The holiday season at Universal Orlando Resort is truly a spectacular time to visit, filled with enchanting lights, festive cheer, and experiences that delight visitors of all ages. Running from November 21, 2025, through January 4, 2026, the celebration brings vibrant energy and magical moments to three spectacular parks, plus exclusive events that make the holidays unforgettable.
Experience the Magic of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™
Step into a winter wonderland as Hogwarts Castle lights up against the night sky, casting a festive glow over Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and even the wizarding Paris area. Special holiday decor and themed entertainment add to the enchanting atmosphere, inviting guests to immerse themselves fully in the joyous spirit of the season.
Grinchmas™ in Seuss Landing™
For families and fans of the beloved Dr. Seuss characters, Seuss Landing™ transforms into whimsical Who-ville for the annual Grinchmas™ celebration. Guests can enjoy the lively Grinchmas™ Who-liday Spectacular, where the Grinch™ and friends spread laughter and festive fun in a show that embodies the heart of the holiday spirit.
Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s
No holiday at Universal is complete without the breathtaking Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. Adorned with enormous, colorful balloons, joyous music, and all your favorite festive characters, this parade brings an extra sparkle to the streets and provides a memorable experience for all ages.
Exclusive Holiday Experiences
Taking your holiday visit to the next level is the Universal Holiday Tour, an exclusive guided experience featuring:
Meet & greets with The Grinch™ and Max
Reserved prime viewing for the Grinchmas™ show and Holiday Parade
Fun activities like cookie decorating and a chance to meet Santa
Light bites and beverages to keep your festive spirits high
Space is limited for this special tour, so early booking is recommended for families wanting a seamless and magical holiday celebration.
The Grinch™ & Friends Character Breakfast
Start your mornings during the holiday season with the beloved mean green one and his pals at the Grinch™ & Friends Character Breakfast inside Universal Islands of Adventure. This festive dining event offers hearty holiday fare and an opportunity to interact with charming characters—an absolute must for families looking to add delight and whimsy to their trip.
Holiday Cheers at Universal Orlando Resort Hotels
The festive spirit extends to Universal’s resort hotels, where guests can indulge in seasonal décor, special holiday menus, and exclusive theme park benefits. Staying onsite means you’re never far from the joyous celebrations and can easily access all the magic without the hassle.
Planning Your Holiday Visit
The holidays at Universal Orlando Resort offer a unique blend of tradition and excitement, combining the warmth of seasonal festivities with the thrills of theme parks. Whether you’re marveling at the lights, singing along at the Grinchmas™ show, or savoring cookies with Santa, this season promises cherished moments for your family.
Tickets, entertainment schedules, and experiences are subject to change, so be sure to plan ahead. Early reservations for special events like the Universal Holiday Tour and the Grinch Character Breakfast are highly recommended.
The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here! Universal Orlando Resort is pulling out all the stops to create a festive wonderland of dreams this holiday season, from November 22 to December 31. As the sun sets and the lights twinkle, you’re invited to wrap yourself in a world of magic, joy, and endless excitement.
Enchanting Experiences Await:
Immerse yourself in the magic of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Wander through Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, adorned with festive décor and glowing garlands. Treat yourself to a steaming Hot Butterbeer as the enchanting “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” illuminates the night sky. Feel the spirit soar with performances by The Frog Choir and dance along to Celestina Warbeck’s captivating tunes.
Dive into Grinchmas:
The Grinch has found his way to Universal Islands of Adventure! Delight in the “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” a heartwarming retelling of the Dr. Seuss classic. Bask in the whimsy of Who-ville with eye-catching décor and charming meet-and-greets with the Grinch himself—definitely a photo op to remember!
Parade Delight:
Witness the excitement of Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, where beloved characters from Despicable Me, Shrek, and Madagascar spring to life as spectacular floats and balloons. Don’t miss Santa’s arrival as he lights up an 80-foot Christmas tree, adding a grand touch to an already magical event.
Upgrade Your Experience:
Elevate your holiday adventure with exclusive add-ons! Embark on The Universal Holiday Tour for guided thrills, delectable treats, and special meet-and-greets. Or kickstart your day with The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast, enjoying dishes like Green Eggs and Ham with your favorite Seuss Landing characters.
