Have you ever wished to be celebrating Christmas at Hogwarts or joining in the frivolous festivities in Whoville?
Yes! The holiday season is just as festive and cheerful as you’d imagine at Universal Orlando. The decorations begin to appear just as the spooky season comes to a close. Often with Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) still hanging on over on the Universal Studios Florida (USF) side, Grinchy cheer starts to appear over in Seuss Landing in Islands of Adventure (IOA) as the first evidence of the changing of the seasons.
Around the second week of November, it is a no holds barred Yuletide takeover! Here is the quick list of the seasonal offerings:
- Grinchmas
- Breakfast with the Grinch and Friends
- Christmas in the Wizarding World
- Christmas Nighttime Lights on Hogwarts
- Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s
- Holiday Tribute Store
- Giant Christmas Tree in NY and Tree Hunt
- Christmas Trees in the Resorts
- Holiday Specialty Food and Beverages
- Characters in Holiday Attire
- Live Holiday Performances
- Holiday Tour
- Mannheim Steamroller Performances
- Resort Offerings
- A general feeling of cheer (warning: your heart may grow 3 sizes)
Grinchmas and Grinch Breakfast: All the Whos down in Whoville are singing! But the Grinch, who hates Christmas, is doing meet and greets and joining you for breakfast! If the Grinch is on your must-do list, I highly recommend snagging a breakfast reservation or booking the holiday tour. Wait times can be upwards of 2 hours for this coveted meet and greet. Seuss Landing in Islands of Adventure is all decked out for the holidays. You cannot miss the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular! Heart-warming, comedic, and nostalgic, this live show does not disappoint. Seating is first-come, first-serve, so line up 15-40 min prior to the next show (check app for show times) OR book that holiday door for reserved prime seating.(Pro-tip: if you’re a Max fan, sit on the right of the stage and witness the cutest actor in the play a bit closer.)
Christmas in the Wizarding World and the Christmas Nighttime Lights on Hogwarts: Really step into the magic when you step onto the streets of Hogsmeade, or stroll through Diagon Alley with the gorgeous holiday decor! The lights and decorations really elevate the immersive experience. Notice how each of the shops don custom decor according to their specialties. Just as the rest of the Wizarding World, it is all in the details! Don’t miss special holiday performances by The Frog Choir in Hogsmeade or Celestina Warbeck in Diagon Alley. Grab a hot butterbeer and find a spot by the castle (I like being near the Frog Choir stage) at dusk (and every 20 min until park close) to witness an enchanting projection show on Hogwarts.
Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s: Yes, that Macy’s, larger than life balloons and all! This parade is spectacular. Full of talented performers and all your favorite Universal characters, this fun and engaging parade has something for everyone. The balloons are so fun to watch and I personally find it fascinating to watch the director guide the balloon handlers. Even the big guy makes an appearance – Santa, not Shrek… well Shrek, too. The parade takes place in Universal Studios Florida, typically at 5:30 (sometime 5:00 if the park closes early), you will see ropes placed along the parade route, usually with signs displaying the time. The parade route starts and ends near the Horror Make-Up Show, traveling clockwise towards Minion Land, then through New York and turns back towards Hollywood at the Starbucks. My favorite spot to watch is in front of The Mummy ride. You can also snag a great spot at one of the turns to get 2 views of the performers. Definitely start staking your spot claims 15-30 min prior to the parade.
Holiday Tribute Store: Is a store really an attraction? Yes, yes it is. Four different holiday themed rooms offer up some of the best seasonal merch ever while also providing an experience. Each room thoughtfully designed by Universal’s Creative team offers a piece of a story. Often pulling from Universal’s Intellectual Properties, it is yet another way we can become immersed in the theming. It is not just decoration! Look closely, and you’ll find Easter eggs, or subtle nods to films, other attractions, cast and crew members, or even original characters and icons like Earl the Squirrel! Want to be featured in the Tribute store? Each iteration of the store features a product available where YOU can be featured and it will be displayed in the store. When the store closes to change seasons, your personalized item will be mailed to your home.
