If you are visiting Orlando during December, you will be treated to a whirlwind set of events, as each theme park and many of the large hotels put on over the top Christmas events. Christmas runs all month long in Orlando, so plan on getting a fix of holiday cheer no matter when you visit this month, or where you stay.
Some of the most popular events include:
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Disney World’s headlining holiday event takes place in the Magic Kingdom on select nights this month. Expect a festive evening, with holiday carols, hot chocolate and your favorite Disney characters. You’ll also be treated to a parade that only Disney could put on — and even an unusual Orlando snowfall.
Grinchmas at Universal Orlando: The grumpy Grinch himself is the host of this event, which features a musical performance of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, Grinchy meet and greets and a character breakfast. All Grinchmas events take place in the Islands of Adventure section of Universal, and are performed on select dates in December.
Sea World’s Christmas: Sea World offers a variety of Christmas events and experiences, including a special holiday reworking of the Wild Arctic ride– this simulator gets a Polar Express themed makeover for the holiday season. You can also catch Sesame Street themed Christmas shows and events, and a special holiday killer whale show in Shamu Stadium.
ICE! at the Gaylord Palms: This holiday spectacular brings snow and ice direct to Orlando. This year, ICE features a “Shrek the Halls” theme, with your favorite Dreamworks characters on hand to celebrate the season. Head to ICE for plenty of indoor snow and winter effects, character meet and greets, shows and hands on activities this holiday season.
No matter which event you choose, plan on spending some extra time getting around the Orlando theme parks in December. Holiday crowds will begin to arrive in droves mid-month, peaking Christmas week, so give yourself plenty of time to get around and to see all that Orlando has to offer in the holiday season.
If you are heading to Florida for an Orlando vacation this holiday season, make the most of your trip by visiting the Disney theme parks. Christmas arrives early each year in Disney World; if you visit the theme parks and resorts for Thanksgiving, you’ll notice the Christmas decorations spring up practically overnight. Disney Imagineers are hard at work by the end of November, staging elaborate holiday decorations in the resorts and the theme parks. No matter which hotel you choose, or which theme park you visit first, you’ll find plenty to do to celebrate the Christmas season when you visit Disney World.
Head to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for the ultimate holiday celebration.
Disney World Christmas Highlights:
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: The premier Christmas event at Disney World, Mickey’s Christmas party is a premium ticket event thrown on select nights during November and December. Guests can explore and enjoy the Magic Kingdom theme park without the holiday crowds; the event also includes a special Christmas parade, party treats and even snow on Main Street USA. This event requires a separate ticket for admission and reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for the days leading up to the holiday.
Resort Decorations: Each of the Disney resorts offers themed decorations in the lobby and grounds. The Christmas decorations spring up almost overnight, and are designed to match and enhance the hotel’s decor. Look for primitive woodsy decor featuring whimsical bears and other wildlife at the Wilderness Lodge, while the more formal Grand Floridian sports a life-sized gingerbread house and plenty of Victorian inspired Christmas finery. Consider making dining reservations at a few of the deluxe resorts–you’ll be able to enjoy different Christmas scenery each evening.
The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights: Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to one of the most spectacular displays of Christmas lights you’ll find anywhere. An entire portion of the park is given a sparkling makeover, and the evening lighting (complete with the occasional snowflake), is a breathtaking event. The Spectacle of Lights is free with your park admission, simply drop by in the evening and enjoy the show.
If thrills and chills are a highly anticipated part of your Orlando vacation, make visiting each of these headlining attractions a priority. Each of these rides has a height restriction, and these are not ideal for expectant mothers or those with health issues–but if you’re over 48″ tall and healthy, then get in line for the ride of a lifetime!
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Disney’s Hollywood Studios): Take the plunge down a dark elevator shaft in this fully themed adventure. The Tower of Terror incorporates all the little touches Disney is known for–and you’ll get a different experience each time, thanks to some innovative ride programming.
Hulk (Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure): From the green track that dominates the Islands of Adventure skyline to the load roar emitted by the ride vehicles, the Hulk is one of Universal’s most thrilling experiences. Expect surprises and extreme G-Forces from the stunning launch through the inversions and corkscrews offered by the Hulk. You won’t catch your breath until you are back on the ground.
Expedition Everest (Disney’s Animal Kingdom): Disney’s latest coaster is one of its greatest thrill rides ever. Expect to experience high speed twists and turns, a full ride reversal and an encounter with the resident Yeti himself.
Kraken (Sea World): Billed as Orlando’s tallest, fastest coaster, the Kraken is one of Sea World’s most thrilling attractions, with huge drops and multiple inversions. The ride car is floor less, so riders feel as though they are whipping through space. This ride is visually intimidating–so the line may be shorter than you would expect. You can board Kraken without a huge wait time almost any time of year–if you dare.
