Album Review: Disney Junior Holiday Hits

The holidays are here and to celebrate, Walt Disney Records has released a collection of themed songs from some of Disney Juniors biggest shows. Disney Junior Holiday Hits features forty-minutes of jingling songs from shows like Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Vampirina, Puppy Dog Pals, Elena of Avalor, The Lion Guard, Sofia the First, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Goldie and Bear, Sheriff Callie’s Wild West, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Get ready to dance and sing to holiday songs from some of your child’s favorite shows.

The album is arranged like a playlist, with songs from various shows alternating each track. The fun begins with “Navidad” from the Christmas-themed episode of Elena of Avalor, with another song from the show (“Hearts Full of Cheer”) appearing as track 12. Between the two Mickey Mouse TV series (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mickey and the Roadster Racers), there are eight holiday tracks sung by Mickey and the gang, although one is a reprise of “Minnie’s Bow Show” which appears earlier on the album and another is a remix of the “Hot Dog!” song that just adds jingle bells to the background.

I was surprised that my favorite songs on the album all come from Sofia the First. The disc closes with a song called “Peace and Joy” that is reminiscent of “Silent Night,” and “From the Heart” repeats the theme that the best gifts are the ones we give, not the ones we receive. A third song from Enchancia is “That’s What Wassalia’s For,” which is fun but I’m unfamiliar with the context in which it appears in the show, which makes it slightly confusing.

Disney Junior’s newest show, Vampirina, features two songs including “There’s Snow Place Like Home” and “The Way a Feast Should Go.” The musical style from this series feels a little incongruous compared to the other holiday fare on the disc. Even The Lion Guard‘s sole contribution (“Christmas in the Pride Lands”) feels more at home than these tracks. Another new series, Puppy Dog Pals, offers two holiday songs and the album’s only Hanukkah track, “Gotta Make the Latkes.”

Three tracks from Sheriff Callie’s Wild West, three from Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and one from Goldie and Bear help round out the disc. With twenty-five tracks spanning forty-minutes of music, many of the songs are short, sometimes under a minute in length. While I have no real complaints, I’m curious if the album would have played better if the tracks had been kept adjacent to other songs from their series. It’s a little challenging if your child only wants to listen to the Sofia the First songs, for example.

Perhaps the most impressing thing about Disney Junior Holiday Hits is that there isn’t a single holiday classic on the disc. You won’t find “Jingle Bells” or “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” on this disc of holiday songs for kids. The closest the album comes to having an established hit on the disc is that jingly version of “Hot Dog!” But overall, the songs are catchy and won’t drive parents crazy if it’s a top request this season while chauffeuring little ones around town.

If your kids are big fans of Disney Junior, they will love Disney Junior Holiday Hits. Like the shows, these songs feature great messages and fun melodies that will get their feet tapping and put them in the holiday spirit.

Alex Reif
Alex joined the Laughing Place team in 2014 and has been a lifelong Disney fan. His main beats for LP are Disney-branded movies, TV shows, books, music and toys. He recently became a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA).