Holiday Season - in Orlando

-- You've reached a blog item from 2005: please see more recent info about the Holiday Season in Orlando --

Orlando gets dazzling in December: the theme parks twinkle and stage special shows, and other venues turn on the bright lights too.

Universal Studios has two major events: Macy's Holiday Parade,every night at the Universal Studios theme park; and at the Islands of Adventure theme park, the Grinch -- so reclusive all year-- finally makes an appearance at Seuss Landing, for Grinchmas and a nightly Whoville Whobilation.

Meanwhile, Universal Orlando's three resorts have festive decor, carolers, tree-lighting, cookie decorating, holiday movies, and more; plus guests get Front Of The Line passes for popular rides.

• Read more about the Holidays at Universal Orlando.

Walt Disney World Celebrations

In the Magic Kingdom, every year Mickey has a Very Merry Christmas Party on many nights, and Mickey's Very Merry Parade with March of the Wooden Soldiers and plenty more.

Epcot has Holidays Around The World, showcasing traditions from different countries; tree-lighting; special IllumiNations laser light and fireworks show; and the Candlelight Processional, in which a celebrity narrator presents the Christmas story with music by a choir and 50-piece orchestra.

At MGM Studios, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights has 5 million of 'em-- twinkling lights that is, that twinkle even more in nightly "snow". And of course the Disney World Resorts have decorations and special events.

See more about the Holiday Season at Disney World:

• photos of Magic Kingdom at Christmas
• more photos: Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios

Lots more in Orlando for the Holidays:

• SeaWorld celebrations
• SpongeBob and friends at Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, ( a top family resort, with two waterparks)
• Gaylord Palms ICE! : ice sculptures, slides, winter wonderland

continued below...

More about Orlando's Holiday Season

Christmas at SeaWorld

Lots of special events at SeaWorld, and evennightly snow flurries:

• "Shamu's Christmas: A Child's Wish" nightly show: with whales, singers, and a story of a Christmas wish to meet Shamu
• "Christmastide" Holiday Fountain Show
• "Makahiki Christmas Luau" - holiday traditions of the Pacific Islands with feast and music
• Shamu's Sea-cret Santa Celebration show and Christmas Character Breakfast
• Frosty Friends Sleepover

Gaylord Palms ICE!

Chill out from November 19, 2005 to January 2, 2006 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, with 2 million pounds of ice:

• three ice slides, "interactive ice environments", ice sculptures and monuments, including a life-sized nativity
• 9 degree temperature: wear shoes and long pants! Hooded parkas will be provided.
• buy tix online at the link above

About's Guide for Florida for Visitors has more about ICE!: ice sculptures, slides, and winter wonderland

More:

Orlando: Holiday Lights: About's guide for Florida for Visitors hits the high-lights: tree-lighting, Garden of Lights, candlelight parades, Christmas light extravaganzas at Disney World, Sea World, Cypress Gardens, and more.

More Orlando: at Orlandoinfo.com

*photos courtesy of Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando