Christmas at Universal Orlando: Shows, spectacles and parties to put on your holiday wish list
Editor's Note
Christmas magic. We all want to cherish it, but it isn't always easy to do when faced with a whirlwind of planning, shopping, cooking and end-of-year logistics. Sometimes the magic is easier to capture when you step out of your normal life for a minute and into somewhere different — somewhere like, say, Hogwarts.
There's only one place where you can see Hogwarts (and Diagon Alley) festooned with garlands and lights — The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.
This year's holiday festivities at Universal Orlando run from Nov. 17 through Dec. 31, 2023, and every corner of Universal's theme parks and on-site hotels are decked out in holiday finery. There are also a variety of concerts, shows, character breakfasts and a daily holiday parade. There are some moments that even the Grinch himself will find sprinkled with a bit of Santa's magic. Literally.
Universal's hotels are decorated for the holidays
Let's start with where your Universal Orlando vacation may begin: an on-site hotel. You can expect whatever halls you stay in near the theme parks to be appropriately decked for the season.
For example, when you arrive at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, you'll be greeted by a Christmas tree in the lobby that's so tall it barely fits under the lobby's lighting fixtures.
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Look for pretty touches everywhere, like pine boughs and wreaths in strategic places and a smaller Christmas tree in the Club Lounge.
Loews Portofino Bay just might be the best overall deal at Universal if you have a Platinum Card® from American Express. Staying at this property gets everyone in the room Universal Express Passes along with early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. Booking via the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program also gets you free daily breakfast, late checkout and a complimentary dinner for two people per room (excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities) once during your stay.
Related: These are the best hotels at Universal Orlando for 2023
Each Universal hotel will also offer a selection of free and paid events, like discounted special holiday meals (breakfast, brunch or dinner buffets or prix fixe dinners) on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Look for strolling carolers, Hanukkah menorah and Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, kids' holiday crafts and more. Each hotel will also offer free cookies and beverages in their lobbies at certain times throughout the season, but you'll have to head to Universal's theme parks to meet Mr. Claus.
Among the Universal Orlando hotels to put on your radar for festive holiday fun are the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal's Aventura Hotel and Universal's Endless Summer Resort (both Surfside Inn and Suites and Dockside Inn and Suites).
If you've been looking for a fun way to spend New Year's Eve, the hotels also typically host New Year's Eve parties.
Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando has a great setup that makes it easy to explore three adjacent complexes: Universal Studios (ticket required), Universal Islands of Adventure (ticket required) and Universal CityWalk (no ticket required). The ease of walking from one spot to the next is key to making the most of your holiday trip to Universal. There's also a boat that connects several of the Universal hotels to the parks and shopping and dining areas.
Related: Universal Orlando guide: Tips from frequent visitors
The Universal Orlando theme parks spring into full holiday mode, including faux storefronts that are decorated for the holidays.
Each year, Universal creates a themed Holiday Tribute Store, but it's much more than a store. Yes, you can purchase holiday gifts, clothing, treats and more. However, each room of the Holiday Tribute Store is so well-themed that it is basically an immersive walk-through attraction. This year, the store is in Universal Studios Hollywood.
If you've ever looked closely at the Christmas Tree in Universal Studios Orlando, you may have noticed a tiny stuffed squirrel peeking out from its branches.
Earl may have begun as a tiny joke stuck inside a tree, but he is now a full-fledged legend at Universal. Not only will you find merchandise dedicated to Earl the Squirrel, but you can now meet this original walkaround character during the holiday season.
Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's
Universal Studios hosts Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's. While I lived in the New York City area for nearly 20 years, I never got to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in person. Universal's parade was my chance to see a mini version, and it did not disappoint. The parade features characters from "Minions," "Shrek" and "Madagascar," as well as classic holiday characters like nutcrackers, gingerbread men and, of course, Santa.
During my mid-November visit, we arrived at the parade route with just 15 minutes to spare before showtime and all the benches were taken. However, there were still plenty of curb spots ready and waiting. We sat on the curb across from Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, which was a great spot early in the route. If you are hoping for a bench spot, you'll need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the parade.
Annual pass holders have a special first-come, first-served viewing area in front of Mel's Drive-In, near where the parade starts.
The street performers do a great job interacting with the crowd, and you'll likely spot several of them out during the day at Universal Studios doing meet-and-greets and stopping for photos with kids and families. There's even a magical Central Florida snowfall during the parade.
Make a point to see the parade — even if you're not traveling with kids. My husband and I enjoyed it, and it helped jump-start the holiday season for us.
Mannheim Steamroller in concert
The second big seasonal event at Universal Studios is a series of concerts by Mannheim Steamroller. The band will play on four nights in early December 2023 (Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10) at the Music Plaza Stage, so check the schedule if it's important to you to see the show.
According to Universal, Mannheim Steamroller is "the best-selling holiday artist of all time." You've surely heard their music on the radio or at a party during the holiday season. But to get an idea of exactly what "best-selling holiday artist of all time" means, check out this video from our friends at Undercover Tourist. The concert is free with your Universal Studios Orlando admission.
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Visit Harry Potter this Yule season
There's yet another reason to visit Universal for the holiday season: Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Walking through this magical world is cool enough, but to do it when it's decked out for the holidays? Next level.