Stay Amidst Joy:
Embrace the holiday spirit across all eight Universal Orlando hotels, where each one sparkles with festive décor. With special seasonal menus and ceremonies like Christmas tree lightings and Hanukkah celebrations, your stay promises a unique blend of comfort and celebration.
Universal CityWalk Fun:
Join the CityWalk festivities with special entertainment and themed culinary delights. Savor seasonal drinks at The Green & Red Coconut Club, and don’t miss a chat with the delightful Earl the Squirrel.
Entry to this holiday extravaganza is included with your theme park admission, making it the perfect time to explore a variety of exclusive offers like the Dining Card Vacation Package. Why wait? Dive into the holiday splendor at Universal Orlando Resort, where unforgettable memories are crafted around every corner! 🌟🎄🎉
10 Reasons to Celebrate the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort
The holidays are an extra special time to visit the theme parks. One of my favorite things to do this time of year is visit the theme parks. You may ask, what happens at Universal Orlando during the holidays? You can enjoy gorgeous weather, roller coasters, incredibly fun holiday festivities and so much more during holidays at Universal Orlando Resort. Although things do look a bit different this year than in past years (as expected), you can still get in the spirit and celebrate the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort.
When Christmas time comes to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the land embraces the holiday season with spellbinding decorations, holiday entertainment, and the can’t-miss hot Butterbeer.
Twinkling lights and enchanting strands of garland and wreaths adorn the eaves and shop windows throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Make sure to take a close look as each shop’s decorations are uniquely themed (even Knockturn Alley gets festive with a wreath).
You can’t celebrate properly without tuning in to hear Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees perform their holiday hits like “My Baby Gave Me a Hippogriff for Christmas” (my personal favorite) in Diagon Alley. Over in Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts Frog Choir is taking the stage with their classic carols like “Christmas at Hogwarts”.
Take home a piece of the wizarding world with marvelous merchandise like Hogwarts house ornaments, stockings, and sweaters.
Hot Butterbeer: This seasonal drink has the same creamy flavor reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch you know and love. It’s perfect for warming you up when the weather gets chilly.
See the New Universal’s Holiday Experience Featuring Macy’s Balloons
Although Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s won’t be making its way through the streets of Universal Studios Florida this year, you can see the balloons and floats up close like never before in this new walkthrough experience. See the larger-than-life Macy’s balloons and floats depicting holiday moments inspired by favorite films like Illumination’s Despicable Me, and DreamWorks’ Shrek and Madagascar. And say goodbye to waiting in long lines at the mall — Santa Claus is coming to Universal Studios. Dress in your holiday best and come get a (socially distanced) photo with Santa during this holiday experience.
Universal’s Holiday Tour: Get front of the line access and walking tour to the balloon experience with this add-on experience. You also get a private meet and greet with the Grinch while enjoying a hot cocoa bar, an exclusive viewing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, and a tour of the Tribute Store.
Meet Your Favorite Characters
After meeting the holly, jolly man in the red suit, head over to Universal’s Islands of Adventure to meet the mean, green one himself, the Grinch. You can find him and the Whos spreading holiday cheer — or grumpiness in the Grinch’s case — throughout Seuss Landing.
You can also join other holiday characters for some dancing, singing, and photos in the streets of Universal Studios. Join in on the merry and mayhem with characters like the Minions and other beloved characters from Illumination’s Despicable Me, and DreamWorks favorites like the family of Shrek and King Julien and crew from Madagascar.
Don’t worry, Universal’s other famous characters aren’t taking off for the holidays. You can still meet the towering Transformers robots in Universal Studios and encounter Jurassic World’s Blue at Raptor Encounter in Islands of Adventure.
Enjoy Holiday Decor and Festivities at Universal’s Hotels
Make your holiday vacay at Universal Orlando complete with a stay at one of the resort hotels (don’t worry, you can reassure the kiddos that Santa can still find you). Besides being a short walk, Water Taxi, or shuttle ride to the theme parks, the hotels get in on the holiday festivities, too.
Do the hotels decorate? You betcha. Each hotel has a uniquely themed tree in the lobby and hundreds of lights, garland, and wreaths throughout. Just walking in to check in at the front desk will immediately put you in good spirits with the warm ambiance and holiday tunes filling your ears.
Nothing screams winter snuggles like cuddling up in front of a fire. The hotels have fire pits they light nightly, which is the perfect way to wind down after a day in the parks.