Dragon Challenge (Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter): While the Dragon Challenge lost a little of its bite earlier this year, the coaster still offers plenty of thrills for riders, offering side by side tracks, plenty of high speed inversions, twists and turns. A bonus for young riders is the Harry Potter-inspired theming. Arrive at the Wizarding World early if you want to ride Dragon Challenge–the line can be as scary as the ride itself if you show up later in the day!
Disney World has extended the booking period for the popular Free Dining promotion until December 1, 2011. While the time you have to book the program has been extended, the original dates remain the same; and are scattered throughout January, February and March 2012.
Les Chefs de France is one of the restaurants included in the Dining Plan.
Is a Disney World free dining package right for you? The answer is “maybe”! When you book a Disney World vacation package with free dining, you will likely pay full price for your room. Since you have a package, you may end up spending all of your Orlando vacation time–and budget–on Disney property.
Go for free dining if:
You plan on spending all or most of your time on Disney property and enjoy the Disney restaurants.
You prefer to pay for things in advance and want to enjoy your vacation meals without worrying excessively about the budget.
You enjoy the disney restaurants and plan on taking time each day to enjoy a table service — or several quick service meals.
The package price is less than you would spend by paying for things separately, including meals out of pocket.
Pass on free dining if:
You are looking for a bargain. The free dining plan is convenient and fun but not always the best deal.
You intend to visit other Orlando vacation destinations, like Sea World and Universal Orlando.
You want to stay at a non-Disney resort or vacation home.
You want to focus on rides and attractions, and prefer to grab meals on the go.
Choosing a dining package is just one aspect of your Disney World vacation. Consider all the details of your trip including where you want to stay, what attractions you most want to see and your own personal budget and preferences before you book.
There are plenty of ways you can save money on your Orlando vacation — even before you arrive in Florida. Saving money on your biggest ticket items, including accommodations, food and theme park tickets will help you trim your vacation budget without missing out on any fun.
Accommodations: Where you stay has a big impact on your vacation budget. Consider all of your options, including resorts and rental homes to see what features are most important to you. You may find that one category or another serves your needs well at a price you can afford.
Schedule: Plan your trip for the off-season and save big on your room and on packages. Off season for an Orlando vacation usually means fall or winter travel. Visiting in the off season has additional perks as well–you’ll see fewer crowds and spend less time waiting in line.
Package Deals: No matter when you visit, look for packages that offer a resort room with theme park tickets. While a package won’t always be a bargain, they are worth exploring as you plan your trip.
Budget Dining: You can still enjoy some of the area’s best restaurants when you travel on a budget. Choose lunch over dinner and you’ll enjoy the same menu at a reduced rate when you visit a table service dining location. Book a vacation home or condo and you’ll be able to cook up meals for the whole family in a fully equipped kitchen.
Save on Souvenirs: Picking up a memento or two of your trip is a good idea; blowing your budget on mouse ears isn’t. Select inexpensive but meaningful souvenirs, particularly for kids. Pressed pennies at Disney World can be had for just 51 cents each, and are fun to make — and character autographs are free. Be creative, set a souvenir budget for each family member, and stick to it to avoid over-spending on your vacation.
The calander may say “October”, but artisans and sculptors are already hard at work crafting the intricate decor for the Gaylord Palm’s annual ICE! festival. The theme for this year’s Christmas event is “Shrek the Halls”, but you’ll see plenty of other Dreamworks characters on hand, including the penguins of Madagascar and characters from Kung Fu Panda.
Visit theGaylord Palms this holiday season for the annual ICE! fest.
Sculptors are hard at work converting over two million pounds of ice to a frozen wonderland of Dreamworks themed fun. The icy playground will take about a month to complete, and features clear, white and colorful sculptures, attractions and slides, all protected from the Orlando sun.
ICE! is an annual holiday event with a different theme each year. This year’s “Shrek the Halls/Dreamworks” focus promises to be family friendly and a fun addition to any Orlando vacation. In addition to ice sculptures and slides, the Christmas at the Gaylord Palms includes Santa visits, a Kung Fu Panda snow playground, live entertainment and character greetings, and a gingerbread decorating area hosted by “Gingy” from the Shrek films.
You do not have to stay at the Gaylord Palms to enjoy ICE! or the Christmas events. The events are scheduled to run from November 16,2011- January 2,2012, and tickets are required.
“Shrek the Halls” and ICE! are well worth a visit, particularly if you are in town for the holidays, and want to visit with some rarely seen Dreamworks characters.
Dragon Challenge, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s high speed roller coaster, marks a permanent change this week. The ride consists of two separate tracks that intertwine — part of the thrill of this attraction is the near miss experienced when ride vehicles are released and hit the intersection at the same time.
Due to concerns about flying objects (at least two riders were hit with flying debris this summer), Universal Orlando had temporarily changed the timing for this ride. This week, the change became permanent; while both coasters will continue to run, the cars will be released at different times, so they do not cross paths during the ride experience.