For those uninitiated in all things Potter, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal is in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. You either need a Park-to-Park ticket to visit both sections on the same day, or you need two single-park tickets to visit each place on different days. Really, you probably want Park-to-Park tickets as that is the only way to ride the Hogwarts Express train, which is a fantastic experience.
Hogsmeade dressed for the winter
Start with a trip to Hogsmeade within Islands of Adventure, home to two of Universal's newest rides: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Wait times for those rides, even during the offseason, can be long — but not as long as when the attraction first opened when waits hit 11 hours.
No matter when you visit, it's wintertime in Hogsmeade, but that feels extra-appropriate around the holidays.
Universal throws in pine boughs, wreaths and twinkling lights at every turn to make the season all the merrier.
Take time to see a special Christmas version of the Frog Choir show and listen to hits by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees while sipping a hot Butterbeer.
After perhaps another Butterbeer (or something less sweet) at Hog's Head, consider staking out a spot for yet another show: The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. This cool presentation unfolds several times between dusk and park closing and features projections, lights and lasers on the castle. You'll see hologram-like spirits and owls, snow, dancing lights, scenes with your favorite characters, holiday scenery and more, all choreographed to the musical themes you've come to love from each movie. It's really magical; the type of experience that makes the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Did Universal use technology to pull off this amazing show, or could it have been magic? I say magic.
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London and Diagon Alley
Enter Universal Studios and head to "London" so you can enter Diagon Alley.
This themed area is also transformed for the holidays with festive decor and twinkling lights.
The entrance to Diagon Alley is built in such a way that you really feel as if you're entering another world.
While wandering around Diagon Alley, it's pretty entertaining to spend time looking in the shops and watching kids with wands work some pretty cool magic.
You can purchase interactive or noninteractive wands at the theme parks or online before your trip. I recommend buying the interactive one so you can "cast spells" and interact with magical experiences in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. There are some especially fun spells to "cast" in Knockturn Alley.
Make a point to see two shows here: The Tales of the Beedle the Bard puppetry performance and a holiday version of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. You may even bear witness to a magical snowfall during the show.
If you're visiting during the daytime, be sure to return at dusk to see all the lights turn on and get the complete holiday vibe from Harry Potter's London.
Season's greetings at Islands of Adventure
There are also plenty of holiday events taking place at Islands of Adventure.
Are your kids Dr. Seuss fans? Then a visit to Seuss Landing is in order. It has a bunch of kid-friendly rides that also welcome adults. Don't be surprised if you see more adults than kids in The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride — in fact, it's an all-ages favorite.
The holidays shine in Seuss Landing, especially if you can catch one of The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular shows.
The Grinch stars in the show — a retelling of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" — with music by Mannheim Steamroller. You can catch a performance several times a day. Do yourself a favor, though, and go to a show after dusk. Seuss Landing probably has the most Christmas decorations of any land throughout both Universal theme parks, and it just sparkles at night — adding a bit more razzle-dazzle to showtime.
Holiday add-ons to make your visit even merrier
If you want to guarantee some one-on-one time with The Grinch and his Whovillian friends or get VIP access to The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, Universal has two add-on offerings that will put the bow on your holiday experience.
Universal's Holiday Tour
Universal's Holiday Tour will get you exclusive access to some of Universal's most popular holiday offerings, along with some fun surprises along the way. Tickets start at $79.99 plus tax per person. Advance reservations and a valid park-to-park ticket are also required. Included in the tour are the following:
- Exclusive meet-and-greets with the Grinch and his dog, Max
- Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
- Snacks and desserts
- A private meet-and-greet with Santa
- Priority access to one preselected attraction
- An after-hours showing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle
The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast
At The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast, you can start your day with the mean, green man himself and some of his friends. The breakfast is at Confisco Grille in Universal Islands of Adventure, right outside the entrance to Seuss Landing. You'll enjoy a tasty breakfast, along with some face time and photo opportunities with the characters.
Ticket prices start at $58.99 per person plus tax for adults and $32.99 for children ages 3-9. Advance reservations and a valid Islands of Adventure ticket are required.
Use points to visit Universal Orlando
No matter what day of the year you visit, Universal Orlando tickets are not cheap — and neither are the on-site hotels, such as Loews Portofino Bay. However, you can earn and use points to make the trip more affordable by booking on-site Universal hotels either within the Chase Travel portal or the Citi ThankYou travel portal.
Related: How to use points to save money at Universal Orlando
If you book your stay at Portofino Bay via the Amex FHR program to get the breakfast, food and beverage credit and more, you can earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar by booking and paying via Amex Travel with your Platinum Card® from American Express.
Bottom line
Universal Orlando is a wonderful spot to kick off the holiday season. Going early in the season was terrific from a crowd-control perspective. There were very light crowds, and — due to the Universal Express Pass we received for staying at a Premier on-site hotel — we basically had no waits at the rides.
Would I visit Universal around the holidays again? Yes, but I think I'd go a bit later in the season in order to enjoy some of the events — like the big tree lighting ceremonies and holiday kids' crafts and fun — that are scheduled as the holidays approach. The holidays at Universal kick into high gear with the tree-lighting ceremonies after Thanksgiving.
Related reading:
- TPG's complete guide to visiting Universal Orlando
- How to use points to save money at Universal Orlando
- These are the best hotels at Universal Orlando for 2023
- The most surprisingly charming hotel I've stayed at in years: Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
- Part luxury, all rock 'n' roll: What it's like at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando