All of us need to cherish the Christmas magic, however it’s not all the time simple to do when confronted with a whirlwind of planning, procuring, cooking and end-of-year logistics. Generally the magic is less complicated to seize if you step out of your regular life for a minute and into someplace completely different — like a theme park that pulls out all of the stops throughout the vacation season.
This yr’s vacation festivities at Common Orlando run from Nov. 22 via Dec. 31, and each nook of Common’s theme parks and on-site lodges are decked out in vacation finery. There are some moments that would make the Grinch’s coronary heart develop a couple of sizes, together with quite a lot of concert events, exhibits, character breakfasts, vacation parades and an opportunity to satisfy Whoville’s most infamous resident himself.
Christmas at Common Studios Florida
Common Orlando has an amazing setup that makes it simple to discover three adjoining complexes: Common Studios (ticket required), Common Islands of Journey (ticket required) and Common CityWalk (no ticket required). The convenience of strolling from one spot to the following is vital to benefiting from your vacation journey to Common. There’s even a tree-lined strolling path that connects a number of of the lodges to the parks and CityWalk. You too can make the most of complimentary boat and bus transportation. (Choices differ by lodge.)
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Every year, Common creates a themed Vacation Tribute Retailer at Common Studios Florida, however it’s rather more than a retailer. Sure, you should purchase vacation presents, clothes and treats, however every room of the Vacation Tribute Retailer is so well-themed that it’s mainly an immersive walk-through attraction.
Should you’ve ever appeared carefully on the Christmas tree in Common Studios Orlando, you could have observed a tiny stuffed squirrel peeking out from its branches. This little man truly has a reputation — Earl the Squirrel — and he is a little bit of a legend at Common.
One yr, whereas Common’s crew was unpacking the decorations to arrange for the vacations, they observed among the lights within the tree weren’t working. They ultimately discovered {that a} squirrel had made a nest contained in the tree and chewed via among the wires. A while later, somebody caught a small stuffed squirrel within the Christmas tree as a joke.
Earl could have begun as an inside joke, however he’s now a full-fledged movie star at Common. Not solely can you discover merchandise devoted to Earl the Squirrel, however he’s now so standard that Common launched him as a walk-around character which you can meet throughout the holidays. Search for him at Common Studios Florida and CityWalk.
Common’s Vacation Parade That includes Macy’s
Common Studios hosts Common’s Vacation Parade That includes Macy’s day-after-day throughout the vacation season. Consider it as a every day mini model of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade options characters from “Despicable Me,” “Shrek” and “Madagascar,” in addition to traditional vacation characters like nutcrackers, gingerbread males and, after all, Santa.
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You possibly can often get a great place on the sidewalk if you happen to line up about quarter-hour earlier than showtime, however if you’d like a coveted bench spot, you will must arrive at the least half-hour earlier than the parade.
Annual passholders have a particular first-come, first-served viewing space in entrance of Mel’s Drive-In, close to the place the parade begins.
The road performers do an amazing job interacting with the group, and you will probably spot a number of of them out throughout the day at Common Studios doing meet and greets and stopping for photographs with youngsters and households. There’s even a magical Central Florida snowfall throughout the parade.
Go to Harry Potter this Xmas season
One more reason to go to Common for the vacation season is to expertise Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Strolling via this magical world is cool any day, however doing it when it is decked out for the vacations? Subsequent stage.
For these uninitiated in all issues Potter, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common is in each Common Studios and Islands of Journey. You both want a Park-to-Park ticket to go to each sections on the identical day, otherwise you want two single-park tickets to go to every place on completely different days. Actually, you in all probability need Park-to-Park tickets as that’s the solely approach to journey the Hogwarts Specific prepare, which is a unbelievable expertise any time of yr.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade at Island of Journey
Begin with a visit to Hogsmeade inside Islands of Journey, dwelling to 2 of Common’s latest rides: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey and Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Wait occasions for these rides, even throughout the offseason, will be lengthy (although not so long as when the attraction first opened and waits hit 11 hours).
Irrespective of if you go to, it is wintertime in Hogsmeade, however that feels additional applicable across the holidays. Common throws in pine boughs, wreaths and twinkling lights at each flip to make the season all of the merrier.
Take time to see a particular Christmas model of the Frog Choir present and take heed to hits by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees whereas sipping a sizzling butterbeer.
After maybe one other butterbeer (or one thing much less candy) at Hog’s Head, contemplate staking out a spot for the land’s nighttime present: The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort. This cool presentation unfolds a number of occasions between nightfall and park closing, and it options projections, lights and lasers on the fortress.
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You may see hologram-like spirits and owls, snow, dancing lights, scenes along with your favourite characters, vacation surroundings and extra. All of it’s choreographed to the musical themes you have come to like from every film. It is actually magical — the kind of expertise that makes the little hairs on the again of your neck get up.
