Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring tingle tingling too! Come on, it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you!
Well, actually, it’s 80 degrees out, but Universal Orlando Resort is gonna make sure they bring the Jolly to the Holly no matter what the weather may be!
The Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort are always a good time. From Grinchmas cheer to the thrill of the Universal Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s, as well as some of the more exclusive, VIP events that Universal hosts, there’s something or everyone at Universal Orlando Resort this Christmas! Full of holiday cheer, these special events at Universal won’t be around forever! Like the Holiday season, they’re going to come and go quickly – but that just makes them all the more special, in the end!
Christmas at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Celebrate Christmas this year with a traditional flair! Holly wreaths, twinkling lights, and a touch of Christmas Magic descend on Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley every year, to help witches, wizards, and muggles alike celebrate the holiday spirit! Enjoy traditional decorations, hot butterbeer, and special holiday performances by The Frog Choir, as the students of Hogwarts perform some of the most beloved Christmas classics across both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds! Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees, the musical sensation that took the Wizarding World by storm, is also performing some of her catchiest Christmas music in Diagon Alley!
And be sure to catch the return of one of Universal’s most magical nighttime shows, “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” for an unforgettable projection show set against the Hogwarts Castle in Hogsmeade, featuring some of John Williams’ most memorable score from the Harry Potter movies interspersed with the sounds of the season.
Grinchmas at Universal Islands of Adventure
Your heart will grow three sizes when you experience Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – with the entire land of Seuss’ Landing decked out in traditional Whoville cheer, this location is a must for Christmas at Universal. Featuring one of the best stage shows featured at Universal Orlando Resort, guests can view The Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular for its twenty-fourth year, having started in 2000.
The Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular is a heart-warming and high-energy stage show that seamlessly blends the 1966 animated short How the Grinch Stole Christmas with the feature-length 2000 film starring Jim Carrey, all set to music composed by Manheim Steamroller lead Chip Davis. This jaunty, jingly, jolly stage show runs about a half-hour in length and comes with plenty of Christmas surprises for the audience! Housed in Soundstage 18, the former home of the Blue Man Group performances, and entry can be found by Circus McGurkus in Seuss’s Landing. Showtimes vary through the day, with multiple showings per day during the Christmas Season, and seats tend to fill up quickly – so be sure to arrive early if you want a good seat! It’s absolutely worth the effort to catch, and will become an instant Holiday classic for all who see it!
The Grinch & Friends Characters Breakfast at Universal Islands of Adventure
One of Universal’s separately-ticketed Holiday experiences, the Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast is a unique way to spend the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, by starting the day on the wrong side of Mt. Crumprit with The Grinch and other classic characters from Seuss’ Landing.
This character breakfast will be taking place on select dates November 22nd through December 30th at the Circus McGurkus Cafee Stoo-Pendous in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and costs 58.99 plus tax for adults, or 32.99 plus tax for kids ages 3-9. Premier and Preffered Passholders can get a 20% discount off the sticker price of this experience by calling (407) 224-7554 or by purchasing this experience in-person at the front gate or guest services locations within the park!
With delicious breakfast options like Green Eggs and Ham or Cindy-Lou Who’s Belgian Waffles, as well as some special attention from all of the most beloved Dr. Seuss characters featured at Seuss’ Landing, this is a highly sought-after experience and one that will be selling out fast!
Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida
The Macy’s Parade at Universal has been a spectacle for all ages for years, but in its most recent years, it’s seen a few upgrades! The Universal Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida is a hybrid of entertainment that perfectly blends the traditional Christmas parade experience with Universal’s unique brand of fun, featuring beloved characters from all of Universal’s most heartwarming films, this new iteration of the Universal Christmas parade features characters from films like Despicable Me, Shrek, and Madagascar, as well as larger-than-life balloons, intricate and fun floats, as well as eye-catching dancers and some of the catchiest Christmas music there is, all capped off with a special appearance by Santa Clause atop his own beautifully crafted float!
And it’s a good thing he’s there, too! Only Santa himself as the Christmas magic to light the incredible 80-foot tall Christmas tree at Universal Studios; and with a quick stop at the corner of the New York section of the park, guests will get to watch Santa bring the magnificent tree to life every night at Universal Studios Florida!
The Universal Holiday Tour
Another of Universal’s separately-ticketed events for this holiday season, the Universal Holiday Tour is a concentrated shot of Christmas Cheer. If you’re only here for a short amount of time, you might be wondering how on Earth you’re going to see everything that Universal has to offer and still have time for the holiday festivities, too? Even with a little Christmas magic lending a helping hand, it’s a tall order.
The Universal Holiday Tour is an after-hours tour that lets guests experience all the best that Christmas at Universal Studios has to offer, from an exclusive meet and greet with The Grinch, his dog Max, and a handful of Whos, to a calm, quiet, and exclusive after-hours viewing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts, and everything in between.
This VIP Holiday tour is available for select dates November 25th through December 29th, 2024, and a 2-park park-to-park ticket is required for guests participating in this experience. Tickets for this experience start at 79.99 per person plus tax, and can be more expensive depending on the day you book, but Seasonal or Annual Passholders actually get a 10.00 discount if they purchase through the VIP Call Center at 1-866-346-9350 or by visiting the UOAP Lounge in Islands of Adventure.
For more information about the Universal Holiday Tour, check out our review from last year:
This tour comes most recommended for those looking to get as much done as possible in a short amount of time, or those looking for something new to shake up the Holiday Traditions at Universal Orlando Resort!
Holiday Celebrations at Universal Orlando’s Hotels and Universal CityWalk
In addition to all of the festivities going on inside the parks, the Universal Hotels and CityWalk are getting in on the Christmas cheer, too! From unique lobby decorations at all eight of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels, special holiday menus offered for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, and special rates at a myriad of Universal Orlando resort hotels, guests can indulge in all the holiday spirit they can handle!
This year, the Red Coconut Club will transform into the Green & Red Coconut Club, featuring live entertainment and specialty cocktails themed to the holidays; Earl the Squirrel, Universal’s newest holiday mascot, will also have meet and greets at the CityWalk Plaza select dates November 29th – December 28th.
And with assorted seasonal treats and eats available at CityWalk restaurants like Bigfire, and VIVO, as well as special holiday milkshakes available at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen, there’s no doubt that the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort are going to be as festive as ever!
