By: Jen Travis, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Universal Orlando celebrates the holidays in a truly big and magical way year after year. They put on one of the most epic and unforgettable holiday celebrations of the season! Universal kicks off their holiday seasons usually from Mid-November through January 1st annually and there is never an additional charge or special event ticket required! There is more than just decorations and music going on at Universal Orlando!
Let’s start with Universal Studios' side of the park. During the day you can find Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees performing songs that are specifically created for the holiday season in Diagon Alley. Also included with admission is the MARVELOUS Mannheim Steamroller. This renowned band plays a wide variety of classic carols and original hits. Typically they only perform 5-6 shows per season so you definitely want to check the calendar so you do not miss out.
Another holiday favorite is Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. This parade starts over by the Horror Make up show, heads down Hollywood Boulevard before looping up to the Christmas Tree by the Tribute Store. This parade not only features larger-than-life balloons but also characters from Despicable Me, Madagascar, and Shrek. There is even a guest appearance from Santa Claus himself!
Heading over to Islands of Adventure, one of my favorite things to do first is head up to Hogsmeade and enjoy the decor before it gets too crowded. When the sun starts to set you will want to find a spot to watch The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. This light projection show with fireworks on Hogwarts castle is always fun to watch and a great way to get into the holiday spirit. There is an amazing fireworks display closing out the show.
Calling all my Grinch fans, if you love the Dr. Seuss classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas then you are going to want to consider booking a trip to spend the holidays at Universal Orlando. Not only did Breakfast with the Grinch come back in 2022 but it basically sold out within the first few weeks! That's right, all of the beloved Dr. Seuss characters including the Grinch himself will join you for breakfast at Circus McGurkus for silly fun and yummy food! If you do not get enough of the Grinch you can catch him at the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular show which is a live re-telling of the classic holiday tale with a variety of showtimes each day! If you still have not had your fill of the Grinch and the Who’s you can sign up for a virtual queue to meet the Grinch in his lair if you dare. The Who’s however you can find wandering around Seuss Landing. You never know what silliness they are up to!
There is one experience I do highly recommend to all who are visiting Universal for the holidays and that is the Universal Holiday Tour. This is an additional cost however I feel it is truly worth it as you are guaranteed to meet The Grinch, get special seating for one of the Grinchmas Wholiday Shows, a private meeting with Santa Claus, an after hours showing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle and a variety of snacks from Circus McGurkus Cafe Stupendous! Spend your day enjoying the rides and then pre purchase a holiday tour to enjoy everything that Universal has to offer for the holidays! The tour guides are absolutely amazing and it is truly an amazing experience for the holidays.
From unforgettable entertainment to magical experiences, how could you NOT want to book a vacation at Universal Orlando for the Holidays!
Please reach out to Jen, a travel agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
