Traveling to Florida for the holiday season? Grab your Best Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando for the Holidays. This post is sponsored by Universal Orlando Resort. All fun holiday opinions are my own
Best Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando for the Holidays
The holidays have arrived at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure! Universal Orlando Resort celebrates the holidays in style with some of the best shows, parades, and holiday cheer! If your family is traveling to Orlando this holiday season, be sure to grab my Best Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando for the Holidays. It’s your complete guide to Universal Orlando’s 2016 Holiday Celebration – from best shows to best spots to watch the parades! And I spill all with my favorite family travel tips to make the most of your holiday visit to Universal Orlando Resort. Ready to make your holiday season magical?
Must-See Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular Show
No holidays celebration is complete without The Grinch. Universal Orlando Resort brings this timeless classic to life with a 30 minute stage show with dancing, singing, and of course, those loveable Whos! See The Grinch is all of his grouchy glory with the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular Show, a MUST-see for families this season! Plenty of show times to accommodate your party:
- December 5-9, 12-14, January 1: 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm, 4:45 pm, 5:45 pm
- December 3-4, 10-11, 15-31: 10:45 am, 11:45 am, 12:45 pm, 1:45 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm
Family TIP: Be sure to head outside of the Circus McGurkus after the show for photo opportunities with the Whos from the show and possibly the Grinch himself!
Catch the Macy’s Holiday Parade
Thought you’d never see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons and floats up close? Well now you can, at Universal Orlando! Gaze up into the sky as towering festive balloons, beautiful floats and your favorite Universal characters join the holiday fun! By far, this is one the best holiday parades in Orlando. Make sure to grab the best view (stake your spot at least 30 minutes before) with these parade times:
- Parade begins at 5:00pm on nights for December 3, 2016 – December 18, 2016
- Parade begins at 8:00pm on nights for December 19, 2016 – January 1, 2017
Family TIP: My favorite place to sit for this parade is outside of Louie’s Restaurant in New York. There’s a little curve out towards the center of the road that allows for perfect viewing of the parade and the lighting of the tree when Santa passes by. There’s also special seating for Annual Passholders outside of the Character Party Zone and those with “Little Stars” across the street from Terminator 2: 3-D.
Enjoy Holiday Music LIVE with Mannheim Steamroller
Love holiday tunes? Me too! One of my favorite holiday bands is back at Universal Orlando Resort this season with all of your favorite songs. See the 1# top selling holiday artist of all time, performed live! Here are the dates to catch Mannheim Steamroller LIVE on stage at Universal Orlando:
- December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 at 7 pm
TIP: Best seating for this show is closest to the stage. Get there early (at least 30 minutes – 1 hour)! If you have little ones that don’t do well with loud noise, there are 2 big viewing screens so that you can enjoy the music from further back.
Take in the Festive Holiday Decor
One of my favorite ways to enjoy the holidays is the decor. The lights, the ornaments, the trees, and the merriment are even more beautiful when you visit Orlando’s theme parks! Universal Orlando Resort is no exception. With lots of beautiful decorations to be found around the park, now is the perfect time to explore the holidays at Universal. Make sure to stick around for the evening. Universal Orlando really lights up the night with twinkling Christmas lights as the holiday spirit goes into the late hours of the day.
TIP: Lots of great photo opportunities for families. There are stationary Macy’s Day Parade Balloons throughout the New York area as well as the gigantic Christmas tree for the perfect holiday pic!
Ride Thrilling Universal Orlando Rides, with a Holiday Flair
What’s a better way to spend the holidays than among some of the greatest thrill rides for the whole family? Make sure to take advantage of the most popular Universal Orlando Resort attractions including:
- NEW Skull Island: Reign of Kong – just opened this summer!
- NEW The Incredible Hulk Coaster – recently re-opened this year from remodel!
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Harry Potter and the Escape to Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express (a MUST for Harry Potter fans – only available for those with a Park-to-Park admission)
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (my toddler’s favorite!)
TIP: Don’t forget to have your Express Passes in hand to skip the lines at the most popular Universal Orlando Resort rides. Crowds tend to be large during the holiday season. Express Passes allow you to experience more of the theme parks and the holiday magic!
