Today I have your Family Guide To Celebrating the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort! Last week our family went on an amazing adventure visiting Who-ville, flying on broomsticks, and watching Minions fly in the sky! Minions? Flying? I told you we had an adventure! Here’s everything you must see and do before 2017 is over!
Thank you, Universal Orlando Resort for hosting our family. All grinchmas opinions are our own.
Family Guide To Celebrating the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort
If you haven’t had a chance to experience the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, we highly suggest planning a family day or even a weekend! We hadn’t visited Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure during the holidays since we had to cancel our annual passes last year after I got sick. Before that we had visited during the holidays every year. We have made so many memories throughout the years and we were happy to be back to create new ones!
Grinchmas At Seuss Landing
Seuss Landing is by far my daughters favorite part of Islands of Adventure, simply because it’s catered perfectly for them! My youngest one is still a little bit timid when it comes to fast rides, so these rides in Seuss Landing are right up her alley!
During the holiday season the entire town of Who-ville is transformed into the merriest of places! The perfect location to take a few great photos with the kiddos and your favorite Dr. Seuss characters like The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Sam I Am!
If you plan it perfectly right before show time, you might even bump into some Who’s on the way to their Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular!
*Tip:A long line will form right after the show ends because everyone wants to take a photo with the Grinch. The trick is to get in line before the show ends. So plan your time where you are taking photos with the Grinch, then get on rides in Seuss Landing, and then get in line for the show.
Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch!” Do not forget to check out show times for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular in Seuss Landing either!
Grinchmas in Seuss Landing is not to be missed! Especially if you have young children who are a fan of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas! Is a fun, bright, and upbeat show that will have you laughing and singing along to some of your favorite Who-ville songs.
* Tip: Any seat during the show is a good seat, but to get an upfront view you need to get in line as soon as they open up the ropes. You will wait in line for about 30 minutes, but as soon as the previous show ends, they begin seating for the next one. It’s worth the wait!
Shows usually begin around 10:45 am and run every hour. Double check times when arriving.
Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s
One of our favorite things to do during the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort as a family is to watch the holiday parade. We’ve always been a fan of the holiday parade, but this years Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s was incredible. They have added some of our all time favorite characters to the parade and finished off with some of Macy’s most popular floats! I will admit that this was my favorite holiday parade this year!
You can’t celebrate the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort without experiencing the holiday parade! You will love it and the kids will love it! You will spot some of your favorite characters such as Shrek and Fionna, Gingie, the Madagascar gang, Minions, Gru with Margo, Edith, and Agnes. Plus so many more characters!
Don’t forget that the parade also includes some of the most popular floats from the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade!
Tip: There are so many areas where you can watch Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, but our favorite location is accross from the Hello Kitty store. Right in the corner so that no one blocks the girls view, there’s a bathroom right behind us, and the exit is right there as well.
Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Those who know me know that I’m one of the biggest Harry Potter fans and the main reason we had annual passes to Universal Orlando for so many years. Hubby knows I always go decked out in my Gryfindor essentials and I was so happy I was able to wear some of my winter accesories! Which my girls kept taking away from me. I guess I better get them their own scarves! These little ones are no Gryfindors! I definitely have a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw on my hands!
If you have never visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter then you have been missing on so much! It is by far my favorite part of Universal Orlando Resort and I can spend hours exploring, but the Christmas decorations makes it that much more special.
Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been transformed with festive decor and holiday shows in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and London. Make sure to ride the Hogwarts Express if you have a two park pass. You don’t want to miss any of the holiday fun!
In Hogsmeade you will find that the entire town has been tranformed with holiday decor and lights! The Frog Choir still does their performance throughout the day, but instead they have revamped it with some holiday tunes! Such a fun treat!
Both London and Diagon Alley have also been decorated in festive holiday lights and decor. Don’t miss Gringott’s Bank all decorated in festive greenery.
Over in Diagon Alley Celestina Warbesck and the Banshees are debutings songs just for the holiday season. We didn’t get a chance to watch the show, but just like the Frog Choir I’m sure it’s a must see!
The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle
If you do only one thing this year when Celebrating the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, please make sure to see The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. If you are a fan of the books or even the movie, then you must NOT miss this new holiday addition at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
The projection light show begins around 6:15 pm and is ongoing about every 20 minutes or so.