OK, so pools aren’t exactly a “holiday” activity, however, in Florida they might as well be. The fact you can lounge by the hotel pool in the middle of winter with an umbrella drink is the best gift you could give in my opinion.
Come Do Your Holiday Shopping
Another great perk about coming to celebrate at Universal? You can do your shopping at the same time, too. We’ve got a ton of unique themed gift shops throughout our entire resort destination. You can find popular finds, including some of my favorites like a classic Jurassic Park T-shirt, an interactive wand to cast spells in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and basically any piece of merch with the Grinch’s face on it.
And if you really want to amp the shopping up 10 levels on the festive scale, then you have to check out these new experiences:
For the first time ever, the Holiday Tribute Store is opening its door in Universal Studios with four rooms decked from wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, and shelf-to-shelf with holiday goodness. Enjoy traditional goodies in the Bavarian Holiday Festival room; whimsical finds you can only find in the Grinch-inspired room; magical gifts and decor in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter inspired room; and holiday snacks and treats from Earl the Squirrel’s Tree Farm.
As you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift in the parks, why not make it a scavenger hunt as well? Purchase a brochure for the Holiday Tree Hunt and discover 16 themed trees throughout Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk. Collect all 16 stamps and you’ll get an exclusive holiday ornament prize.
Indulge in Holiday Feasts and Treats
Photo: Universal Orlando Resort
My favorite part about the holidays, as my waistband can attest to, is the food. With elaborate feasts, endless amounts of sugary treats, and the excuse to have as much hot cocoa as I want, I live for the holiday food and drinks.
New this year is the Holiday Treat Trail. Grab a trail brochure, gather your treat stamps, and enjoy favorites like the holiday ornament doughnuts at Voodoo Doughnut. Once you finish, you get a special completion treat on us!
Stop by the Holiday Tribute Store to try holiday treats and snacks you can only get from Earl the Squirrel’s Tree Farm.
Universal CityWalk is the place to get whimsical holiday goodies like eggnog cocktails, Peppermint Beignet Sundae from Pat O’ Brien’s, the savory Caribbean dish of Brown Stew Chicken from Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, and more.
As I mentioned above, if you’re looking for a full holiday feast, look no further than Universal Orlando’s hotels.
Gingerbread Milkshake: It’s the very definition of Christmas in a cup. This milkshake from The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen has gingerbread, vanilla soft serve, caramel, cinnamon, chocolate ganache, and topped with a gingerbread-man cookie.
Take Advantage of Florida “Winter” Weather
Instead of having to worry about wearing extra layers of clothing, all you have to worry about is an extra layer of sunscreen. Florida “winter” is the perfect time of the year to get outside and enjoy cooler temperatures while soaking in that gorgeous sunshine. Nothing beats being able to lay out by the hotel pool in the dead of winter. Plus, less clothes packed also means more room for shopping goodies! If you’re really craving a brisk winter wind with a bite, I suppose you can ride Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit first thing in the morning…
Need Packing Help? Check here for recommendations on what to pack for the parks and hotels yearn round, as well as a handy checklist to keep you organized.
The holiday season is all about creating lasting memories with your family and friends. I mean, it’s the one time of the year where families still send an actual card with photos wishing everyone “seasons greetings”. Universal has the perfect backdrops for all your holiday photo needs. Ditch the traditional fireplace and snap a pic in front of a fire breathing dragon instead. Make it whimsical with the colorful twists and turns of Seuss Landing, complete with festive decorations. And you can’t beat a matching family PJs pic in front of the Universal Globe.
Oh, Christmas Tree! Holiday card photos are typically in front of the tree, but how often do you see a photo with an 80 ft. tree? The tree in Universal Studios is the perfect spot for a family pic. Add a fun twist by getting a photo of your reflection in one of the giant ornaments.
Ditch the Holiday Stress
This year, more than ever, we all need to escape the reality of the day to day and find what joy we can this holiday season. Which means we also deserve to ditch the stress we typically feel around this time with the shopping, the decorating, the cleaning up for visitors, the cooking, the calories, school winter break, working, and all 50 of the different family activities you have to navigate… Let Universal Orlando take that stress off your shoulders and be your home away from home for the holidays.
