Welcome, December! We can’t believe it is the last month of 2022, this year has been filled with so many events and things to do. To witness the growth of our destination has been wonderful and we are so excited for all things to come this season and in 2023.
Holidays in Central Florida are filled with jolly fun. The weather this year is a bit warmer with temperatures ranging in the high 70s and low 80s but we do expect it to be in the 60s as we move into the season. Crowds can definitely be at their peak during the last weeks of the month, but much lower than you’d expect in the first 3 weeks. Visiting during this time gives you access to all of the holiday cheer and fun with fewer crowds and more time to enjoy it all.
HOLIDAYS AT THE THEME PARKS
Photo Courtesy of Adrian Valverde via Unsplash
WALT DISNEY WORLD
MAGIC KINGDOM PARK
What a magical time of the year to visit Magic Kingdom! There is so much holiday magic in the air you can’t help but get wrapped up in it. The highlights:
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Join Mickey in celebrating this holiday season with live entertainment, fireworks, and a spectacular parade. This event is ticketed separately and is available on select nights from November 8th through December 22nd.
- Seasonal Decor: No one does holiday magic quite like Walt Disney World, enjoy seasonal decor throughout the park.
- Limited Time treats: Holiday-inspired food and beverages await you at select locations.
- Cinderella’s Castle: Cinderella’s Castle is transformed every year with beautiful projections.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World
EPCOT
Enjoy decor and food around the world from November 25 to December 30, 2022. The highlights:
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays: Beginning November 25, 2022, surround yourself with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors during a beloved extravaganza boasting themed Holiday Kitchens and a scrumptious Holiday Cookie Stroll.
- Candlelight Processional: This is a beautiful experience offered from November 25 to December 30 including a narrator and accompanied by an orchestra and massed choir.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Remix: Enjoy seasonal musical tunes.
- Holiday Entertainment: Find performances around World showcase including Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, Las Posadas with Mariachi Cobre, the Chinese Lion Dance and holiday storytellers.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Experience the magic of nature with a holiday twist. The Highlights:
- Merry Menagerie: Discovery Island comes to life with artisan-sculpted puppets of arctic animals.
- Santa Claus Festive Flotilla: Santa Claus sails down the Discovery River to a holiday soundtrack.
- Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla: Feel the beat as a colorful group of percussionists cruise along the Discovery River.
- Tree of Life: The holiday edition of this magnificent tree shimmers and sparkles every evening.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Enjoy holiday touches throughout the park as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World. The highlights:
- Sunset Seasons Greetings: Hollywood Tower Hotel is transformed nightly with holiday projections.
- Minnie’s Holiday Dine: Don’t miss Minnie’s merry mealtime at Hollywood & Vine, due to the popularity of this restaurant, reservations are strongly recommended.
- Santa Claus Motorcarde: Catch the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade as it travels up Hollywood Blvd.
- Frozen Sing-A-Long: Join in the holiday fun with everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf.
- Holiday Decor: Seasonal holiday decor can be found throughout with special touches in Toy Story Land.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World
DISNEY SPRINGS
Find everyone’s perfect gifts and enjoy holiday themed activities from November 11 through December 30. The highlights:
- Meet Santa: and enjoy holiday tunes with live musical performances.
- Christmas Tree Stroll: Enjoy a collection of elaborately decorated trees throughout Disney Springs.
- Let it Snow! Don’t miss magical snowfalls
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT
Celebrate the holidays at Universal Orlando Resort. Create unforgettable memories and celebrate the season with great entertainment, holiday parades, and none other than the Grinch. The highlights:
- Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s
- Mannheim Steamroller: Enjoy bits of best-selling holiday artists with live performances on the music plaza stage on December 3, 4 10, and 11 at 7 pm.
- Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley: Join the celebration as Hogwarts™ castle lights up for the holidays and festive decor brightens up the streets of Hogsmeade™ in Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley™ in Universal Studios Florida. Enjoy a hot Butterbeer™ while both the Frog Choir and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees put a holiday spin on their performances.
- Grinchmas: During the holiday season, Seuss Landing™ is decorated with the holiday charm and cheer of Dr. Seuss’s Who-ville. Get together with the resident Whos and put a little snark in your holiday spirit with the Grinch™. Enjoy the music and fun of The Grinchmas™ Who-liday Spectacular. Plus meet the maven of mischief himself for a photo opportunity.
Prices, times, dates, entertainment, event and/or experience details are subject to changes and/or cancellation without notice.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando
Gather your family and join all your festive friends at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, select dates, Now – Jan. 3, 2023. See the park transformed into a winter wonderland sparkling with millions of beautiful lights. With plenty of holiday cheer, this event is sure to create unforgettable memories at a wondrous Christmas celebration you’ll only find at SeaWorld.
Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando
The highlights:
- Food and Drink: Enjoy festive eats throughout the park including new Holiday Peppermint Eggnog, Christmas Beer Sangria, and Winter Snowballs. We can’t wait to try all of the treats!
- O Wondrous Night: a Fan-favorite! With over 30 carols, life-size puppets, and live animals, this signature show will entertain and delight.
- Holiday Reflections: Dazzling lights and festive fireworks are choreographed to joyous holiday music.
- Elmos’ Christmas Wish Show: Join Cookie Monster, Rosita, Grover, and Zoe as they help Elmo find his Christmas wish.
