Christmas at Hollywood Studios Info & Tips
Walt Disney World’s Christmas entertainment at Hollywood Studios is known as Flurry of Fun, which includes Sunset Seasons Greetings. As with Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, these holidays offerings run from November 8, 2019 through January 5, 2020. In this post, we’ll offer tips, info, and our thoughts on Christmas at DHS.
For us, Christmas is a “difficult” time of year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was our absolute favorite thing during the holidays at Walt Disney World, and losing that was a big blow. It also didn’t help matters that the initial and indirect replacement for the Osborne Lights, Jingle Bell Jingle Bam, was pretty far from being an adequate replacement.
Both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land now being open (with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance debuting on December 5, 2019) certainly help with that a bit. The other good news is that in the last couple of years, Walt Disney World has really stepped things up, turning Disney’s Hollywood Studios into a festive place to spend the holidays, with the front half of the park having pitch-perfect yuletide atmosphere…
That’s really the story of “Flurry the Fun” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios–the festive ambiance. The entertainment listed on the times guide is the big draw, but what’s most endearing–and how you’ll spend the most time at DHS during the Christmas season, is the areas in Echo Lake and on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards that simply ooze holiday spirit.
In these areas of the park, the decorations evoke a sense of mid-century kitsch, the Christmas music is memorable, and the lights really pop against the Art Deco architecture. The little touches make all the difference, and the atmosphere is further enhanced by Sunset Season’s Greetings and ‘snowfall’ on Sunset Boulevard. Suffice to say, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is once again a good place to be for Christmas.
Next up is Christmas in Toy Story Land. At their meet & greets, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear sport holiday finery beginning on November 8, 2019. Additionally, Toy Story Land has new holiday decor, including oversized cranberry-and-popcorn garland, a holiday card “selfie” of Toy Story characters, an oversized Hamm sugar cookie, Green Alien ornaments, and more.
Toy Story Land’s attractions are also plussed for the Christmas season with new holiday audio. Aboard Slinky Dog Dash, guests will hear sleigh bells ringing, and Alien Swirling Saucers will offer two holiday tracks, plus themed lighting for the holidays.
As for the returning entertainment and decorations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sunset Season’s Greetings uses projection mapping to bring the billboards and facades along Sunset Boulevard. This is primarily accomplished via two large LED “billboards” and the Hollywood Tower Hotel. There are also other effects via synchronized lights on palm trees, falling snow, and the stars that line Sunset Boulevard.
Sunset Season’s Greetings features vignettes from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, the Muppets, and Toy Story, plus appearances by the Prep & Landing characters. The result is a show that is a cute little diversion, although an odd juxtaposition on the Hollywood Tower Hotel, which is more akin to a Halloween attraction than a Christmas one…
In terms of viewing tips for Sunset Season’s Greeting, there really isn’t anything you need to know. The full show is roughly 15 minutes long and runs continuously throughout the evening from dusk until park closing. Consequently, there are dozens of “showings” of this every evening, and about the only thing you’ll experience in the way of crowds during the show is the people who happen to be on Sunset Boulevard when it’s occurring.
To that end, the best advice we can give is to avoid watching Sunset Season’s Greetings immediately before or after Fantasmic. Dusk is going to be another popular time for crowds to congregate, as this will be the first time many people will become aware of the show, and they’ll be more inclined to stop for it. By the end of the evening, it’ll be ‘old news.’
The plus side to making an effort for an earlier viewing of Sunset Season’s Greetings is that around dusk it’ll be easier to photograph, and the falling snow will show up better in your photos. We still wouldn’t recommend making express plans to view Sunset Season’s Greetings at dusk, but if you’re already in the area, you might as well.
Since most of the ‘action’ during Sunset Season’s Greetings occurs on the end of Sunset Boulevard towards Tower of Terror, we’d recommend watching about halfway down the street. Just before Theater of the Stars (where Fantasmic is shown) should be about ideal to see all of the effects.