Tip: The biggest advice I can give any family wanting to see The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle when finding a location to watch is to make your way behind Ollivanders Wand store. You will be walking between Ollivander’s and the wall that separates what used to be Dragon Challenge. This will allow you to find an area by the stage and the wand wagon. Believe me, this area is less congested and the kiddos will be able to see more than if they were right up front the castle.
Here’s a small sneak peek of some of the fun we got to experience! Don’t worry, we don’t give too much away!
As you can see, Universal Orlando Resort Holiday festivities are not to be missed this year! Make sure to check out all the fun going on now until January 6th, 2018! There is still time, so plan your vacation by visiting the Universal Orlando Resort for tickets, pricing, hotels, and activities.
We hope that our Family Guide To Celebrating the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort helps in providing your family the best holiday experience!
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Have you visited Universal Orlando Resort this year during the holidays?
It sounds like they go all out. We are planning a trip to universal next year, but over the summer 🙂
They really do!! Oh, it’s going to be fantastic! We love Universal Orlando Resort anytime of the year!
Ahhh! How fun is that?! We haven’t been to Universal for the holidays, but I think that needs to change. It looks like a ton of fun. We’d love Diagon Alley.
Oh, you would totally love it!! I didn’t want to leave Diagon Alley and Hogwarts!! It’s absolutely amazing, definitely need to plan a trip with your family!
I have always wanted to go there at there at Christmas! This looks like so much fun! Hogwarts I have been wanting to explore anyway! I hope we can get there soon!
It’s great anytime, but the holidays are definitely extra special with all the decor and added activities!
I think going to Universal for the holidays sounds amazing. I hope the crowds are not too big but it seems worthwhile. I love that Macy’s parade idea, everyone loves those balloons.
It really is amazing Melissa! The crowds can get pretty busy, planning your day is definitely a must to make sure you see everything on your list! Yes, the parade is spectacular this year!
I have never been to Universal. However, after seeing your post, when I do go, it will be over the holidays.
Oh, you must! There’s just a different festive feel to it all!
Thanks for this. I will be at home this year though.
It would be amazing to spend the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort. I will have to try to plan it for next year.
You definitely must!
That looks like so much fun. My daughters would have had a blast there. I’ve never been to the Orlando Resort before, but I’m sure this time of year it’s wonderful.
They would love it Kathy!
Wow, your pics are stunning! I have never visited Florida, but if I did I would want to head here too!
Awe, thank you so much Amy! Got my Christmas present a bit early this year and had so much fun taking photos of all the holiday decor!
This just sounds like the best time. I would love to make it down there for some of the holiday celebrations.
It really was! My girls wanted to go back this week! LOL!
We are huge Harry Potter fans here! I can’t believe we haven’t seen Christmas come to the wizarding world yet. I love it during the majority of the year, but this holiday overlay sounds so magical!
If you are huge HP fans then you are going to absolutely love it during the holidays! It truly is magical! It’s like the story comes to life right before your eyes!
This is so much fun! We’re getting to FL in the summer- I wish we could get there in the winter for these holiday celebrations!
It really is amazing anytime of year, but just a bit extra special during the holidays!
Wow,it looks like you really know how to have a good time! Some year this will be me.
haha! We truly do try to take everything in and be present in the moment! Especially when we are together as a family!
Wow! That looks like an amazing place to celebrate with the kids. I am going to add it to our must-do list for Florida.
It really is! Definitely a bucket list worthy adventure!
Aww, it looks so fun! I wish I could take the family to Orlando during the holiday. Maybe someday.
Oh, you will one day and you will have the best time ever!
I would love to visit Universal Orlando Resort during the holiday season. First stop would be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Most definitely the best place to start off your adventure!
That looks so much fun! Such a fun way to celebrate the holidays!
It’s so much fun! Both parents and kiddos have a blast!
How fun! My kids would love to see all the big balloons and floats in the parade. I bet the lightening is great there too!
Oh, they would! My girls were in awe the entire time during the parade! Definitely our favorite one this year!!
I had no idea Universal did anything like this for the holidays. It looks super fun!
Yes it’s so amazing!!
Looks like an amazing time! I’d move right in to whoville or hogsmeade and never leave!