Gertie the dinosaur has her Santa hat back, and this year the ornament in her mouth is red instead of gold. The "new holiday droid" in the park, R2-H16, turns out to be a $129.99 remote-control toy.
Gertie the dinosaur has her Santa hat back at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and this year the ornament dangling from her mouth is red. It was gold in recent years, WDWNT reported Thursday, Nov. 5.
The park's giant Christmas tree is back, too, on the little island in the middle of Echo Lake. Crews tied it off with ropes running to nearby buildings. It's wrapped in gold garland and loaded with red, green and blue baubles, retro Santa faces and candy canes, with a big star on top.
The timing was tight. Echo Lake sat mostly drained for almost three months during a refurbishment, and crews only started refilling it Nov. 3. WDWNT said Thursday the lake still wasn't quite full.
The same day, WDWNT spotted R2-H16, this year's holiday droid, at Mickey's of Hollywood. To be clear, it isn't a droid rolling around Echo Lake greeting guests. It's a $129.99 remote-control toy.
All of this lands two days before Disney Jollywood Nights, the park's after-hours Christmas party, opens Saturday, Nov. 7.
Here's a look at Christmas at Disney's Hollywood Studios:
What does Gertie wear for Christmas at Hollywood Studios?
Gertie, the dinosaur that doubles as an ice cream stand on the edge of Echo Lake, gets a Santa hat every holiday season, plus an ornament to hold in her mouth. She's a nod to Gertie the Dinosaur, Winsor McCay's 1914 animated short.
The ornament color changes now and then. In 2021, she wore a gold bow and a Walt Disney World 50th anniversary ornament, WDWNT noted. This year it's red.
If you want Gertie at home, a Santa Gertie plush with a lighted ornament is up for preorder, and a Gertie Loungefly bag is new for Jollywood Nights, WDWNT reported.
Where is the Christmas tree at Hollywood Studios?
In the same spot as always: the fake island near the center of Echo Lake. MickeyBlog said the tree uses the same ornaments and decor as past years, so this is a comeback, not a redesign.
Giant floating ornaments in red, green, purple, yellow and blue went into the lake earlier in the week. WDWNT said they're secured beneath the water, so they won't drift off toward Min and Bill's.
Disney hasn't announced a tree-lighting date. WDWNT said the park usually holds an evening lighting ceremony.
What is R2-H16, and how much does it cost?
It's a remote-control astromech in holiday colors. WDWNT described a green dome with a white band styled like a winter hat, a red pom-pom on top and red-and-green legs. It comes with a controller, lights and sounds, removable panels and doors, and a holiday personality chip for festive beeps.
The price is $129.99 at Mickey's of Hollywood. Last year's version, R2-H15, cost the same $129.99 and showed up at the same shop in late September 2025, WDWNT reported then. Disney Store started selling R2-H16 online in late October, Laughing Place reported.
The name isn't new, either. Disney Parks sold a mostly red R2-H16 Droid Factory figure with a winter cap in 2016, and R2-H15 was the 2015 holiday droid, according to StarWars.com.
What other Christmas decorations are up at Hollywood Studios?
Most of the park was decked out by Nov. 4, WDWNT reported. Some highlights:
Echo Lake: Lampposts in silver garland with retro bell, Santa and deer medallions, deer statues outside 50's Prime Time Cafe and Christmas poodles outside Hollywood and Vine
Hollywood Boulevard: Overhead garland with big yellow stars and bells
Sunset Boulevard: Red and white tinsel stars on the lampposts and candy cane-striped bows at Hollywood Scoops
Toy Story Land: Rex in cardboard reindeer antlers and a giant Hamm cookie in a Santa hat outside Woody's Lunch Box
Glisten! stage: Giant light-up snowflakes in the nearby flowerbeds
When does Disney Jollywood Nights start?
Saturday, Nov. 7. That first night sold out back in October, BlogMickey reported.
The separately ticketed party runs 15 nights through Jan. 5, 2027, from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets cost $169 to $199 plus tax depending on the date, and passholders save $10, according to Disney Tourist Blog.
New this year, per WDWNT, characters join the Glisten! skating show, Animation Courtyard gets a lounge and every guest gets a Chip 'n' Dale ornament.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDWNT (Nov. 5, 2026), Holiday Gertie, the Echo Lake tree, Jollywood Nights additions, and R2-H16's price and location
WDWNT (Nov. 4, 2026), Hollywood Studios Christmas decorations and the floating ornaments
MickeyBlog (Nov. 5, 2026), Christmas tree and Gertie details
WDWNT (Sept. 29, 2025), last year's R2-H15 droid and price
Laughing Place (Oct. 27, 2026), R2-H16 at Disney Store
StarWars.com (Dec. 14, 2018), the history of Disney Parks holiday droids
BlogMickey (Oct. 11, 2026), the Jollywood Nights opening-night sellout
Disney Tourist Blog (June 24, 2026), Jollywood Nights dates, hours and prices
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.