Guide to the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort

I have often said that if I could live in a Christmas movie, I totally would. Thankfully, every holiday season I can live out that dream just by visiting Universal Orlando Resort.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort run from November 14 – January 3, bringing festive fun, themed food and beverage offerings and exclusive benefits for Passholders.
• Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s are all returning in 2026 for the Holidays at Universal.
• New this year, there will be festive offerings at Universal in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk in Universal Epic Universe.

Whether you’re running as the next Holiday Cheermeister or wanting to try a new holiday tradition, this guide will help even the grinchiest of Grinches plan a wonderful holiday.

Jump to:

WHERE TO STAY | THINGS TO DO | WHERE TO SHOP | WHAT TO EAT | THINGS TO KNOW | WHAT TO BRING

Where to Stay During the Holidays at Universal

Staying at one of Universal’s hotels really is the best way to experience the holidays. Each hotel is fully decorated to complement the immersive hotel theming. From an Italian-inspired holiday at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel to a surf-style holiday at Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites, there is a holiday vibe for everyone. 

• Each hotel hosts its own unique holiday feast in one of its restaurants. There are specialty breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals that you can indulge in whichever holiday you’re celebrating with us, including buffets and special menus for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
• Ring in the season with Christmas Tree and Hanukkah Menorah lighting ceremonies.
• Enjoy the strolling holiday carolers throughout Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, or enjoy seasonal food and beverage offerings in select hotels, including Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort.
• Nothing screams winter like cuddling up and roasting marshmallows in front of a fire. Most of the hotels have fire pits they light nightly, which is the perfect way to wind down after a day in the theme parks.
• Lounging by the hotel pool in the middle of winter with an umbrella drink is the best gift you could give yourself in my opinion.
• Passholders can celebrate the season with exclusive holiday perks at the hotels. Check out all the Passholder resort benefits.
• Holiday activities and dining options vary by hotel. Explore all the hotel holiday happenings to choose the best hotel experience for you.

No matter which hotel you choose, you’ll get to stay close to the holiday action and enjoy complimentary transportation. Hotel guests also get Early Park Admission to select theme parks and attractions — even during the bustling holiday weeks.

Debating which hotel is right for you? Read our complete guide to choosing the best Universal hotel for your visit!

Things to Do During the Holidays at Universal

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Some dreams are of sugarplums, mine are of Chocolate Frogs! Experiencing Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a holiday experience like no other. Festive decor and seasonal shows bring even more magic into all three lands — Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, and wizarding Paris at Universal Epic Universe.

Entertainment

• The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle is a festive spectacle of light projections and music held every evening from dusk to park close.
• Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees perform their holiday hits like “My Baby Gave Me a Hippogriff for Christmas” in Diagon Alley. 
• The Frog Choir take the stage in Hogsmeade with their classic carols like “Christmas at Hogwarts.”
• The streets of Place Cachée will be decorated for the holidays, perfect for strolling with a hot Butterbeer in-hand.

Make sure to take home a piece of the wizarding world with marvelous merchandise like festive ornaments, stockings, and sweaters. And no holiday visit is complete without trying hot Butterbeer, a delicious, warm beverage reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch.

Universal Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s

For most, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual tradition. Seeing it in person has been on my bucket list for some time. Fortunately, I have previewed the experience as a spectator of Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. For years, the creative geniuses at Universal Orlando and Macy’s have partnered to bring larger-than-life Parade balloons to the streets of Universal Studios Florida.

Along with the classic Macy’s star balloons, viewers can expect to see Minions from Illumination’s “Despicable Me,” the characters from DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek” and “Madagascar” films, plus over 100 festive entertainers — including Santa Claus! There’s even a special Florida snowfall for the finale.

PRO TIPS:

Plan Ahead – As expected, the Parade is a popular activity, and the sidewalks fill up the closer you get to the Parade start time. The Parade route is roped off for everyone’s safety, so grab any snacks and plan restroom breaks ahead of time. I recommend getting to your preferred viewing area 25-30 minutes before. 

