I like my gifts the way I like my holiday season: merry and bright. And if they happen to correspond to some of my favorite fandoms, well, all the better! Luckily, there’s a place where you can find gifts of every shape, size, and style that check all three of those boxes. That’s right… I’m talking about Santa’s Workshop! Let’s see, a non-stop flight to the North Pole from Florida will run me about —
Nevermind. Luckily, there’s another place where you can find festive gifts for every type of fan in your life: Universal Orlando Resort, of course! Whether you’re shopping for a Ravenclaw, Raptor trainer, or Rogue super fan, you’ll find something for everyone at Universal. Make your shopping list, check it twice, and get to reading!
For the “Harry Potter” Fan
Happy Christmas, Harry. Happy Christmas, Ron. And Happy Christmas, reader! One of my fondest memories of reading and watching “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is soaking in all of the holiday joy that radiates through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (Seriously, if “Christmas at Hogwarts” isn’t on your holiday playlist, you need to fix that ASAP. I’ll wait.)
Whether you’re shopping for a Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Gryffindor, or Hufflepuff, you’re sure to make their holiday with one of these gifts:
An Ollivanders Wand
At Ollivanders Wand Shop, they’ve been making fine wands since 382 BC. So it’s no surprise that this should be your first holiday shopping stop for the witch or wizard in your life! Choose from unique wands, wand sets, character wand replicas, and interactive wands. With the latter, you get the added bonus of joining your loved one as they cast spells throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure! You can find an Ollivanders wand shop located in both wizarding world lands, or you can shop for wands online.
PRO TIP: Want to make your gift extra magical? Stop by Owl Post in Hogsmeade to get it wrapped! And if you really want to impress your friends and family, you can mail your holiday cards from here complete with a special Hogsmeade postmark.
A Festive Sweater
One of my favorite scenes in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is when Harry and Ron receive their “H” and “R” sweaters, knit by Molly Weasley herself. So I absolutely love that you can purchase your own version of either iconic sweater to rock on Christmas morning. You can find these sweaters — along with Fred and George Weasley’s — in the shops in both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, and at the Universal Studios Store in Universal CityWalk.
An Ornament
Everyone has opinions about Christmas trees. Real or fake? Up before or after Thanksgiving? Star or snowflake on top? (Real, after, star.) Whatever their preference, the “Harry Potter” fan in your life certainly would enjoy an ornament — and there are so many wonderful wizarding-world-inspired ones to choose from! (I love the “Hogsmeade for Christmas” line, myself.) You’ll find plenty of ornaments in the shops of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, as well as in the Port of Entry Christmas Shoppe in Islands of Adventure and the Park Plaza Holiday Shop in Universal Studios Florida.
For the “Jurassic Park” and/or “Jurassic World” Fan
Holiday cheer, uh… finds a way. Or so the ancient proverb goes. This is especially true when it comes to holiday shopping in Jurassic Park! From budding paleontologists to experienced Raptor trainers, there’s something for everyone to be found in the shops of Isla Nublar.
A Plush Dinosaur
Every kid has a favorite dinosaur. It’s just science! (Mine was/is Mononykus.) So why not pick up a plush of your junior archeologist’s favorite dino? And I’ll go on the record and say that plush toys are not just for kids. In fact, I would welcome a stuffed Mononykus under my Christmas tree this year. You can find plenty of plush dinosaurs at Jurassic Outfitters and Dinostore in Universal Islands of Adventure.
Novelty Dinosaur Headwear
What better way to blend in among the dinosaurs of Isla Nublar than a dinosaur novelty hat? I, for one, am a huge proponent of novelty gifts, and if the “Jurassic Park” fan in your life is too, this is the perfect gift for them. The novelty hat comes in green and gray, and you can pick it up at Jurassic Outfitters or Dinostore. You can also find whimsical dinosaur headbands, along with more standard hats and apparel.
