The holiday season is underway at Walt Disney World thanks to the debut of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights this past weekend. We were in attendance for both parties, and while we’ll have plenty of content to bring you, we’re going to head over to Jollywood Nights now to check out the improvements made to the Glisten skating show in 2025! We’re also going to discuss some of the difficulties it faces as we wonder if it’ll return next year or not. Let’s take a look!
Glisten Skating Show Updated for 2025 Disney Jollywood Nights
Glisten returns to Disney Jollywood Nights this year with some updates, including some new props and staging, less exposition, new costumes, and a new Aladdin section of the show. There is more live singing and an overall tighter production. Some updated stage effects, like more fog and a massive improvement in lighting and spotlighting, were also on display this year.
Overall, this year’s show felt like a marked improvement over the 2024 show, which was the first year that the show was presented. It’s clear that a lot of effort went into this year’s production, but is the show sustainable and will it return in 2026? We’re not so sure, but more on that at the end of the article.
First, here’s a full video of the show, followed by some photos of two of the performances during the opening night of Disney Jollywood Nights 2025.
Glisten! Full Show Video
Glisten! Photos
Can Glisten Survive & Return in 2026?
Ok, let’s talk about Glisten. First, the show is growing on me. It’s pretty cool to see a skating show performed outdoors in Florida, right in front of the Chinese Theater in the hub of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a very accessible show, allowing you to walk up just minutes before it starts and get a good view. It was exactly what Disney Jollywood Nights needed in 2024, and it has been improved this year.
It’s clear that there has been an investment in the show and a real effort to improve it over last year’s performance. The cast is talented, and adding more live singing adds an authenticity to the show that is very much appreciated.
That said, I’m not sure it’ll return next year. To be clear, Disney has not indicated that the show is on the ropes. Also, let me underline this one more time: the cast are very talented performers.
However, there is either something about the synthetic surface or the outdoor conditions that make performing here obviously difficult. I’ve never seen more blunders during a show at Walt Disney World than I have during Glisten, and yes, that includes KiteTails. Falls are not uncommon during Glisten. We even saw some serious-looking falls this year during the opening night. Outside of the safety issues, which I’m sure Disney is robustly legally protected against, it’s honestly just not a good look.
Glisten is performed by a third-party company that has extensive experience presenting skating shows in theme parks. I say that for two reasons. One, again, they are talented and know what they’re doing. Two, it is all too easy for Disney to cut third-party acts that aren’t working. I would argue that Glisten is not working, both from a safety and a show quality perspective.
In general, Glisten is a wonderful addition to the Disney Jollywood Nights event due to the engaging venue in front of the Chinese Theater, and how easy it is to enjoy a performance during a busy night. If Glisten were to be cut, and I’m not purporting to have any inside knowledge, Disney would need to replace it with something great in 2026.
As for this year, I can recommend giving Glisten a watch during your visit to Disney Jollywod Nights. Walk up just a few minutes before a performance and grab a good view. In fact, we found it really enjoyable to catch the 11:10pm performance, and then catch the 11:30pm Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along just a few steps away at the Hyperion Theater. An entertaining and efficient one-two punch as the night was starting to wind down.
Glisten is performed five times per night at 8:10pm, 9:10pm, 10:30pm, 11:10pm, and 12am. Glisten is one of a number of shows that are exclusive to Disney Jollywood Nights.
For more on Disney Jollywood Nights 2025, check out our dedicated page and guide below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
