The holiday season has been in full swing at Walt Disney World for over a month now, with the new Disney Jollywood Nights event happening on select nights at Disney’a Hollywood Studios, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party delighting guests at the Magic Kingdom with cozy, familiar fun.
However, there have been some important changes made to this year’s festivities that guests may want to know about if they are planning on visiting over the next few weeks.
1. No more Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind holiday overlay
Though the Jingle Cruise holiday overlay of the Jungle Cruise has become a fan favorite over the years, the holiday overlay of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind overlay at EPCOT, which featured a fixed soundtrack with a “Run Rocket Run” holiday song was not as well-received. And now Disney has confirmed that this holiday overlay will NOT be coming back in 2023, and the ride will stay in its current form for the foreseeable future without any seasonal overlays.
2. New gingerbread miniature monuments are now on display at The American Adventure
While elaborate gingerbread houses are a part of the annual tradition at hotels like the Grand Floridian and BoardWalk Resort, the fun is expanding this year to the American Adventure pavilion at EPCOT, which is now home to a unique display that recreates classic American landmarks all in gingerbread! Guests who enter the interior pavilion will be able to check out highly-detailed gingerbread versions of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and of course The American Adventure building itself!
3. New characters added to Disney Jollywood Nights events
There are only three weeks left for the Disney Jollywood Nights special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and in an effort to increase some of the entertainment offerings at this event, Disney has added some new character meet and greets around the park, including rare characters like Santa Duffy and Christmas Jiminy Cricket! Here’s where these characters are meeting on event nights:
- Mary Poppins (Grand Avenue)
- Snow White (Grand Avenue)
- Christmas Jiminy Cricket (Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway)
- Pinocchio (Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway)
- Santa Stitch (Echo Lake)
- Santa Duffy (Mickey Shorts Theater)
The first Jollywood Nights had very long waits for characters like Phineas and Ferb and Max Goof as Powerline. But hopefully with the addition of half a dozen new characters guests will be able to spread out a bit more and won’t have to wait as long.
4. Magic Kingdom Christmas entertainment kicks off during regular park hours December 23
Though most of the holiday-themed special entertainment at the Magic Kingdom is only available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas time, guests who visit between December 23-31 will be able to check out Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which will roll down Main Street USA twice daily, as well as Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, which will replace the normal Happily Ever After fireworks show during this week.
More holiday entertainment may be announced for this very busy week in the future as well, so guests visiting the parks during this time will be able to check out even more holiday fun!
