doesn’t a lot matter. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is the perfect stage present on this listing (and #2 general after Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular) and it rises to that spot due to an excellent combination of sentimentality and custom plus popular culture and glorious music alternatives. It’s directly precisely what you’d count on and delightfully surprising with one thing for everybody, from children to adults.
Regardless that Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is #1 general, the truth that Disney Jollywood Nights has (not less than) two superb to nice stage reveals to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering’s lone present cements it with the win right here.
Atmospheric Leisure: Disney Jollywood Nights – Disney Jollywood Nights options quite a lot of dance events, swinging soirees, and intimate lounges–with the highlights being Vacation Fiesta en la Calle, Twilight Soirée on the Tip High Membership, and Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby. These three issues, particularly, are plenty of what offers DJN its extra subtle and refined vacation vibe. I may think about spending a complete night dressed up, dancing the night time away and having fun with these grownup experiences. There’s completely nothing like every of that at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering.
Against this, MVMCP does have character dance events like Membership Tinsel and Disney Junior Jingle Jam. Then there are different atmospheric acts, such because the Reindeer Wranglers in Frontierland. Personally, I don’t suppose any of those choices are nearly as good as Twilight Soirée on the Tip High Membership, however the audiences are completely totally different. I’d give the sting, objectively, to Disney Jollywood Nights, however I may see loads of households preferring the atmospheric leisure at MVMCP.
Characters: It Relies upon – This can be a powerful one. Whilst a longtime Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering attendee with plenty of fond reminiscences of the occasion, I really feel the character lineup is stale–and has been for the final decade. It’s downright unhappy that Walt Disney World hasn’t refreshed–or totally overhauled–it. However, once more, I’m attempting to be goal.
Even that’s tough, although. Objectively talking, there are far more characters at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. There are roughly two-dozen distinct meet & greets, with about three-dozen characters complete. Against this, Disney Jollywood Nights is promoting a dozen distinct meet & greets for a complete of “greater than 20 character experiences.” So it appears fairly open and closed, proper?
I’m not so positive. Numerous the characters at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering are additionally accessible throughout an everyday day at Magic Kingdom (typically they’re merely “enhanced” with the addition of scarves). MVMCP has a couple of dozen uncommon characters–which means characters who seldom seem in the course of the day or have distinct costumes (for instance, we’d rely Belle in her winter costume) for the social gathering.
That’s roughly the identical quantity as at Disney Jollywood Nights. And whereas it’s virtually not possible for me to be goal about this, I’m personally extra excited in regards to the uncommon character lineup at DJN. There’s Santa Duffy, Phineas and Ferb, Three Caballeros, Toy Story friends who don’t usually seem, Disney Afternoon characters, Mickey & Buddies in distinctive outfits, and extra. Most first-timers won’t care about this eclectic lineup of deep cuts, although, and thus would possibly favor Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. It’s a extremely powerful name.
Environment: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering – Just by advantage of being within the fort park as a substitute of the studios park, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering has the fast edge to win this. There’s simply one thing about seeing Principal Avenue remodeled for the vacations, with an additional layer of lighting and music on high of the tree, lights, and day by day decor.
One of many issues we routinely discuss up about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering is the distinctive ambiance–our favourite factor in regards to the occasion is just being there. Seeing the snowstorm on Principal Avenue, listening to Jolly Outdated Saint Nicholas in Fantasyland, having fun with the moody lighting and particular projections, free-roaming characters having enjoyable–all of it simply places a smile on my face.
None of that’s nostalgia speaking. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering has mastered its temper, and that’s an enormous motive why so many individuals love that social gathering. Even the lands that aren’t very Christmassy–like Adventureland and Tomorrowland–get into the temper by way of projections, music and extra.
The largest misfire of Disney Jollywood Nights for me final yr was the vibe. A number of areas of Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt like full ghost cities. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge felt like a barren planet. Toy Story Land had nearly nothing happening for Disney Jollywood Nights. The 2 hottest elements of the park supplied nothing.
Even lands that ostensibly have been collaborating in Disney Jollywood Nights have been fairly unhappy. We don’t usually spend a lot time in Animation Courtyard–as a result of why would we?!–and this occasion was reminder of that. It felt like a useless mall attempting to reinvent itself by including a Spirit Halloween Christmas.
Echo Lake was a vibrant spot, however not due to Disney Jollywood Nights–it’s all the time a sleeper in the course of the vacation season. Identical goes for Sundown Boulevard, however that’s as a result of nearly all the substantive choices have been on this space of the park. Hollywood Boulevard was additionally completely nice, however nothing like Principal Avenue.
