Our information to Christmas at Common Orlando Lodge provides pointers for each theme parks–Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida–plus the accommodations and CityWalk. It contains Wizarding Global of Harry Potter leisure, crowd ranges, meals, loose issues to do, upcharge choices, decorations, pointers & methods. (Up to date November 2, 2024.)
Common Orlando Lodge celebrates Christmas starting on November 22 and operating day by day via December 31, 2024. Unofficially, you’ll be able to be expecting a fair longer run than that. Decorations cross up as Halloween Horror Nights ends, and can stay till early January 2025. The above date vary most commonly applies to scheduled leisure choices.
It’s a excellent factor the vacation season is unofficially longer, as it’s formally a lot shorter than commonplace. The November 22, 2024 get started date is the most recent we’ve noticed in fresh reminiscence. That is a minimum of in part as a result of the overdue timing of Thanksgiving, however now not fully. That vacation has came about overdue in different years, and Christmas began previous. Our superb wager is that it’s a mixture of later Thanksgiving and funds cuts to scale back prices forward of Epic Universe opening in Summer time 2025. We’ve noticed Common quietly reduce park hours and extra for this similar reason why, sadly. However at the plus aspect, crowds have additionally been decrease!
When you’re visiting Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey as a part of an extended shuttle to Central Florida that comes with Walt Disney Global, we’d get started through referring you to our Final Information to Christmas at Walt Disney Global. Whilst Common Orlando is superior all over the vacation season, there are extra “transferring portions” to making plans for Walt Disney Global. Maximum trip events doing each will have to make a choice your dates, when to do each and every park, and extra in accordance with WDW.
To that time, the excellent news is that there’s super overlap in terms of crowd dynamics at each Common Orlando and Walt Disney Global. For each, November and December are curler coaster months for crowds, with the weeks round vacations (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve) seeing increased attendance and different weeks being extra reasonable.
Mainly, those two months have very excessive highs and in addition low lows; your function will have to be opting for the ‘candy spots’ in between the height weeks. Take a look at our record of the 10 Best possible and 10 Worst Weeks to Seek advice from Walt Disney Global. That incorporates a number of weeks in November and December.
You’ll additionally learn extra about crowd forecasts in our November 2024 Walt Disney Global Crowd Calendar and December 2024 Walt Disney Global Crowd Calendar. Even if the ones are geared in opposition to Walt Disney Global, the similar recommendation applies to Common Orlando, as smartly.
Concerning the largest distinction between the 2 is that you could understand numerous fresh suggestions to talk over with Walt Disney Global on Saturday and Sunday, which are actually the slowest days of the week because of Annual Go blockouts. (This dynamic received’t be as pronounced all over the vacation season, for what it’s price.) Neatly, the other is correct at Common Orlando–weekends are a few of the busiest days of the week. Walt Disney Global and Common do have one pattern in commonplace–Mondays are unhealthy at each!
Anyway, let’s flip to the principle attracts of Common Orlando all over the vacation season…
Christmas in The Wizarding Global of Harry Potter – Vacation magic fills The Wizarding Global of Harry Potter because the streets of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade become right into a wizarding vacation wonderland overflowing with festively themed décor, lighting, garland and extra.
The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort is the spotlight in Hogsmeade at Common Islands of Journey. This can be a surprising projection display that includes Christmas moments and vacation spirit impressed through the characters and tales of the Harry Potter movie franchise. The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort runs kind of steadily each and every 20 mins or so from nightfall to park final.
There’s in point of fact no technique essential for seeing the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort, however we’ve discovered crowds to be lowest (and footage perfect) proper at nightfall and once more at park final. You additionally don’t in point of fact wish to concern about timing–for those who’re within the land between nightfall and park final, you’re going to look it. When you omit the very starting, simply stick round for the following loop. Don’t overthink it.
The Frog Choir, created from Hogwarts scholars and their large croaking frogs additionally returns to Hogsmeade with a unique holiday-themed efficiency. That is the principle Christmas leisure all over the day in Hogsmeade. As with any issues Harry Potter, I haven’t any clue why this exists. Alternatively, the language of frogs croaking is (to borrow a word) common.
The Frog Choir plays conventional songs that you simply’ll acknowledge, comparable to “We Want You a Merry Christmas.” Along with that, they carry out authentic tune and Harry Potter-infused remixes: “Christmas at Hogwarts,” “The Maximum Magical Xmas Ball of All,” “I Forged a Spell on Father Christmas,” and extra. That is weirdly superior, and to not be ignored. You don’t must “get” Harry Potter to like the Frog Choir.