Did Common use know-how to drag off this superb present, or may it have been magic? I say magic.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley
Over at Common Studios Florida, head to “London” so you possibly can enter Diagon Alley.
The doorway to Diagon Alley is constructed to make you are feeling as if you happen to’re coming into one other world. This themed space can also be remodeled for the vacations with festive decor and twinkling lights.
Whereas wandering round Diagon Alley, it is entertaining to look within the retailers and watch youngsters with wands work some fairly cool magic.
You should purchase interactive or noninteractive wands on the theme parks or on-line earlier than your journey. I like to recommend shopping for the interactive one so you possibly can forged spells and work together with magical experiences in each Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. There are some particularly enjoyable spells to forged in Knockturn Alley.
Make some extent to see two exhibits right here: The Tales of the Beedle the Bard puppetry efficiency and a vacation model of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. It’s possible you’ll even bear witness to a magical snowfall throughout the present.
Should you’re visiting throughout the daytime, be sure you return at nightfall to see all of the lights activate and get the whole vacation vibe from Harry Potter’s London.
Season’s greetings at Islands of Journey
There are additionally loads of vacation occasions happening at Islands of Journey.
In case your youngsters are Dr. Seuss followers, then a go to to Seuss Touchdown is so as. It has a bunch of kid-friendly rides that additionally welcome adults. Do not be stunned if you happen to see extra adults than youngsters in The Excessive within the Sky Seuss Trolley Practice Journey — in actual fact, it is an all-ages favourite.
The vacations shine in Seuss Touchdown, particularly if you happen to can catch one in all The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular exhibits.
The Grinch stars within the present — a retelling of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” — with music by Mannheim Steamroller. You possibly can catch a efficiency a number of occasions a day. Do your self a favor, although, and go to a present after nightfall. Seuss Touchdown in all probability has essentially the most Christmas decorations of any land all through each Common theme parks, and it simply sparkles at evening — including a bit extra razzle-dazzle to showtime.
Vacation add-ons to make your go to even merrier
If you wish to assure some one-on-one time with the Grinch and his Whovillian neighbors or get VIP entry to The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, Common has two add-on choices that can put the bow in your vacation expertise.
Common’s Vacation Tour
Common’s Vacation Tour will get you unique entry to a few of Common’s hottest vacation choices, together with some enjoyable surprises alongside the way in which. Tickets begin at $79.99 plus tax per particular person. Advance reservations and a sound park-to-park ticket are additionally required. Included within the tour are the next:
- Unique meet and greets with the Grinch and his canine, Max
- Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
- Snacks and desserts
- A personal meet and greet with Santa
- Precedence entry to Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
- An after-hours displaying of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort
The Grinch & Buddies Character Breakfast
At The Grinch & Buddies Character Breakfast, you can begin your day with the imply, inexperienced man himself and a few of his mates. The breakfast is at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous in Common Islands of Journey, inside Seuss Touchdown. You may get pleasure from a tasty breakfast, together with some face time and photograph alternatives with the characters.
Ticket costs begin at $58.99 per particular person plus tax for adults and $32.99 for youngsters ages 3-9. Advance reservations and a sound Islands of Journey ticket are required.
Common’s lodges are embellished for the vacations
Let’s begin with the place your Common Orlando trip could start: an on-site lodge. You possibly can anticipate no matter halls you keep in close to the theme parks to be appropriately decked for the season.
For instance, if you arrive at Loews Portofino Bay Lodge, you will be greeted by a Christmas tree within the foyer that is so tall it barely suits below the lights. All through the season, Santa and Mrs. Claus even cease by to greet friends, and carolers carry out for friends passing via the foyer.
Along with Santa and strolling carolers, search for specialty menu gadgets, Hanukkah menorah and Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, youngsters’ vacation crafts and extra in any respect Common Orlando lodges.
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Should you’ve been in search of a enjoyable approach to spend New 12 months’s Eve, the lodges additionally sometimes host New 12 months’s Eve events.
Use factors to go to Common Orlando
It doesn’t matter what day of the yr you go to, Common Orlando tickets should not low cost — and neither are the on-site lodges like Loews Portofino Bay. Nonetheless, you possibly can earn and use factors to make the journey extra inexpensive by reserving on-site Common lodges both inside the Amex Journey portal, Chase Journey portal or the Citi ThankYou journey portal.
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Say you e book your keep at Portofino Bay through the American Specific Positive Inns + Resorts program to get the breakfast, meals and beverage credit score, and extra. Then, you possibly can earn 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback by reserving and paying through Amex Journey with The Platinum Card® from American Specific.
Backside line
Common Orlando is a superb spot to have fun the vacation season. On prime of the enjoyable and pleasure you possibly can expertise all yr lengthy, Common’s festive decor, treats and leisure make visiting throughout the holidays much more thrilling.
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