Solely small pockets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios felt like they have been open for enterprise, a lot much less actively celebrating Christmas. Once more, it is a common ole DHS downside, nevertheless it’s amplified whenever you scale back the park capability and fake there’s a celebration occurring. It simply didn’t have the vitality. A few of this seems it’ll be mounted for the 2024 Disney Jollywood Nights, nevertheless it’s exhausting to fathom it’ll be sufficient to tip the scales.
Crowds: Disney Jollywood Nights – It’s exceeding tough for the common attendee of both of those events to do every thing in a single night time. Likelihood is, you received’t have the ability to meet each single character, see the stage reveals, fireworks, different leisure–by no means thoughts doing rides along with the party-specific stuff. However which is extra difficult? The place are crowds worse?
There’s a model of this the place the reply is “it relies upon.” Somebody on the market may need very particular priorities that make Disney Jollywood Nights the more serious of the 2 occasions for crowds. It will seemingly be the case if consuming or particular meals are your high precedence, because the worst strains final yr throughout DJN have been for the bars. I don’t suppose that’s the common first-timer, although. (Particularly the common first-timer debating between the 2, since MVMCP doesn’t actually have a consuming part.)
For the overwhelming majority of attendees, Disney Jollywood Nights goes to be the much less crowded and laid again expertise. On common, there’s much less congestion, it’s simpler to see the leisure, trip wait instances are minimal, and there are not any areas of the park which have anyplace close to the extent of congestion as Principal Avenue at Magic Kingdom between the primary and final parade.
Even MVMCP isn’t as dangerous as its notion, which is predicated on 2018-2019 when events have been arguably oversold (see final yr’s publish, Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering Much less Crowded?!). Regardless, Disney Jollywood Nights is mostly decrease stress and decrease stakes, extra like an After Hours occasion with a Christmas twist.
Total: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering – In the end, our ‘verdict’ can be that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering is the superior occasion for first-timers or Disney followers who get to the parks on an rare foundation. It’s actually not even a remotely shut name. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering is the quintessential vacation time expertise at Walt Disney World.
A lot in regards to the occasion is iconic, and the idea for advertising supplies for Christmas at WDW. There’s a motive the social gathering hasn’t modified all that a lot within the final decade–since you don’t mess with perfection. Certain, this has resulted in some WDW diehards who’ve gone repeatedly to develop into burnt out and need one thing contemporary–however in the event you’re studying this and are on the fence about which to attend, that in all probability doesn’t describe you!
To make certain, Disney Jollywood Nights has its promoting factors. It’s a extra refined and complex social gathering, in some methods, which will attraction to sure segments of parkgoers, even rare ones. In the event you’re searching for an Outdated Hollywood occasion with the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown in the course of the holidays–full with extra grownup choices and consuming, then a powerful case may very well be made for Disney Jollywood Nights. There’s additionally one thing to be stated for its upstart nature, and the chance that it’ll be markedly improved in 2024 as Disney seems to enhance perceptions (and ticket gross sales). There’s no resting on its laurels in terms of Disney Jollywood Nights, that’s for positive!
It’s not simply doubtlessly larger upside, although. As we realized final yr, there’s additionally extra draw back threat to Disney Jollywood Nights. There’s so much about it that’s taste-specific which will sound nice on paper, however might not resonate with you in particular person. Not solely that, however in solely its sophomore season, there are additionally a ton of unknowns. Amongst these are precise attendance, potential good & dangerous adjustments, strains for the characters and stage reveals, and doubtless extra I haven’t even thought-about.
Possibly Disney Jollywood Nights is price it to you from a risk-reward perspective. It actually is to us, and we’re actually trying ahead to attempting this Christmas social gathering once more in its second yr. Actually, we’re each extra enthusiastic about Disney Jollywood Nights than we’re MVMCP. However I additionally know that I have been a Walt Disney World first-timer and had thus by no means attended both occasion, the one that may be proper for us would, surely, be Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. It’s not even a remotely shut name. MVMCP is so clearly the protected and proper selection for first-timers that this complete publish appears superfluous. Then once more, not everybody has our preferences and priorities, so the point-by-point breakdown will hopefully be useful in serving to others make their resolution about which to attend.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering or Disney Jollywood Nights? Which did you suppose had the higher environment, characters, fireworks, meals, leisure, and many others? Would you relatively spend the night doing an occasion in Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios in the course of the vacation season at Walt Disney World? Do you disagree with any of our recommendation and assessments? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!