A Dinosaur Pin (or Three)
Every good explorer knows that your backpack should be decked out with flair — and that flair should be on theme! You can find a wide variety of “Jurassic Park” pins for purchase at both Jurassic Outfitters and Dinostore, all of which can help take your loved one’s adventuring credibility to the next level. These also make for great stocking stuffers!
For the Marvel Fan
It’s time to be your own superhero: The Gifter! Capable of performing death-defying feats of holiday shopping just in the nick of time. (No gift receipts necessary.)
OK, I made that up. But if you’re shopping for a fan of real superheroes, look no further than the shops of Marvel Super Hero Island in Islands of Adventure, where you’ll find myriad apparel, toys, collectibles, and more — including these great gifts compiled by yours truly:
A Heroic Mug
Every time I get out of bed in the morning, I consider it an act of heroism. My super secret? A giant mug of coffee to help make it happen. Why not sponsor your loved one’s morning heroics by grabbing them a mug themed to their favorite superhero? You can find them in the Marvel Alterniverse Store and the Spider-Man Shop. (Dad, if you’re reading this, you already have a Captain America mug. You don’t need another. Unless…)
A Stylish Backpack
There’s no shortage of superhero apparel to be found in Marvel Super Hero Island, but my personal favorite items are the backpacks. Help your loved one flaunt their favorite hero, be it Spider-Man, Rogue, or Captain America, by gifting them one! Best of all, they make for a perfect, practical bag for your bestie to bring along on your first post-holiday theme park trip! Pick one up in the Marvel Alterniverse Store or the Spider-Man Shop.
A Comic from the Comic Book Shop
If your loved one is a true super fan, pay tribute to their dedication by gifting them a comic starring their favorite do-gooder. The Comic Book Shop is packed to the brim with books and graphic novels, along with posters and other souvenirs. As a bonus, you might just discover your new favorite superhero while perusing the pages!
For the “DreamWorks” Fan
Are you shopping for someone who quotes the “Kung Fu Panda” movies at any given opportunity? If so, you may be shopping for me. Whether they’re quoting Po, Shrek, or Poppy, you’re sure to find the perfect gift in DreamWorks Land in Universal Studios Florida! (And if you have time to grab a Swamp Dog along the way, all the better.)
A Po Fanny Pack
Starting out with a gift for the Kung Fu Fandas, you can’t go wrong with this super unique fanny pack starring the Dragon Warrior himself. They say the ‘90s are back in style, so it’s a fashion-forward gift, too! Best of all, it’s the perfect shape and size to store on-the-go dumplings. (That’s a joke. But hey, live your life!) You can find the Po Fanny Pack in High Five Hideaway.
A Pandy Paws Plush
Shopping for a little one? A Pandy Paws Plush is the perfect pick (yes, I do love alliteration). And while you’re at it, why not grab a Pandy Paws cat ear headband so your lucky gift-receiver can match with their new plush best friend? Cat-tastic, if I do say so myself! And I do.
A Shrek Baseball Cap
Me? Recommending another form of novelty headwear? It’s more likely than you think. I love this Shrek baseball cap, and if you’re shopping for a fan of the ogre himself, they’re sure to love it, too. You can grab one at High Five Hideaway, along with a “What the Shrek?” pin to match. Talk about a gift bundle with layers.
PRO TIP: Many of these items are available to purchase from Universal’s online store so you never even have to leave your couch! (But if you’re like me, you know nothing goes better with holiday shopping than a quick ride on a roller coaster.)
BONUS: Gift Cards!
OK, I’m going to take a bold stance here: I love to receive gift cards. So why do I always feel so lame gifting them? The answer is I shouldn’t — and neither should you! Whether you’re on a time crunch or just shopping for a particularly… particular loved one, a gift card might just be the perfect solution. Universal Orlando Resort gift cards rock particularly hard because you can use them anywhere on property, including Universal CityWalk and the hotels. And even more conveniently, you can buy them online here with just the click of a few buttons!
That’s a wrap (please clap) on my holiday gifting guide! Did you see any of your favorite items? Anything I left out? Leave a comment and let me know!
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