Jollywood Nights vs. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party: The Short Answer
Buy Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party if you have kids under about 10, this is a first Christmas trip, or the castle, the parade and the fireworks are the picture in your head when you think "Disney Christmas." Buy Jollywood Nights if you have teens or no kids, you'd rather skip crowds around meet-and-greet lines, and you want the Hollywood Studios rides with short waits, live shows and a later night.
Numbers side by side: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs 25 nights from Nov 8 to Dec 22, Magic Kingdom, 7 p.m. to midnight (early entry from 4 p.m.), $189–$229. Jollywood Nights runs 15 nights from Nov 7 to Jan 5, Hollywood Studios, 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (early entry from 5:30 p.m.), $169–$199. Kids 3–9 are $10 less at both.
My pick for most families with young kids: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, but Jollywood is the better deal on price and the better night for a family with older kids.
Why Everyone's Asking About Jollywood Nights Now
Disney now runs two Christmas parties, and the second one is growing. Jollywood Nights expanded to 15 nights this year and, for the first time, runs into January (through Jan 5). The minimum price rose for the first time since it started in 2023, from $159 to $169.
Meanwhile, the Magic Kingdom party is getting a little softer in the market. Reports on Sept 28 said the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party sellout was Nov 24, the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, about 18 days later than last year, with opening night still available. One outlet's reading was that repeat guests are weighing what they're paying. That's their read, not mine. My own record on reading party signals is mixed (I got the Halloween one wrong), so I'm not going to tell you the Christmas party is fading. What I will say: it's a real choice this year, and most families really only need one.
Jollywood Nights vs. MVMCP 2026: Dates, Hours and Prices
| Detail | Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party | Disney Jollywood Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Park | Magic Kingdom | Hollywood Studios |
| Nights in 2026 | 25 | 15 |
| Dates | Nov 8 – Dec 22 | Nov 7 – Jan 5, 2027 |
| Party hours | 7:00 p.m. – midnight | 7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. |
| Early entry with your ticket | From 4:00 p.m. | From 5:30 p.m. |
| Adult ticket | $189–$229 | $169–$199 |
| Kids 3–9 | $10 less | $10 less |
| Annual Passholder / DVC member discount | $10 off select nights | $10 off select nights |
| Marquee entertainment | Christmas parade, fireworks, Space Mountain holiday overlay | Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along, variety show, "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!", new ice-skating show "Glisten!" |
| Characters | Large meet-and-greet lineup | 20+ character experiences, including Mandalorian & Grogu, Tiana and Kermit |
| Rides | Most Magic Kingdom attractions, short waits | Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash and more, short waits |
| First sellout | Nov 24 (reported Sept 28) | Check Disney's page — I couldn't confirm any sellouts |
Sources: Disney's event pages as summarized on Sept 23, MickeyVisit's Sept 24 price roundup, Disney Tourist Blog's Jollywood guide, MickeyBlog's Jollywood date list, and Inside the Magic and WDWMagic on the Nov 24 sellout.
Jollywood dates and prices (2026): Nov 7 and 14 at $179 · Nov 16 at $169 (cheapest) · Nov 21 at $189 · Nov 23 at $194 · Nov 28 at $199 · Dec 5 and 7 at $194 · Dec 12, 14, 19, 21 and 23 at $199 · Jan 3 at $194 · Jan 5 at $189. Kids 3–9 are $10 less.
Dad Tip: Nothing on this page assumes a Christmas party ticket gets cheaper later. Disney has never discounted a party ticket, and a slow-selling night just stays at full price until it's gone.
What One Party Night Costs a Family of Four (Two Adults, Two Kids 3–9)
| Scenario | Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party | Jollywood Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest night | $736 ($189 × 2 + $179 × 2) | $656 ($169 × 2 + $159 × 2) |
| Typical mid-priced night | about $776 ($199 × 2 + $189 × 2) | about $696 ($179 × 2 + $169 × 2) |
| Peak night | $896 ($229 × 2 + $219 × 2) | $776 ($199 × 2 + $189 × 2) |
All before tax. Jollywood is $80 cheaper at the low end and $120 cheaper at the top end. Prices are for the party ticket alone. Both include early entry into the park before the party starts; check Disney's ticket page for how that interacts with a regular park ticket on your day.
This is the same trap I wrote up in the mistakes post: a party ticket has a deadline and feels urgent, so it gets bought first, and the hotel gets squeezed to pay for it. If the party is the priority, price the room at the same time.
Renter note: the $10 member discount on both parties is for DVC members. If you're renting points you won't see it. Details in what DVC renters don't get.