The Diagon Alley aspect of the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter in Common Studios Florida likewise has its personal vacation leisure, within the type of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. The particular vacation display through Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees options 4 authentic songs, together with “My Child Gave Me a Hippogriff for Christmas” and “Not anything Like a Vacation Spell.”
As somebody who is aware of subsequent to not anything about Harry Potter, I’m almost certainly now not the finest individual to remark in this display. I suppose it’s a Hocus Pocus kinda deal–a lovely theme park display about making a song witches that’s awesome to the supply subject material that impressed it. I experience this for the high-caliber of the performers, but it surely’s now not relatively as a laugh because the Frog Choir. To each and every their very own, despite the fact that–each are smartly price seeing.
Common’s Vacation Parade that includes Macy’s at Common Studios Florida – Loved popular culture characters, together with the ones from Illumination’s Despicable Me, DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, and Madagascar fill the streets of Common Studios Florida all over Common’s Vacation Parade that includes Macy’s.
Those cherished tales come to lifestyles as larger-than-life balloons, colourful vacation floats and loads of jolly performers embark on a picturesque adventure that culminates in a shocking finale together with a unique look through Santa Claus and the lights of the magnificent 80-foot Christmas tree.
Unsurprisingly, spots across the Christmas tree in New York replenish the quickest. (When you’re basically a Walt Disney Global fan, that’s like their Christmas parade’s Major Side road.) Despite the fact that it calls for arriving previous and tenting out longer, we’d suggest grabbing a place throughout from the Christmas tree. It’s an iconic backdrop for parade footage, and seeing Santa gentle the tree is a mystical second.
You’ll wish to arrive a minimum of half-hour upfront (nearer to 45 mins on busier days). When you don’t wish to dedicate that a lot time, spaces in opposition to the start of the parade direction–particularly ones that aren’t entrance row–will also be got moderately ultimate minute.
Santa Claus at Common Orlando – As famous above, Santa Claus seems within the climactic moments of the Macy’s Vacation Parade.
To the finest of our wisdom, he now not meets within the parks for Christmas. You might even see footage of him (like the only above), however that’s from a couple of years in the past. We’ll replace this accordingly if Santa seems for meet & greets at Common Studios Florida or Islands of Journey.
Christmas in New York – On this space you’ll additionally see the the Blues Brothers Christmas Rhythm and Blues Revue, which provides a seasonal twist to the preferred efficiency through Jake, Elwood, Mabel, and Jazz from SNL and their motion pictures. They sing festive favorites like “Santa Claus Is Coming to The city,” “Blue Christmas,” and extra with snow on Delancey Side road on the finish of each and every display.
A equivalent display is Marilyn Monroe and the Diamond Bellas, which additionally has its personal Christmas version. The setup is that Ms. Monroe and the gals are filming a vacation musical quantity for the USO, and feature costumes and songs to compare. Either one of those displays are smartly price making some extent to look. Chances are you’ll occur upon them, however we’d suggest consulting the Common Orlando app for efficiency occasions.
Grinchmas at Common Islands of Journey – Revel within the spirit of Grinchmas at Common Islands of Journey the place the Grinch stars within the dwell retelling of the Dr. Seuss vacation basic, the “Grinchmas Who-liday Impressive.”
This musical level display is sort of a mash-up of the basic How the Grinch Stole Christmas tv particular and the not-so-classic live-action Jim Carrey film, which is sensible for the reason that it melds the animated global with dwell performers. “Grinchmas Who-liday Impressive” is kind of half-hour lengthy and is carried out a couple of occasions according to day–take a look at the days information at the date of your talk over with for when performances get started.
“Grinchmas Who-liday Impressive” is extremely well liked by Common visitors. In case your agenda permits and also you’re visiting on a busier day, we’d suggest both seeing the primary or ultimate appearing. On a slower day, you will have just a little extra flexibility on showtimes. In between performances, characters roam Seuss Touchdown interacting with visitors and posing for footage. There may also be appearances from the Whos from Who-ville and a unique photograph alternative that brings visitors face-to-face with the imply, inexperienced one himself, the Grinch.
As you’ll see within the footage under of decorations, Seuss Touchdown is likely one of the maximum underrated lands in all of Orlando all over Christmas. There are many decorations that delivery visitors into a fanciful surroundings decked out with outsized sweet canes, twisty Christmas timber, surprising tinsel embellishes and extra.
