Two seasonal events are about to take off at
Both bring a fun and festive experiences, but which one will make your holiday
📢 Follow along on Instagram as we attend opening night of both parties this season! We’ll share live updates, insider tips, and on-the-ground reviews so you get a feel for each before deciding.
Party Details, Dates and Pricing
Both parties are separately ticketed, limited capacity events. Guests are able to enter the prospective parks hours before the celebrations begin, but there’s quite a few differences between them.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Disney Worlds banner flag holiday party, filled with your favorite characters, traditions and more. Parties begin on November 8th and run until just before Christmas, December 20th. With twenty-five parties in total this season.
Festivities begin at 7:00 pm and run through Midnight, but you’re able to enter up to three hours early!
Party tickets range from $179 – $209 for an adult ticket, and $169 – $199 for children. There’s also a $10 discount for Annual Passholders and
Save up to $10 off standard price party tickets, from Undercover Tourist!
Jollywood Nights
The newest holiday event at
Things kick off at 7:30 pm and run through 12:30 am for some late night fun! Similarly to Mickey’s Very Merry, guests can enter the park early but just two and a half hours before.
Unlike Magic Kingdom’s party though, Jollywood Nights does not offer a reduced price child’s ticket. Adult tickets start at $159 and run up to $179 closer to the holiday. DVC members and Annual Passholders can save up to $10 per ticket on any night for the party.
Not eligible for a discount through
Winner: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party With more party dates and reduced pricing for children’s tickets, there’s a clear winner here.
Entertainment at Disney ‘s Christmas Parties
Jollywood Nights: Glitz, Glamour, and Golden-Era Charm
Jollywood Nights debuted last year, with mixed reviews – to put it kindly. But the stand-out star across the board were the stage shows.
Read our full review of the very first Jollywood Nights!
Unique Shows and Holiday-Themed Dance Zones
Entertainment is Jollywood’s defining feature. With a modern and jazzy vibe, the event includes:
- Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-a-Long A fan-favorite, with seasonal songs and moments straight from Halloween Town.
- Holidays in Hollywood Stage Show This popular show brings glitzy performances with seasonal favorites, fitting perfectly with the Hollywood glamour theme. Who doesn’t love a Muppet’s holiday show?!
- Ice Skating Show – Brand new this year! We’re so excited to see how this show performs! (see what I did there?)
In addition to the main shows, Jollywood is full of dance parties! With live DJs at the entrance, a “Midnight Soiree” in the Tower of Terror courtyard, and a salsa band on Commissary Lane.
Each neighborhood brings something unique, and the energy here feels like a high-end holiday party. These mini parties during the inaugural run were a little rough. The Midnight Soiree in particular was packed, and crowds were worsened by enormous lines for the nearby cocktail cart.
About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Cozy, Classic, and Full of Holiday Cheer
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has become a holiday tradition at Magic Kingdom, filling the park with traditional cheer and Christmas wonder.
Set against Magic Kingdom’s festive backdrop, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is perfect for families and guests of all ages, offering a blend of parades, shows, fireworks, and exclusive
Family-Focused Entertainment and Holiday Traditions
Mickey’s Very Merry entertainment celebrates the sense of traditional
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks – Lighting up the sky with beautiful displays over the castle, these fireworks and castle projects are the climax of the nights events!
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade – Featuring fan favorites like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Santa – but especially the Nutcrackers! This holiday parade is a mix of music, floats, and classic characters.
- Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Filled with holiday cheer, this stage show brings festive songs and character appearances! Culminating in a visit by the queen of Christmas herself, Mooriah Dairy!
Winner: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Magic Kingdom’s celebrations have a wider variety of entertainment options, including dance parties featuring
But if Jollywood Nights can pull it together this year, the scales might tip in that direction. The stage shows are so, so good. The neighborhood block parties have…potential. And the brand new ice skating show? That could be a game changer.
Attraction Overlays
It’s an automatic point to Mickey’s very Merry, because Jollywood doesn’t have any overlays. But, let’s talk about what you can expect from the Magic Kingdom.
- Jingle Cruise – Jungle Cruise transforms into Jingle Cruise with festive decorations, holiday-themed puns, and a whole new personality. It’s a hilarious addition that even non-party guests can enjoy during regular hours.
- Space Mountain – Space Mountain amps up the holiday vibe with flashing lights, vibrant colors, and a rockin’ Christmas soundtrack. It’s a different take on the classic that brings holiday cheer to Tomorrowland.
- Tomorrowland Speedway – The Speedway turns into a drive-through holiday light show, with seasonal decor and holiday music to keep you in the spirit.
- Mad Tea Party – Holiday lights and music turn this spinning teacup ride into a colorful holiday wonderland. It’s a quick transformation, but one that makes a big impact on the party atmosphere.
Character Meet-and-Greets
Character meet-and-greets are central to
Very Merry Character Highlights
At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, guests will find holiday favorites like Santa Claus, Mickey and Minnie in festive attire, and rarities like Jack Skellington and Sally and the Winnie the Pooh crew in winter wear. Lines can be long, but with a bit of strategy it doesn’t need to take up your whole night.
Jollywood Nights Character Rarities
Jollywood Nights offers rare characters that are harder to find at other events, including Phineas and Ferb, Max Goof as Powerline, and Jiminy Cricket. However, long lines plagued last year’s event. Wome guests spent hours for a single meet-and-greet.
The limited time meant many guests missed other entertainment, and the character lines were one of the biggest criticisms from last year’s party.
Winner: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for me, but it might be different for you. If characters are a big draw for you, Jollywood Nights might actually be better. There are more rare finds that might be worth the wait. For us, characters are auxiliary entertainment so quick lines – like those for the fab 5, take the cake.
Food, Snacks, and Beverages
It’s not a party without something to nibble on, right? Both events have tons of delicious options, but we do have to name a winner in this debate.
Jollywood Nights Eats and Treats
This event is heavily marketed as a foodie (and cocktail) paradise, with an emphasis on elevated flavors. A fan favorite is the Gertie cookie and Mint Ice Cream.
Our personal recommendation is the Sugar Cookie Martini
Those enormous lines we’re a big issue for us though, and we didn’t get to try many things. Here’s hoping things are a bit better this year.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Bites
The eats at Mickey’s Very Merry are more of a balanced selection, with sweets and savory options available throughout the park.
We’re drooling over the Fried Ice Cream Christmas Tree.
Not to mention the FREE COOKIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE. You read that right. Guests can visit any of the eight treat trail locations around Magic Kingdom to pick-up cookies and bevey’s. Sugar Cookies, Red Velvet Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies – oh my!
Winner: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party you did read that part about free cookies, right?
The Ultimate Decision
After comparing these holiday events, here’s the final verdict:
- Mickey’s Very Merry is ideal for families and anyone looking for a truly
Disney Christmas. With plenty of ride overlays, classic character meets, and family-friendly entertainment, MVMCP is the more well-rounded event. - Jollywood Nights offers a glitzy, high-energy holiday experience for adults and those looking for a unique twist. However, with last year’s line issues, we can’t possibly recommend this event. Hopefully our opinion is completely flipped this year, because it looks so good on paper!
Overall Winner: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – With a fully immersive holiday experience, MVMCP offers more value and a better balance of activities for most guests. Jollywood Nights may still be worth it if you’re after a lively night with some rare character encounters.
Ready to dive into the magic? Follow along as we attend both opening nights this season, sharing live reviews and highlights straight from the parks!c