Christmas Trees Galore: Explore Universal Orlando Resort and get an ornament! Current pricing is $13 to purchase a map from either Park Plaza Holiday Shop in Universal Studios Florida, Port of Entry Christmas Shop in Islands of Adventure, or the Universal Studios Store in CityWalk. Find each tree to collect stamps and then return to the store to claim your prize! Don’t miss the Epic tree in the NY area of Universal Studios and look for Earl the Squirrel, a mischievous squirrel who has become an icon of the season. You’ll also want to be sure to explore the resorts. While not part of the tree hunt, the resorts are absolutely gorgeous this time of year.
Specialty Food and Beverage Selections: The Holiday Tribute Store offers a lovely selection of Yuletide indulgences you won’t want to miss. (I struggle with my desire to try all the things, despite my well known inability to stomach the sheer quantity of food I would need to consume to comply with this desire.) Another of my favorite locations for holiday snacky snacks is the Today Cafe. You’ll also find a few food stands set up like “Yule Enjoy”, “The Egg Nog Bar”, and “Hot Treats” in Battery Park. The London Taxi Hut will typically feature a special Jacket Potato, and the Central Park Crepes will also have a specialty Crepes. Over at Islands of Adventure, check out holiday items at Croissant Moon Bakery. Voodoo Donuts and Fresh Eats, both located in CityWalk will also feature a holiday item.
Characters and Live Performances: One thing I love about Universal is the tendency for characters to be seen around most every corner, particularly on the Universal Studios side. This time of year catch your favorite characters sporting their Holiday Best and spreading Christmas Cheer. While most of the time you’ll happen upon these with short wait times for a photo, I will reiterate that The Grinch is going to have a more structured schedule and longer wait times. Live performances can also be found throughout the parks and several have a holiday themed version for this time of year. Marilyn & The Diamond Bellas as well as the Blues Brothers offer standout holiday performances!
The Holiday Tour: Tours are my absolute favorite way to experience the parks. I cannot emphasize enough the value of these tours. I personally hate to waste time and love convenience and hassle-free experiences. Don’t want to wait in line for The Grinch? Holiday Tour. Don’t want to deal with finding a spot for the Hogwarts show? Holiday Tour. Want a good view of the Wholiday Spectacular without waiting for 40 minutes before the show? Holiday Tour. Currently priced starting at $79.99 and available only select dates, it is truly worth every penny. You will get light apps and desserts, Grinch and Max Meet and Greet, Private meet and greet with Santa, Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular, priority access to ONE attraction (subject to Universal discretion), and exclusive After-hours showing of the Nighttime Lights on Hogwarts! (tour will have up to 15 guests and requires you to have a park-to-park admission ticket which is not included in pricing)
Mannheim Steamroller: This show is epic! Touted as one of the best-selling holiday artists of all time, this show is a big hit every year. And it is included in your admission. Performances are very limited, typically happening the first 2 weekends in December at Universal Studios Florida.
Resort Offerings: Other than Christmas trees, you can also find a delectable selection of Christmas Day Cuisine options at the resorts. Take your pick, you honestly can’t go wrong. If you celebrate Hanukkah, you will also find a Menorah complete with a lighting ceremony each day of the celebration at all the resorts.
There you have it, folks! If you’re looking for a magical holiday experience, Universal Orlando is for you.
I will leave you with one final pro tip in this article: While magical, this time of year tends to be pretty busy. If you’re anything like me, standing in long lines is not the most magical use of your time. I definitely prefer to stay at one of Universal’s Premier level resorts that include complimentary Unlimited Express Passes for my family’s entire stay! Purchasing them separately is often more costly and surge holiday pricing can be over $300 per person!
Your Smart Moms Travel Agent will make sure you’re getting the best deal possible and show you the ideal package option for your family. If you have not been hooked up with a Smart Moms Agent, I would love to be your Holiday CheerMeister (and travel agent)! Fill out this form and we can chat!