Mannheim Steamroller at Common Studios Florida – The highest-selling vacation artist of all time, Mannheim Steamroller, returns to Common Studios Florida for Christmas to get visitors into the vacation spirit with dwell performances on Saturday and Sunday nights in early December. Dates have now not but been introduced for Christmas 2024, however we think the next:
- December 7-8, 2024
- December 14-15, 2024
I’ll stage with you. Regardless of being massive Mannheim Steamroller lovers who love Christmas and feature had Common Orlando Annual Passes for years…we by no means noticed the crowd carry out at Common Studios Florida. According to what we’ve heard from buddies and the stories we’ve noticed on social media, it simply doesn’t seem “price it” to us. To each and every their very own, despite the fact that. Sooner or later, we almost certainly wish to do that for the sake of analysis, despite the fact that.
If we had been going to look Mannheim Steamroller and had flexibility, we’d unquestionably cross to one of the crucial Sunday evening displays, and would arrive very early as viewing areas fill to capability. That’s in point of fact about all we all know. When you’re going to courageous the crowds to look Mannheim Steamroller at Common Studios Florida, pack your endurance and excellent good fortune tenting out!
Common’s Vacation Excursion – When you’re feeling such as you simply haven’t spent sufficient cash for your Christmas shuttle, you’re in good fortune–there are a few upcharge choices! Common’s Vacation Excursion provides guided, VIP get entry to to all of the vacation leisure studies going down, together with:
- An unique meet and greet with the Grinch and his trustworthy canine Max;
- Small plates, delectable muffins and non-alcoholic drinks in Common Studios Florida;
- Reserved seating on the “Grinchmas Who-liday Impressive” in Common Islands of Journey;
- An unique meet and greet photograph alternative with Santa Claus in Common Studios Florida;
- An after hours appearing of “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort;”
- Precedence get entry to to Common Studios Florida’s latest enchantment, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast (topic to modify and in accordance with availability).
The Common Vacation Excursion is to be had on choose dates starting November 25 via December 29, 2024, and will also be booked through visiting www.UniversalOrlando.com/Vacations. Pricing starts at $79.99 according to individual (plus tax) and separate theme park admission with a 1-Day 2-Park Park-to-Park price tag is needed.
Annual and Seasonal Passholders can get a $10 cut price according to price tag according to Passholder with a sound Annual or Seasonal Go. Tickets for Passholders will also be bought in the course of the VIP Name Middle (1-866-346-9350) or through visiting the UOAP Front room in Common Islands of Journey. Seasonal Passholder blockout dates practice.
The Grinch & Pals Persona Breakfast at Common Islands of Journey – The opposite upcharge is “The Grinch & Pals Persona Breakfast.” This fashionable persona eating revel in permits visitors to begin their day with a scrumptious breakfast and a laugh appearances through the Grinch and different fan-favorite Dr. Seuss characters.
Eating on scrumptious breakfast pieces like Inexperienced Eggs and Ham and Cindy-Lou Who’s Belgian Waffles at this plated breakfast that takes position in Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous in Common Islands of Journey on choose dates starting November 22 via December 30 for $58.99 + tax according to grownup and $32.99 + tax according to kid (ages 3-9), and will also be booked on-line at Common Orlando’s Vacations web page.
Availability is proscribed for the Grinch & Pals Persona Breakfast, and we’ve heard some stories of other folks having issue with reservations except for for the first actual seatings. Premier and Most popular Annual Passholders can obtain a 20% cut price on purchases of The Grinch & Pals Persona Breakfast for choose dates through calling 407-224-7554.
We’ve by no means completed both of those upcharges, so we can’t discuss credibly to their price for cash or the rest. If we had been to do one, it’d almost certainly be Common’s Vacation Excursion. Now not having to battle the group for parade or fortress projection display viewing turns out profitable, as do the photograph ops with Grinch and Santa. However once more, we haven’t completed both of those, so it is advisable say that we’ve already voted with our wallets on their price for cash to us.
Christmas at Common CityWalk and Motels – Visitors can stay the party going at Common CityWalk with with distinctiveness leisure and menu choices at choose venues, together with:
- The Inexperienced & Purple Coconut Membership at Purple Coconut Membership, the place visitors can experience dwell leisure and themed vacation cocktails;
- A festive meet and greet with fan-favorite Earl the Squirrel all over choose dates from November 29 – December 28 at CityWalk Plaza;
- Various seasonal meals and beverage at Bigfire and VIVO Italian Kitchen, and a seasonal milkshake at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Ceremonial dinner Kitchen;
- And extra.
