🌧️ Our Rainy Jollywood Nights: What Actually Happened & What We Learned

Practically Perfect Pixie Dust
Dec 11, 2025
8 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

PPPD's Lyn, Kim, and Bren wearing their retro holiday fits for the Jollywood Nights party at Hollywood Studios before the rain began

We knew the forecast looked very iffy heading into Jollywood Nights, but Florida rain is usually a quick pop-up shower, so we were hopeful it would blow through. This? This was an evening-long mood. And honestly… it turned into one of the most unexpectedly memorable party nights we’ve ever had, both for positive and negative reasons.

We arrived at Hollywood Studios just before party admission began—one of the perks of being Passholders—and squeezed in a couple of attractions with Lightning Lane Multi Pass before the drizzle turned into a full downpour. By 6:30 PM, Fantasmic! was officially canceled, and we took that as our cue to pivot into “rain-night mode.”

If you’re looking for a full breakdown of the entertainment, characters, and party strategy on a normal weather night, don’t miss our complete Jollywood Nights Guide — it’s the perfect starting point before diving into what rain does (and doesn’t!) change.

Hollywood Boulevard in the rain during Jollywood Nights

🎄 Indoor Characters to the Rescue

Since the rain was settling in for the night, we ducked into the indoor queue for Mickey & Minnie in their festive outfits. It was warm, it was dry, and honestly, the vibe was cozy. The wait was about 45 minutes, but being inside made it completely bearable—and the photos were adorable. (Yes, we took several.)

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If rain is in the forecast, prioritize indoor character meets early in the night, perhaps even before the rain becomes awful. These queues stay open even during heavy storms, but wait times can spike fast when everyone else starts running for cover.

Afterward, we headed to ABC Commissary for an early dinner and escape the rain. This ended up being one of our favorite pockets of the entire night. We tried the empanadas, street corn, and the Hot Chocolate Cheesecake (all very solid party picks!) while a live band from the Holiday Fiesta en la Calle street party set up inside the restaurant. Miguel roamed the area meeting guests - almost as if it were a pop-up character meal, and yes, we got pictures of that too. Disney was doing its best to make Jollywood Nights in the rain a magical experience.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If weather pushes entertainment indoors, it won’t be listed in MDE. Keep your eyes (and ears!) open — some of the best pop-up moments happen when performers relocate unexpectedly.

✨ A Short, Magical Break in the Weather

The rain lightened up just enough for a few outdoor characters to appear, so we popped out to take advantage of the window. We grabbed photos with Holiday Pluto and Goofy spiffed up in a tux and tails, then hopped on Star Tours with almost no wait. By the time we came out, the skies had reopened. Our plans for Glisten! being thwarted, we head toward Galaxy's Edge for a couple more rides and the hope of seeing Chewbacca in his Life-Day attire.

For a full look at where all the characters and entertainment normally appear, our Jollywood Nights Character & Entertainment Map lays everything out clearly — rain or shine.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Anytime the rain pauses, grab your chance to meet outdoor characters — those windows can be short, and characters often disappear quickly once the next band of rain hits.

Rise of the Resistance had a 15 minute wait, and Smugglers Run was walk-on, which were both lovely perks of a rainy-party night. Chewbacca and The Mandalorian never made appearances during the stormier periods, which tracks - characters and water do not mix, after all, though they were out at other periods during the night.

If you’re mapping out your attractions for a regular day at the park, our full Hollywood Studios Guide has ride strategies, dining picks, and everything you need to plan beyond the party.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Rainy party nights are secretly some of the best times to ride headliners. Most guests leave early or cluster indoors, so waits drop dramatically — especially after 10 PM.

Since the outdoor entertainment was getting spottier, we made our way through the "official" Jollywood Nights merchandise location in the Vacation Fun Theartre, grabbed a warm drink, and headed toward one of the highlights of our night: Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby. On the way we caught the end of Jingle Bell Jingle Jam, but the rain made the visuals hazy at best.

Jingle Bell Jingle Jam on a very rainy night at Disney Jollywood Nights

🎷 Jazzy Holidays: A Warm, Lovely Escape

Let’s just put this right at the top: Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby is an A+ experience, even on the rainiest Jollywood Nights, and ended up being the perfect mid-party reset. We spruced up our damp Hollywood Glam outfits the best we could and joined dozens of other guests dressed to the retro-nines for this very vibey dining experience. The holiday décor inside Brown Derby was gorgeous and the entire atmosphere felt elevated and cozy at the same time. We saw two of the different piano-playing jazz musicians during our drinks and small bites, enjoying a mix of classic holiday favorites and jazzed up Disney classics. We really enjoyed the food and cocktails, sampling the Chorizo Arancini, Jazzy Sliders with great delight as well as the Holiday Mickey Hot Cocoa, Hollywood Lights, and the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. We did find the Charcuterie board to be underwhelming. It was a lovely sojourn, and was the highlight of our evening. When we stepped back outside, the rain was back to its light-and-steady self.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip:If you want a calmer, elevated party moment, snag a Jazzy Holidays reservation. Even on stormy nights, the Brown Derby becomes a warm little oasis — and bookings can free up last-minute when the weather turns.

🎅 Santa Duffy… With a Weather Twist

Once out, we headed to the Santa Duffy meet and greet, one of our must-dos for the evening. The line was indoors, and we were concerned about wait-time, but it turned out he had almost no wait - one of the unexpected perks of stormy weather. The humidity was so intense that one of his eyeballs had fogged up inside his costume, which was equal parts hilarious and extremely relatable.

If Santa meet-and-greets are on your Christmas must-do list, we also have a complete Guide to Meeting Santa at Disney World with locations, hours, and our best tips.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Late-night character meets can be wonderfully empty on rainy nights. Check the posted times and save indoor meets for the final hour when crowds thin out dramatically.

By now it was after eleven. We had originally planned to catch the final shows of Holidays in Hollywood and Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along back to back, but the rain hit a whole new level—loud, sideways, and cold. After hours of being damp, we made the very cozy decision to bail and head back to the resort, dry off and head for bed.

💡 Rainy Jollywood Nights Tips: What We Learned From a Very Stormy Party

Don’t panic when the weather shifts — regroup. Some of the best Jollywood moments happen indoors, and the later the night gets, the lighter the crowds become. A rainy holiday party is a whole different experience. Not bad — but definitely different.

And if rain becomes part of your Disney day (party night or not!), we’ve got a whole guide of Disney World Rainy Day Tips to help you keep the magic going.

Here’s what the night taught us:

1. Check your expectations at the gate

If rain is in the forecast, assume outdoor entertainment may be limited, shifted, or canceled. Plan to lean into indoor offerings and regular attractions—and you’ll enjoy the night much more.

2. Prioritize indoor character meets & shows, but we aware of wait-times.

All indoor experiences did continue, but lines grew faster during heavier rain windows. Indoor equals dry and comfy… and everyone else, of course, has the same idea. Later in the evening there was very little wait for these same activities.

3. Regular rides become a silver lining

Except for Slinky Dog Dash, almost every ride remained open throughout the night. If you’re willing to pivot your mindset, party nights in the rain are incredible for low-wait attractions.

4. Disney does try to relocate entertainment—but it’s not announced

Some roaming characters and street performers moved to sheltered spots, but these changes were not updated in MDE. We found them by pure luck. Expect to stumble upon surprises rather than strategize around them.

5. Bring real rain gear—not the flimsy stuff

Our good ponchos clipped to our bags kept us way drier and more comfortable than umbrellas or the ultra-thin emergency ponchos. On cold December nights, staying as dry as possible can make a big difference in your enjoyment.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Skip the umbrellas — they turn into wind sails during storms and don’t keep you nearly as dry as a well-fitted poncho. We use compact reusable ponchos clipped to our park bags and never regret it.

6. Florida rain can feel shockingly cold in December, especially when it rains

All of the Pixie Dust crew lives in considerably colder climates at the moment, so it was surprising in some ways how cold we felt. We were freezing by the end of the night, and ended up donning our recently purchased event merch to help warm up. Even lightweight layers help make the experience so much better.

8. Don't just throw in the towel because the weather goes south

It is tempting to just leave when rain starts - especially heavy, cold or windy rain. Regroup instead, look at indoor activities or queues. Most people do not stay as long, so crowds will be lighter as the evening goes on which can be a big bonus.

If you're looking for the best indoor routes and sheltered shortcuts at all four parks, our Beat the Rain or Heat Park Maps are absolute lifesavers.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you can power through the first wave of bad weather, you’re often rewarded with near-empty walkways, short queues, and more intimate character moments later in the night.

7. Know when your party has reached its limits.

We wanted to keep pushing though and squeeze as much of the special party entertainment as possible to "get our money's worth," but ultimately for us being wet and cold became a limiting factor toward the end of the night, and we decided to end the night on a relatively high note, rather than keep pushing beyond and ending up quite miserable.

🧚‍♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: There’s no wrong choice on a rainy night. Whether you stay to soak up the atmosphere or head back for dry socks and cocoa, make the decision that keeps the magic alive for your family.

Jollywood Nights projected onto the Chinese Theatre at Hollywood Studios

✨ That's a Wrap

Was it the Jollywood Nights we planned? No. Was it still fun? Absolutely.

The rain reshaped the night in unexpected ways, but with a little flexibility (and dry socks waiting back at the resort), we still made magical memories—Miguel pop-up, cozy indoor music at Brown Derby, foggy Duffy eyeball and all. We know that many people did leave disappointed, with some pleading for refunds at guest services. But with a little planning, realistic expectations, and a positive attitude, you can still create a memory filled magical evening.

And if you’re comparing holiday parties this season, don’t miss our full Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Guide — especially helpful if rain may affect your party night there, too.