Hollywood Studios is residence to Walt Disney World’s different Christmas social gathering throughout November and December 2024, and we now have excessive hopes for its sophomore season. However that’s not all to do at DHS throughout the holidays! This information covers the decorations, overlays and leisure–together with what’s new for 2024–plus pictures, data & ideas for taking advantage of your go to.
For us, Christmas is a “tough” time of yr at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights was our absolute favourite factor throughout the holidays at Walt Disney World, and dropping that was an enormous blow. Nothing has come near changing that in our hearts, and truthfully, I’d commerce Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in a second to get these lights again for simply two months of the yr.
Talking of which, it additionally doesn’t assist that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge doesn’t actually do something to have fun the vacations because the land is ‘in-universe.’ Even Toy Story Land, which may have an superior Christmas overlay, solely places up a scattering of decorations. The excellent news is that within the final couple of years, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has actually stepped up. The park has turn into a festive place to spend the vacations, with the entrance half of the park having pitch-perfect yuletide ambiance…
As we cowl in our Final Information to Christmas at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has added a number of issues in an try to fill the void left by the Osborne Lights. The day by day providing is named “Flurry the Enjoyable” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which mainly enhances the festive ambiance in Echo Lake and on Hollywood and Sundown Boulevards.
The leisure listed on the occasions information is the draw, however what’s loveliest–and the way you’ll spend essentially the most time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout the Christmas season, is solely absorbing the spirit of the season in these areas. The entrance of the park merely oozes vacation spirit.
These decorations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios evoke a way of mid-century kitsch, the Christmas music is memorable, and the lights actually pop towards the Artwork Deco structure. The little touches make all of the distinction, and the ambiance is additional enhanced by Sundown Seasons Greetings and snowfall alongside the boulevard. Suffice to say, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is as soon as once more a festive place to be for Christmas on a nightly foundation.
On choose evenings, it’s even higher. That’s because of the hard-ticket Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Occasion, which returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on choose nights from November 9 to December 21, 2024 for its sophomore season. After a gap night time meltdown and unfavourable phrase of mouth, we weren’t positive it’d be again. Nonetheless, we’re more than happy to see Walt Disney World not giving up on the idea and as an alternative iterating and (making an attempt to) enhance it.
Disney Jollywood Nights isn’t new–however there are a bunch of adjustments and additions to it. The massive one is a brand new dazzling skating spectacular set to your favourite vacation tunes on Hollywood Boulevard. A number of occasions every night, take within the grace and ability of worldwide champion skaters in an awe-inspiring twist on the standard ice present.
The 2024 Disney Jollywood Nights will even embrace over 20 distinctive character experiences that includes each new and returning favorites. Reunite with beloved characters like Phineas and Ferb, Santa Duffy and Santa Sew, and sit up for recent new faces reminiscent of Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, and King Louie from TaleSpin.
That’s not all–so be sure you try Information to 2024 Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Occasion at Hollywood Studios for full particulars, dates, ticket costs, and greater than a bit commentary!
Adjustments and additions to Jollywood Nights isn’t all that’s new for Christmas 2024 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This yr, there are three new leisure acts to fill the entire household with pleasure, all beginning November 12, 2024! You should definitely test My Disney Expertise for days and showtimes to catch the brand new acts. Right here’s the rundown:
- Marvel on the expertise of Juggling Elves – these vacation helpers ship festive cheer with a facet of shenanigans as they showcase their expertise of juggling, comedy and extra!
- Catch the jaunty jolly tunes of the Vacation Spirit Band. This dynamic brass group will make everybody in your social gathering wish to be a part of within the enjoyable and stroll into Santa’s good graces.
- Choose up your ft and march together with Seasons Jukebox as they bring about all of the efficiency and pep of a collegiate marching band. Arduous-hitting horns, rocking drummers, and dazzling dancers will convey to life everybody’s favourite vacation classics and extra.