Plus, all 8 Common Orlando Lodge accommodations might be decked out with festive décor that complements each and every resort’s theme – and the entire circle of relatives can delight in vacation feasts and actions.
When you’re in CityWalk (or the parks, for that topic), you’ll be able to take part within the all-new Vacation Nutcracker Hunt, which is a scavenger hunt on the lookout for (you guessed it) themed Nutcrackers. Acquire a map, to find the timber in each and every store, and gather a stamp in each and every location. As soon as your map is crammed visitors obtain an unique tree decoration.
Even if unconfirmed, it sounds as if this may change the standard Christmas tree scavenger hunt for Christmas 2024. Whether or not that is well worth the cash is your name–we want merely taking a look on the timber and purchasing souvenirs of our opting for, however youngsters may benefit from the construction and praise gadget of the particular scavenger hunt. (Walt Disney Global does equivalent scavenger hunts at Christmas.)
Moreover, particular menus might be to be had at Common accommodations for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New 12 months’s. Normally, those foods are best to be had on the ones dates themselves–so for those who’re visiting on November 19 or December 22 or no matter random date all over the vacation season, this isn’t related to you.
Make a choice accommodations additionally be offering particular vacation leisure like Christmas tree lightings, Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremonies, and walking carolers. For essentially the most section, all of this happens the week of Christmas or Hanukkah.
Visitors can now save as much as $450 on a four-night keep in a Lawn View room at Loews Portofino Bay Lodge, the place they’ll additionally obtain loose Common Specific Limitless experience get entry to at Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey. Florida Citizens and Annual and Seasonal Passholders too can save 40% in any respect Common Orlando accommodations on choose dates.
Common Eating Card Deal – Talking of offers, visitors can plan their talk over with with plenty of particular provides, together with the New Common Orlando Eating Card Holiday Bundle Deal for 2024-2025, which incorporates theme park admission, resort lodging and a meals and beverage eating card price as much as $1,000 to make use of at choose eating places and eating places all over the hotel.
Despite the fact that we’re Common Orlando Annual Passholders, and thus talk over with extra ceaselessly than maximum, it’s onerous to suggest this eating deal because of its period. Only a few other folks with weeklong journeys to Florida will wish to allocate 4-5 days of that point to Common. Chances are high that, you’ll wish to do 2-3 days at Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida…which is exactly the purpose. Getting visitors to decide to 4-5 days as a substitute of 1-3 is if truth be told a win for Common.
Annual Passholder Specials – Along with reductions on choose vacation studies, Common Orlando Annual Passholders gets particular get entry to to experience Common’s Vacations Parade that includes Macy’s from a viewing space only for Passholders, in addition to unique products and early get entry to to the Vacations Tribute Retailer.
Vacations Tribute Retailer – Talking of which, the Vacations Tribute Retailer will go back for Christmas at Common Orlando. The Tribute Retailer used to be first of all created for Halloween Horror Nights so that you could each pay tribute to these creations and get other folks to shop for stuff (therefore the identify). It’s since been reworked for each Mardi Gras and Christmas, following kind of that very same formulation.
Over the years, the Tribute Retailer has gotten larger and higher, with a multi-room structure that has other issues in each and every space. Be expecting to look Christmas in New York, Earl the Squirrel, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Wintry weather within the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter represented. (The specifics trade from year-to-year, however the method of Earl plus elegant city plus film IP is kind of what you’ll see for Christmas within the Tribute Retailer.)
Along with elaborate shows which might be price seeing and Christmas products to buy, we’d name your consideration to the Tribute Retailer as arguably the finest spot in both park for Christmas-themed treats and muffins. There’s a wide selection of choices, lots of which glance and style nice.
With all the core Christmas information about leisure and different choices out of the way in which, let’s take a holiday-time walk via Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey, and exhibit the decorations that cross up across the parks…
Throughout from the Christmas Tribute Retailer is Common Studios Florida’s iconic Christmas Tree.
Moreover, many of the park is decked out for Christmas, together with Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, and the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter.
Because of extra lands being decked out for the vacations, the ambience is unquestionably extra festive in Common Studios Florida. That’s no knock in opposition to Islands of Journey–as with a number of lands in Magic Kingdom, it’s tougher to embellish Islands of Journey in on-theme techniques.
