Holiday events at Universal??

[Letsbgoofy]

Since Dorian helped changed our vacation from 9/1 to 12/1, I'm going to make the best of it and focus on going to Universal at a time we have never been before. I know all the WDW happenings at the holidays, what's special at Universal? We won't be there on day when the Grinch breakfast is offered (we are Monday through very early Thursday am) which is disappointing since I love the Grinch. Please let me know what the parks are like, and give me ideas for anything special to do for the holidays and help me get through this week at work when I thought I would be in Florida!

 

[bchbetha]

This is a great breakdown on all things holiday https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/holidays/

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Thanks btcbetha. I have seen the official holiday events; I'm looking more for personal experiences. The parks close early, is it fun to check out the decorations at the other resorts? Is there any special food or drink that they offer only at holidays that you look forward to? It looks like they have nightly concerts, are they worth waiting in line to get a seat or can you hear/see everything just being in the park?

I could tell you so many special holiday things at WDW that we like to do; I'm hoping there are people here who can share their Universal holiday stories.

 

[sandam1]

The parks close early, is it fun to check out the decorations at the other resorts? Is there any special food or drink that they offer only at holidays that you look forward to? It looks like they have nightly concerts, are they worth waiting in line to get a seat or can you hear/see everything just being in the park?

There are NOT nightly concerts. The Manheim Steamroller concerts have historically been on Saturday and Sunday nights. They are free and seating is on the large open area in front of the stage. We arrived about 5 minutes before show time and were able to find a place to sit fairly easily. Or you can just stand around and listen. The show was about 20-30 minutes long, if I recall correctly.

I don't remember anything super special as far as food. The castle show in Hogsmeade in FABULOUS. I like it a lot more than the year-round one. Hint - Don't go to the first show! They are every 10-15 minutes so aim for the 3rd show or later and you should have plenty of elbow room. I stayed at Cabana Bay and the decorations were cool, but not really worth a special visit to see. But my standards are high as my grandmother had an authentic aluminum tree that she used for 56 years.

The Macy's parade is nightly and is not to be missed. The first time we saw it, we staked out a spot near the Christmas tree (around the Jimmy Fallon ride) about 15-20 minutes before the parade started and that is a prime spot. The next night I arrived in the park right as the parade was starting and was able to grab a front row spot in Hollywood with no problem.

The Grinchmas show is really where it is at. Pick a show time (or 2) and plan on lining up early for it (I'm thinking a minimum 30 minutes, but someone else might be able to check me on this). You will be seated in a theater will actually seats which only seats a certain number of people and the shows do fill up! We enjoyed it so much that we saw it twice and I probably could have done a third time if my travel partner would have been amenable.

I LOVED our Christmas trip to Universal. We went two years ago for a long weekend, a week before Christmas. It was probably the most crowded that we've ever been to Universal (we try to target low-crowd times), but the holiday touches totally made it worth it. I am trying (desperately) to arrange another Christmas trip for this year, if my crazy work schedule will allow it.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Thanks sandam1, that's just the kind of information I was looking for. Now I know we won't be seeing a concert because we aren't there during the week. Parade sounds worth seeing, and I'm very excited for the Grinchmas show! I guess I will need to check out Citywalk entertainment since we will have our nights free.

 

[sandam1]

I guess I will need to check out Citywalk entertainment since we will have our nights free.

Just my own experience, but even through the parks may seem like they close early (at least compared to the Mouse), finding something to do in the evening is never an issue if you structure your days appropriately.

For us, we usually start early (sometimes do early entry, sometimes just missing it) and go HARD until mid-day. It is amazing how much you can do in those early hours (we stay at Cabana Bay so no Express Pass). Then we do a larger late lunch (usually table service) before heading back to the hotel for a 2-3 hour break. Then we had back to the park for a few hours and close out the parks, including catching low wait times (this is a great time to the Minions ride) and doing the night shows. If we plan on doing a table service dinner at City Walk, we tend to leave a bit before park close to beat the rush OR we will do something else (miniature golf) for a bit to wait out the rush. (Note: some of the restaurants take priority seating for the guests of the EP hotels). OR we head back to the hotel to eat. Cabana Bay has a fabulous food court and perfect set-up to either eat there or take it back to the room. By the time we are finished with dinner, it is 8:30-9:00 and we are ready for some hot tub and/or pool time or chill in the room and get ready for the next day. I've never felt like we were wanting for things to do and more like there isn't enough time to fit in everything that we want to do. For instance, I've been to Universal probably 10+ times and we've never gotten to make s'mores at the hotel firepit. Every time we get there, I say that I want to do it, and then the day that we're leaving, I lament that it didn't happen.

I hope you have a fabulous time. We were also supposed to be at Universal this week (yes, I am bitter), but we were able to push our trip back to 9/22-26. But I am still trying to do another trip at the beginning of December as well. My annual pass has been feeling a bit neglected.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

sandam1 - do all the hotels have s'mores around a firepit or just CB? We are staying 1 night at the RP and 2 at SF.

7:00 just seems so early for the parks to close, though I guess with EP we will have plenty of opportunities to ride what we like. I think I need to lose my Disney mentality!