Different Disney’s Hollywood Studios vacation enjoyable additionally begins on November 12 – like the vacation overlay to For the First Time In Endlessly: A Frozen Sing-Alongside Celebration; Santa Claus assembly & greeting company at It’s A Great Store; and Sundown Seasons Greetings, that includes festive projections on The Hollywood Tower Lodge and magical snowfall all alongside Sundown Boulevard as soon as the solar units on Tinsel City!
As for the returning leisure and decorations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sundown Season’s Greetings makes use of projection mapping to convey the billboards and facades alongside Sundown Boulevard. That is primarily completed by way of two massive LED “billboards” and the Hollywood Tower Lodge. There are additionally different results by way of synchronized lights on palm timber, falling snow, and the celebrities that line Sundown Boulevard.
Sundown Season’s Greetings options vignettes from Olaf’s Frozen Journey, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, the Muppets, and Toy Story, plus appearances by the Prep & Touchdown characters. The result’s a present that could be a cute little diversion, though an odd juxtaposition on the Hollywood Tower Lodge, which is extra akin to a Halloween attraction than a Christmas one…
By way of viewing ideas for Sundown Season’s Greeting, there actually isn’t something you’ll want to know. The total present is roughly quarter-hour lengthy and runs constantly all through the night from nightfall till park closing. Consequently, there are dozens of “showings” of this each night, and about the one factor you’ll expertise in the way in which of crowds throughout the present is the individuals who occur to be on Sundown Boulevard when it’s occurring.
To that finish, one of the best recommendation we may give is to keep away from watching Sundown Season’s Greetings instantly earlier than or after Fantasmic. Nightfall goes to be one other fashionable time for crowds to congregate, as this would be the first time many individuals will turn into conscious of the present, and so they’ll be extra inclined to cease for it. By the tip of the night, it’ll be ‘previous information.’
The plus facet to creating an effort for an earlier viewing of Sundown Season’s Greetings is that round nightfall it’ll be simpler to {photograph}, and the falling snow will present up higher in your pictures. We nonetheless wouldn’t advocate making particular plans to view Sundown Season’s Greetings at nightfall, however in case you’re already within the space, you would possibly as nicely.
Since many of the ‘motion’ throughout Sundown Season’s Greetings happens on the tip of Sundown Boulevard in direction of Tower of Terror, we’d advocate watching about midway down the road. Simply earlier than Theater of the Stars (the place Fantasmic is proven) needs to be about very best to see the entire results.
The tales and character moments in Sundown Season’s Greetings embrace Mickey and Minnie reminiscing a couple of hometown Christmas because the scene shifts right into a romanticized, Norman Rockwell-inspired city. There’s additionally Toy Story characters guessing which new toys are coming Christmas morning to hitch them because the scene covers in wrapping paper and Swedish Chef from the Muppets babbling because the scene turns into big gingerbread homes.
Lastly, Olaf sharing his vacation want because the scene freezes over right into a Frozen winter wonderland–full with dancing Aurora Borealis lights and projected falling snow. It’s one other projection mapping present in a park that already has a nighttime spectacular reliant on projection mapping.
Subsequent up is Echo Lake Christmas.
This options extra-large ornaments floating on the water, glittering garland, colourful ceramic decorations, and a large Christmas tree in the midst of Echo Lake.
The mid-century ornaments, set items, and tinsel evoke Tinseltown from the Nineteen Fifties. The decorations really feel like these you’d see inside a ritzy Los Angeles division retailer or on set for a reside vacation tv particular. Both method, the look and vibe are becoming for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Better of all, Dinosaur Gertie is dressed for the event with a Santa hat. That’s proper, SANTA GERTIE. (This isn’t a drill!)
That is considered one of our “sleeper spots” for Christmas at Walt Disney World. We may sit on a bench in entrance of Santa Gertie for hours, simply absorbing the ambiance and listening to the nice background music.
Truthfully, one of many largest causes I’m okay with “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” not performing nightly is as a result of this space was once reserved for a dessert social gathering. I’d quite lose the fireworks present (which is barely okay, anyway) and acquire again the serenity on this space. In fact, I’m not the typical visitor–they’d in all probability take fireworks present over quiet park bench. To every their very own on that, although.