You’ll be pampered at our hotels with comfy beds you don’t have to make every day. No need to drive when you’re here with Water Taxis and shuttles that get your around. There is an endless number of fun toys, trinkets, and apparel you could ever want for your Christmas list all in one place. There are dozens of restaurants with all varieties of cuisine for you to enjoy a meal at and not have to wash dishes after. Also, calories don’t count on vacation so… Universal has the decorations, the tree, the eggnog, and the songs. All you have to do is let loose and have fun, safely.
Are you ready to celebrate the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort?
Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort are happening now through Jan. 3, 2021, with hot Butterbeer and beautiful weather staying even longer! Now pack your bags, the kids, presents, whatever you need for your holiday vacay, and get ready for some festive fun. Don’t forget to spread the holiday cheer on Twitter and Instagram with #UniversalHolidays when you get here.
Get ready for this year’s all-new Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort! From November 18, 2017 to January 6, 2018, Universal Orlando Resort will be bringing you more holiday cheer than ever before.
For the first time ever at Universal Orlando, you’ll be able to celebrate Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and I’m beyond excited. You’ll see Christmas decorations, garlands and lights as you walk through Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. There will even be special holiday-themed food and festive performances by the Frog Choir and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. At night, state-of-the-art projection mapping and lighting will illuminate the Hogwarts castle to bring Christmas moments inspired by the Harry Potter series to life.
The holiday spirit continues at Universal Studios Florida with a brand-new parade. Universal’s Holidays Parade featuring Macy’s will feature more than a dozen new festive balloons and 15 incredibly detailed floats – all designed exclusively for Universal Orlando. The parade will also include some of your favorite characters from Despicable Me, Madagascar, Shrek – and the jolly man himself, Santa Claus.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. You’ll also be able to:
Listen to Mannheim Steamroller as they take center stage on the Music Plaza Stage at Universal Studios on Nov. 18, 19, 25, 26 and Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17.
Watch the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes during a live musical retelling of Dr. Seuss’s holiday classic in “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular.”
Make a reservation for a festive Character Breakfast with the Grinch and his friends on select days. (separate purchase required, full details here)
Celebrate the New Year at Universal CityWalk’s EVE. As you countdown to midnight, you can dance on Orlando’s largest dance floor, enjoy live entertainment and savor endless dishes and signature drinks.
You’ll never feel like a Grinch at one of Universal’s on-site hotels. You can keep the festivities going throughout your entire vacation with buffets, festive activities, tree and menorah lightings, and more.
3-Park Vacation Package
This holiday season, you can save $100 with the 3-Park vacation package when traveling between November 8, 2017 and January 6, 2018. It comes with a 5-night hotel stay at a Universal Partner Hotel or – better yet – you can upgrade your package to stay at an on-site hotel. Additionally, this package also comes with tickets to all three theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort – including Universal’s Volcano Bay.
Starting at $99 per adult per night, tax inclusive
5-night hotel accommodations at a Universal partner hotel or you can upgrade your package to stay at a Universal Orlando on-site hotel and enjoy other exclusive benefits
A 3-park 2-day Park-to-Park ticket with two days free when booked by Nov. 30
Access to all three of Universal Orlando’s theme parks including the all-new Universal’s Volcano Bay
And you’ll get a chance to save up to $100 when travel between November 18, 2017 – January 6, 2018
Let the countdown begin! Less than two months till the celebration of the holidays at Universal Orlando begins.
Start packing and planning for your holidays at Universal Orlando vacation now.
Siera is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, Universal Studios Travel Agency of the Year 2010, 2011, & 2012. She would love to help you plan your next Universal Orlando vacation at no cost to you. Contact Siera today at siera@destinationsinflorida.com or at 734-771-1290 for more information or your free, no obligation quote.
2016 Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort By the Numbers
Have you ever wondered how many miles it takes for the balloons to travel from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York to Universal Orlando Resort? Or just how many feet of garland are draped over the resort every holiday season?
Well, Universal’s Art & Design team just shared some festive figures on the holiday cheer they spread throughout Universal Orlando each year:
Siera is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, Universal Studios Travel Agency of the Year 2010, 2011, & 2012. She would love to help you plan your next Universal Orlando vacation at no cost to you. Contact Siera today at siera@destinationsinflorida.com or at 734-771-1290 for more information or your free, no obligation quote.
