Christmas in Universal Advice

[disneyjr77]

We did Disney last year for DD's bday and Christmas and this year we are doing Universal. What do they do for the holiday's? Is it only on the weekends or everyday? We're getting the 4 day park to park tickets, will this be enough days to see/do everything with the shortened hours? typically how crowded are they the 2nd week (9-15) of December? Can we get into CityWalk to go to dinner or mini golf on the days we don't visit the parks or will that count as a day off of our tickets?

Thanks!!!

 

[Metro West]

We did Disney last year for DD's bday and Christmas and this year we are doing Universal. What do they do for the holiday's? Is it only on the weekends or everyday? We're getting the 4 day park to park tickets, will this be enough days to see/do everything with the shortened hours? typically how crowded are they the 2nd week (9-15) of December? Can we get into CityWalk to go to dinner or mini golf on the days we don't visit the parks or will that count as a day off of our tickets?

Thanks!!!

Universal offers Grinchmas in IOA and the Macy's Holiday Parade in the Studios daily. The parade usually begins around dusk so you can still do everything during the day before the parade starts. This year the Studios will have the new lagoon water show at park closing and the new Super Star parade during the day. Neither of these new attractions have started yet so we don't know what they both entail.

Crowds are pretty light during that time but with HP and Despicable Me both open during that time, expect crowds for both. You should have no problems doing everything during that time of year with four days to play with.

CityWalk is separate from the parks and does not count against your theme park tickets. CityWalk is open to everyone so no tickets are required.

 

[disneyjr77]

Awesome, thanks!!

 

[hydrotony]

To add to the above...

Grinchmas at IOA consists basically of a 20 minute musical stage play of the Jim Carrey movie Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It is shown several times a day. Many characters are scattered around the park for photo ops. All the regular IOA attractions and rides go on as usual as do the Universal Studios ones.

Universal Studios has more Christmas activities. The Macy's Parade consists of actual parade balloons and small elements from the New York City Macy's parade on Thanksgiving Day shipped down. Happens at dusk so the tree lighting by Santa at the end in front of the "Macy's" building looks nice. The last few years on some Saturday nights, Mannheim Steamroller plays a Christmas music concert. Very popular. The Blues Brothers music show adds some Christmas songs to their show.

 

[tazbill]

hi, Does anyone know the opening times for Grinchmas, and the park opening hours were vising in december and need to add the times to our vacation plan, Thank you in advance ?

 

[JessicaR]

hi, Does anyone know the opening times for Grinchmas, and the park opening hours were vising in december and need to add the times to our vacation plan, Thank you in advance ?

Grinchmas, not yet but keep checking.

Park hours are posted - IOA and USO both open at 9A until the 26th pf December when the park opens at 8A for the rest of the month.

http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Theme-Park-Hours.aspx