Universal over the holidays

jarrdisney

DIS Veteran
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
750
Hey all. We'll be making our way to Orlando in mid Dec and I was wondering if UNiversal does anything special for the holidays. Do they decorate everything? We only have a 5 days and were wondering if it would be worth it to make the trek over from WDW. We'd proably end up renting a car from the Dolphin as it seems more cost effective. What do you think?
 
The parks are decorated and they have the Macy's parade. They have had Grinchmas in the past at Islands of Adventure. It is likely that they will continue this next year.
 
img_holidays.jpg


Enjoy the Holidays at Universal Orlando® Resort!
December 7, 2007 - January 1, 2008

Celebrate Grinchmas™ at Islands of Adventure, and join in the fun of the Macy's Holiday Parade™ at Universal Studios, featuring larger than life balloons from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

All the festivities are included with your theme park admission!
 

I was kind of looking for first hand experience with an elaboration on what you may like or not life. Any info?
 
It's a terrifying time of year when the park is overrun by killer clowns, giant worms and human candy canes. Very disturbing. Stay far, far away.
 
they put Santa hats on all of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, even the T-Rex.

US is decorated more than IOA. they open Balloonopolis, and have the Macy's parade. as an AP holder, you can sign up to lead one of the balloons and they have an AP section for the parade. don't miss Grinchmas if it's back.

it is our absolute favorite time of the year to visit the parks.
 
We were there last December the week before Christmas. It was a great time to visit because crowds were very low! We didn't see the Macy's parade and Grinchmas was not there last year - I was so disapointed! But we did see the Grinch.
 
Excerpts from my 12/17/2005 trip report:

<<
12/17

I've never been to Universal during the holidays so I wanted to see what they did to the parks and see Grinchmas, finally..

First, I thought Universal was amazing. The decorations all around the park was great. The Christmas tree is amazing.. All the balloons.. The Christmas music playing loud everywhere (especially my jam, Paul Mcartney's "Wonderful Christmastime").. Every attraction was open including JAWS! AND I got to ride it at night, which is the best.. and the skipper Mike was hilarious and really into it. It was my friend's first time on it and he had a blast.

Then we saw the Grinch show and it was great. The make-up for the Whos is excellent and the Grinch (or Grinches) looked amazing. It was really good but I definitely think the show would benefit by being put on a stage with some more sets. Maybe in the Toon Landing stadium.. It really is a good show though. I loved it. >>
 
does anyone know the times for the Grinchmas show and the Macy's parade?? We're going the 2nd week of December and would LOVE to see both of these! :santa:
 
sure would be nice if they'd have some of the festivites going after Thanksgiving/beginning of Dec.;) :confused3

lots of us visit then, what used to be a relatively "dead" time.

think it'd even draw more of the mousekeeters from WDW there for:

Pop Warner
Mousefest
MVMCP

come on marketing, get on the bus!:rolleyes1
 












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