The Holiday’s at the Universal Orlando Resort have officially begun, and we’ve got the details!
Can you imagine spending the merry season with your favorite pals like the Grinch and the Who’s or maybe taking a stroll through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter all decked out for the Holidays?
That all sounds extremely delightful to us and actually something we do every year! Christmas at Universal has become somewhat of a tradition for us and we plan to keep the tradition going!
This year, from Friday, November 17, 2023 to Sunday, December 31, 2023, Universal has quite a line up of festive fun, not only at both theme parks, but also the hotels, and CityWalk.
Let’s break it down!
1. Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s
Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s is a very merry experience that winds its way through the Studios streets, nightly. This festive parade is one of the most beloved holiday traditions in Orlando.
Universal’s Holiday Parade gives guests a front row seat to some of the most beloved characters in the Universal franchise, including the Minions, Shrek, and the cast of Madagascar.
Joining these beloved characters, guests can also enjoy the sight of oversized balloons and intricately designed floats, that are sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
Parade Details
The Holiday Parade takes place nightly at 5:30 on the Universal Studios Side. There are a handful of dates that offer a parade at 5:00 PM, so make sure to check the daily times guides or utilize the Universal smartphone app. Dates and times for the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s can change without notice.
Pro Tip
The parade is best viewed from the Hollywood backlot by the Bourne Stuntacular show. There are multiple benches in this area that guests can utilize to take in the parade. This is a quite popular area, so we do recommend fining a seat approximately45 minutes before parade start.
2. Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular is THE celebration of the holiday season! One might say it’s the Who’s, Who of live theater and will certainly make your heart grow at least three sizes.
Islands of Adventure park guests can join the Grinch and Who-ville residents in the telling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas all performed to a magnificent score recorded by Mannheim Steamroller.
Show Details
The Grinchmas Spectacular can be found on the Islands side in Suess Landing. Shows run daily at 11:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM, 2:15 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM. Times and dates are subject to change so make sure to check the daily times guides or utilize the Universal smartphone app.
Pro Tip
This show is quite popular and can fill rather quickly. Although the soundstage being used as the theater is rather large, the queue does close quickly to park goers during the more popular show times of 11:15, 1:15 and 4:00. We recommend skipping these popular times and queuing up at least 30 minutes prior to additional show times.
3. A Wizarding World Christmas
Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a truly magical experience. The Wizarding World in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are transformed into a holiday wonderland, with Hogwarts Castle illuminated in dazzling lights and snow-covered roofs.
Festive treats like hot butterbeer and holiday-themed food at the Three Broomsticks and the Leaky Cauldron can be enjoyed by all.
In our opinion, the highlight of Christmas in the Wizarding World is the “Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.”
This experience is a projection show with special effects that brings Hogwarts. Holiday-themed imagery and music from the Harry Potter films thrill guests’ night after night beginning at dusk.
The Harry Potter goodness doesn’t end there…
The wizarding World welcomes back the students of Hogwarts and their giant croaking frogs, better known as the Frog Choir, sharing a special holiday-themed performance. Park goers can also sway to the music of the wizarding world’s most popular singing sensation, Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees, in Diagon Alley.
4. Complementary Live Music at Universal Studios
Mannheim Steamroller, the best-selling holiday artist of all time will delight park guests with festive performances December 2, 3, 9 and 10.
Performances will be on the select nights mentioned above and be located on the Universal Music Plaza stage. Be sure to check park guides for exact show times.
5. Sweet Treats, Seasonal Souvenirs and Special Photo Ops
- Guests will be submersed in exclusive food and drink offerings located both in the theme parks and Universal CityWalk. Everything from specialty doughnuts to holiday cocktails for the over 21 crowd.
- Christmas Tree Ornaments, Home Decor and more await park guests. In addition to home goods, guests will find holiday exclusive hats, t-shirts and a multitude of other apparel.
- Characters, Characters and more Characters…. all decked out for the holidays!
Well, what do you say? The Christmas festivities sound pretty darn good, right? As we mentioned earlier, Christmas at the Universal Orlando Resort is fantasically festive and delicously fun. Tell us, Have you had the opprtunity to experience the Holidays in Universal?
About the Writer
We are DizN with the Donohues and we are a digital creator trio (Mom, Dad, Son) bringing you the wonderful world of Disney & Universal … in real time! When we're not bringing you exciting content from the parks, we are planning vacations for guests across the country as the owners of DizN Vacations, LLC at CS Elements Travel!
GET TRAVEL NEWS DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX!
Affordable Disney World Animal Kingdom Breaking Disney News Budget friendly Disney World California Adventure Costa Rica Destination DizN Disney Disney's Contemporary Resort Disney Character Meet and Greets Disney Cruise Disney Cruise Activities Disney Cruise Line Disney Cruise News Disney Deals Disney Deluxe Resorts and Villas Disney Dining Disney Dining Plans Disney Discounts Disneyland Disneyland Resort Disney News Disney Parks Disney Promotions Disney Resorts Disney Restaurant Review Disney Springs Disney Tips and Tricks Disney Travel Disney Travel Planning Disney Travel Tips Disney Vacation Disney Vacation Planning Disney Vacations Disney World Disney World Resorts DIZN DizN Vacations DizN with the Donohues Epcot Epcot Festivals Epic Universe family tavel Family Vacations Foodie Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Studios Islands of Adventure Jessica Yashin Kelli Donohue LIghtning Lane Reservations Magic Kingdom Mardi Gras Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party rebecca reynolds runDisney Special Events Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge The.Wandering.Wayfinder Theme Parks Theme Park Vacations todiznandbeyond Travel Agent Travel Tips Universal CityWalk Universal Express Pass universal hotels Universal Mardi Gras Celebration Universal Orlando Universal Orlando Resort Universal Parks Universal Planning Tips Universal Studios Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Orlando Universal Studios Vacations Universal Travel Planning Vacation Ideas Vacation Planning Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Resort Walt Disney World Vacation Packages
Leave a Reply