I was looking forward to relaxing by the pool and hoping that it's warm enough in the evenings to do so. The last time we were in Florida in early December, it was very cold! We have only been to USO in the summer and have always been so hot and tired at the end of the day that we didn't really do anything but the parks. I guess this will be my chance to explore outside of the parks a bit.

Yes, Dorian has left me a bit bitter as well (more so when I go back to work tomorrow). For 15 years we traveled to WDW around Labor Day and never a problem. The past 4 years has been 1 trip nervous about a storm that ended up dying out, one cancelled trip due to a hurricane, one trip cut short because we were driving and needed to get through the Carolinas before the hurricane hit, and now another cancelled trip. No more September for me!

 

[sandam1]

do all the hotels have s'mores around a firepit or just CB? We are staying 1 night at the RP and 2 at SF.

I don't know about other hotels as Cabana Bay is the only place that we've stayed. You can try calling the hotels directly and asking. (Note: unlike Disney, you can actually talk to someone who is actually AT the hotel. One time I called Cabana Bay asking about a specific item in their gym and they put me on hold and went to look.) If they don't have a firepit, Sapphire Falls is right across the street from Cabana Bay and you could walk over. The CB food court has s'more kits that you can buy. CB also has a bowling alley if that interests you.

I think I need to lose my Disney mentality!

Yep! Pretty much! (Kidding, kind of)

I was looking forward to relaxing by the pool and hoping that it's warm enough in the evenings to do so. The last time we were in Florida in early December, it was very cold!

That's why I mentioned the hot tub, in case it's too cold for the pool. On our one December trip, it was warm enough to use the pool/water park mid-day and we did use the lazy river one evening, but getting out was a bit rough.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

That's why I mentioned the hot tub, in case it's too cold for the pool. On our one December trip, it was warm enough to use the pool/water park mid-day and we did use the lazy river one evening, but getting out was a bit rough.

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in January one year. It was in the upper 40's at night; the steam coming off the pool was cool, but getting out was painful!

I will try calling the resort directly as we get closer to our travel dates, thanks for the suggestion. Or maybe I will wait until we get there and ask...baby steps towards not planning in advance. The funny thing is we are not going to Disney this year because I hate how it has turned into a vacation where you have to plan out everything that you do months in advance, so I'm not sure why I'm thinking of any of this.

 

[sandam1]

so I'm not sure why I'm thinking of any of this.

I know that, for me, it helps get me excited about the trip. There's no pressure because I don't HAVE to do it, but it allows my inner-planner to come out and play for a bit.

 

[georgina]

We were at RPR for Thanksgiving last year and our adult kids used the pool at least one night. There is a very nice hot tub in the fitness area that not many people know about...

 

[schumigirl]

sandam1 - do all the hotels have s'mores around a firepit or just CB? We are staying 1 night at the RP and 2 at SF.

7:00 just seems so early for the parks to close, though I guess with EP we will have plenty of opportunities to ride what we like. I think I need to lose my Disney mentality!

I was looking forward to relaxing by the pool and hoping that it's warm enough in the evenings to do so. The last time we were in Florida in early December, it was very cold! We have only been to USO in the summer and have always been so hot and tired at the end of the day that we didn't really do anything but the parks. I guess this will be my chance to explore outside of the parks a bit.

Yes, Dorian has left me a bit bitter as well (more so when I go back to work tomorrow). For 15 years we traveled to WDW around Labor Day and never a problem. The past 4 years has been 1 trip nervous about a storm that ended up dying out, one cancelled trip due to a hurricane, one trip cut short because we were driving and needed to get through the Carolinas before the hurricane hit, and now another cancelled trip. No more September for me!

I’m sorry your plans had to change!

We’ve gone that December time frame last two years and will be back at RP again this time for 11 nights,

We really enjoy the Holiday feeling from the Parade which is fabulous.....love how it snows as you watch!

RP and Sapphire have amazing gingerbread displays in the lobbies and you can watch the chefs build it up at certain times every day.....they will chat to you as they do it......and all the hotels have Christmas trees that are pretty nice........RP, Portofino and Sapphire are especially impressive. It’s worth a look around to see those hotels.

They also at RP, Sapphire and I think Portofino Bay had a pop up bar where they had special cocktails themed for each hotel......it was cute and very popular.....I hope they bring them back this year.

Sapphire has 2 fire pits. One by the pool which folks do make s’mores and one to the side of Strong Water Bar which is smaller. Have only seen someone make s’mores there once, but I’m sure it’s common.

We go offsite a lot but we did play mini golf one night last December. We only had one day where it was absolutely freezing last year......I’m talking hats and gloves cold.....the rest of the time it was in the high to mid 80’s during the day......although we never used the pool at night as it was too cool for us.....but we are wimps.....there were plenty of people in the pools.

I’m sure you’ll love that time of year......we are notorious for not planning anything.....we never do in any of our trips, but we love to read what’s going on and plan to have an idea of what we want to do.....and make sure we do it.....that’s about all we do, but it does build the excitement up for us too....