The Echo Lake Christmas decor sounds pretty easy, however the vitality it provides to this space at Christmas is great. I completely love Echo Lake, and take into account it to be an under-appreciated space. Added decor to this space of the park is superior, and I like that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is as soon as once more placing its icon Christmas tree contained in the park.
I’m lingering on Echo Lake at Christmas largely as a result of this space is often quiet and uncrowded at night time, which is pleasant. It additionally implies that too many individuals are sleeping on it. At the same time as we sing the praises of Echo Lake for Christmas–and have for just a few years–we’re usually among the many solely ones over right here at night time. Whereas we get pleasure from that from a egocentric perspective, extra individuals needs to be having this expertise. Seize a bench and a snack, and hang around for a bit!
Talking of meals and Echo Lake, you’ll additionally wish to learn our Minnie’s Vacation Dine Evaluate to find out whether or not it’s best to guide that Christmas-themed buffet at Hollywood & Vine.
Though it’s been hit and miss in the previous few years, we’re additionally anticipating a return of Christmas in Toy Story Land.
At their meet & greets, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear ought to sport vacation finery. Moreover, Toy Story Land has vacation decor, together with outsized cranberry-and-popcorn garland, a vacation card “selfie” of Toy Story characters, an outsized Hamm sugar cookie, Inexperienced Alien ornaments, and extra.
Toy Story Land’s points of interest are additionally plussed for the Christmas season with new vacation audio. Aboard Slinky Canine Sprint, company will hear sleigh bells ringing, and Alien Swirling Saucers will provide two vacation tracks, plus themed lighting for the vacations.
From a strategic perspective, we’re massive followers of Afternoon & Night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (see that put up for step-by-step technique). If you happen to present up in mid-afternoon, you may simply benefit from the seasonal leisure and most rides within the park.
Wait occasions lower after about 4 pm, which occurs largely as a result of Disney’s Hollywood Studios has essentially the most top-heavy journey roster. What which means, from a sensible perspective, is that DHS has the best common wait occasions of any park at Walt Disney World. As a consequence of these longer strains at headliner rides and fewer ‘secondary points of interest’ (apart from stage reveals), company hit a wall and go away early.
The excellent news is that there’s nonetheless a pronounced drop-off throughout dinner and Fantasmic. If there are two showings of that nighttime spectacular, you’re golden–make the most of decrease crowds throughout the first Fantasmic, and watch the second at or after park closing.
Posted wait occasions are decrease within the final two hours of the day at DHS, however that solely tells a part of the story. Precise wait occasions are sometimes dramatically decrease, notably for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Canine Sprint, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and different headliners.
The underside line is that we extremely advocate displaying up late at Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout the vacation season, versus arriving early. An alternative choice is doing each–Early Entry at DHS, then bouncing over to EPCOT for the center of the day, after which returning to DHS for night. In fact, merely doing a full day at DHS can be an choice.
In the end, the current vacation additions are a pleasant shot within the arm for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Christmas. Within the years because the Osborne Lights went extinct, Walt Disney World has progressively elevated the Christmas choices at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the result’s one thing that provides the entrance of the park a variety of vacation spirit.
Even cumulatively, it doesn’t reside as much as Osborne Lights, however that was a essential casualty for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It’s unlucky that colossal land doesn’t do something at Christmas, and that Toy Story Land squanders its monumental vacation potential. Imaginative overlays in these lands would actually assist. Because it stands, Disney’s Hollywood Studios might be the fourth-place Walt Disney World park throughout the vacation season because of the again of the park not moving into the spirit of the season.
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Your Ideas
How do Sundown Season’s Greetings and Echo Lake Christmas sound to you? Will you attend the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Occasion? Are you excited concerning the new-for-Christmas 2024 choices, or detached? Will you make a particular journey to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this yr to see this vacation leisure? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
