Festive Orlando Lights Up the Season
Orlando is getting set to celebrate the most magical time of the year with special events and live entertainment in its theme parks and beyond.
Along with the nearly 150 holiday-themed events at the theme parks and throughout the destination, visitors can also find the perfect gift at Orlando’s well known outlet centres, malls and specialty boutiques.
Visit Orlando will be sharing tips to help visitors make the most of their holiday vacation at visitorlando.com/holidays. Visit Orlando is also an official seller of Orlando attraction tickets, including a variety of Orlando’s Christmas celebrations. Tickets may be purchased through the online store at http://tickets.visitorlando.com/store or by visiting the Official Visitor Center located on International Drive.
- Walt Disney World Resort (Select nights Nov. 7 to Jan. 4, 2015)
New this year at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Queen Elsa from “Frozen” will use her incredible powers to transform Cinderella Castle into a glistening ice palace for the holidays – thanks to a special effects spectacle bathing the castle in 200,000 shimmering white lights. During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, “Frozen” characters join the festive procession, “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, new for the holidays, guests can sing along to “Frozen” songs during “For the First Time in Forever – a ‘Frozen’ Sing-Along Celebration’ and enjoy the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, a massive seasonal display featuring millions of dancing lights synchronized to holiday tunes amidst snowfall.
At Epcot, the Candlelight Processional is one of the most beloved holiday traditions at Walt Disney World Resort, with the joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir.
- Universal Orlando Resort (Select nights Dec. 6 to Jan. 3, 2015)
At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets every evening with the same larger-than-life balloons seen in Macy’s famous Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Chloe The Clown “Balloonicle” is a new addition that combines a towering balloon with a self-powered vehicle that roams the streets of Universal Studios.
At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, families will light up with holiday cheer as Grinchmas comes to life throughout Seuss Landing. Guests can enjoy a live retelling of Dr. Seuss’s classic holiday tale, “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” featuring the Whos from Who-ville, accompanied by an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller.
- SeaWorld Orlando (Select nights Nov. 22 to Dec. 31)
Waves of holiday spirit splash over the park during SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. Here in a wintery, watery wonderland, guests of all ages can enjoy live shows inspired by the natural world, journey to the North Pole on The Polar Express Experience, then share a smile with a playful penguin while visiting the park’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.
During the new Christmas Family Fun Tour, guests enjoy favourite attractions for children at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. Highlights include: a penguin meet and greet, reserved seating at Elmo’s Christmas Wish and a meal at Santa’s Fireside Feast.
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort (Weekends in December)
For the first time at LEGOLAND Florida, families will have a photo opportunity with a life-sized LEGO Model Santa Claus during Christmas Bricktacular.
The more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 green LEGO and DUPLO bricks provides the perfect place for holiday family photos.
Orlando’s theme parks aren’t the only hot spots in Central Florida for holiday activities and traditions. From ice slides to building gingerbread houses, the possibilities are endless at some of Orlando’s other attractions.