Download the Universal Orlando Resort app – The Parade start times will be available here, in addition to a ton of other helpful information for your time at the parks. 

Holiday Offerings in Universal Epic Universe

Planning to celebrate the season in Epic Universe? In addition to the decor and festivities coming to wizarding Paris, you can find plenty of cheer throughout Epic’s worlds:

• SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will make the season bright with colorful decor, themed food, and your favorite characters.
• Snoggletog will take flight in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk with festive decor, seasonal foods and drinks and new merchandise.
• Celestial Park will transform into a cosmic winter wonderland featuring tree-lined walkways, dazzling lights and the festive Cosmos Fountain Show. Read about how last year’s holiday decor came to life in Celestial Park in this behind-the-scenes look.

Grinchmas at Universal Orlando Resort

During the holiday season, the whimsical Seuss Landing in Islands of Adventure gets decked out in Who-liday charm and cheer to celebrate Grinchmas.

• Delight in the hilarious hijinks of the mean, green one himself in The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular a live retelling of the classic tale starring the Grinch, featuring music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller.

• Mingle with the strolling Whos as they spread Who-liday joy.
• Admire the whimsically decorated trees (the work of one Martha May Whovier) in the Who-ville Tree Lot.
• Meet the maven of mischief himself for a photo opportunity at Here & There, Dr. Seuss Friends Everywhere, just across the way from Moose Juice, Goose Juice.

Want even more holiday fun? The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast is back for the holidays! Join The Grinch and the Whos for a morning feast at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous. Start your day with a sit-down meal of festive food and fun for everyone. This seasonal favorite is only available on select days during the holidays so be sure to reserve your space.

Check out our Complete Guide to Seuss Landing for more info on rides, shopping and dining options.

The Universal Holiday Tour

With all of the holiday fun offered at Universal Orlando Resort, how can you possibly experience it all? The Universal Holiday Tour has you covered. Over roughly two and a half hours, you’ll embark on a guided tour through the beloved holiday experiences across both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Along the way, you’ll:

• Meet The Grinch and his faithful dog companion, Max
• Watch The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular from a reserved seating area
• Ask Santa Claus for what you’d like for Christmas this year (assuming you’re on the nice list…)
• Experience Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s from a special reserved viewing area

PRO TIP: Passholders can receive $10 off the regular price of The Universal Holiday Tour by booking tickets through the VIP Call Center or in-park at the UOAP Lounge.

Rides

If I’m being honest, sleigh rides are fun… but theme park rides are even better. And with more than 50 rides and attractions, there will be plenty of holiday memories to share at Universal Orlando Resort.

• Hop aboard a comet and soar past the Christmas star itself on Stardust Racers.
• Santa’s reindeer won’t be able to keep up as you race through the jungle alongside Raptors on the thrilling Jurassic World VelociCoaster.
• Instead of visiting Santa’s Workshop, experience what it’s like to be a Minion as you take an unforgettable trip through Gru’s super-villain laboratory on Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
• Skip the tree farm and fly deep into the wilds of the Forbidden Forest on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

Where to Shop During the Holidays at Universal

Another great perk about coming to celebrate at Universal? You can do your holiday shopping at the same time. We’ve got a ton of unique themed gift shops throughout our entire destination.

This year offers more festive finds than you can shake a candy cane at:

• Celebrate Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a cozy Spirit Jersey, ornaments, collectibles and more.
• Take your holiday shopping to the next level with festive items from SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, including a holiday-themed hoodie, backpack and collectible plush.
• The Merry Minions line features Illumination’s Minions in their holiday best, including a Spirit Jersey and Merry Minions headband.
• Deck the halls? No — Shrek the halls with holiday items themed to your favorite swamp-dwelling family.
• Celebrate Snoggletog in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk with a collection themed to the beloved Viking holiday.

Two of my favorite places to buy gifts are at the year-round Christmas stores. Each one is filled to the brim with holiday cheer and holiday-themed gifts and souvenirs. For an added personal touch, both venues offer personalization services for select ornaments.

