Yesterday we received word that Universal Orlando will be starting their Holiday events starting December 4th and it will be the biggest event the park has done to date. The resort will host the Macy’s Day Parade, A Holiday Village and of course Grinchmas.
The resort will also feature special Christmas programs at all three Loews Hotels, and will offer free concerts nightly with special performances by Christmas super group Mannheim Steamroller for the first three weekends.
According to park officials the Christmas Village will be in the area near the Music Plaza, between Monsters Cafe and Central Park, and will be set up much like the French Quarter area is for Mardi Gras.
The Studios have traditionally received all the Holiday attention, with the exception at Islands being Seuss Landing, but this year the rest of the park (most notably Jurassic Park) seems to be getting a lot of holiday spirit.
[flickr-gallery mode=”photoset” photoset=”72157626648030400″]
This is the first time in recent memory that the rest of the park has gotten into the holiday spirit. Just about all of the shops were set up with decorations before Halloween, with tons of new decorations in Jurassic Park. Thunder Falls Terrace seemed to get a lot of love with a “JP Christmas Tree” featuring Dino Ornaments.
Speaking of Jurassic Park, a lot of work, and I mean a lot of work has been happening in the Old Trike Encounter area. Paths are clear and we even saw workers in the queue line making adjustments.
[flickr-gallery mode=”photoset” photoset=”72157626648054144″]
It seems the park is expecting a huge holiday crush from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter this year. Speaking of Potter, we have confirmed with the park that there will be no Christmas celebrations inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter…this year.
No reason was given, although my theory is that the area is too new. The area itself is still a big draw. We have heard from several people that seasonal options will be happening in the Wizarding World, but with the area just opening this year it’s a safe bet that the crowd levels will be just fine without them. We expect to see Christmas and Halloween taking place next year after the opening frenzy of the area, and the Summer crush that will be stoked by the final chapter of the movie dies down.
We have also heard that there will be some changes taking place here and there when The Deathly Hallows opens, though it’s not confirmed what just yet.
Now for some random pictures
[flickr-gallery mode=”photoset” photoset=”72157626648098758″]
For more information about Universal Orlando, visit the Official Site.
