Top 10 Things to Do in Orlando During the Holidays December 1, 2023
Are you tired of the snow and low temperatures when celebrating the holidays and want to spend your next winter getaway somewhere warm? If so, Orlando, Florida is the perfect destination for your vacation, and our resorts can help ensure a memorable stay.
Attractions come in different forms to provide excitement for travelers of all ages. The theme parks of the area host a variety of celebrations to keep you in the holiday spirit.
Planning a winter vacation is easy thanks to our guide. Here are the top 10 things to do in Orlando during the holidays when staying with us.
1. Christmas Paradein Winter Park
The Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade is a treat for fans of parades during the holiday season. Visitors can enjoy a variety of holiday-themed floats, bands, dance troupes, and Santa Clause at the end.
The parade travels down historic park avenue, just north of Orlando. The event begins at 9:30am, but you can purchase a ticket and enter by 7:00am to enjoy pancakes, sausages, coffee, milk, and fruit and candy toppings at the annual pancake breakfast.
2. Festival of Treesat the Orlando Museum of Art
Visitors who enjoy touring museums will want to reserve a stop by the Orlando Museum of Art for the Festival of Trees. Enjoy the beauty of multiple designer Christmas trees with a variety of decoration styles.
The festival takes place for two weeks, giving you enough time to pick out a tree created by local designers to take home for your celebration. Don’t miss out on the nighttime activities and enjoy holiday vignettes, educational programs for children, and musical performances by local artists.
3. ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort
Taking a break from attractions for shopping or a spa day is easy when you visit the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Stopping by during the holidays will allow you to experience ICE, an entertaining experience showing off ice carvings representing Christmas scenes.
Two-story ice slides and the eight-lane snow tubing course offer excitement for travelers with kids. We recommend dressing warm at this event, as the facility is maintained at 9 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the ice from melting.
4. Christmas Celebrationat SeaWorld
Have you visited SeaWorld during other parts of the year or want to visit the park for the first time? Staying at Spectrum Resort Orlando makes this holiday season the perfect time for both situations with the annual Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando.
Children will enjoy the opportunity to meet Santa and watch the Sesame Street Christmas Parade. The Christmas lights throughout the park, as well as the fireworks, make it a fun occasion at night.
5. Christmas Tree Light ShowLake Eola
Creating a photo collection of your winter getaway requires a stop by Lake Eola. This allows you to view a 72-foot Christmas tree that puts on a light show synced with lights of the Lake Eola Fountain with synchronized music.
If you are worried about missing this spectacle, you’ll be happy to know that these shows are performed every fifteen minutes. This gives you plenty of time to view them while you go shopping or dine in the area.
6. Holidays Eventsat Universal Orlando Resort
Universal ensures that visitors can enjoy winter vacations with Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort. The theme park hosts Universal’s Holiday Parade, which features balloon floats worthy of your vacation photo collection.
Harry Potter fans who stay at Margaritaville Resort Orlando should make time for the celebration of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Dr. Seuss fans will enjoy seeing the Grinch performing in The Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
7. Holiday Boat ParadeWinter Park
Another way you can celebrate the holidays is at Winter Park in Lake Virginia with its holiday boat parade. The occasion begins with the Waterski Extravaganza with the Rollins Ski Team and ends with the boat parade competition.
The ski team puts on a show of water acrobatics to popular Christmas music. Contestants in the competition have the opportunity to win awards such as Best Boat, Best Santa Boat, and Best Winter Park Boat.
8. Holidays Eventsat LEGOLAND
LEGO fans or those with children who love the toys should save a day for a trip to LEGOLAND Florida Resort for Holidays at LEGOLAND. Stay at Encore Resort, and you will get to see a giant LEGO Christmas tree with a 360-degree light show.
The event is included in general admission, which saves you money on your vacation. Guests get to enjoy LEGO activities, holiday shows and characters, special treats, and a variety of lights fitting for the season.
9. Oh, What Fun! Holiday FestivalLake Nona
Are you visiting Orlando from another state and want your visit to maintain the feeling of the holidays? If so, save time for the Oh, What Fun! Holiday Festival at Lake Nona to keep the spirit of the winter season.
Take your kids to see Santa while enjoying the holiday festivities at Peppermint Square, and stick around for nightly snowfall. If you are looking for a Christmas tree, you will have options in the Peppermint Forest Christmas tree lot.
10. Holidays Eventsat Walt Disney World
If you are wondering how Walt Disney World Resort can offer a memorable holiday vacation, its theme parks offer a variety of options. One day you can watch Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, and the next day can be saved for celebrations at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.
When you vacation at Bear’s Den Resort, you can take your kids to see Santa at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, and you can witness beautiful seasonal lights at EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays. Those visiting for one to two weeks can make time for all of these parks.
