Walt Disney World Resort - Select nights starting Nov. 12
Disney Very Merriest After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park runs for 24 select nights through from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The new separately ticketed, after-hours holiday event will bring festive food and beverage offerings, dance parties, nighttime spectaculars and “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays takes guests on a global holiday celebration with costumed performances, seasonal food throughout 11 World Showcase nations, along with wondrous sights, sounds and flavors of the season celebrated by cultures near and far.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can dine with Minnie and friends at Minnie's Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine, catch a glimpse of old St. Nick as he cruises in his candy-apple red convertible down Hollywood Boulevard and experience a captivating projection show on the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom brings a holiday twist to the magic of nature with festive flotillas featuring Chip n’ Dale, Donald Duck, holiday percussionists and Santa himself as they sail down the Discovery River. As nighttime falls, a holiday edition of the Tree of Life Awakening will begin accompanied by a heartwarming musical score.
Universal Orlando Resort. - Nov. 13 – Jan. 2
Grinchmas™ at Universal's Islands of Adventure will bring holiday charm to Seuss Landing with The Grinchmas™ Who-liday Spectacular, a live retelling of the classic tale starring the Grinch™
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ will bring festive decor to both Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Guests can cap off their evening in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade to enjoy “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” – a spectacular transformation of Hogwarts castle with a stunning projection.
Universal’s Holiday Experience featuring Macy’s Balloons is a festive walk-through experience bringing Universal Studios’ guests closer than ever to larger-than-life Macy’s balloons and colorful Christmas floats, including characters from Shrek, Madagascar and Despicable Me, along with Santa.
SeaWorld Orlando - Nov. 12 – Jan. 2
During SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, over 3 million sparkling lights will shine throughout the theme park. Festivities include live performances, seasonal food and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, and entertainment like the Winter Wonderland on Ice.
LEGOLAND Florida - Weekends Nov. 26 – Dec. 31
Holidays at LEGOLAND® will feature a giant LEGO Christmas tree, unforgettable seasonal shows, holiday characters, special treats, LEGO® activities, twinkling lights and more.
FESTIVE FUN BEYOND THE THEME PARKS
Celebrate the magic of the holidays outside the theme parks with numerous opportunities to get in the Christmas spirit – from tree-lighting ceremonies to long-running holiday traditions infused with arts and culture.
The Dazzling Nights outdoor holiday event at Harry P. Leu Gardens, running Nov. 19 –Jan. 9, features three-quarter-mile interactive holiday experience with epic lighting installations, themed photo moments, live entertainment and more.
Crayola Experience’s Colorful Christmas, taking place Nov. 20 - Jan. 3, includes snowtastic experiences like meeting animatronic Christmas characters and listening to them tell stories to solve their riddles; diving into a life-sized snow globe, complete with falling snow; and crafting unique gifts throughout the attraction.
The Night of a Million Lights at Give Kids the World Village holiday spectacular, taking place Nov. 12 - Jan. 2, offers immersive experiences amidst millions of lights including a sparkling tree trail; larger-than-life holiday displays; photo opportunities at one-of-a-kind step-in frames and backdrops; and a guided storytelling tour of 100 magnificently lit villas from the comfort of a tram.
ICON Park will transform into a magical winter wonderland and become home once again to The Santa Workshop Experience from Nov. 5 – Dec. 24. Kids will be able to ride the Pearl Express Train to meet the jolly old elf. Every child who participates will receive a free ticket to ride The Wheel, ICON Park’s signature attraction (adult guests receive 50% off). To kick off the celebration, ICON Park will host its first tree-lighting ceremony on Dec. 1 with a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree visible from International Drive.
Downtown Orlando offers a plethora of seasonal events as well as trendy restaurants, bustling nightlife and arts and cultural performances.
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will host several holiday-themed performances during its FrontYard Festival, an outdoor, socially distanced opportunity to appreciate the arts while enjoying food and drinks delivered from on-site restaurants. This year’s special holiday performances include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Wild & Swingin' Holiday Party and the Big Band Holidays tradition by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
The 35th annual Festival of Trees transforms the Orlando Museum of Art into a glittering wonderland, filled with sparkling trees, gingerbread houses, vignettes and stunning decor for visitors of all ages. The festival – taking place Nov. 13-21 – will also host daily musical performances and fun family entertainment.
The charming, historic neighborhood of Winter Park is a short drive from the theme parks and features long-running holiday traditions infused with arts and culture and plenty of opportunities for Christmas shopping along tree-lined Park Avenue.
The signature turn-of-the-century Tiffany glass windows at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art serve as a beautiful backdrop as the Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble fills the air with Christmas carols for the 43rd Annual Christmas in the Park.
Winter on the Avenue, a lively holiday street party taking place Dec. 3, features family friendly activities, strolling carolers and an annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Now in its 69th year, Winter Park’s Ye Old Hometown Christmas Parade is the longest-running parade in Central Florida. The parade will take place Dec. 4 at 9 a.m.
The Winter Park Playhouse will show Christmas My Way - A Sinatra Holiday Bash, a swingin’ musical featuring classic tunes by Frank Sinatra, including 'Fly Me to the Moon,' 'That's Life,' 'New York, New York,' 'Mistletoe and Holly,' The Christmas Song,' 'Silver Bells,' 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' and more! Performances will run Nov. 12-21 and Dec. 1-18
Images courtesy of Grande Lakes Orlando