Disney World Announces 2024 Holiday Events

Happy holidays, everyone! The calendar says June 25th, which means that we’re officially halfway to Christmas and Hanukkah. Disney has taken this opportunity to sprinkle a bit of yuletide into the mid-summer 100-degree weather. Here are all of Disney’s 2024 holiday theme park announcements. 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Returns

We’ll begin with all the holiday classics, new and old. The most classic of all is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP), a holiday tradition that dates back to 1983. For more than 40 years, guests have purchased after-hours tickets to this exclusive event, allowing us to celebrate the holidays with Mickey and friends.

For 2024, Magic Kingdom will host MVMCP on 25 dates. They are:

• November: 8th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th, & 29th

• December: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, & 20th, 2024

The event will run from 7 p.m. to midnight on the applicable nights. As a reminder, Disney employs demand-priced pricing for most of admission ticket sales. The cost of MVMCP tickets this year ranges from $169 to $219 plus tax, which is a slight increase from last year. Annual passholders and qualifying Disney Vacation Club members receive $10 discounts. 

Tickets for the event go on sale on July 2nd for guests with Disney resort reservations for the applicable dates. Everyone else may purchase on July 10th. So, there’s a slightly longer competitive advantage this year for those who already have reservations. 

Disney has listed the attractions that will operate during MVMCP. As expected, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is on that list, as is Tron Lightcycle / Run. The holiday overlays of Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor return as well. 

Guests at this year’s event may purchase an exclusive collectible mug and a Mickey & Minnie Mouse spirit jersey that’s a must-own. We’ll also enjoy the return of A Frozen Holiday Surprise, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmas Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, and the usual assortment of holiday treats that are free during the event. 

Disney Jollywood Nights Returns 

Here’s the pleasant surprise announcement. Disney Jollywood Nights will make a comeback in 2024! You may recall that the after-hours event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios suffered many miscues on its opening night. However, by the end of the event, Disney had fixed most of the snafus and turned it into something fans wanted to return. 

On November 9th, fans will get their wish, as that’s the opening night for this year’s event! Jollywood Nights will operate from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. each night. Here are the 2024 dates:

•     November: 9th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th, 30th

•     December 2nd, 7th, 11th, 14th, 18th, 21st

You may recall that Jollywood Nights is a decidedly more adult affair than MVMCP. At Hollywood Studios, you’ll find all sorts of holiday cocktails and substantially more exclusive merchandise in 2024. The inaugural event infamously earned derision for selling one (!) shirt on opening night. 

As with MVMCP, tickets will go on sale on July 2nd for everyone with current resort reservations on the applicable dates. All other guests may purchase tickets starting on July 10th. 

With regard to live performances, all of last year’s favorites like Disney Holidays in Hollywood, Jingle Bell Jingle BAM!, and What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along will return. 

Both exclusive parties will host event-only character greetings, photo ops, and more. Since Jollywood Nights targets an older crowd, it’ll add The Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club in Twilight Zone Tower of Terror’s courtyard and Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby. 

Courtesy of WDWNT

All the E-ticket attractions at Hollywood Studios will operate during the event. Yes, that means you can ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash without waiting in line for hours! Tickets to this event are slightly cheaper, ranging from $159-$179. Please remember that it’s not family-friendly, though. Parents who brought their children last year often regretted it. 

Other Favorites Return to Disney Parks 

Disney has announced the return of several other favorites and holiday traditions. The most recognizable one for DVC members is the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. This year’s event runs from November 29th through December 30th. 

As an FYI, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival ends on November 23rd. With the holiday falling on November 28th this year, EPCOT will have plenty of activity during Thanksgiving Week.   

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Merry Menagerie will return. This artistic display of winter animal puppets has become one of the park’s most popular annual events. Meanwhile, Hollywood Studios will bring back the yuletide projects on the Hollywood Tower Hotel. 

Disney Springs will host the Christmas Tree Stroll again. Also, the Town Center “snow” will return. It’s surprisingly magical. 

Speaking of which, the best part of the holidays for many DVC members are the gingerbread collections at the various resorts. You’ll be happy to know they’ll be back. Disney promises “Christmas trees, joyful decorations and the oh-so-delicious smell of gingerbread displays crafted by our world-class culinary teams!”

Finally, Disney wants fans to know that Santa Claus will appear at all four parks and Disney Springs!