How the Two Nights Actually Feel
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom)
- It's the classic. Main Street in lights, the castle, the parade, the fireworks. If you want the postcard, this is it.
- Built for kids. Characters in costume, treats included in the ticket, Space Mountain in a holiday overlay.
- Longer season (25 nights), so more dates to choose from.
- Magic Kingdom closes to regular day guests at 6 p.m. on party nights, so daytime is calm. That's a good day to do the park before the party.
Jollywood Nights (Hollywood Studios)
- Lighter on parades and fireworks, heavier on shows and rides. Disney Tourist Blog describes it as aimed more at adults and families without little kids, with live music and cocktails. That's their characterization, and it lines up with the show lineup.
- Rides with short waits: Rise of the Resistance, Tower of Terror and Slinky Dog Dash among them.
- Shorter season, a later night (to 12:30 a.m.), and it runs into January, when the crowds are thinner.
Jollywood Nights is the better night if you've been to the Christmas party before and want something different, or if your kids are old enough for Tower of Terror and Rise of the Resistance. MVMCP is the better night if you've never done a Disney Christmas party and you have kids who'd think a parade with Mickey in a Santa hat is the best thing ever.
Jollywood Nights or Christmas Party? My Pick by Family Type
1. Family with kids under 8: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
My pick for most families reading thisThe parade, the fireworks and the characters are what young kids remember. See which night to buy for the Christmas party. Note the Nov 24 sellout: if that's a night you'd want, it's gone.
2. Family with teens: Jollywood Nights
Rides, shows and a later night are the better fit, and it's cheaper.
3. Couple or adults-only: Jollywood Nights
It's aimed at you, and it's the cheapest ticket of the two.
4. A Christmas-in-January trip: Jollywood Nights
It's the only Christmas party running into January (Jan 3 and Jan 5).
5. First trip ever, budget is tight: neither
A party ticket is a $650–$900 evening for four. A regular park day with the holiday decorations is included in your ticket and it's cheaper. See the Thanksgiving week guide for how to handle that busy stretch.
Could you do both? Yes, and some families do. It's expensive, and for most it doesn't make sense unless you're already at Disney for a long trip in December. If you go with both, do the Christmas party on a weeknight and Jollywood on another weeknight so you can sleep in.
Where to Stay for Each Party
For the Christmas party: Bay Lake Tower is a walk back from Magic Kingdom at midnight, with no bus or monorail line. That's the whole pitch on a party night, and it's why I keep pointing people there. See Bay Lake Tower vs. Polynesian.
For Jollywood Nights: Hollywood Studios can be reached by boat from the Epcot-area resorts (Beach Club, BoardWalk, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin) and by the Skyliner from Riviera. The 12:30 a.m. finish is late, so check the last boat and Skyliner times before you choose. My Riviera Resort review covers that resort.
What renting costs right now: on David's own calculator (checked Sept 30, 2026), Bay Lake Tower and Riviera are $24 a point, BoardWalk is $26 (booked 7–11 months out), and Beach Club is $29 (booked 7–11 months out). DVC Rental Store quotes by request: I've never seen a flat published rate there, and their discounted-points page read "No discounted points at this time" on Sept 30. Run your dates through the DVC rental calculator, or start with the cheapest DVC resorts to rent.
Browse confirmed DVC reservations → · Get a DVC quote →
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Stroller tip: both parties run past midnight. A rental stroller delivered to your resort beats carrying a five-year-old down Main Street at 11:40 p.m. Kingdom Strollers →
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The party is one night. See what a DVC villa saves you on the rest of the trip.
Open the free DVC savings calculator →When You Should Skip Both Parties
If you're taking little kids who go to bed at 8 p.m., if the party ticket would squeeze your hotel budget, or if your goal is simply to see the decorations, skip both. Every Disney park is decorated for the holidays in the regular day, and you'll pay a fraction of what a party ticket costs. Also worth a look: the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT is included with regular park admission (my Candlelight Processional guide covers dining packages and dates).
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick the Party, Then Price the Room
The party is one evening. The hotel is the rest of your trip. A DVC villa can cost a lot less than a comparable Disney room, and it puts you a short walk or boat ride from the party you choose.
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— Tom, Dad at Disney
P.S. Tell me which party you picked and I'll add you to the tally. Hit reply.
About the author
Tom is a dad of three who's been renting DVC points since 2019. Dad at Disney is his journal of what works, what doesn't, and how to stay at Disney Deluxe resorts for less.
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Disclosure: DVC Rental Store and Kingdom Strollers links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Facts verified September 30, 2026.