The Debate Rages, When Does the Christmas Season Begin? For Disney, It Already Has

Very few debates in America get as heated (pardon the pun) as the debate over exactly when the Christmas Holiday Season begins. There are the diehards who insist that the Christmas season should not start until the day after Thanksgiving. After all, what’s more American than heading to a store to fight for a discounted television on Black Friday?

But on the other side of that debate are the diehards who firmly believe that once the calendar turns to November, it’s time to crank up the Christmas music and start getting into the spirit. And among that group, there is also a small contingent in that group that never actually turns off their Christmas music. If you ask some stores, the Christmas season starts in August, just after they end their “Back to School” sales.

There is no middle ground in this debate. If you ask Walt Disney World, the Christmas season begins just hours after the final Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ends. At the Disney Parks, shortly after the last party on November 1, all of the fall decorations came down, and Mickey’s elves (Disney Cast Members) went to work decorating the entire Walt Disney World Resort for the Holiday season.

And with that comes Disney World’s After-Hours Holiday Events. There’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and the brand-new Jollywood Night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Despite starting in early November, the events are already beginning to sell out.

Jollywood Nights

Jollywood Nights opened on November 11 at Disney’s Hollywood Studio. The new event adds a little Hollywood glamour to the Holiday season. There is themed entertainment, including a singalong with Jack Skelton from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Twilight Soree at the Tip Top Club in the courtyard of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, and Jazzy Holidays at the Hollywood Brown Derby.

Guests will get access to a limited number of the rides and attractions at Hollywood Studios, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Disney has also cooked up some unique food choices and, more importantly, special drinks to help you enjoy the early Hollywood party.

Disney shared a first look at “Holidays in Hollywood” debuting tonight as part of Disney Jollywood Nights.

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are special guests for an all-new stage show at Theater of the Stars featuring Tiana, Belle, Minnie, and Mickey.

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— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) November 12, 2023

But if you plan on heading to Hollywood Studios for this special event, you better get your tickets now. There are only 12 Jollywood Nights, three of which have already sold out. The tickets range from $179-$159, and despite what some reports have suggested, kids can attend. 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

There are very few things that Disney does that are as memorable as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. If you are a Disney fan and have never been, all you need to know is that it snows on Main Street, U.S.A. It is easily one of the most magical things you will see at Disney World. It might be worth the cost just for that.

But there is more than just that available at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Most rides and attractions are open throughout the Magic Kingdom and decorated for the season. Make sure you hit Space Mountain for its unique holiday overlay. There are dance parties, characters meet and greets, and special shows.

But just like Jollywood Nights, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party sells out fast. There are only 25 dates available, and 13 of them have already sold out. The tickets range from $199 to $159 per person, depending on the date.

Too Soon?

And so the debate continues. But having said that, an After-Hours event at Disney World is worth it at any time of the year. Perhaps the two sides of this argument can come to a neutral territory solution. After-hour events such as Disney Jollywood Nights and Magic Kingdom Park’s Very Merry Christmas Party are exempt from any rules.

A ticket to either event allows the guest on a select night to leave the real world behind and enter theme park time. Which everyone knows is different than real-world time.

Therefore, the Walt Disney World Resort is neutral terrority, and all rules are off for this heated debate. So enjoy a Disney Very Merriest Christmas no matter the time of year.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.