Originally released as Dueling Dragons, the coaster features a pair of inverted cars; each track offers riders a different experience. The ride was given a makeover and included in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area, though the vehicles and themeing look different,the ride remains the same.
In recent months, the ride, renamed Dragon Challenge has sparked safety concerns as at least two park guests have been injured by falling debris. The primary concern surrounds items that fall from rider’s hands and pockets while the coasters intersect. At high rates of speed, even pocket change can pose a risk to guests aboard one of the Dragon Challenge vehicles.
Failure to secure loose items presents a safety challenge shared by other coasters, including Disney’s Rock N Roller Coaster and Sea World’s Manta. The risk is magnified by Dragon Challenge’s interlinked tracks and deliberate close calls. By modifying the timing of the Dragon Challenge cars, Universal can eliminate the risk caused by the “close calls” without modifying the track or detracting from the ride.
The change to Dragon Challenge went into effect in mid-summer, and became permanent this week.
If a trip to a Disney World restaurant is on your list of things to do on your Orlando vacation, you’ll need to make note of the new reservations policy announced this week. Changes to the cancellation policy could end up costing you extra money on your next Orlando vacation if you don’t follow the new guidelines.
As of October 26, 2011, you’ll need to provide Disney with a credit card number when you book your reservation at select dining locations. Your card won’t be charged until you dine, unless you don’t show up or cancel in time.
You’ll be charged a $10 no-show fee for each member of your party if you skip out on your reservation, unless you cancel it in advance. According to the Disney Dining reservations specialists, you’ll need to contact Disney and cancel your dining reservation at least 24 hours in advance; so show up on time or pay a hefty fine.
Not all Disney restaurants are affected by this change, but most of the popular dining locations are. Disney World restaurants covered by the new rules include character dining spots like Hollywood & Vine and Chef Mickey’s, resort headliners like Artist Point and the California Grill and Epcot’s popular Le Cellier.
Some signature Disney dining locations, including Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom and the Hoop de Doo Revue already charge the entire dining fee for no shows. These locations will continue to do so and are not affected by the current changes.
So what do you do if you change your mind? Instead of simply not showing up, you’ll need to cancel your dining reservation. You can cancel by calling the dining reservation line, visiting your resort concierge, stopping by theme park guest services or going to the check in podium of any table service dining location. Cancel your reservation 24 hours in advance to avoid the new dining fees.
Disney World announced the May 2012 opening of the first phase of the newest onsite resort, the Art of Animation. Designed to appeal to families, the resort will have four phases, each themed on a different Disney or Pixar classic.
The Art of Animation Resort at Disney World is considered an Disney World Hotel Value Resort, and joins the existing value priced properties, the All-Star Movies, Music and Sports resorts and Pop Century. The Art of Animation builds on the popularity of the family suite rooms at the current resorts. Family suites are designed to be spacious and offer room for larger families; regular value resort rooms are restricted to only four guests.
The new resort will feature themed swimming areas and room decor, along with a larger assortment of dining options than previous value priced properties. The first phase of the Art of Animation draws inspiration from the Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo; with room, pool and exterior decor featuring the film’s settings and characters. The remaining three phases will follow the Finding Nemo section, and feature characters from the Little Mermaid, Cars and the Lion King.
While the resort doesn’t open until the end of May, you can book your room well in advance and be one of the first to check out Disney’s newest property. Guests staying at the Art of Animation will receive all of the benefits of staying on Disney property, including free parking, package delivery, bus transportation and daily Extra Magic Hours in the theme parks.
Do you have a favorite on site Disney World resort? We’d love to hear which property you like best!
If you are heading to our area for an Orlando vacation, we’ve assembled some helpful information to let you get a head start on your packing and itinerary planning. Knowing what to bring can save you some space in your suitcase (and excess baggage fees if you are flying), while hitting the right theme park on the right days can dramatically cut the amount of time you spend waiting in line:
Weather: If an Orlando vacation is in your forecast for October or November, plan on enjoying comfortable temperatures, but pack a lightweight jacket just in case. You may want to keep an eye on the tropics as well. Though it may feel like summer has passed, hurricane season is still in effect in fall.
Events: The Orlando theme parks are bursting with fall events, from the fun and festive Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom to a special Harry Potter film celebration at Universal. If you are in town during the fall, check out the event schedules for each park you plan on visiting so you won’t miss out on the fun.
Crowds: Expect the theme parks to be less crowded than usual, meaning you should be able to enjoy more rides and attractions per day. It is still a good idea to arrive when the park opens; or arrive late in the day to take advantage of evening hours, but even the middle parts of the day will be manageable at Sea World, Universal and Disney World.
Itinerary Tips: Plan to visit the Disney theme parks on days with Extra Magic Hours if you are staying on Disney property. Avoid the Extra Magic Hours park of the day if you are staying offsite; the park will be packed with onsite guests by the time you are allowed in.
Consider these tips as you pack and plan for your fall trip and you’ll be able to add plenty of seasonal fun onto your Orlando vacation.
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