Credit: Jess Colopy, Inside the MagicThere is something uniquely satisfying about that moment in late June when the temperature outside reaches the high 90s, and the humidity makes even the thought of moving feel genuinely unbearable. It’s also the time when Disney starts talking about the holiday season, making us dream of cooler weather and festive events. While this may seem counterintuitive, it has become a tradition. Halfway to the Holidays. Typically, around the middle of the last week of June, Disney World announces the schedule and pricing for its two major after-hours holiday events: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. This week, those announcements are expected to be made, and Disney has already begun dropping hints to build excitement.
Today, Disney revealed the first official hint that the holiday season is already on the way, and it came in a format perfectly designed to get fans talking. A fireplace photo featuring Christmas stockings appeared on Disney’s official channels with an invitation to tap on each stocking to discover the clues hiding inside. The message accompanying the image read: “The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, just tap on each one… there’s a clue hiding there! A sprinkle of magic, a festive preview, with secrets revealed on June 24 for you.”
That final line is the key detail here. June 24 is when Disney typically announces the official schedule and pricing for both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights, and the fact that Disney is already building toward a reveal tomorrow makes it clear that announcements are coming imminently.
What the Stocking Revealed
When fans tapped on the stocking labeled “Kermie,” they found a very specific hint hidden inside. The stocking belongs to Kermit the Frog, but what appears inside it is a character closely associated with one of Disney’s most beloved after-hours holiday events. Ollie, the gingerbread man mascot of Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, is the figure fans discovered tucked into Kermit’s stocking. The clue attached to that reveal reads: “Where once there was a space, now a stocking appears, with a jingle of bells softly ringing in ears.”
For guests familiar with Jollywood Nights, this is the kind of hint that practically confirms what many have been hoping for. Ollie has become the face of Jollywood Nights, the sophisticated, adult-oriented holiday celebration held at Hollywood Studios during the holiday season. The character made a significant impact during previous Jollywood Nights events, and seeing Ollie featured prominently in Disney’s first “Halfway to the Holidays” teaser strongly suggests that Jollywood Nights is returning this year.
The presence of Kermit on the stocking is also meaningful. Kermit is already part of Disney Holidays in Hollywood, the Muppets-themed celebration held at the Beauty and the Beast theater during the holiday season at Hollywood Studios, so including his name alongside Ollie suggests a connection between multiple holiday experiences happening at the park this year.
What to Expect From Jollywood Nights
Jollywood Nights has quickly become one of the most anticipated after-hours events at Walt Disney World, and for good reason. Unlike Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which skews toward families and features rides with holiday overlays and special parades, Jollywood Nights caters to an older crowd looking for a more sophisticated holiday experience.
Last year, Jollywood Nights ran for 12 nights stretching from November through late December, with tickets priced between $159 and $179 per guest depending on the specific date selected. Given that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party raised its prices for 2026, guests should anticipate that Jollywood Nights pricing will likely increase as well this year, possibly moving into a $169 to $189 range or higher.
The event includes special meet-and-greets with holiday-themed characters, exclusive entertainment experiences, and holiday-themed food offerings available only to party guests. The element that sets Jollywood Nights apart from the Magic Kingdom event is its focus on adult beverages and sophisticated holiday cocktails, making it particularly appealing to guests looking for a more elevated holiday celebration at Walt Disney World.
The Wait Until Tomorrow
Disney has confirmed that additional secrets will be revealed on June 24, which means guests will not have to wait long for official confirmation of Jollywood Nights’ return, along with the full schedule and pricing for both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. The stocking hint today is clearly designed to build anticipation heading into those announcements, and for fans of Jollywood Nights specifically, the appearance of Ollie in Kermit’s stocking is already serving as confirmation that the beloved event is making a return this holiday season.
For guests planning a November or December trip to Walt Disney World, tomorrow’s announcement will be the key moment to mark their calendars, evaluate dates, and determine which holiday event best aligns with their vacation plans.