• Port of Entry Christmas Shoppe in Universal Islands of Adventure
• North Star Wintry Wonders in Universal Epic Universe

For a wider selection of items featuring all your favorite Universal franchises, you’ll want to stop into the Universal Studios Store at Universal Studios Florida and Universal CityWalk, or check out Islands of Adventure Trading Company.

And for the ultimate holiday shopping experience, peruse the immersive Holiday Tribute Store in Universal Studios Florida. The store’s theme changes every year, and this year, in celebration of Universal’s participation in the 100^th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it’s bringing to life iconic Parade moments from the past century. Expect plenty of winter magic — and lots of must-have merch!

What to Eat During the Holidays at Universal

Let’s face it, the holiday season food offerings are an event in and of itself. I personally cannot get enough of gingerbread, peppermint chocolate, and cinnamon-flavored goodness that graces the resort this time of year.

Many of the restaurants across the theme parks, Universal CityWalk and the hotels add seasonal menu food and drink creations that vary from year to year. But you can pretty much count on special doughnuts, holiday snacks and treats (hello hot chocolate bombs!), cocktails, and comfort food to satisfy your holiday food fix.

PRO TIP: Don’t miss the Green & Red Coconut Club on the upper level of CityWalk! Every year, the club transforms into a holiday-themed experience that’s sure to knock your stockings off. Click here to read our complete guide to Red Coconut Club and all of its seasonal overlays.

Nobody Knows How to Holiday Like Passholders

The Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort are whimsical for everyone. But if you’re a Passholder, you can enjoy a little extra cheer in the form of some exclusive perks:

• Discounts on the Universal Holiday Tour and The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast, along with discounts on select merchandise purchases.
• Extended hours at the UOAP Lounge, operating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the holiday season.
• Prime viewing of Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, located in front of Mel’s Drive-In.
• Exclusive menu items, including a Peppermint Chocolate Chip Candy Gelato Waffle Cone at Guido’s Gelato and Tiramisu Hot Chocolate at Croissant Moon Bakery.
• Plus other great perks like a button giveaway, exclusive merch, and more. See the full list of Passholder perks, and check it twice, here.

FAQs About the Holidays at Universal

Does it cost extra to experience the holiday offerings at Universal Orlando Resort?

No! The greatest and most important thing to know about The Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort? It’s included with your park admission or Annual Pass (Blockout dates apply for Seasonal and Power Passes) to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. There is no extra cost to experience the festivities and seasonal cheer, and it makes for a memorable holiday vacation.

Certain add-ons experiences, like the Universal Holiday Tour and The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast, are priced separately. Click here to check out ticket options.

Do I need the app when I visit Universal during the holidays?

Yes! Think of the Universal Orlando Resort App as your personal little robot butler in the palm of your hand. You can set up a virtual wallet, take advantage of Mobile Food & Drink Ordering, check ride wait times and get info on seasonal shows, parade times and more.

What’s the weather like at Universal during the holidays?

With lower humidity this time of year, Florida can have surprisingly cooler mornings and evenings, so a light jacket is nice to have. Check the weather about a week before arriving just in case.

What should I bring and wear to Universal during the holidays?

Deciding what to bring or wear to a theme park can be tricky. The general consensus is to pack light and wear layers.

Here’s a list to get you started:

• Small Bag: There’s no real reason to bring a big bag with you unless you’re traveling with little ones. Try to carry your tickets and cards in a lanyard or sport one of those nifty phone cases with the card slots. If you do need to bring a bag, opt for a fanny pack or small crossbody that can fit into one of the free small lockers.
• Portable Phone Charger: This will come in handy if you’re sitting around waiting for the parade to start. Plus, you may need it after all the photos you’ve taken and posted online.
• Comfy Shoes: Comfortable shoes are kind of an obvious choice when going to a theme park, since you’re going to be doing a lot of walking. Trust me, leave the flip-flops for the pool. Your feet will thank you.

For more packing advice, check out our complete guide to packing for your Universal Orlando vacation.

Now let’s put on that ugly sweater and get ready to shout your jingle bells off at the one and only Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort. Share your holiday tips and recommendations in the comments below.