Having a very tough act to follow, I want to view this with sympathy.
To some extent, same again so it lacks the freshness and originality of the first one but that's the point of a sequel: to get some of the same again.
I sorely feel they missed a trick by not having James in it. It would have been beautiful. So go in knowing they didn't think it through THAT well, but it's still very visually beautiful, lyrical, delightfully fun but yet kind of classy-in-its-own way festive entertainment I feel all the family (except maybe your cute goth sister) can get into.