There’s nothing better than kicking off the holiday season at a theme park. One of our favorite places for festive fun is Universal Orlando Resort, where all three theme parks, every hotel, and even Universal CityWalk go all in with holiday celebrations. Even better, all of the holiday activities around the resort are included with your theme park ticket. This year, the holidays at Universal Orlando last until January 4, 2026.
If your family is planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort this holiday season, you’re going to want to prioritize some of the can’t-miss holiday events at the parks. Just be sure to make a list and check it twice because you don’t want to miss things like meeting the Grinch or seeing the holiday parade filled with characters and larger-than-life balloons.
Keep reading to find out all of the festive fun that you can’t miss during Universal Orlando Resort’s holiday celebrations.
Meet The Grinch At Universal Islands of Adventure
The number one thing you must do while visiting Universal Orlando Resort this holiday season is meet the Grinch. Yes, the mean green one has taken up residence at Universal Islands of Adventure’s Seuss Landing. And while lines can be quite long (I saw postings of 100 minutes when I recently visited Universal), the meet and greet is truly spectacular. Everyone gets a few minutes with the Grinch. He’s really funny and quick-witted. Just be sure to give your phone to the attendant and kindly ask them to take photos and videos of the interaction.
Catch “The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular”
One of the cutest shows at Universal Orlando during the holidays is “The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular.” This is a live retelling of Dr. Seuss’ popular story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
The show is very popular, so try to get in line at least 30 minutes before showtime. The performance features a fantastic cast of characters, including the Grinch and his dog, Max, and the adorable Cindy Lou Who. During the show, I found myself laughing, reminiscing about my own holiday traditions, and singing along to some of the songs.
Sip Warm Butterbeer While Watching The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts
As night falls over Islands of Adventure, head to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. Here, you can sip on warm Butterbeer while enjoying The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts.
The projection show takes place about every 10 minutes at Hogwarts Castle. It features a rousing score, a host of characters from the Harry Potter franchise, and even a few fireworks.
Marvel At Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s
Every evening at Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s takes to the streets of the park. The adorable parade features larger-than-life balloons, just like what you would see during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Additionally, there are beautiful floats themed to movies like “Despicable Me,” “Shrek,” and “Madagascar.”
Near the end of the parade, you may even catch Santa Claus riding high atop his sleigh. The parade takes place every night. Always double-check the Universal Orlando Resort app for the correct times. I like to watch near the giant Christmas tree, located close to The Mummy and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Meet Universal Orlando’s Biggest Holiday Icon, Earl The Squirrel
As you wander through Universal Studios Florida, you may see a line forming near Central Park for a meet and greet with a squirrel. While it may seem odd, this is just part of the fun at the park, and this squirrel has a unique holiday history.
As the story goes, one year, the Universal team was getting the Christmas tree ready for the holidays and noticed some of the lights weren’t working. They discovered a squirrel had made a nest in the tree and chewed through some of the wires.
Now, there’s a small stuffed squirrel that peeks out from the Christmas tree, and you can meet the squirrel named Earl. He’s nearly as popular as Santa this time of year at Universal Orlando Resort, and he even has his own line of merchandise.
Munch On Holiday Treats Around The Parks
Around all three theme parks and Universal CityWalk, you can munch on a variety of holiday treats and drinks. For something warm and toasty, head to Hop on Pop in Seuss Landing for the holiday hot chocolate, which features a ring of toasted meringue and a mini churro covered in white chocolate and sprinkles.
Over at Universal Studios Florida, try the snickerdoodle crepe from Central Park Crepes, which is filled with cinnamon mascarpone and snickerdoodle crumbs.
And if your Universal Orlando adventure takes you to the newest theme park, Epic Universe, be sure to try the Snoggletog harvest mac and cheese cone inside How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. This is a Thanksgiving take on the viral snack, filled with creamy macaroni and cheese, pulled maple-glazed turkey, roasted sweet potatoes, sage chimichurri, crispy stuffing crumbles, and drizzled with spiced lingonberry jam.
Related: 16 Best Things To Do In Orlando, Florida
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