Guide To The Ho-Ho-Holidays At The Florida Theme Parks

Walt Disney World is certainly pulling out all the festive stops this year – including the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – but the resort’s neighbors are also celebrating the season with festive favorites and new experiences that are giving the mouse a run for his holiday money.

Let’s check out what all the theme parks have planned for the merriest and jolliest holiday celebrations in Florida.

Walt Disney World Resort

With four theme parks celebrating from Nov. 11, 2022, through Jan. 8, 2023, there’s plenty of holiday cheer at Walt Disney World Resort, from a “Merry Menagerie” of life-sized, artisan-sculpted winter animal puppets at Animal Kingdom to “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Hollywood Studios.

At Epcot, the annual International Festival of the Holidays returns – along with the guest-favorite Candlelight Processional featuring the story of Christmas told by celebrity narrators – and on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star-Lord is trading his 80s playlist for seasonal jams.

During the separately-ticketed Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom park (which is already sold out), Mickey’s party guests can catch the “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration show,” “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” and, of course, “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”

Want to see more of Walt Disney World for the holidays? Check out our photo tour of Disney Hollywood Studios decked out for the holidays in the article below:

Hooray for the Holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Universal Orlando Resort

The holiday celebrations through Jan. 1, 2023, at Universal Orlando Resort include the guest-favorite Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with its Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle projection show, and the Grinchmas celebrating featuring the Who-liday Spectacular in Seuss Landing.

And that’s not all.

Universal’s Holiday Parade is hittings the streets at Universal Studios Florida with larger-than-life balloons; holiday floats featuring characters from the Despicable Me, Madagascar, and Shrek franchises; and, of course, Santa, who headlines the lighting of the park’s 80-foot Christmas tree.

The witches and wizard shopkeepers in Hogsmeade village and Diagon Alley have also decorated for the season, and fans of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees won’t want to miss her performances of Wizarding World holiday classic tunes like “Accio Christmas” and (my personal favorite), “My Baby Gave Me a Hippogriff for Christmas.”

The Grinchiest time of year is celebrated in Orlando with the Who-liday Spectacular in Islands of Adventure, which is a live musical retelling of Dr. Seuss’s classic holiday story. Seuss fans can also share a meal with the mean one at The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast.

In Universal Studios Florida, world-renowned holiday artist Mannheim Steamroller will perform on Dec. 3, 4, 10, and 11, 2022.

“There are tons of holiday touches at Universal Orlando that shouldn’t be missed,” says Donna DeGiacomo, a Pixie Vacations travel advisor. “But clients who’ve experienced Mannheim Steamroller say it’s the coolest thing they’ve done in a theme park – and one of the best concerts they’ve ever seen.”

You can check out our full Universal Orlando Resort holiday guide below:

Big Christmas Holiday Plans for Universal Orlando Resort!

 

SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration

SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration takes place on select dates through Dec. 31, 2022, with millions of sparkling lights, a wintery, watery sea of trees that light up to holiday music in SeaWorld Lagoon, and meet and greets with Santa and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

SeaWorld Orlando’s award-winning holiday shows and entertainment include the following:

• Elmo’s Christmas Wish Show (Seaport Theater) – Cookie Monster, Rosita, Grover, and Zoe help Elmo find his Christmas wish.
• Sesame Street Christmas Parade (viewing available throughout Sesame Street Land) –A holiday celebration with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert, Ernie, and other Sesame Street friends, plus festive floats and performances that celebrate the magic of the holiday season.
• Holiday Reflections: Fireworks  (viewing available around the central lake) – SeaWorld celebrates the season with lights and fireworks choreographed to holiday musical favorites.
• O Wonderous Night (Nautilus Theater) – The park’s signature show returns after a two-year hiatus to tell “the greatest story never told” with life-size puppets, live animals, and carolers
• Winter Wonderland on Ice (Bayside Stadium) – Christmas comes to life on a stage of ice in a skating extravaganza featuring a sea of sparkling trees and towering dancing fountains.

SeaWorld Orlando guests can also share their holiday wishes (and an exclusive all-you-care-to-eat menu of holiday favorites) during Dinner with Santa, while kids (and kids at heart) won’t want to miss the Sesame Street Christmas Breakfast at SeaFire Grill, where favorite furry friends will dance, sing, and mingle for hugs and photos.

But wait…

SeaWorld Orlando is also celebrating Chanukah from Dec. 18 to 26, 2022, with nightly lighting of the menorah in Sesame Street Land, Kwanzaa from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, 2023, with nightly lighting of the kinara in Sesame Street Land, New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, 2022, with fireworks, and festive entertainment, and Three Kings on Jan. 1-2 and 6, 2023 to commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Christmas Town

Through Jan. 9, 2023, the Tampa park’s holiday event includes holiday-inspired food, festive shows, fireworks, and meet and greets with Santa and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay holiday shows and entertainment include the following:

• Christmas on Ice (Moroccan Palace Theater) – Busch Gardens’ longest-running holiday show returns with incredible feats of skating athleticism set to classic holiday songs.
• Holiday in the Sky Fireworks Show (offered on the Festival Field every Saturday and select nights) – A dazzling fireworks and fountain display accompanied by holiday tunes.
• Storytime with Mrs. Claus (Located in the Coke Canopy near the Christmas Town Village) – Mrs. Claus shares traditional holiday tales and a joyful song.
• Three Kings Journey (Located in the Dragonfire Grill on select nights) – The show tells a musical story of the three kings’ journey to Bethlehem.
• Christmas with the Celts (Performances in the Stanleyville Theater on Dec. 16-18 and 23-25, 2022) – A celebration of Irish dance, music, and culture.
• Wizards of Winter (Performances on Jan. 6-8, 2023) – A Winter Rock Opera titled “The Winter Dream” featuring former members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard, and Broadway and Theater veterans.
• Elmo’s Christmas Wish (Sunny Day Theater) – Cookie Monster, Rosita, Grover, and Zoe help Elmo find his Christmas wish.

Get the full scoop on Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for the holidays in the article linked below:

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Brings Holiday Cheer

Legoland Florida Resort

Through Dec. 31, 2022, guests can experience the jolliest event of the year at Legoland Florida Resort.

During the kid-friendly celebration, families can send letters to Lego Santa at the Holiday Village Postal Service, rock around the giant Lego tree to holiday tunes, snap “elfies” with holiday characters, and even ring in the New Year at a Lego-tastic kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party.

Florida Theme Park Holiday Celebration Cheat Sheet

Want to know the dates of all the Florida theme park holiday celebrations? We’ve got them all listed out for you below:

• Walt Disney World Resort – Daily From Nov. 11, 2022, through Jan. 8, 2023 (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select dates, Nov. 8 through Dec. 22, 2022)
• Universal Orlando Resort – Daily from Nov. 12, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023 (Manheim Steamroller performances are Dec. 3, 4, 10, and 11, 2022)
• Legoland Florida Resort – Select dates from Nov. 25, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023
• SeaWorld Orlando – Select dates from Nov. 11, 2022, through Jan. 3, 2023
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – Daily from Nov. 14, 2022, through Jan. 9, 2023.

Let’s Hear From You!

Do your holiday plans include a visit to a Florida theme park? Is the Candlelight Processional or Manheim Steamroller concert on your “must-do” list? Or are you looking forward to sharing a stack of pancakes with Elmo or the Grinch? Let us know in the comments.

Wanting more theme park holiday news? We’ve got a whole section dedicated to the theme park holidays for 2022, so explore in the link below!

Hoildays are here – Your complete Theme Park guide

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