With that mentioned, the Diagon Alley appears to be like festive for the vacations–however now not on par with its counterpart, Hogsmeade. So a minimum of the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter is healthier at Christmas in IoA than USF.
I don’t have a lot attention-grabbing perception in regards to the decorations, so listed below are some illustrative footage:
Christmas decorations are nice all over Common Studios Florida. My best actual grievance is that Jaws doesn’t get decked out for Christmas. Put a wreath round him!
Now let’s check out the Christmas decorations in Islands of Journey…
As famous above, Islands of Journey is extra restricted in its adorning than Common Studios Florida. This makes whole thematic sense. I will be able to’t believe critical vacation overlays meshing with Surprise, King Kong, Jurassic Park, and so forth.
With that mentioned, the spaces that do embellish for the vacations in IoA in point of fact cross all out!
As somebody who completely loves Christmas and dinosaurs, I in point of fact want a vacation tie-in might be completed with Jurassic Park. Because the IP is a theme park with a minimum of a modicum of actual global consciousness, arguably anything else may cross right here. It’d almost certainly simply wish to be established as canon by way of the movies first.
If somebody at NBCUniversal is studying this, simply recall to mind the probabilities: Peacock wishes content material, and what higher technique to achieve streaming subscribers and marketshare than with a Jurassic Park vacation particular?
To in point of fact compound the advantages, make the vacation celebrated on Isla Nublar both Festivus or Ludachristmas. Unending synergy!
Once more, it’s price mentioning that no park at Walt Disney Global has all of its lands adorned for Christmas. Even Magic Kingdom, which is maximum usually related to the vacation season, in point of fact best has a complete decorations package deal on Major Side road. The opposite lands are a lot more muted–or don’t have anything in any respect.
Now not that we’re complaining or making excuses. It’s simply more straightforward to put out of your mind since we’re extra aware of Walt Disney Global, and take as a right that some lands don’t have or want decorations. The similar is correct at Common Orlando.
When it comes to what if truth be told exists relating to the vacation season at Islands of Journey, we’ve some gentle decorations in Port of Access, improving what’s already a top-notch and underrated space.
Port of Access is the place you’ll additionally to find Starbucks, Port of Access Christmas Shoppe, and different eating & retail.
The ones places promote brochures for the Vacation Tree Hunt and feature pamphlets for the Vacation Deal with Path.
Let’s head into Seuss Touchdown, which is house to Grinchmas.
At evening, the 2 white timber flank the doorway of Seuss Touchdown and have an array of synchronized designs (just like the Grinch) and dancing lighting.
All issues regarded as, Seuss Touchdown is the best-decorated space in Islands of Journey.
Plenty of garland, tinsel, and lighting decorating the development exteriors, strung around the side road, or even on sights. It strikes a chord in my memory just a little of Toontown at Disneyland. Rather well completed!
Then there’s the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.
With its storybook structure and snow-covered rooftops, the core design of this land simply feels like Christmas.
All issues regarded as, Christmas is a brilliant time to talk over with Common Orlando Lodge. Each Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida are completely adorned for the vacation season, there are many seasonal treats, and sufficient leisure to toughen the ambience and make the parks really feel festive.
Most likely an unpopular opinion, however up to we experience HHN, we want Christmas to Halloween at UOR. It almost certainly is helping that the elements is most often higher from mid-November in the course of the finish of December, and that it’s an all-day, incorporated with admission match as a substitute of an after-hours upcharge (that often includes lengthy traces).
Streetmosphere, leisure & parades, characters & performers, projections, and becoming decorations make a lot of the parks come alive for Christmas. That is very true in Hollywood, New York, Seuss Touchdown, Port of Access, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, all of which provide nice vacation environment. All in all, Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey are nice studies at Christmas!
Want shuttle making plans pointers and complete recommendation on your talk over with to Central Florida? Make sure you learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the whole thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney Global Holiday Making plans Information for the whole thing about the ones parks, hotels, eating places, and so a lot more. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and a lot more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever been to Common Orlando Lodge for Christmas? Some other highlights for you? Ideas on vacation crowds at Common Orlando for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New 12 months’s Eve, or the Mannheim Steamroller live shows? When you’ve visited each Disney and Common all over the vacations, which do you suppose is doing higher? Ideas on the rest coated right here? Will you be visiting Central Florida this vacation season? Any questions we will mean you can solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
