You don’t have to wait until December to experience Christmas at Universal Orlando. Once the Halloween Horror Nights die away, Universal’s parks transform into a living holiday movie. By the middle of November most every corner of the resort is flush with Christmas decor.

Christmas at Universal Orlando combines a delightful mixture of classic holiday traditions with fantasy worlds like Harry Potter and Dr Seuss. From the Macy’s parade to the Who’s in Whoville, a magical Christmas atmosphere flourishes throughout the resort.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 58. To get the whole story, be sure to listen to the audio below or find this episode on your favorite podcast player. Thanks so much for tuning in!

Christmas in the Universal Orlando theme parks

Universal Orlando is all about bringing our favorite movies, TV shows, and stories to life. At Christmas, the parks abound with references to those holiday specials and Christmas movies we’ve all seen a million times.

Featuring its own version of the Macy’s holiday parade as well as concerts and other special events, Universal has a lot to offer visitors during the Christmas season. And there is no extra ticket charge for the holiday events in the Universal Orlando parks.

Universal Studios Florida: Rockettes and Macy’s Balloons

At Christmastime, the New York neighborhood at Universal Studios transforms to a big-city holiday celebration. A giant Christmas tree (with a cheeky surprise inside) anchors the square in front of Macy’s department store.

Street performers, including a talented group of Rockettes, entertain here throughout the day.

Be sure to explore the tree. Hidden inside is Earl the Squirrel, who pops out now and then to surprise unsuspecting guests, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” style.

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In the evenings, Universal Studios Orlando hosts its own version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade complete with gigantic balloons. Guests over age 18 can even volunteer as balloon handlers!

Some nights also include live Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concerts. All of this is included in regular park admission.

Earl is one of many hidden gems at Universal Orlando. Check out this issue of the Go Informed newsletter to learn 9 of my favorite Universal Orlando experiences you could easily overlook. And don’t forget to subscribe!

Islands of Adventure: Grinchmas

Suess Landing is the heart of the Christmas celebration at Islands of Adventure. During the holidays, all the Whos in Whoville celebrate Grinchmas.

It’s hard to walk through this lavishly decorated land without encountering a few Whoville citizens, or even the Grinch himself.

The Grinch also stars in his own Broadway-style show called “Grinchmas”. Playing multiple times every day, this original musical production features many of the same Whos you’ll meet on the street in Seuss Landing.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogwarts projection show and hot butterbeer

Located in both Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade Village) and Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley), the Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes on a magical air of holiday cheer.

With its permanently snow-covered rooftops, Hogsmeade Village naturally feels more Christmas-y than Diagon Alley. Both wizarding communities are decked out with pine garland and other holiday decor.

A special “Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts” projection show runs on Hogwarts Castle after dark. (Not in 2020 sadly) It’s about a 10-minute long show that’s well worth stopping to watch.

Hot butterbeer is a special treat only available during the winter months at Universal Orlando. Be sure to try a cup. You can find hot butterbeer at the Hogs Head Pub and the Leaky Cauldron, and usually at a few of the street carts in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village.

Christmas at the Universal Orlando hotels and CityWalk

Since many of the holiday events in the parks take place after dark, Christmas is a great time to stay on-site at Universal Orlando. Staying next to the parks means easy access to your hotel bed when the day is done.

Early park admission is another good reason to stay in a Universal Orlando hotel at the holidays. Christmas and New Years are the busiest days of the year, so having an extra hour in the parks before the crowds arrive is a huge advantage. Some hotels also provide free Unlimited Universal Express Pass to all guests.

Be sure to read my post about the Universal Orlando hotels here.

Additionally, the Universal hotels offer special holiday buffets and activities for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. And of course lots of festive decor.

Universal CityWalk hosts a holiday tree hunt, and a huge New Year’s Eve party for guests age 21 and over.

Tips for visiting Universal Orlando during the Christmas season

• Buy a two-park ticket so you can visit all of the Wizarding World in the same day. You’ll need a two-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express.
• Plan to be in the parks after dark. Evening events include the Macy’s parade, Hogwarts projection show, and Mannheim Steamroller concerts.
• Stay on-site for convenience and to get early admission and other perks to help you beat the crowd.
• Be sure to watch the weather forecast when you pack for your trip. December in Orlando can be 80 degrees or literally freezing at night.
• Know that the holidays at Universal Orlando are a big tradition for local Orlando residents. Expect weekends to be busy.
• Christmas 2021 will likely be more popular than ever since many of the traditional holiday events did not take place in 2020.
• Since Christmas spans from November to the end of the year, if you have the flexibility to visit during a low-crowd week you can see everything without the holiday crush. Best dates are usually the beginning of November and the beginning of December.
• Christmas and New Years Eves/Days are usually the busiest days of the year at Universal Orlando. If you choose to visit at that time, be sure to have a plan for dealing with the crowds.

More tips for your Universal Orlando vacation

• 33 things you should know before you visit Universal Orlando
• Universal Orlando hotel guide
• Universal Orlando compared to Universal Hollywood
• Adding Universal Orlando to your Disney World vacation
• 55 things you should know before you visit Disney World

75-second quick guide to Christmas at Disney World

Curious about what it’s like to visit Disney World at Christmas? Take a quick look right here.

What’s Christmas like at Disneyland? Check out this trip report and photo album.

The Go Informed Podcast

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From audio theme park tours to my best Disney World and Universal tips and hacks, you’ll find it all on the Go Informed podcast.

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