Long time no writing… It’s been a SUPER BUSY week! My last princess diary was back on November 2nd. Until today, I was in parks for 9 days! I had 3 food reviews and 2 parties! I want to talk about 2 parties, but let me talk about today’s loop first!
Let the chaos begin!
Hellur from Hollywood Studios!
Since last month, Hollywood Studios changed back to old-style early entry, so I could get in early to the park! The early entry started at 8:30 but was already open when I arrived at 8:05. Stroll the front store as usual (only Key Stone was open) and waked by For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. It’s also the holiday version now.
I went to check Santa’s workshop but nobody was there yet, so I went to Boardwalk to check gingerbread house!
Boardwalk Gingerbread House
I like how they made it like an actual boardwalk deli!
Took the boat back to Hollywood Studios… This time, I am hoping to see somebody at Santa’s workshop!
Santa Claus : It’s A Wonderful Shop
I am sure most of you read the actual article about Santa Claus meet and greet, right? If not, here is the link. You must have a U.S. phone number to receive your text. The check-in cast member didn’t tell me how long is the wait but got called in less than 15 minutes.
Santa asked me what I wanted, so I asked him for “AirPod Pro Max.” I wanted to ask for “less food review” but I know this won’t happen.
After meeting Santa, my character holiday quest began. Most of the characters have holiday attire. Here are the pictures.
****Disclaimer***** I waited for Woody and Jessie for one hour. They are the longest ones I’ve ever waited. I gave up on Buzz and Daisy.
After the characters, I needed to get 3 new holiday entertainments throughout the parks. Each park has a holiday paper guide. They said “Check My Disney Experience (MDX)” for time.
Where on MDX? Hellur? I checked MDX like 10 times, but nothing is on there… Went to ask GET cast members. They don’t even know. They told me to check MDX too. Found the manager, and they said “It’s a surprise.” Ummmm………. The paper that you guys printed out clearly said “For today’s entertainment offering and show times, visit the My Disney Experience app.” This was fantastically well organized. Also, the entertainment will move/ change their location between the morning and the afternoon.
From the morning until noon “Seasonz Juke Box Band” was playing by Tatoonie trader, but in the afternoon they moved to Edna and Frozone’s statue by Dockside Diner
“Holiday Spirit Band” was playing in front of Edna and Frozone’s statue by Dockside Diner until noon, then moved to the animation courtyard.
“Juggling Elves“ started by Brown Darby Bar, then moved to Echo Lake in the afternoon.
But most of them are done by 5 pm. So if you would like to catch them, go there early! They have their shows every hour except 1 pm. They might change because it’s “surprise” so if they changed, let us know in the comment! Anyway, I spent 8 hours to just get characters and 3 entertainments today! Can you believe it? Because I can not! haha
Okay, I hope some people are here for my honest opinion about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. Let’s start with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024
I started at 7:30 am on the party day, because of the Christmas food review! Yes, I was there from 7:30 until 1 am and ate over 20 items. Our unofficial intern felt so bad, she flew from San Diego to help me.
How’s the food? It was all peppermint! I LOVE PEPPERMINT, I am the person who buys peppermint during the Christmas season, But it was way too much peppermint… The ice cream was fantastic I would buy it again.
Castle show, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration. FANTASTIC! Always, FANTASTIC.
I love it so much, especially Daisy’s phone part. Never fail me, never.
Parade, Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. What the actual FAIRY 🧚♀️ happened to my favorite parade? (Well, I know what happened but…) It is not acceptable at all.
The new song? Miserable. Took the heart from the parade. I don’t think I can jam that parade like how I used to. My deceased family member who was an entertainment cast member would come out from the grave for this. Because it is not okay. I know there are complicated situations, but they couldn’t make it better.
Well the good side of the parade, I LOVED the update on the FROZEN unit. It was a great update, I love their costume.
Also somehow, this year’s party was packed than ever. I usually get my parade spot before the first castle show starts, but it was too late for this year. I’ve going to MVMCP since 2013 but this was the crazy busiest one I ever saw.
These are the troops who worked on the MVMCP opening night coverage with me. Thank you!
**I had 3 starbies between 7:30 am to 1 am on that day.
Let’s jump to Jollywood nights.
Jollywood Nights
They let us check in really early, like 4 pm, and were able to go check the merchandise early too. I love that. This year, they added more characters and ice skating shows, so everybody was split all over the parks which was great. I ended up waiting 15-20 minutes for each character except Stitch.
Ice skating show? Glisten!
It’s a great addition… But couldn’t beat SeaWorld’s ice skating show. It’s totally different kind of ice skating show. Glisten! is a more modern skating show with Disney songs, if I compare it to SeaWorld’s show. (**I am the person who is paying my annual pass to just watch their Christmas ice skating show every year.) The Glisten!’s link is so small and the skaters can’t show their skill 100% on there. If they add characters like Disney On Ice, I will like it more. (I doubt they would not do it because the link is too small.) I love the songs that they are using tho. It’ll be my playlist to go to work.
Overall, Jollywood Nights satisfied me more than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year. Who would expect that?! My friends asked me “If you have to pick one from Jollywood or MVMCP, which one you would choose?” I used to say MVMCP, However, from now on I would tell them “Jollywood Nights!.”
The parade and the castle show from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party would be able to watch during the daytime operation from end of the December anyway. (Whether you like the new song or not.) So I rather pay to go Jollywood Nights. It’s less wait for everything and more chill.
Well, thank you for reading Nana’s Princess Diary. I hope this will help you to find Hollywood Studios holiday entertainment and make easy decisions for the parties!
Have a magical day and see you real soon!