The stories and character moments in Sunset Season’s Greetings include Mickey and Minnie reminiscing about a hometown Christmas as the scene shifts into a romanticized, Norman Rockwell-inspired town. There’s also Toy Story characters guessing which new toys are coming Christmas morning to join them as the scene covers in wrapping paper and Swedish Chef from the Muppets babbling as the scene turns into giant gingerbread houses.
Finally, Olaf sharing his holiday wish as the scene freezes over into a Frozen winter wonderland–complete with dancing Aurora Borealis lights and projected falling snow. It’s another projection mapping show in a park that already has a nighttime spectacular reliant on projection mapping.
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM (and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular) already leans heavily on projection mapping, to the point that it’s best not even categorized as a fireworks show. Sunset Season’s Greetings is likewise dependent upon projection mapping. There are other really cool effects (and it seems like more lasers this year), but the primary thrust of the show is projection mapping.
With that said, Sunset Season’s Greetings is a fun little diversion, but it’s not a major draw that will get anyone booking trips to Walt Disney World for Christmas.
Next up is Echo Lake Christmas. This features extra-large ornaments floating on the water, colorful garland, and a giant Christmas tree in the middle of Echo Lake. Best of all, Dinosaur Gertie is dressed for the occasion with a Santa hat. That’s right, SANTA GERTIE. (This is not a drill!)
Additionally, all-new songs from the new animated short Olaf’s Frozen Adventure have been added to A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, along with an appearance by Olaf himself.
The new Echo Lake Christmas decor sounds fairly simple, but the energy it gives to this area at Christmas is wonderful. I absolutely love Echo Lake, and consider it to be an under-appreciated area. Added decor to this area of the park sounds awesome to me, and I like the idea of Disney’s Hollywood Studios finally putting its icon Christmas tree back inside the park.
One thing to potentially consider if you want a fireworks spot away from the crowds is to watch from over here. While we haven’t tried this ourselves during this Christmas season, we have done it many times in the past, and the area is usually empty.
The downside to watching from here is that Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! is very heavy on projections, so you’re missing an integral part of the show. The upsides are the lack of crowds, and the potential for great photos with the Christmas tree and decorations, fireworks, and reflections on the water. Plus, the projections in Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! aren’t that good anyway.
It’s a ‘your mileage may vary’ thing, but something to consider. Now that we’ve seen Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! once from a regular spot, we prefer avoiding the crowds and seeing it from Echo Lake.
Finally, make sure to check out all of the holiday snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year as part of its Flurry of Fun. For that, check out our Food Guide to Christmas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
You’ll also want to read our Minnie’s Holiday Dine Review to determine whether you should book that Christmas-themed buffet, as well as our Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam Tips & Review post for strategy in terms of viewing that show.
All in all, these additions are a nice shot in the arm for Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Christmas. I think Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! fell flat for a lot of regulars, and it’s still a so-so piece of holiday entertainment at best. However, in the couple of years since, Walt Disney World has gradually increased the Christmas offerings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the result is something that gives the park a lot of holiday spirit.
Even cumulatively, it doesn’t live up to Osborne Lights, but that was a necessary casualty for the year-round awesomeness that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge brings with it. Even though we will never get the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights back, it’s very nice to see Walt Disney World making a serious effort to try and fill the void, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is once again a formidable park at Christmas-time.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
How do Sunset Season’s Greetings and Echo Lake Christmas sound to you? Are you excited about these offerings, or indifferent? Have projection mapping ‘fatigue’ yet? Will you make a special trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year to see this holiday entertainment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Tom,
I enjoy reading your articles and appreciate the many enlightening perspectives you present. But if I have one tiny criticism, it’s that I see the phrase, “your milage may vary” in practically every article you write. We all know we may not agree with every word you write, but including this tired refrain over and over again just seems too apologetic and takes away from the confidence of your declarations. If you deleted that phrase from your vocabulary, your blogs would miss it not.
Love the Christmas feel at the park!
This is our first time being here this late in November and beginning of December. The decorations and Christmas feel is fabulous. Weather is not quite as good. But the wait times were better due to the cold weather.
Woody’s Lunch Box is a must stop!!
We were there last night and saw you Tom.
Based in past experience, any chance they will debut Jingle Bell Jingle Bam a day early?? We will be there on 11/7 and my kids are going to be sad to miss it.
This is what I envisioned when I read about oversized ornaments on Echo Lake: http://www.greenroofs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chihuly.gif
It’d be great if Gertie’s teamed up with Oberweis to offer eggnog, brandy, cinnamon, and peppermint flavors of ice cream!
Hi there, this year is our first time to come to Disney at Christmas. After googling Osborne Lights, I’m wondering why they aren’t doing it anymore? I have been to Hollywood and seen the Galactic Star Wars show. The christmas lights are AMAZING. I’m sad they won’t be doing it. 🙁 Too bad they cannot work around the galactic show with the lights or something.
Santa Gertie is everything.
Glad to hear you made it home. Sounds like it was easier for us to get back to London after Irma than you to CA.
I’m not sure why, but Sunset Seasons Greetings sounds really cool to me. I’m excited for this. We’re taking our 1st Christmas season trip this year, and we were only planning on spending a morning at HS, but I am considering popping back over one evening to view this. There are just so many Christmas offerings to see, and not enough time to see them all!
The last two nights of our upcoming trip are Nov 9 and 10 – the first nights of the “holiday season”. We’re planning to do the Very Merry Christmas Party one of those nights. Which would be better for that? And should we head to Hollywood Studios for the other night to see the new holiday shows? Or should we revisit another park? I usually like to end our trip at MK but wonder if we’d be better doing the MVMCP on Thursday when it might be less crowded… Thanks for your thoughts!
Btw so glad to see another post after the hurricane I live in Florida also but was concerned for you all health
Where would you suggest viewing these 2 shows in HS?
I feel like an ogre whenever I’m saying something about this, but the projection mapping is getting overused. First it replaced the night time parade at the Magic Kingdom and now it’s a suitable replacement for the “real” Christmas lights that the Osborn attraction offered. I thing the technology is cool but I guess I like my tiny twinkling lights and music better.
Will they cut down the shrubs so you can see into Echo Lake? I always felt Echo Lake is a waste of space. That they drained it proves it isn’t necessary for water runoff. Just pave it over for more room to enjoy the fireworks. I can’t be excited about a hat on a dinosaur and a
tree in the lake.
The Tower of Terror projections is smart, but no Christmas overlay in the ride? Oh well. I can imagine Hansel and Gretel visiting a witch’s house with wicked gingerbread and gumdrops.
Echo Lake is not an ideal place for fireworks viewing with the projection-centric shows they’re currently running. I’ve never had any issues seeing into the lake and think DHS needs all the water features it can get, but to each their own, I guess.
Would there be a location anywhere on any of the Disney properties in Walt Disney World that could house a new Osbourne family lights (or the same thing under a different name)?
Don’t know if they would but disney springs comes to mind
The only place that comes to mind is the parking lot at Disney Springs where the Christmas Tree Trail was last year, but adding a huge draw at Disney Springs–an area without turnstiles that is already busy–seems like an awful idea.
I guess maybe over by Universe of Energy and Wonders of Life?
The problem in all of these cases is also what would they put the lights on? No facades that could easily have Christmas lights attached to them.
So, no. Not really.
I was thinking on the buildings merchandise and restaurants. Yes it is already crowded there but I don’t think it would stop people from going if they can latch them to the buildings it would be a win win for everyone. They would get lots more people into the stores and restaurants hence win for their businesses and win for people getting what they are hankering for. Also a win for disney because a lot of people including myself would add a day to their resort stays. All depends if they can get it all together. Yes it would lure more people to a already crowded situation but that’s not all bad news.
Wow more exciting options for Christmas. It is so nice to be able to go in December for a week and not have a night or two of enjoyment.thanks for all u do