Fustrated with Lack of Information on Christmas Events

[momabaarjo]

Anyone else fustrated with the lack of SPECIFIC times on holiday events? It really makes planning a little difficult. I know their will be Grinchmas, Macy Parade, Breakfast with Grinch, and lots more...but I can't do anything without specific times and dates. Maybe I am missing it, and if I am please direct me to the right links. I LOVE USO/IOA...and can't wait to take my children as a surprise trip/presentChristmas morning...

 

[Metro West]

Anyone else fustrated with the lack of SPECIFIC times on holiday events? It really makes planning a little difficult. I know their will be Grinchmas, Macy Parade, Breakfast with Grinch, and lots more...but I can't do anything without specific times and dates. Maybe I am missing it, and if I am please direct me to the right links. I LOVE USO/IOA...and can't wait to take my children as a surprise trip/presentChristmas morning...

The information you're looking for has not been released yet. I can tell you the daily Macy's Holiday Parade at the Studios starts at dusk and Grinchmas has show times throughout the day. I just looked at the holiday flyer passholders received last year and the event times were not listed. Universal does not release special event information this far in advance. I would imagine the event information will be released in mid to late October which should still be enough time to plan your trip. I'm your kids will have a blast!

 

[damo]

Information won't come out until HHN is over.

 

[Bluer101]

Also the events normally start the first weekend in December.

 

[nytimez]

The Christmas events at US and especially IoA are nice -- Grinchmas in particular is great. But these aren't events that require hardcore Disney-esque planning, so I don't think they're ever in a hurry to release the dates/info.

 

[momabaarjo]

I figured that they probably would not be released until after the big thing at Halloween. I am just one of those type-a planner people...and Universal is the start of our trip for 5 days and I really want to plan those days!
I know the kids will love Universal...my two oldest are HUGE HP fans and are old enough now to really ride and appreciate rides! We have 5 nights at RPR...which means 4 days of early entry to HP so we should get lots of time in Hogwarts. Trust me...after being at HP on opening weekend last June, I know how to tour Hogwarts!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It is too early for any of that info, but I see others have told you that already. Are you going to Disney that time frame too? They don't have their hours out yet either (other than their park hours which we all know are subject to change)

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I figured that they probably would not be released until after the big thing at Halloween. I am just one of those type-a planner people...

are you referring to HHN (Halloween Horror Nights)? That is not just at Halloween starts Sept 23rd and runs thru Oct 31st this year... some years it has run past Halloween...

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Also the events normally start the first weekend in December.

This is fairly accurate.

 

[momabaarjo]

It is too early for any of that info, but I see others have told you that already. Are you going to Disney that time frame too? They don't have their hours out yet either (other than their park hours which we all know are subject to change)

Yes we are going to WDW after our stay at USO...With WDW you know WHEN the Christmas Party is, the parades, the fireworks, CP...with USO you just know there is Grinchmas, Macy Parade, Breakfast with the Grinch...but no hours to plan around...although you do have the park hours. I know we want to do these 3 things while at USO and I want to fit them into a touring plan (yes I feel you need a plan...after seeing what happened with HP opening weekend...I will not make that mistake of not knowing how to work around HP crowds...and this case Christmas crowds), but we will also be cutting our USO time when we go to Discovery Cove for a day and then another day head to DHS in the late afternoon to see F! and Osborne Lights before returning to RPR/USO.

 

[damo]

Yes we are going to WDW after our stay at USO...With WDW you know WHEN the Christmas Party is, the parades, the fireworks, CP...with USO you just know there is Grinchmas, Macy Parade, Breakfast with the Grinch...but no hours to plan around...although you do have the park hours. I know we want to do these 3 things while at USO and I want to fit them into a touring plan (yes I feel you need a plan...after seeing what happened with HP opening weekend...I will not make that mistake of not knowing how to work around HP crowds...and this case Christmas crowds), but we will also be cutting our USO time when we go to Discovery Cove for a day and then another day head to DHS in the late afternoon to see F! and Osborne Lights before returning to RPR/USO.

Do you really need to make your touring plan for December in August?

 

[phamton]

Macy's is almost always at 5:00 PM. Grinchmas show is every couple of hours all day. But Grinchmas characters are out all day. Breakfast with the Grinch is usually Thursdays and Sundays at Confisco's but other days can be added if it becomes necessary.

I don't think Damo is trying to be a downer. She's actually one of the most helpful people on the board. it's just that a trip to Universal and Islands of Adventure do not take extensive planning or dining reservations months ahead of time like Disney. Most of us tour the parks with very little planning ahead. Disney's big holiday is Christmas and it does require some planning like knowing when the Osborne lights, etc. are showing, etc. Universal's claim to fame is Halloween Horror Nights. HHN really does take some planning but, Christmas, not so much. Christmas takes very little planning and the crowds are very manageable. The only time that you really need to plan is from Dec.26-Jan. 1.

What dates are you going to go? As it gets closer, we can all help with your trip as more info is released. Off-topic but saw you are from the panhandle. Both my husband and I grew up in the Texas panhandle and most of our family still lives there. (My husband and I are both teachers and he was a curriculum planner for Region 3 ESC in Texas.)

 

[Bluer101]

If you read the OP pre trip report you will understand what is so important to her about planning.She loves planning more than the trip.This is taken from the first part of her trip report:


"I will admit it, I am a COMPULSIVE PLANNER. I can’t stand anything to chance. The thought of going without a plan/schedule through WDW sends me into hives and in serious need of an inhaler to ease the tightness in my chest! This is the way I lead my life, I am the thinker, the planner in everything I do…it’s a wonder that I have friends, don’t drive my co-workers crazy and my husband has stuck around now for almost 20 years. I think in my next life I need to become a professional travel agent or party planner! The most fun for me is not the trip, but the planning that goes into it."


But by no means is is ok to just call someone a troll for no reason.

 

[damo]

Great, 20,000 posts on this board and I am a troll. I am probably Universal's stronger supporter and it annoys me when Universal is negatively compared to Disney for things that are really just unnecessary on Universal's part.

I understand the compulsive planning. However,there is no need to Universal to have those parade hours out yet. It doesn't mean that Universal is worse than Disney because of it. Universal's touring plan requires very little time to plan.

And I think Mac ranks before me on this board. I'm just a princess, lol.

 

[DisneyCher]

For at least the past 2 or 3 years, I think the Macy's Parade started on the first Staurday in December, and it was at 5 or 6 pm IIRC. It was just about closing time for the park, anyway, so it wasn't like you had to sacrifice a lot of park time to catch the parade (like you usually have to with MK's 3 pm parade). In 2009, we hopped on the curb across from the Lucy Tribute at about 5 or 10 minutes before the parade started and had a GREAT view!

 

[dsmom]

damo - i think you and mac are co-queens

i love you both

 

[phamton]

The parade has always been at 5:00 PM except for the first Saturday which is sometimes pushed back to 5:30 or 6:00 PM.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

And I really doubt Disney already has holiday parade, firework or showtimes posted already. Regardless, Universal's holiday offerings are completely different. Macy's Holiday Parade at dusk (park maps will most likely give the exact time) and Grinch shows every 1-2 hours during the day, depending on crowd expectations.

 

[Metro West]

Please refrain from name calling on the threads. We are all here to learn and share our experiences. There is no need for it.

Thank you.

 

[damo]

Please refrain from name calling on the threads. We are all here to learn and share our experiences. There is no need for it.

Thank you.

Awwww, I liked being called Queen.