It's a Theme Park Kind of Holiday!
Looking to get into the holiday spirit? I challenge you to feel anything BUT MERRY when you visit Walt Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando during the holiday season!! A family vacation to either one or both of these destinations is a perfect way to create holiday memories and to bring out the kid in everyone!
A few Novembers ago my family and I did just that. We decided to visit both Disney World and Universal to experience all the fabulous festivities offered throughout all the parks!!
We started off at Disney World where everywhere you look you could see the spirit of Christmas! Let’s start with the parks. As soon as you enter the Magic Kingdom you take in all the splendor of Main Street. From the nutcrackers to the poinsettias, to the spectacular lighting overlay of Cinderella’s castle there is more magic than ever! The window displays in the stores of both the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are reminiscent of the holiday windows at Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s in New York! Head over to Epcot to experience a little taste of how Christmas is celebrated around the world. Stop in each country in World Showcase to learn about some of the different traditions people have around the globe!
One of my favorite things to do is browse the shops! You can find beautiful decorations to take home to your own house to remind you of your trip. This is a tradition for my family, everywhere we go we buy an ornament from the place and with the year on it. Usually more than 1! (let’s just say I have two Christmas trees in my house and after my trip last month I’m going to need a 3rd!)
Another thing to really get you in the holiday spirit is all the seasonal shows and parties. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a separately ticketed event at the Magic Kingdom. It is on select nights in November and December and a limited number of tickets are sold. During the party you will experience exclusive shows, meet and greets, parades and even a special fireworks show that you won’t see on a regular night. Exclusive merchandise and even snacks are also sold during the event!
You can also enjoy a nighttime spectacular show at Hollywood Studios called “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam” and a holiday Candlelight processional show with special celebrity guest hosts in Epcot.
Not to be forgotten are the resorts of WDW themselves. Each one is decorated beautifully and visiting them is an activity all on its own. Some of my favorites displays are the life-sized Gingerbread House in the Grand Floridian lobby, the display in the Contemporary Resort, and the main lobby of the Wilderness Lodge!
Heading over to Universal Studios you can experience “Grinchmas”!!!!! Suess Landing, located in the Islands of Adventure park is completely transformed into a holiday wonderland that would make anyone’s heart grow at least three sizes! You can find the “Who’s” of “Whoville” walking around this section, spreading cheer with their Christmas Carols. The Grinch himself can be seen in The Who-liday spectacular show and sticks around after for a meet and greet!
If you are Harry Potter fans, like my family and I are, you are going to love the holiday time in the Wizarding Worlds!!! Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are decorated for the holidays with festive decor and brilliant lighting! The Frog Choir sings festive songs and The Magic of Christmas projection show on Hogwarts Castle is not to be missed! Special holiday treats and drinks are also available to be purchased throughout the parks! If you can’t get enough of that mean ole’ Grinch, there is also a character breakfast located at the Circus- McGurkus cafe! Can’t make it to Manhattan for the Macy’s parade? No worries, Universal recreates it here with floats and balloons (minus the cold weather!!)
A holiday trip to the parks is the perfect family gift! It fits all sizes and ages and the memories will stick around a lot longer than any toy or gadget !!
Ready to plan your holiday in the parks?
Tracy Vivelo
Travel Advisor
tracy@bluepineappletravel.com
