Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. It has arguably the best parade in Orlando. There is something special about being on Main Street, USA during the holiday season. There is nothing like Disney during Christmastime, and if you haven’t visited Wilderness Lodge, you must.
Friends have asked me what my favorite Disney resort or park to soak it all in is, and the answer might surprise you. We read all the negative reviews about Jollywood Nights you did. It got absolutely hammered after the first few Jollywood Nights last year. Tales of long lines and disorganization peppered the interwebs.
My birthday falls in December and we decided to splurge. I travel a bunch for my “real job”, and have a bazillion Marriot Bonvoy points. I snagged a stay at the Dolphin Resort, and boom: Date night! We didn’t have an ADR, but looking at the different offerings, I wasn’t scared.
My wife and I had a ton of fun buying dressy outfits, and we took pride in color-coordinating our looks. I think I bought a top hat. We took an Uber to the Dolphin, so transportation wouldn’t be an issue. It was actually cheaper than paying to park at the resort.
When we checked in, ALL the cast members complimented us on our Christmas attire.
Our experience at Jollywood was way different than the earlier groups. It was organized, pretty sparse, and overall amazing. There is nothing like being in a Disney Park during this time of year.
Jollywood defeats Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on a couple of different levels. While MVMCP is better with littles, Jollywood is for that Disney adult in all of us. There are several different party-specific cocktail options, and the abundance of live entertainment is staggering. At one point, I was just chilling on a bench near Indiana Jones with a grin from ear to ear. If I had to choose one, it’s Jollywood no question.