What time are the Christmas Shows?

[GatorChris]

I realize that Universal hasn't put their calendar out for December yet. We'll be there the second week for 4 days. I see there will be a parade of some kind. Guessing that will be in the afternoon??? But as for the Christmas fireworks shows, does anyone know how these were in the past? Are they at the end of working hours? Are they only on the weekends? Does the water show play every night at US?

So much was closed when we went last October. I want to make sure I get to catch it all.

 

[georgina]

I realize that Universal hasn't put their calendar out for December yet. We'll be there the second week for 4 days. I see there will be a parade of some kind. Guessing that will be in the afternoon??? But as for the Christmas fireworks shows, does anyone know how these were in the past? Are they at the end of working hours? Are they only on the weekends? Does the water show play every night at US?

So much was closed when we went last October. I want to make sure I get to catch it all.

My photos of the Christmas parade from 2019 have a time 6 PM. That's all I got, I have never bothered with the water show. The Grinchmas show runs several times throughout the day.

 

[PrincessJasmine88]

Does anyone know if the parade and the Hogwarts light show are usually every night in December? I was there a few years ago and I think the parade was 5:30 each day and the Hogwarts show started right after sunset but I’m not sure.

 

[kbelle8995]

Does anyone know if the parade and the Hogwarts light show are usually every night in December? I was there a few years ago and I think the parade was 5:30 each day and the Hogwarts show started right after sunset but I’m not sure.

The Parades and the Hogwarts light show times are not listed yet that I can find. I looked on my Universal APP to check this. The APP is a good source to use. As the APP lists the shows and when the next one is. Looked at the website too. No times listed.

I seemed to recall that the Hogwarts Castle show happened a couple times as soon as the sun goes down. I would check the APP or check with a schedule when you enter a park

 

[PrincessJasmine88]

Thanks I will keep checking. I can’t wait to go! I really enjoyed both of them so much

 

[GatorChris]

I seemed to recall that the Hogwarts Castle show happened a couple times as soon as the sun goes down. I would check the APP or check with a schedule when you enter a park

I'm just trying to get some times before we go so I can book a few CityWalk dinner times without causing us to ditch the fireworks to make it in time. But as it stands now, the calendar isn't listed for our dates yet.

 

[GatorChris]

Just bumping this up. Still trying to figure out Christmas shows. Don't know if either park will be doing a show at the end of the day like they do at Disney. Or maybe it's just projection shows that last all evening???

 

[georgina]

It is frustrating not having all the info. I see the Hogwarts light show says dusk until park close and that's about it.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

The years we went (2017 to 2019) the parade was either at 5:30 or 6. It basically started at dusk and finished in the dark.

Hogwarts started at dusk and went until 20 minutes after park close. After close was some nights, not all. But definitely, definitely go close to park close. The first few shows are jam packed, shoulder to shoulder. The last show of the night and after close (if it happens) are very sparse. You can easily move around if you don’t like your spot.

I’m pretty sure both parade and shows were every night.

 

[SCSabresfan]

Is the Cinematic Spectacular running at all?

 

[GatorChris]

Is the Cinematic Spectacular running at all?

It says it's closed on the app. I'd love to know if it'll come back or if there'll be a Christmas version there on the lake. Universal is a lot like Disneyland. We just don't know what's happening until weeks before hand.

 

[koala1966]

The only show information I could find is that the parade is running at 530 pm nightly except 12/2 when it will be 5 pm. For some reason none of the other shows are listing times on the app.

 

[CynBeth]

We were just there today. The holiday parade was at 5:30 and the Cinematic Spectacular was at 7 pm. It was not a holiday version.

 

[Lori74]

Is it possible to see the parade and have time to see HP light show? Is there anywhere we can see where the parade route will be? Would like to be as close train as possible to get over to IOA

 

[wdwrule]

Is it possible to see the parade and have time to see HP light show? Is there anywhere we can see where the parade route will be? Would like to be as close train as possible to get over to IOA

The parade has been going on daily at studios at 5:30… I heard in December it will occur daily at 5pm. The area to view it closest to the train station would be in the vicinity of the Mummy ride/Louie’s Italian restaurant. We sat at the outdoor tables at Richter (which would be even closer to the train) to view it while we ate although it was a bit distant but still viewable.

I believe the light show on Hogwarts occurs every 45 minutes until closing beginning at dusk but I could be wrong.

ETA: according to the app the parade is 5:30 daily and will only occur at 5pm when there is a 6pm park close.

 

[Lori74]

Thank you! Looks like they are open until 7 when we are there. This is a first xmas trip to Universal and first time we're staying on property, so excited!

 

[wdwrule]

Thank you! Looks like they are open until 7 when we are there. This is a first xmas trip to Universal and first time we're staying on property, so excited!

So excited for you!! We were there a few weeks ago and it was a first for us seeing Universal decked out for the holidays. You’ll have a blast! There’s a holiday themed tribute store at Studios to check out and Earl the Squirrel hidden in the huge Christmas tree in front of the tribute store (near Mummy)… he pops out slightly now and then. Everything is so festive. Enjoy!

 

[maverik85]

Is it possible to see the parade and have time to see HP light show? Is there anywhere we can see where the parade route will be? Would like to be as close train as possible to get over to IOA

If you don't mind walking it might actually be faster to watch the parade by the Today Cafe and then park hop through CityWalk to IoA and back to Hogwarts. The parade starts by the Horror Make Up Show/Mel's and heads down through the Hollywood street, so the Today Cafe is towards the start of the route, versus being near Hogwarts Express being towards the end of the route. Doing this method you can just duck out as you are near the gates and probably be inside Islands of Adventure before the parade is done passing through New York. We used this method last week to watch the parade and get over to a Grinchmas show at 6:15 with no trouble. The wait time for the train could vary as well and slow down your chances getting over to Hogsmeade by a certain time as well.

 

[Lori74]

If you don't mind walking it might actually be faster to watch the parade by the Today Cafe and then park hop through CityWalk to IoA and back to Hogwarts. The parade starts by the Horror Make Up Show/Mel's and heads down through the Hollywood street, so the Today Cafe is towards the start of the route, versus being near Hogwarts Express being towards the end of the route. Doing this method you can just duck out as you are near the gates and probably be inside Islands of Adventure before the parade is done passing through New York. We used this method last week to watch the parade and get over to a Grinchmas show at 6:15 with no trouble. The wait time for the train could vary as well and slow down your chances getting over to Hogsmeade by a certain time as well.

Thank you I appreciate that! Now I have to figure out how to get our tickets converted from online to regular for our lanyards so excited! 2 more sleeps!!