Holidays at Universal Orlando
We have enjoyed a full year of annual pass life at Universal Orlando, but this Christmas season was our first time experiencing their holiday events! We purchased the entire family, annual passes last Christmas as our BIG family gift. We did a couple small things for each kid, but our annual passes were the best part. With going back and fourth to Florida all year, purchasing a house and achieving Florida resident status, we have definitely got our money’s worth. We have loved popping in during each season, but the holiday décor and special events are really spectacular!
Universal Holiday Must-Do List
Here are the reasons you’ll want to visit Universal Orlando this holiday season!
- Grab a hot Butterbeer while taking in the beautiful decorations in Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (Universal Studios).
- Catch the nightly fireworks and light display, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle! *At Islands of Adventure
- Watch Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s with appearances by the Minions from Despicable Me, characters from Shrek and Madagascar. This was such a cute parade! Not only is it super impressive and long, it includes all your favorite characters, Santa and snow flurries in certain locations! *At Universal Studios
- Catch the “Grinchmas” show at Islands of Adventure
TIP: There are LOTS of places throughout the park to view the holiday parade, but be prepared for large crowds! The parade route does a large circle around the park, but many spots will be roped off during this time. If you’re hoping to catch some rides during the parade (when wait times are usually lower), you’ll want to make sure you’re not trapped on the opposite side of where you want to be.
Other Special Holiday Treats
There are lots of other great reasons to visit Universal Orlando for Christmas. The decorations, music, snow flurries and special food are all very festive and fun. Here are a few of the other special events and holiday favorites:
- Mannheim Steamroller – Live performances at Universal Studios Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. Included in the price of admission!
- Holiday Tribute Store – This is always a fun place to spot, because it’s always changing. It’s currently decked out for the holidays with fun merchandise and décor.
- Holiday Tree Hunt – Purchase the Holiday Tree Hunt brochure to enjoy a fun scavenger hunt locating decorated Holiday trees in Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk and receive a special Holiday ornament. Separate theme park admission required to enter the theme parks.
Q. When do holidays at Universal Orlando run?
A. Holidays at Universal Orlando start November 13 and run until January 2nd.
Q. Which Park should I go to and how many are there?
A. There are two theme parks at Universal Orlando: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, a water park (Volcano Bay) and a shopping and entertainment area called City Walk that is free to the public. You will need to purchase a separate one day ticket to get into each park, a multi-day pass or a one day pass with park-to-park privileges if you want to see things at both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The parks are literally side-by-side and you can walk from one park to the next, or take the Hogwarts Express train that connects the two (you can only ride this with a ticket that gives you park-to-park privileges.
I suggest checking a map to see where the rides and attractions are that you most want to see! I have a very hard time deciding which park to visit. There are great things about them both and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is divided between the two with Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogsmeade/Hogwarts Castle at Islands of Adventure. There are more roller coasters at Islands of Adventure and more shows and classic rides at Universal Studios, but they both include a good mix! Universal Studios has my kid’s favorite roller coaster (Rip Ride Rocket), while Islands of Adventure has their favorite Harry Potter ride (Hagrid’s Motorbikes).
Q. What is included in my park ticket?
A. All rides and shows are included in your ticket price. The only things you may choose to pay extra for are souvenirs, food, Express Passes (to cut down on wait times) and tours.
TIP: I highly suggest downloading the Universal app before heading into the parks! Use the app to check wait times, find your favorite rides on the interactive map and check show times.
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