Incredibly Rare Characters Added to Disney Event After Disastrous Opening

Every year, thousands of people travel to the Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate the holiday season. All corners of the Resort are covered in gorgeous decorations, specialty food and drinks are released, and the holiday spirit fills the air. At EPCOT, guests can enjoy the International Festival of the Holidays, and over at the Magic Kingdom, guests can purchase tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Related: Did Disney Just Make Its New Holiday Event Adults-Only?

This year, Disney decided to host a brand-new holiday party — Jollywood Nights over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The event was advertised as a glitzy party that would bring guests into a world of old Hollywood glamour. There would be a special party at the Tip Top Club over in the Hollywood Tower Hotel courtyard, as well as a lounge experience at the Hollywood Brown Derby.

In addition to the lounge parties, Disney Jollywood Nights would also have a Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along, a stage show featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of The Muppets, special PhotoPass opportunities, and more.

Unfortunately, the opening night of Jollywood Nights was an unmitigated disaster. Guests who wanted to try the specialty cocktails waited in hours-long lines, since there were only a few bartenders on hand. There were also complaints that waits for character meet and greets were over an hour, it took over half an hour just to check in, and some waited more than 30 minutes just to get a cookie.

Hmmm this seems well thought out. Three bartenders and a mob of people at the Tip Top club. Bring your patient pants pic.twitter.com/rXfx7HsO4d

— Random Recess (@RandomRecess) November 12, 2023

Things were so bad that Disney actually issued refunds to those who attended the opening of Jollywood Nights if the guests asked for one.

Now, as the party continues on select nights, Disney has made some changes. One particularly notable change — or should we say addition — is that of a Duffy the Bear meet and greet. Duffy is a popular character at Disney’s Asia theme parks, but he is not often seen in the US parks.

And this isn’t just any Duffy meet and greet — it’s a Santa Duffy meet and greet!

Duffy has been added to the Jollywood Nights lineup at Hollywood Studios. 🧸

Duffy has been added to the Jollywood Nights lineup at Hollywood Studios. 🧸 pic.twitter.com/374wPfrXHZ

— Alex Farnworth (@AlexFarnworth) November 19, 2023

But Duffy was not the only rare character that Disney added to its Jollywood Nights lineup. Jiminy Cricket in his holiday best also made an appearance.

Jiminy Cricket is a new addition to Jollywood Nights. 🎄

Jiminy Cricket is a new addition to Jollywood Nights. 🎄 https://t.co/DjcFLigAce pic.twitter.com/coUGvMTmla

— Alex Farnworth (@AlexFarnworth) November 19, 2023

In addition to Jiminy Cricket and Duffy the Bear, guests were also able to see Stitch dressed as Santa Claus. Santa Stitch last made his appearance at Disneyland Park during its Merriest Nights event in 2021.

Santa Stitch is at Jollywood Nights. 👽

Santa Stitch is at Jollywood Nights. 👽 https://t.co/PNsafvEsnT pic.twitter.com/rQO5ZntdCr

— Alex Farnworth (@AlexFarnworth) November 19, 2023

In addition to adding rare characters to the special event, Disney also added more check-in locations, so guests would not have to wait as long to get into the event. In addition to the check-in location at the entrance to the theme park, guests can also check into Jollywood Nights over at Muppet*Vision 3D and the Star Wars Launch Bay.

Disney has also reportedly changed the way guests can attend Jazzy Nights at the Hollywood Brown Derby. During the first Jollywood Nights, guests could only join a walk-up waitlist. However, guests will now be seated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once those seats are all full, the waitlist will be activated for other guests who wish to experience the event.

There are still tickets available for those who would like to attend Disney Jollywood Nights. Guests can purchase tickets for November 20, November 27, November 29, December 4, December 6, December 18, and December 20. Guests can click here to read more about Jollywood Nights and purchase tickets.