Ready to Head to Universal Orlando for the Holidays?
The holidays are not the same without a little Universal Orlando Resort magic! Check out all of the Universal Orlando’s 2016 Holiday Celebration events this holiday season. Are you a Florida resident like me? Grab up to $250 in Florida Residents Savings when you book a special Universal Orlando Florida Resident Vacation Package – perfect time for a little holiday escape! Book by 12/18/16 for exclusive hotel savings, early theme park admission and more. Be sure to follow all of the holiday magic for visiting Universal Orlando Resort this season with hashtag #UniversalMoments. And follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest in theme park attraction updates, sneak peeks, offers and more.
What’s your best tip for visiting Universal Orlando Resort during the holidays?
I was invited to visit Universal Orlando’s 2016 Holiday Celebration in exchange for this posting. All opinions are my own. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians via Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube for the best family travel tips, recipes, kid crafts and more.
Thanks so much for sharing this information! We’ve been planning a trip to Universal for the holidays next year, and this will be a big help.
This is great information. The holidays a Universal are so much fun, but you can’t just go in there without knowing what’s what. There’s just too much to see.
I’ve never visited Universal during the holidays, but I’d love to! It looks very merry! Thank you for sharing these great tips.
One of my good friends is visiting Universal over the holidays for the first time. These are awesome tips. I will pass them along to her.
Thanks for the great tips about Universal Studios during the holidays! I already wanted to go for all of the Harry Potter stuff, but now I want to go around Christmas in particular!
I have never visited Universal during the holidays. I would love to though. I was just telling my daughter about my love for Mannheim Steamroller. Would love to see them live in Orlando.
Theme parks are the best during the holiday season and Universal looks like they do things right. The parade would be a total must see for me!
I have never been to Universal during the holidays. IT sounds like there is a lot of festive fun.
I lived a short driving distance away from Universal my whole life, and i have never been there around the holidays. I would love to go visit there to watch the Macy’s thanksgiving parade.
So much fun and exciting activities to do in Universal Studio. I can’t wait to visit there soon..
I never been to Universal Studio and I hope one day I can visit with my family.. So much great activities to do..
Thanks so much for these tips! Orlando is one of the best places to spend the holidays!
These pictures look amazing. It certainly is a dream destination for the holidays.
But I cannot help but think moving around during this busy time would be more like a slow shuffle.
It would be amazing to be at Universal Studios for the Holidays. I bet the park looks amazing. I am hoping to go next year.
Looks like visiting Universal Orlando during the holidays is a great experience. I am in love with all of those holiday photos, what a fun time!
Your trip looks absolutely magical! We have yet to take the kids to Universal and i have to keep in mind to do it during the holiday time!
Thank you so much for this info. We have never been away from home for the holidays, but this sounds like so much fun!
I’ve always wanted to go to Universal for the holidays! We were there years ago and I can only imagine from this post just how awesome a trip during December would be!
One small note is that the Express Passes do NOT work on either of the Harry Potter rides! Otherwise great tips. Also, if you want to be a balloon handler for the Macy’s parade, look for the team members with clipboards recruiting around Men in Black and by the stage in Kids Zone. There are some minimum requirements, and you don’t get to see the full parade, but you get to walk in the parade and you get close and personal with the balloons.
Would love to visit Universal at some point! I would love to visit especially during the holidays! What fun. My family would love it!
I’ve never been to Universal in Orlando, but this makes me want to go. I love “insider tips” like this. My kids are big, so they’d love the Harry Potter and Marvel aspects of the park.
I would love to go there for the holidays! Good to know if we ever do. thanks!
That all looks like so much fun! I love the holidays, and try to do something festive each weekend during the month.
Oh wow. So many wonderful things to see and enjoy! Too bad we’re heading some other place this holiday season. Maybe next Christmas, we’ll plan a trip to Universal Studios – Orlando.
Universal Orlando sounds like the perfect place to spend the holidays. I would love to go with the whole family.
I have always wanted to visit Disney at a holiday to see the festivities. This looks like it would be a great time.
I need to plan ahead and spend some holiday time at Universal Orlando. I really enjoy the parks and can only imagine how much fun it would be for Christmas.