- Sea of Trees: Take a walk through a wintery, watery wonderland and immerse yourself in the expansive holiday Sea of Trees located in SeaWorld’s lagoon.
- Sesame Street Christmas Parade: Featuring fantastically decorated floats with show-stopping performances that celebrate the magic of the holidays!
- Winter Wonderland on Ice: Christmas comes to life on a stage of ice, jewels, and lights as skaters dazzle and delight in an ice skating extravaganza.
Photo courtesy of Legoland
LEGOLAND
There is no better time of the year to add a little LEGO magic! Visit Legoland as it’s transformed during the holidays, take “elfies” with your favorite holiday LEGO characters, and don’t miss a kid-friendly firework celebration for New Years. The highlights:
- LEGO Christmas Tree: Be mesmerized by the twinkling lights of this spectacular giant LEGO Christmas tree.
- Character Experiences: See LEGO Santa, LEGO Gingerbread, Holiday Unikitty, and more!
- Kids New Year’s Eve: Join in the festivities and celebrate the New Year early with rides, activities, and a whole lot of fun. Celebrate with an early fireworks display illuminating the sky and welcoming in 2023! Offered from December 26 – 31 (Fireworks each night!)
Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
BUSCH GARDENS: CHRISTMASTOWN AT BUSCH GARDENS
Experience the joy of the season up close with animal encounters, thrilling rides, holiday inspired culinary delights and festive shows like Christmas on Ice. The highlights:
- Indulge in holiday treats while shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. Gifts from local artisans and exclusive holiday merchandise are available to check off the items on your holiday shopping list.
- Christmas on Ice: Busch Gardens’ longest-running classic holiday show returns! It is a beautiful skating show set to holiday classics
- Holiday in the Sky Fireworks: Classic tunes and a festive burst of Christmas colors cover the sky in dazzling fireworks and fountain display.
- Three Kings Journey: Enjoy music as the story of this famed journey is shared.
ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY EVENTS
LET IT SNOW AT CELEBRATION:
November 26 – December 31, 2022 – Celebration, FL
Now Snowing, Central Florida’s original and premier “Snowing” event, offers one of the area’s only synthetic ice rinks, special community performances by some of the area’s top young talent, and special concert events throughout the season.
Now Snowing is a month-long Winter Wonderland Spectacular featuring strolling Charles Dickens-style Carolers, photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides, ice skating, and nightly snowfall at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 PM. It’s a true throwback to the traditional family-style holiday.
In addition to the everyday fun at Now Snowing Nightly, the event will feature a special Holiday themed Art Festival (Celebration Art Walk) on December 3rd, and on December 10th you can catch Hearts of Reality featuring over 100 reality stars from such hit shows as Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, the Circle and more to raise money for Give Kids The World
More information and details on pricing can be found here
Photo courtesy of FOX 35 Orlando
LIGHTS AT LAKE EOLA
December 2 – January, 6 2023 – Lake Eola Park: 512 East Washington Street, Orlando, FL 32801
Get into the holiday spirit with a dazzling light and music show. Marvel at the beautiful 72-foot Christmas Tree and enjoy food trucks, holiday performances, and holiday markets. Details below:
Enjoy the Christmas Tree Show with showtimes on the hour from 5:45 pm to 9:45 pm. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons delight in snowfall on the hour from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Check out the Holiday Markets, Visit Santa, and Holiday Moves in the Park. See below for a detailed breakdown of hours and times.
Holiday Markets: Friday / Saturday 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm + Sunday 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Visit Santa: December 3 – December 23
December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23.
Fridays and Saturdays: 4:30 pm – 9 pm
Sundays: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Violectric Holiday Show: December 10 at 7 pm – Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park
Free and open to the public
The Nutcracker: December 17 at 7:30 pm – Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park
Free performance performed by The Russian Academy of Ballet
Holiday Movies at Lake Eola Park
East Lawn at Lake Eola Park. Free for everyone.
The Nightmare Before Christmas – December 9 at 7 pm
The Four Christmases – December 16 at 7 pm
The Grinch (2018) – December 23 at 7 pm
DAZZLING NIGHTS AT LEU GARDENS
November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023.
Leu Gardens: Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando
Leu Gardens is transformed into a winter wonderland featuring a million dazzling lights and music. Walk through the beautiful gardens and experience lights like you never have before.
Tickets can be purchased online. Adults $25, children ages 3-13 $22 (under 2 free).
Photo courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel
NIGHT OF A MILLION LIGHTS
November 11, 2022 – January 1, 2023 – Island H2O water park at Margaritaville Resort
This beautiful event transforms into a spectacular display of lights and benefits Give Kids the World Village, a non profit resort that provides terminally ill children and their families from around the world with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost.
Check out the Children’s Zone, nightly performances, music, visits with Santa, and more. Plenty of great photo opportunities and activities.
Check out more information here
ICE! At Gaylord Palms
November 18 – January 1, 2023
ICE! is back at Gaylord Palms. Don our signature, blue parka and step into a wonderland carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. You’ll see the story of the Grinch in larger-than-life sculptures and even plunge-down slides made entirely of ice in this Gaylord Hotels original experience.
ICE! at Gaylord Palms is a 20,000 ft2 immersive walk-through experience, average time is 30 mins and there are no time limits. Parkas are provided, it is 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Buy tickets here
There is so much to see and do in Orlando and Kissimmee in December! Events filled with magic and holiday cheer. Looking for a vacation rental? Visit us at www.TripawayProperties.com
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