Disney Wins a 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring for What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along

Hey Disney Vacationers! Disney just added another win to its long list of achievements — and this one’s all about the holidays, music, and Jack Skellington. On April 29, 2025, Walt Disney World was officially awarded the IAAPA Brass Ring for “Most Creative Winter Holiday Production” for its What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, a fan-favorite show featured during Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

This recognition wasn’t just a small honor — it came from IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, which is basically the gold standard for excellence in the theme park and attractions industry.

What Is IAAPA and Why Does It Matter?

IAAPA represents the global attractions industry. If you’ve ever been on a thrill ride, watched a parade, or sipped on an over-the-top theme park snack, chances are someone behind the scenes is part of IAAPA.

The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are some of the most respected honors in the business. They’re named after the literal brass rings once given out on carousels in early amusement parks — symbols of great performance and even greater rewards. Today, winning a Brass Ring means your park or production is doing something exceptionally creative, memorable, and impactful.

The 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards were held from April 28–30, 2025, at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany.

What’s This? Disney’s Big Win

Let’s get into what Disney actually won for — and why fans like us are so pumped.

Disney won the “Most Creative Winter Holiday Production” for What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along. The show ran during the Disney Jollywood Nights event, which made its debut at Hollywood Studios as a limited-ticket holiday party. And while the entire event had standout entertainment, this sing-along quickly became the talk of the night.

This 20-minute live show invites guests to sing along to songs from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The performers tell the story without speaking a word — using only their physical movements and expressions to guide guests through each scene. It’s theatrical, high-energy, and downright magical.

But the highlight? The giant Jack Skellington puppet. If you’ve seen Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you might recognize him. But here, he’s in a brand-new setting, taking center stage in the intimate indoor venue. It takes two people to operate the massive puppet — and when he steps out, it’s an absolute showstopper. Seeing Jack live is something photos just can’t capture.

Who Else Was Nominated?

Disney was up against two major productions in the same category:

• Six Flags Holiday Special from Six Flags Over Georgia
• Frosty’s Electric Snow Party from Universal Studios Japan

Both were strong contenders, but Disney’s bold mix of classic storytelling, beloved music, and live puppetry helped it stand out — especially during a brand-new seasonal event like Jollywood Nights.

All Disney Nominations at the 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards

This wasn’t Disney’s only nomination. Here’s the full list of categories where Disney made a mark:

• Best Custom Retail Souvenir: Year-Round Option
  Disney Parks Product Development & Retail for “Starspeeder 3000 Vehicle Playset”
• Most Creative Winter Holiday Production
  Walt Disney World for “What’s This?: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along”
• Most Creative Atmosphere Production
  Shanghai Disneyland for “Disney Zootopia Comes Alive”
• Most Creative Spectacular
  Disneyland Paris for “Disney Electrical Sky Parade”

Why This Matters for Disney Fans

This award signals something big — Disney still knows how to innovate, surprise, and wow its guests. Even during special events like Jollywood Nights, which are more experimental than your average park day, Disney is investing in entertainment that resonates on a deep level.

If you’ve ever stood in a theme park and felt totally immersed in a moment — like singing your heart out with a giant Jack Skellington puppet towering over you — that’s the kind of magic IAAPA is recognizing here.

Final Thoughts

Disney wins a 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring — and honestly, it’s a well-deserved celebration. What’s This? wasn’t just a show; it was an experience. It proved that Disney still leads the way in creativity, storytelling, and guest experience. And if you were lucky enough to see it during Jollywood Nights, you already know why it deserved to win.

If you missed it, fingers crossed that this fan-favorite gets an encore next holiday season. And who knows? With a Brass Ring under its belt, this show might just become a staple.

FAQ

What is the IAAPA Brass Ring Award?
The IAAPA Brass Ring Award is an industry honor given to top theme park productions, experiences, and innovations. It’s named after the “brass ring” from vintage carousels and symbolizes excellence in the global attractions industry.

Why did Disney win a 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring?
Disney won for its 20-minute holiday show, What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, which played at Disney’s Jollywood Nights. The production blended silent storytelling, iconic music, and a massive Jack Skellington puppet.

Where was the 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards held?
The 2025 awards were held at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, from April 28 to April 30, 2025.

What makes the Jack Skellington puppet special?
The puppet is huge, requires two performers to operate, and is a crowd favorite from Disney’s Halloween shows. In this production, it stole the spotlight with its size and lifelike motion.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!