By Kate Cohen
Sept. 2, 2025
The holidays are a time for celebration, and there’s no better place to party than Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
Each year, they host two separately ticketed after-hours events full of extra special fun and festivities.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios are two of Disney’s most popular events every year.
Here’s a look at what you can expect if you plan to purchase tickets this year.
Key Takeaways
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
- Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios
- Enjoy a Holly Jolly Stay at Rosen Plaza
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
Select Nights from Nov. 7 – Dec. 21, 2025
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is one of Magic Kingdom’s most highly anticipated events every year.
Hot on the trail of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, this park-wide holiday celebration transforms the Most Magical Place on Earth into a winter wonderland.
The official Christmas party kicks off at 7 p.m., but guests with an event ticket can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m.
Guests with regular Magic Kingdom day passes can enjoy the theme park until 6 p.m. when it becomes exclusive to those with event tickets.
Entertainment
With the number of live shows and exciting entertainment offered throughout Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there’s never a dull moment
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade brings the streets of Magic Kingdom to life with dancing gingerbread men, ballroom dancers, marching toy soldiers, and your favorite Disney characters.
Holiday music, scents, and elaborate floats immerse party guests in festive fun from Frontierland to Main Street, U.S.A., offering plenty of great viewing spots.
As always, bringing up the rear of the parade is none other than Santa Claus himself.
Later in the evening, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show lights up Cinderella Castle with fireworks, castle projections, and breathtaking lighting effects.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is a live show on Cinderella Castle Stage featuring talented performers and beloved Disney characters reminding the audience why Christmas is the happiest season of all.
Also performing on Cinderella Castle Stage is Frozen Holiday Surprise, starring Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and the snowgies, who bring a delightful winter chill to a warm Central Florida season.
You can also get your groove on at several dance parties throughout Magic Kingdom, including the Disney Junior Jingle Jam in Tomorrowland.
Character Meet-and-Greets
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is the perfect place to say hello to some of your favorite characters.
Stop by Town Square Theatre to see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their finest holiday attire. Then, stick around to meet beloved holiday characters Sally and Santa Jack.
In Princess Fairytale Hall, Anna and Elsa are waiting in their holiday looks to wish you a Merry Christmas and snap a very special photo.
Then, head over to Storybook Circus to meet Santa himself at Santa’s Christmas Carnival, full of crafts and home to other festive holiday friends.
Enjoy Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions
A variety of classic Magic Kingdom rides and attractions will be available for guests’ enjoyment throughout the event. There are even a few taking on festive holiday overlays, including Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Jungle – or Jingle Cruise.
Other fan favorites open during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party include Pirates of the Caribbean, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, “it’s a small world,” and many more.
Exclusive Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Menus and Merch
It wouldn’t be the holidays without traditional treats and festive flavors.
Included in your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket are hot cocoa, cookies, and other delicious goodies.
Additionally, a full menu of exclusive holiday dishes and delights will be available for purchase as well.
Be sure to stop by your favorite souvenir shop to pick up exclusive event merchandise so you can relive your holly jolly Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party memories year-round.
Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios
Select Nights Nov. 8 through Dec. 22, 2025
If you’re the kind of person who loves their Christmas season with a healthy dose of Bing Crosby and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Jollywood Nights may be the perfect celebration for you.
Held at Hollywood Studios, this holiday celebration is full of vintage Hollywood glamour that transports you to a glittery era of Christmases past.
The theme park comes to life with decor like giant ornaments, bushy garlands, and glowing reindeer leaping from light posts overhead.
While the event officially begins at 7:30 p.m., ticket-holding guests can enter Hollywood Studios as early as 5:30 p.m. and enjoy the festivities until 12:30 a.m.
Entertainment
Hollywood Studios is a park known for exciting entertainment and during Jollywood Nights, you can catch special holiday-themed shows you won’t find anywhere else.
Disney Holidays in Hollywood is a dazzling musical stage show hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy and featuring appearances from characters like Mickey, Minnie, Belle, and Tiana.
Inspired by classic Hollywood holiday TV specials of yesteryear, this show is full of laughs, wonderful music, and nostalgia.
Still missing Halloween? Jollywood Nights features the “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along,” which lets guests simultaneously celebrate two holidays at once.
Spooky festive cheer abounds at the Hyperion theatre, including the “eerie yet enchanting glow of Halloween-meets-Christmas decorations.”
The Tip Top Club transports guests to a 1930’s-style jazz lounge with live holiday music that will transport you to a classy era of holiday splendor.
The Glisten Skating Show, performed on a synthetic rink in front of the Chinese Theatre, transports guests to a wintery wonderland. Here, world-class skaters perform to the sounds of classic holiday tunes and original Jollywood songs.
Visit Holiday Fiesta en la Calle, a lively Latin-inspired holiday street fair with food and drinks inspired by traditional Latin holiday warmth and spice.
At the Fiesta, you can meet Jose Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros, and, new this year, Miguel from Coco.
In addition to special holiday productions, you can also catch performances of Hollywood Studios’ two brand new shows, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.”
At 10 p.m. on event nights, head to the Chinese Theatre for Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, a high-energy nighttime spectacular with fireworks, lasers, projections, and holiday music.
The show is even more magical with “snowfall” dusting Hollywood Boulevard and synced MagicBand+ effects.
Character Meet-and-Greets
Jollywood Nights party guests will have the opportunity to meet a variety of Disney characters throughout the evening.
Pose for pics with crowd-pleasers like Phineas and Ferb, Balloo and King Louie, and Max Goof in his chic Powerline costume. Stitch will be available for meet-and-greets, mischievously dressed as Santa Claus.
Pixar favorites including Mike Wazowski and Edna Mode will also be in attendance greeting guests.
Of course, classic Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and other friends will also be decked in their festive holiday best and ready for memorable meet-and-greets.
Enjoy Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions
Year-round, Hollywood Studios is known for its fantastic park areas inspired by Disney franchises like Star Wars and Toy Story.
Throughout the Jollywood Nights festivities, guests will still be able to enjoy some of the park’s most popular rides and attractions.
Head to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and ride Rise of the Resistance for an immersive experience that’s out of this world.
Looking to add a little thrill to your holiday season? Enjoy the frightful and famous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or the adrenaline-pumping Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Slinky Dog Dash, and other popular rides will also be open throughout the event for guests to enjoy.
Exclusive Jollywood Nights Menus and Merch
Festive foodies will be excited to know there’s plenty of specialty holiday deliciousness waiting to be explored at Jollywood Nights.
New to the event this year is a specialty menu available at Backlot Express Restaurant, a quick service restaurant tucked behind Pixar Plaza and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Collectors will also be eager to get their hands on exclusive merchandise, including a brand-new spirit jersey and new Ollie merch.
Enjoy a Holly Jolly Stay at Rosen Plaza
If tickets for either Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights are on your Christmas list this year, you’re in for a real treat.
After a long night of joyous food, fun, and festivities, rest your head at a comfortable hotel where you’re a treasured guest year-round.
Rosen Plaza’s convenient location on International Drive and array of amenities make our hotel the perfect destination for an Orlando vacation or staycation.
So, celebrate the holiday season at Rosen Plaza this year!
